Few occupations come with the occasional spine tingling adventure of rummaging through abandoned buildings, basements, and old houses.  Being a Curator is one of those occupations.  The most memorable for me was when I gained permission to explore the old 1924 Gaston Memorial Hospital on Highland Street in Gastonia to look for objects that could be included in our North Carolina Orthopedic Hospital exhibit. 

Gaston Memorial Hospital

It was a somewhat dreary day with little light coming through the broken and shattered windows of the old hospital.  Electricity in the building had long ago been turned off, so like the ghost hunters on television we armed ourselves with flashlights and started cautiously wondering the hallways. You never know exactly what you are going to encounter on such expeditions; wild animals, a rare historical find, an eerily forgotten item long ago left by the owner, or a glimpse into a tragic event. 

The Old Piano

We started out in the wing with no windows, going through old office spaces with a lot of left over files and office furniture.  We even stumbled across a gurney that had been left behind, but it did not fit the “period” of artifacts we were looking for, so we moved on.    Next we traveled to the recreation/gathering rooms and encountered an old piano that gave us a view into what life at the hospital had been like. 

The Psyche Ward, however, gave most of the team pause.  A patient had set fire to this ward shortly before the hospital closed, and was never repaired.  The charred walls, lack of light, and the finality of a tragic event having taken place in this very spot left most of us with chills running down our spines and the hairs on our arms standing up; leaving each of us anxious to move on.

Fire Damage

Making our way into the basement and still a little on edge from the Psyche Ward, we finally found what we came for in the old fallout shelter.  Treasure beyond a Curator’s belief lined the floors.  Packages of old sterile bandages, needles, and medicine of all types had been left behind as if for the sole purpose of someone from the future bringing back to life the era of this once grand hospital.  Climbing over piles of supplies and dodging open needles, we were on a treasure hunt for the most pristine items.  We passed over many items with water or bug damage, and focused on almost perfect specimens. 

We gathered several other things during our adventure, but what will stay with us always is the excitement and adrenalin rush of that day.  To walk the halls of history and create in your mind the people who worked, lived, or just passed through is something one never forgets.  You cannot help but think about what was happening in the world and Gastonia while this hospital was operating, and putting stories to the experiences you have on an adventure like this.  I will never be able to pass the newly renovated apartment complex now occupying this building without remembering its past and the special impression it made on me that dreary day. 

On June 21^st and August 9^th the Gaston County Museum held our fourth annual Civil War Soldiers Camp. These were day-long opportunities for young men and women to experience, first-hand, some of the trials and tribulations of a Victorian era American soldier.

The camps started with a short introduction to the period. By utilizing images from the Library of Congress, the staff presented the campers with portraits of soldiers from both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. After discussing the differences and similarities of the regions engaged in conflict, the campers were asked to choose a side to fight for.

As usual, the Confederates outnumbered the Federals. During the first camp, museum employee Paul Greene acted as commander of the confederate forces. We were lucky to have Scott Douglas, Interpreter at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, as confederate commander during the second camp.

The campers learned basic drill allowing them to move around the field in a cohesive manner. They would have to put these lessons to use later in the afternoon during the tactical simulations.

Throughout the day members of the staff gave presentations on a variety of Civil War era topics. The federal commander, Outreach Coordinator Robert Bemis, gave talks on the Signal Corps and communications during the War, a brief history of the United States Colored Troops, and the work of war-time illustrator Alfred Waud.

Programs assistant Kelly Mason and intern Becky Soules gave talks on women's roles and camp life. We hoped to present a well rounded experience that addressed issues of multiple genders and race.

The kids enjoyed a modern lunch of Dominos Pizza that energized them for the afternoon’s fun. The commanders of both sides took to the fields with their troops and put to good use the drill lessons from earlier in the day. Parents were asked to arrive a little early to witness the prowess of their troops and enjoy a camp-ending parade.

Both of the camps were rousing successes and we look forward to seeing our veterans again next year.

 Ms. Becky, Mr. Bob, and Ms. Kelly

 Mr. Paul take a "hit"

Mr. Scott signing in the troops.

 Would you like to have this?

Most of the artifacts in our collection come from outside donors. Museums see themselves as keepers of the public’s items. We store them in climate controlled rooms with storage meant to be long lasting. We want visitors to be able to enjoy the objects for many more generations. People come by every week offering us items that we might use. Museums must be careful in selecting objects because we have limited space and resources to care for everything. Trust us, we would love to take in everything that is offered, unfortunately we cannot, and we hate having to say no.

 Our top selecting criteria are:

1.      Was it made/used/owned by someone in Gaston County or North Carolina?

2.      Does it have a good story connected to it that we can share with our visitors?

3.      Is it in good condition—will we be able to care for it long-term and display it?

4.      Is it representative of a larger theme that will fit well in a future exhibit?

5.      Do we have a good example of this particular item in the collection already?

There are many other reasons museums take in certain artifacts, but these are a few of ours.

When we are evaluating a potential donation, we generally don’t know how much anything is worth in terms of money. That is up to an appraiser who is trained in assigning the monetary value of an object like on Antiques Roadshow. We judge worth on the stories surrounding the artifact, how it represents a time period or other culture, and any craftsmanship that went into its creation.

Collecting artifacts from donors is a mutual, trusting relationship between the museum and the general public. We are a center for keeping and displaying things, or what we would call “cultural heritage”. When we take items in, we have the goal of caring for them indefinitely.

Victorian Girls' Camp

   On July 12, the museum played host to a delightful group of young ladies who joined museum staff for a day of nineteenth-century experiences.  This year -- the museum’s third year offering a “Victorian Girls Camp” for young ladies -- the day’s activities centered around nineteenth-century social and leisure activities. 

   Participants tried out a variety of different activities, making several special keepsakes to take home with them.  The morning was devoted primarily to watercolor painting, although uncooperative weather necessitated indoor painting instead of “en plein air” as we had hoped.  Nonetheless, the girls worked on their skills, experimenting with different techniques, before painting several scenes. 

   Silhouettes, a popular and inexpensive way of capturing one’s likeness in the nineteenth century, were also on the morning’s agenda.  In the 1800s, a practiced silhouette cutter could cut a freehand silhouette in about three minutes – it took us a little longer, but by the end of the day, each of the girls took home their own framed silhouette. 

   This year, the museum staff tried something new, offering a lunchtime tea as part of the camp.  After a brief introduction to the history of the afternoon tea ritual and Victorian manners, the girls dined on salmon and cucumber tea sandwiches, cheese, crackers, and fresh fruit, finishing off their meal with a dessert of meringues and brownies. 

   The afternoon flew by with a session on paper quilling, a practice of rolling and manipulating narrow strips of paper that has been around since medieval times.  Each of the girls used their new quilling skills to make a quilled pendant for a necklace. 

   After a delightful day in the nineteenth century, the girls headed home with their families, leaving the museum staff full of new ideas for next year’s Victorian Girls’ Camp.

Learning watercolor techniques in the morning

Lunchtime tea in the hotel’s original dining room . . . everyone used their best etiquette and manners

Girls enjoy sitting on the hotel’s sun porch as they work on cutting out their silhouettes

Gaston County Museum's New Blog

Welcome to our new blog. Look for weekly updates from our staff describing the exciting activities here at the museum!