Chelsea District Library Premieres Fourth Community History Documentary, 'Village Life'
The Chelsea District Library premieres the fourth documentary in its Chelsea Community History Project: Village Life, at 2 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Washington Street Education Center.
Village Life uses interviews with long-time Chelsea residents and business owners including Bob Daniels, Peter Flintoft, Howdy Holmes, and Donna Lane to share the stories of Chelsea throughout the years.
The premiere is open to the public and free of charge.
Village Life pieces together modern interviews with historical photographs and video footage to document both the noteworthy events and everyday life of Chelsea. The stories, told by more than 20 interviewees, describe the heart of downtown Chelsea—from the dairy bars and pharmacies of the 1950s to the restaurants and boutiques of today.
The documentary recounts histories of long-time Chelsea businesses—including Heydlauff’s Appliance, Merkel Furniture, and Vogels & Fosters—and Chelsea schools. Additionally, Village Life highlights landmark community events, including featured vintage film footage from the town’s extensive 125th anniversary celebration in 1959.
Filmed and edited by Video Farm Productions and made possible by the Chelsea Community Foundation, Village Life preserves Chelsea’s history in the oral history tradition, recording first-hand accounts of people with strong ties to Chelsea and its history.
Following the premiere, both the documentary and the individual interviews will be available for online streaming at StoriesofChelsea.org. For more information, call the Chelsea District Library at 734-475-8732 or visit chelsea.lib.mi.us.
