New website launched by Dunoon’s American Years Revisited Project
Although in-person volunteer meetings were interrupted by Covid, this has not proved to be an obstacle for Dunoon’s American Years Revisited project. In fact, the work of the volunteers to record and share the history of the Holy Loch American naval base and its effects on the surrounding community has moved to Zoom and rapidly picked up pace. Moving to weekly online meet-ups, with both local and international guests, allowed the group to record memories and discussions. As a result, they have now created an online hub combining memoir, history, drama, context, podcasts and pictures. The new website provides a rounded view of the impact of the 31-year period of US Navy presence on Dunoon and on the American families based here.
Developing the archive is an ongoing process that will be built on over time, but thanks to the early contributors, there is already a rich store of podcasts and history that offer an immersive experience for all those interested. Many destinies were changed in those years, for good and for bad, and the project aims to capture the rich tapestry of human interaction that resulted from political decisions on high.
The project is supported by freelance co-ordinator, Kate Simpson, and SURF Dunoon facilitator, Ann Campbell, with podcast creation by Alasdair Satchel. Grant funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund has enabled the development of this first phase of the project.
