(Seguin) — Did you or anyone you know attend Juan Seguin School? If you are answering yes, then your story is desperately needed to help capture the rich, deep and sometimes complicated history of the Juan Seguin campus in Seguin.
The producers of a local documentary project called Historias de Seguin/Seguin Stories are looking for people to tell their stories and share their photographs and mementos from their time at the former Juan Seguin School.
Leading that search is local videographer Denise Crettenden. Crettenden says there is a serious attempt to capture and preserve those stories of the once all Mexican American campus, which later because a Seguin ISD pre-k school located on Dolle Ave.
“We have been working on the Historias of Seguin, Seguin Stories project for over 8 years. We have collected 80 interviews with different people in the community about different aspects of life over the years of the Hispanic community in Seguin and we will be putting out the six parts of this project over the course of the year. The first one coming out is on education and it’s going to premiere on Oct. 30 at the Palace Theatre,” said Crettenden.
Crettenden says those with stories are encouraged to schedule an appointment with her this Saturday at the historic campus which has since been transformed into the Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church.
“We are looking to get a little more information on different things and one of those things is we would like to talk to more people who attended Juan Seguin School so we have times set to interview people that would like to come in. It could just be a short story. It doesn’t have to be anything long just a little memory. Just something to paint a picture for people,” said Crettenden.
She says people can also make an appointment to bring their special mementos such as report cards, photos and or other memorabilia to be scanned or photographed.
“If you have photos, report cards, newspaper clippings, anything form those times. We will have a scanner and a camera and we can film those things and hand them right back to you. We just want to paint the picture of attending Juan Seguin so that people in the future can understand what that was like and just get a picture. I love hearing people’s stories of what they brought for lunch, what kind of programs were on the stage, their favorite teacher just the little things that bring that story to life,” said Crettenden.
Juan Seguin alumni are encouraged to make an appointment by calling Crettenden at 830-372-1928.
Crettenden says she’ll be on site this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to capture any and all stories about the Juan Seguin School and those who used it.
Again, you can share your story or mementos from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the old Juan Seguin campus, now Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, located at 416 Dolle.Ave.