By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



North Jefferson County residents are invited to take part in Brookside’s ongoing historical preservation efforts this weekend.

The Brookside History Museum and the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership Local History Committee will sponsor a public forum Saturday at Brookside’s Municipal Complex.

The meeting will be the first of a series of programs aimed to draw attention to the town’s rich history, made possible through a grant from the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and is free and open to the public.

“We’d like to attract not only people from Brookside, but anyone interested in local history,” said Brookside historian Staci Glover. “While it is specific to Brookside residents or people who have ties, we want to share that history with others.”

Glover said anyone attending is also welcome to bring any artifacts from the town’s early mining days that can be donated to a future museum. Residents are also invited to bring any old photos from the town’s early days, which will be scanned for preservation.

A graphic artist will then weave the images together and create new pieces of art that will be displayed at town hall in October.

The meeting will feature three guest speakers: Jack Bergstresser of the Tannehill Mining Museum will speak on the town’s coal mining roots; Pamela Jones of Jefferson State Community College will read vignettes on Brookside’s history; and Glover will address the town’s ethnic history and how the town has rebounded from the devastating floods of 2003.

Glover said work is also continuing on a museum chronicling the town’s history. A shotgun-style house from the turn of the 20th century was donated to the town earlier this year and work will begin next month on renovating the house.

Glover said volunteers are welcome to help on Sept. 4-5 in cleaning the interior of the house. Volunteers will also be needed on Sept. 11 to help scrape the paint from the house so it can be repainted.

Additionally, Bivens Chapel UMC will host “Music for the Museum,” on Oct. 11. The fund-raiser will feature a capella group Azure and other performers from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

For more information on these events, contact Glover at 936-4480 or Francesca Gross of the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partner-ship at 264-8464.