UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — “Memories of Milesburg,” a historical documentary made by Stephanie Swindle Thomas, director of social media and visual assets for the College of Arts and Architecture, and her multimedia communications internship, in partnership with the Milesburg Museum and Historical Society (MMHS), will premiere premieres at 7pm. July 23 at Milesburg Community Center.
This event is free and open to the public. The concession will be available for sale as well as the opportunity to order a DVD copy of the film.
“This project is a showcase of love and pride for our historic city and the people who have experienced the joy of growing up here. We can’t wait to share it,” said Debbie Arnold, MMHS director of marketing.
Following an investigation into the phone calls Swindle Thomas received from Pamela McCloskey, an MMHS board member who wanted to capture the stories of residents to preserve as part of the region’s history, 26 members of the Milesburg community were interviewed over three days in July 2021 to make the film.
As part of his position at the College of Arts and Architecture, Swindle Thomas leads a year-round group of interns who learn a wide range of multimedia marketing and communication skills. Larissa Long, a 2022 graduate of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, is part of the group and is collaborating with Swindle Thomas on the project.
Last July, from a makeshift film studio at the Milesburg Museum, Long operated the camera and interviewed participants. It was a buzz around town, said Swindle Thomas, with residents and former residents sharing their stories.
Long experienced professional film set with microphone, lights, and triple camera setup; she also sampled local food from a craft service desk featuring homemade sweets made by a Milesburg native who offered her a cake and flower recipe on the last day of filming.
“I heard amazing stories about this beautiful city that many people love and adore,” said Long. “There are stories about cute characters in the city, buildings with valuable thoughts and people whose memories live on. Doing this work has been a great honor and something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Swindle Thomas, Long, and apprentice Tess Dubler spent nearly a year in post-production crafting the story to share with the generous people who have become “like family” to the three of them.
“I grew up in a small town like Milesburg, so hearing memories and meeting people feels like I was sitting around the dinner table of my childhood,” said Dubler, who graduated from Penn State’s Department of Art History in December 2021 and is now helping MMHS with social media and collections management “I am honored that the people of Milesburg have trusted us to compose their stories.”
The music used in this film was written and provided by Joe Pillot, a Milesburg native, local musician, Penn State alumnus, and father of a 2018 College of Arts and Architecture graduate. Pillot and Swindle Thomas have been playing music together since they met in 2018 when he worked at the Stuckeman School of Architecture, and he was with Penn State Media and Technology Support Services.
“This project speaks to me on many levels — as a musician, storyteller, videographer, and as an apprentice supervisor and instructor,” says Swindle Thomas. “Every project is special, as is every one of my student journeys, but when what we do helps a community like Milesburg share its story, it’s a win-win.”
