By SABRINA BERNDT

Washington Daily News

The tradition of oral history is slowly disappearing, but George H. and Laura E. Brown Library is doing its part to keep Washington’s stories alive.

Brown Library is continuing their Bite of History Speaker Series with an appearance from Robbie Rose, the retired chief of Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS, on July 18. Hosted from 2 to 3 p.m., Rose will be speaking about the history of the local fire department.

“The oral histories are part of what makes up the history of a town,” said Claudia Dahlen, the reference and genealogy specialist at Brown Library. “And that’s what these are. They’re (speakers) telling little snippets of the history of what went on in the past, how life was lived.”

The Bite of History program started in 2018 when Dahlen and Sandra Silvey, the library director, wanted to find a way to promote local history. The program now runs every other month, and features historians and storytellers, as well as residents who actually lived through the city’s history.

“I kind of give them free rein with what they want to talk about,” said Dahlen. “We have speakers come in, and they usually have something that they’re passionate about.”

Along with Rose, the library anticipates Ray Midgett for a lecture on maritime and maps on Sept. 19, and Mima Dixon will be speaking about local legends and superstitions on Nov. 21.

With a typical turnout of 40 to 60 people, according to Dahlen, the speaker series will continue as long as there is an interest for local storytelling. She is currently scheduling speakers for the 2020 speaker series.

“There’s so many people in the area that just have a wealth of knowledge that needs to be shared,” Dahlen said.

For more information about the speaker series or future events, visit the library’s website (washington-nc.libcal.com) or call 252-946-4300.