Preserving the history and culture of the Ozarks is the charge of the Springfield-Greene County Library’s Local History & Genealogy Department. During May, experience stories of people, places and events that shaped the region and discover how those stories are being preserved and shared. Here is a sample of the lineup; visit thelibrary.org to see the complete schedule.
Molly Healey in Concert
Molly Healey, longtime fiddle player for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils turned experimental songwriter, began her solo career in 2015 with a simple looping pedal. She has since developed a unique sound of atmospheric, orchestral folk that blends strings, voice and rich instrumentation. Hear Molly solo as she performs a mix of originals and select covers that are cinematic, immersive and rooted in folk, rock and classical traditions at 7p.m. on Monday, May 4th, in the Library Center Hatch Auditorium, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. Albums and merchandise will be available for purchase and signing. Registration required; visit thelibrary.org/programs or call 417-883-5341.
The Truth Ain’t in Us: Mythology and the Mythological Ozarks
The folklore and oral traditions of the Ozarks contain stories and legends that comprise a regional mythology. The region has also been mythologized by outsiders for generations, leaving it shrouded in both local legends and national stereotypes. Brooks Blevins explores some of the area’s more colorful mythological elements while exposing national myths about the Ozarks and its people at 7p.m. on Thursday, May 7th, in the Library Center Hatch Auditorium, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. Brooks will be available for purchase and signing.
Registration required; visit thelibrary.org/programs or call 417-883-5341.
The Bottomless Well of Water Street
A 1909 newspaper story about John Polk Campbell’s “bottomless well” sparked a search for Springfield’s founding site. Local History Associate Brandon Broughton will share his exploration through archives, maps and the muddy depths of downtown Springfield to uncover the lost birthplace of the Queen City of the Ozarks at 7 p.m. on Tuesday May 12th, in the Library Center Annie Busch Community Room, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.
For more information on these and other great programs, visit thelibrary.org. Vickie Hicks is the community relations director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at vickieh@thelibrary.org
