ABOVE Using modern research tools like the Internet,
Keep Thinking has been able to piece together more
information about the history of Oak Park. Being a
railroad town, some of Oak Park's data can be pulled
from whatever railroad history remains.
remain focuses on the larger trains
that survived. Technology, like Google
search engines and digitized historical
records, helps finding the small tidbits
of information concerning these smaller
lines that are often contained in public
records. Once this data is organized and
preserved, it will help provide details
for each of these communities, which
can then be submitted to libraries (like
Ladson and DLG). This will, in turn,
provide a more comprehensive history
for the region that will be available to
historians anywhere in the world.
This is just one example of how
21st Century technology is being
utilized to resurrect the history of Oak
Park. Technology developed in the
past two decades has given everyone
who possesses a device with Internet
capabilities the tools they need to
assist with the documentation and
preservation of their local history. Cell
phone cameras and online property
records have proved useful to expedite
96 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
the research process. A decade ago
copies of maps would need to be
made from each individual source and
then compared side-by-side, often
accompanied by hand-written notes,
books and magnifying glasses. Now one
can snap a picture of an old map in a
reference book using their cell phone
and then use the Internet to search
county property records. Using the
screen shot feature, one can then copy
and paste the old map on the current
map and save the image. Analyzing the
two maps becomes much easier because
the zoom feature on a device can be used
to enlarge hard-to-read text. That image
can then be shared on social media
for community input for an instant
dialogue. Facebook has turned into an
asset for small communities, like Oak
Park, who are attempting to revitalize
their communities based on heritage
tourism.
While Oak Park has uncovered much
about its roots in a short amount of
time, there is still much to learn, and
the task is challenging. The Preserving
America Community application
requires supplementary documentation
that Oak Park still needs to recover.
There are always renovation needs at the
School House and many of the leaders of
the community are aging. Partners, like
Ladson Genealogical Library, face budget
cuts and depend on the support of the
community for funding of this and
similar projects. The new government of
the City of Oak Park continues to work
diligently to overcome misdeeds by the
former administration.
While organizations have expressed
interest in using the Oak Park School
House for programs, the issue of
insurance has been raised. Immediate
needs to move forward include
fundraising of $3500 to cover the costs
of insurance, Internet and supplies for
the Oak Park History Project to continue
programs for the next 12 months.
Plans for the Oak Park History