Conversations with the people who make Fayetteville tick, one per newsletter.
Example topic · not yet interviewedA Local Historian or Museum Volunteer
Interviewee: to be confirmed
No interview has been recorded. This space will hold the conversation, in the interviewee’s own words, once it happens and they’ve approved it.
Questions we plan to ask (10)
- What are the most-asked-about items in the collection?
- What do most people get wrong about Fayetteville's history?
- What is the story of the Borden Milk Plant building?
- What do you know about Camp Blount and the "Volunteer State" connection?
- Which family papers, photographs, or newspapers are you still looking for?
- What happened to the Old Stone Bridge, and what remains of it?
- Which oral histories should be recorded before they are lost?
- How can residents donate or lend artifacts?
- What would you put in a "Fayetteville history in five objects" exhibit?
- Who are the people every newcomer should know about?
A Public Official — City or County
Interviewee: to be confirmed
No interview has been recorded. This space will hold the conversation, in the interviewee’s own words, once it happens and they’ve approved it.
Questions we plan to ask (9)
- What drew you to public service in Fayetteville or Lincoln County?
- What are the biggest projects underway right now, such as roads, parks, utilities, or industrial sites?
- How is the community handling growth from the Huntsville region?
- What should a newcomer do first: register to vote, set up utilities, get a wheel-tax sticker?
- What is one city or county service residents often don't know about?
- How can residents get involved through boards, volunteering, or Leadership Lincoln?
- What is the status of downtown preservation and Main Street efforts?
- What part of the town's history are you proudest of?
- What do you hope Fayetteville looks like in 2035?
A Local Tradesperson (Plumbing, Electrical or HVAC)
Interviewee: to be confirmed
No interview has been recorded. This space will hold the conversation, in the interviewee’s own words, once it happens and they’ve approved it.
Questions we plan to ask (9)
- How long have you worked in Lincoln County, and how did you get into the trade?
- What are the most common problems in older Fayetteville homes?
- What should a newcomer check before buying an older house here?
- How do local codes and permits work, and who do you deal with at Planning & Codes?
- How has demand changed as more people move in from Alabama and elsewhere?
- Is it hard to find apprentices? How are TCAT and Motlow helping?
- What seasonal maintenance do you recommend for this climate?
- What is a job or house in town you will never forget?
- What makes a good customer in your eyes?
A Downtown Square Restaurateur — the Slawburger Story
Interviewee: to be confirmed
No interview has been recorded. This space will hold the conversation, in the interviewee’s own words, once it happens and they’ve approved it.
Questions we plan to ask (10)
- How did your business start, and how long has it been at this location?
- What is the origin of the slawburger, as you were told it?
- What did this building or corner used to be?
- Who are your longest-standing regular customers, and what do they order?
- How has the downtown square changed in your time here?
- What do visitors from out of town most often ask you?
- How do festivals like Host of Christmas Past or the Slawburger Festival affect your business?
- What is one thing a newcomer should know about eating in Fayetteville?
- What would you like the town to look like in ten years?
- Is there a photo, menu, or keepsake from your early days we could reproduce?
A Long-Standing Main Street Merchant
Interviewee: to be confirmed
No interview has been recorded. This space will hold the conversation, in the interviewee’s own words, once it happens and they’ve approved it.
Questions we plan to ask (9)
- When was the business founded, and by whom?
- How many generations of your family (or how many owners) have run it?
- What did the square look like when you first opened, and which neighbors are gone?
- How did the 1952 tornado or the 2023 storm affect the business or downtown? (Ask only if relevant.)
- What has kept customers coming back instead of driving to Huntsville or Nashville?
- Which local traditions does your business take part in, such as parades, the fair, or Christmas Past?
- What advice would you give someone opening a business on the square today?
- What should newcomers know about doing business in a small town?
- Who else in town should we interview?