06/04/2026
Yesterday I (Kelsey) had the pleasure of inviting Dr. Katie Howard Dudley into my home to discuss Greene County Porch Stories Project, an initiative she is working on in collaboration with the Greene County Historical Society. Through several brief interruptions to aid toddlers in finding where dad hid the cookies & assisting with wardrobe changes, Katie & I had a great time doing a deep dive into all things local.
Like most Greene County conversations go, we quickly realized her uncle is friends with mine, and that we share distant cousins. We laughed over stories of moving away and then, like Dorthy in Wizard of Oz, eventually deciding “there’s no place like home.”
In essence, this is what Porch Stories is all about. Katie is creating a digital compilation of our county’s history. She’s not looking for dates and facts, but rather, snippets of everyday life.
How did the Hillview Strut become? Who remembers the first day of school when Roodhouse and White Hall combined? What was it like attending The Patterson Opry?
People with these types of stories is who Katie is hoping to connect with.
If you’re interested or willing to participate in this project, check out the link below or send me a message and I will provide more information! In addition, feel free to nominate people that you think are excellent storytellers and we can reach out.
This is an exciting endeavor for Greene County and we can’t wait to see if come to life!
www.porchstoriesproject.
Collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories, photographs, and memories of Greene County, Illinois
