James’ Historical Musings

I hear these words used on an everyday basis. Yet, I wonder how many have examined just what they mean.

History Skills defines it as “Historical significance is a decision that modern people make about what is important from our past. In assigning historical significance, we can choose specific events, people, locations and ideas as being particularly important to us.” Jim Hammond defined it as “The value or worth a people place on a historical subject. It is extremely subjective.” From Jim’s definition, we should base historical significance on criteria such as a historical education of the body determining external events such as social context and socio-economic climate. Everyone, each group, and each community will have a different value of significance on a historic building, event or person.

I would like us to look at historical things with a fresh eye. Look at people--old and new, buildings--beautiful and dilapidated, and events--current and past, to consider if they are historically significant. How do they fit into the whole? Did they help shape the community? How do they make us feel? In doing so, I know we will learn little things we never knew or look at an event with a different understanding.

I look forward to sharing this journey with everyone as I explore our local history and seek to understand its significance within our community.