W.J. Carroll Intermediate fifth-graders are working on a “Doors of Daphne” fundraiser to support the Old Methodist Church Museum of Daphne.

“It’s been an idea of mine since before I was a teacher,” gifted-class teacher Blair Heald said. “It’s a way to have students learn about their hometown.”

The project involves teams of students taking photographs of local doors, learning about the history of each door and elements of architecture and photography.

The project will include 40 doors and 200 photos, according to Heald.

The finished project will be a poster, incorporating all chosen photos, that will be available for purchase in the spring; all proceeds will help the Old Methodist Church Museum of Daphne maintain its historical archives.

Students have enjoyed the project because they’ve applied their newly-acquired photography and editing skills.

“I’ve learned more about the doors in Daphne and all the unique houses,” fifth-grader Robert Haley said. “I’ve also learned how to take proper pictures.”

Haley said the students look for shadows, ensure they get the whole door in the photo’s frame and have learned to shoot extra shots.

“We learned how to angle our cameras and about all the interesting doors,” fifth-grader Christopher Walding said.

“My favorite one had iron bars at the top,” Haley said. “It had an old style to it.

“The door was pretty unique, too,” he added. “It was the same iron as the bars covering the window.”

Fifth-grader Christopher Johnson said his favorite part of the project has been learning about each door’s history.

“I enjoyed learning about the different doors and some of the stories behind them,” he said.

Heald said the historical aspect of the project should affect students and the community.

“When the project itself is about history, it benefits  the community to learn about its history,” she said.

Heald plans to speak with local residents who have lived here more than 20 years to gather information on the city’s history.

“One thing I’d like to devote more time to is finding out from community members what it was like to live here 15 or 20 years ago or even longer,” she said.

Heald asks that residents participate by sending photos of doors, by e-mail, to bheald@bcbe.org. The message should have “Doors” in the subject line.