A Sense of Place: Stories from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College

Lukas Hyder: Great Mountain Forest Work in the Working Forest Oral History Podcast

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is an over 6,000-acre working forest straddling Norfolk and Falls Village, CT. Its roots date back to the early 1900s on land where trees were clear-cut to produce charcoal for the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The Forest has a long history of work—both on the part of humans and the natural processes of the plant, animal, and insect species that occupy it. This GMF-centered oral history project documents the fascinating history of the working forest through the lens of the foresters who manage it. Together, the foresters in this series have spent almost 150 years laboring in GMF, training generations of foresters and wildlife managers, and creating a diverse forest that will be there long after they leave. This episode features Lukas Hyder. Lukas started at GMF as an intern and worked in the forest for eight years building lifelong relationships and a diverse skill set that would follow him to White Memorial Foundation, where he served as Forest Manager before becoming Executive Director. Oral historian Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D, hosted this podcast. To learn more and listen to the other oral history interview podcasts with current and past GMF forestry staff, visit www.greatmountainforest.org [http://www.greatmountainforest.org/]. You’ll also find links to the Connecticut Digital Archive, which stores this collection's complete oral history interviews and transcripts. Great Mountain Forest’s Work in the Working Forest Oral History Project is made possible through a generous grant and technical support from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College. GMF is also grateful to Main Street Moxie podcast for the use of its audio recording equipment. Podcast music: La Citadelle by Komiku

Wayne W. Jenkins: Great Mountain Forest Work in the Working Forest Oral History Podcast

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is an over 6,000-acre working forest straddling Norfolk and Falls Village, CT. Its roots date back to the early 1900s on land where trees were clear-cut to produce charcoal for the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The Forest has a long history of work—both on the part of humans and the natural processes of the plant, animal, and insect species that occupy it. This GMF-centered oral history project documents the fascinating history of the working forest through the lens of the foresters who manage it. Together, the foresters in this series have spent almost 150 years laboring in GMF, training generations of foresters and wildlife managers, and creating a diverse forest that will be there long after they leave. This episode features Wayne W. Jenkins. Wayne started his career as a gardener for the Childs family, the original owners of Great Mountain Forest. Late fall through early spring, he assisted with the work of the forest, from Christmas tree production and sales to being integral to maple syrup production. After 41 years at GMF, he retired and now interacts with wildlife and the natural world in a different way, through his painting.  Oral historian Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D, hosted this podcast. To learn more and listen to the other oral history interview podcasts with current and past GMF forestry staff, visit www.greatmountainforest.org [http://www.greatmountainforest.org/]. You’ll also find links to the Connecticut Digital Archive, which stores this collection's complete oral history interviews and transcripts. Great Mountain Forest’s Work in the Working Forest Oral History Project is made possible through a generous grant and technical support from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College. GMF is also grateful to Main Street Moxie podcast for the use of its audio recording equipment. Podcast music: La Citadelle by Komiku

Matthew Gallagher Great Mountain Forest Work in the Working Forest Oral History Podcast

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is an over 6,000-acre working forest straddling Norfolk and Falls Village, CT. Its roots date back to the early 1900s on land where trees were clear-cut to produce charcoal for the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The Forest has a long history of work—both on the part of humans and the natural processes of the plant, animal, and insect species that occupy it. This GMF-centered oral history project documents the fascinating history of the working forest through the lens of the foresters who manage it. Together, the foresters in this series have spent almost 150 years laboring in GMF, training generations of foresters and wildlife managers, and creating a diverse forest that will be there long after they leave. This episode features Matthew Gallagher. Matt is the Director of Programs and Operations at GMF. He came to forestry later in life, after a career in the trades and service in the U.S. Navy as a Navy SeaBee.  After his time in the military, he returned to college and graduate school and discovered wonder, healing, and gratifying work in forestry. Oral historian Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D, hosted this podcast. To learn more and listen to the other oral history interview podcasts with current and past GMF forestry staff, visit www.greatmountainforest.org [http://www.greatmountainforest.org/]. You’ll also find links to the Connecticut Digital Archive, which stores this collection's complete oral history interviews and transcripts. Great Mountain Forest’s Work in the Working Forest Oral History Project is made possible through a generous grant and technical support from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College. GMF is also grateful to Main Street Moxie podcast for the use of its audio recording equipment. Podcast music: La Citadelle by Komiku

Russell Russ: Great Mountain Forest Work in the Working Forest Oral History Podcast

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is an over 6,000-acre working forest straddling Norfolk and Falls Village, CT. Its roots date back to the early 1900s on land where trees were clear-cut to produce charcoal for the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The Forest has a long history of work—both on the part of humans and the natural processes of the plant, animal, and insect species that occupy it. This GMF-centered oral history project documents the fascinating history of the working forest through the lens of the foresters who manage it. Together, the foresters in this series have spent almost 150 years laboring in GMF, training generations of foresters and wildlife managers, and creating a diverse forest that will be there long after they leave. This episode features Russell Russ. Russell is the Property Manager at GMF, beginning as an intern in the mid-1980s, working in construction management, and then returning to GMF in 2001. His work is varied and includes managing the Yale Camp at GMF and being a weather observer for the National Weather Service. Oral historian Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D, hosted this podcast. To learn more and listen to the other oral history interview podcasts with current and past GMF forestry staff, visit www.greatmountainforest.org [http://www.greatmountainforest.org/]. You’ll also find links to the Connecticut Digital Archive, which stores this collection's complete oral history interviews and transcripts. Great Mountain Forest’s Work in the Working Forest Oral History Project is made possible through a generous grant and technical support from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College. GMF is also grateful to Main Street Moxie podcast for the use of its audio recording equipment. Podcast music: La Citadelle by Komiku

Joel E. "Jody" Bronson: Great Mountain Forest Work in the Working Forest Oral History Podcast

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is an over 6,000-acre working forest straddling Norfolk and Falls Village, CT. Its roots date back to the early 1900s on land where trees were clear-cut to produce charcoal for the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The Forest has a long history of work—both on the part of humans and the natural processes of the plant, animal, and insect species that occupy it. This GMF-centered oral history project documents the fascinating history of the working forest through the lens of the foresters who manage it. Together, the foresters in this series have spent almost 150 years laboring in GMF, training generations of foresters and wildlife managers, and creating a diverse forest that will be there long after they leave. This episode features Joel E. “Jody” Bronson, Forester Emeritus at GMF. Jody has worked in the Forest for 47 years, 30 of which were spent as Forest Manager. During that time, he oversaw the summer internship program, providing valuable hands-on experience for forestry students. Jody shares his family history, love of poetry, the beauty of a well-hung axe, and his deep and abiding affection for the Forest. Oral historian Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D, hosted this podcast. To learn more and listen to the other oral history interview podcasts with current and past GMF forestry staff, visit www.greatmountainforest.org [http://www.greatmountainforest.org]. You’ll also find links to the Connecticut Digital Archive, which stores this collection's complete oral history interviews and transcripts. Great Mountain Forest’s Work in the Working Forest Oral History Project is made possible through a generous grant and technical support from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College. GMF is also grateful to Main Street Moxie podcast for the use of its audio recording equipment. The poem Jody recites at the end of this podcast is from The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service. You can read the entire poem here [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45081/the-cremation-of-sam-mcgee]. Podcast music: La Citadelle by Komiku