Beaver County Local Historians Gathering Oral Histories Related to East Palestine Train Derailment

Darlington – Located in northwestern Beaver County not far from East Palestine, Ohio–site of the now infamous Norfolk Southern train derailment on February 3, 2023–the Little Beaver Historical Society is hosting a public event called “Stories for History” to capture, preserve and share first-hand accounts and memories of the train derailment and its aftermath, including the so-called “controlled burn off” of several chemical tank cars.

The event is scheduled for TONIGHT, Tuesday, April 11th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the New Galilee Community Event Center.

“The train derailment is of major historical importance,” says Jay Paisley, president of the museum’s board of directors. “Future generations will look back on this event and wonder how it impacted the lives of everyday citizens, business owners, farmers, school children, and others affected in our communities. Railroading has always been part of our rich local history, but this incident is extraordinary. That’s why we want to document these first-hand accounts–What were people doing when they heard about the accident? What did they see, hear, and smell? How did they respond? What were they thinking? Were they afraid for their health and safety? These are all historically significant questions.”

The “Stories for History” event is co-organized by RiverWise and The Social Voice Project, two Beaver County organizations that encourage and support community-focused storytelling.

“It’s important for communities to have a voice,” says RiverWise executive director Daniel Rossi-Keen. “We want to encourage Beaver Countians affected by this train disaster to share their stories in their own words. Our goal is to listen and learn from what people have to say about the issues that matter most to them in their communities.”

“A story not told is a story not heard,” advises Kevin Farkas, executive producer of The Social Voice Project. “We’re not only doing good public history when we invite people to share their stories, we are also being respectful of their lived experiences as told in their own words. We’re listening.”

Due to overwhelming interest in this event, participation will have to be limited. Event details, examples of local stories, and an online sign up form for those who want to share their stories at the event can be found on the Little Beaver Historical Society’s website.

Stories for History: A Community Listening Event
April 11, 2023 | 7pm-9pm | New Galilee Community Event Center
Public Event | Moderated Program | Community Speakers | Open to Press | Media Recording | No Attorney Soliciting

VIDEO BELOW: A “First Cut” video about one Beaver County resident’s experience. “The First Cut” is a new video series of on the ground interviews raising up residents’ voices and perspectives in Beaver County. To share your own experiences around the Ohio train derailment or other quality of life issues in Beaver County, reach out to RiverWise to set up a time to chat.

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