The Sound of Chatham 2025: A Documentary

I have been involved with storytelling projects in Bynum for a few years, primarily because I wrote an album called Haw River Hymnal to go along with my friend Emma Skurnick’s book, Becoming a Local. Another friend, Ellen Bland, had seen my performances and invited me to be part of a singing team to perform a song that she wrote about Chatham County. Someone I know told me once that everything Ellen touches turns to gold, so I felt flattered when she asked me to join in, and I knew it was going to be a “hell, yes!”

This song opens the documentary, The Sound of Chatham 2025, a project from the people at The Voices of Chatham Project. Linguists at NCSU’s Language and Life Program have partnered with the Chatham County Historical Association to collect the voices and stories of Chatham County before our area experiences the massive changes that are in the works because of big developments coming to town.

The Voices of Chatham researchers worked to gather audio and video interviews of long-time Chatham residents. Lydia Elrod, a documentary film producer working with Voices of Chatham, brought her team to capture Ellen’s song on film. The song, “Welcome, Ya’ll, to Chatham County” bookends either side of the 1 hour film and has some amazing tidbits about this place we call home.

Also seen in the film are some of my beloved family-in-law members– Jane Allen Wilson and Betty Wilson!