UWGB students recreate history using social media
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Black and white photos give us a glimpse into history of the 1880 Green Bay Fire.
"It actually destroyed 100 buildings, it's the worst fire the city has ever had," said UW-Green Bay professor, John Shelton.
A group of UW-Green Bay students are using social media to tell the story captured in photos.
Shelton says it’s all being done by using Twitter, "Each student would research one character who was alive at the time, an actual person. So, we're going to be pretending today that the fire is happening."
The class participated in a Twitter reenactment, using the hashtag, "GBFire1880".
"I’m John Atkinson. He lived in the northern part of Green Bay, that the fire restarted up by," said Coleton LaBarre, a student in the class.
Tweeting what would have been the thoughts of John Atkinson.
LaBarre says the project changed his view of the history, "This is a good way to bring a more modern point of view."
Professor Shelton says the main goal of the exercise is to engage the public, on some of the research students are doing, highlighting historical Green Bay events.
"So,Twitter opens this incredible kind of avenue, to have students engage the public, while they're also learning skills that are necessary,” he explained.
This is the first year the class has hosted the Twitter reenactment.