BYU-Idaho students taking the Public History class this semester will present their findings of the changing meaning of Main Street in Rexburg between 1950 and 2000 in an exhibit.
In each semester he teaches the class, Professor Roger Wiblin does a local project for his public history students to learn more about what he calls oral history and connection.
“Our first one was disappearing Rexburg buildings that used to be here, but people remember a lot about,” Wiblin said. “And so, this connection, oral history, which is what I'm trying to teach students with the experience of interviewing, it's developing oral history skills which is part of public history. So, what would be something that local people would have knowledge and feel something about?”
Wiblin says the meaning of Main Street Rexburg has changed with each passing generation, so students were asked to interview past residents and older local residents to ask them what Main Street means. BYU-Idaho student Cora Chadwick interviewed a past resident who now lives in Utah.
“She said something along lines of everyone knew everyone, which I think we've lost just on Main Street itself, just because people don't live there as much. It's not a hub of commerce,” Chadwick said. “But I also think it's expanded a little more, which I think is hard for some people to see because instead of it just being residents who's lived there for years, it's now moved to international students, students coming in and out of Rexburg, and just hanging out in Rexburg itself.”
The idea to focus on Main Street and its oral history is so students, as well as visitors to the exhibit, can reach what Wiblin describes as an understanding.
“There was this connection with the school in town, and some of it was based around commerce because Main Street was the place where you went to buy clothes and there were food places and whatever it is,” Wiblin said. “Clearly in the context we live in now, that's changed. And so, it's understanding. And for me, history is about understanding what's happening, about being empathetic in understanding why. What was the experience that people had before. And I always like the whys. I want to know why. Right? Why does stuff happen?”
The exhibit, Community Connection Commerce Rexburg 1950-2000, located on the south walkway of the BYU-Idaho Center near the track, will feature an atmosphere of Main Street throughout the years with posters and old signs.
The open house for the exhibit is this Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will feature a wide range of activities and opportunities for unique prizes. The exhibit will then stay open through July 24.