Programs and Stories and Outreach Oh My!

Do you have a favorite museum memory?

As an intern at the museum every week, if not every day, includes a new favorite memory or lesson learned. I have the pleasure of working with the Gaston County and Dallas community both within the museum and bringing programs to different sites outside the museum walls.

Ms. Kelly demonstrating "hoops"

This past week the museum helped celebrate the 150^th Birthday of the city of Dallas. Myself and Programs Coordinator Jason Luker brought out Hoops, Graces, Rounders, and many other old-timey games for the kids (and adults!) to play with. And boy did we play! Even though we don’t see these games on the shelves for kids to play with today, everyone had a great time learning how to use the “new” toys and playing a competitive game of Rounders. Rounders is very comparable to modern-day baseball with a few unique differences. The biggest difference in the game is that the bases are backwards. First base in Rounders is third base in baseball.  Much confusion and hilarity ensued as the kids ran bases every which way!

Every month the education staff sends someone out to do a program with the adult day cares in Gaston County. Last week was my turn! I had a great time adapting a paper I had written in school to the audience. I spoke about the power of television in the 1950’s and how the way news and information was communicated changed dramatically. Everyone loved talking about their own experiences with television in the 1950’s. One lady mentioned how she and her brothers and sisters asked not to be given any Christmas gifts if they could only have a TV! It was a great experience for me to create a program the museum does not normally have in its repertoire and have people respond to it! Not to mention I got to dress up in 1950's clothing as opposed to our normal “Victorian” wear!

Museum interns Ms. Kim and Ms. Susan

Whether we are at the museum interacting with guests or bringing our programs out into the community every week brings new favorite museum memories to our staff! 

Welcome to our newest staff member!

My name is Jason Luker and I am the new Programs Coordinator for the Gaston County Museum. I have been in the museum profession for the past 10 years working for different organizations such as the Charlotte Museum of History, the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, GA, and most recently Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, SC. Instead of giving the typical resume rundown, I wanted to share a story from my life that I think highlights the reason why I have chosen the museum profession and what motivates me in my work.

Like most people in this field, I grew up going to museums and historical sites. My mother was the one that made sure our vacations included these historical stops. My father, though interested, was not the torch barrier for these excursions. He mostly went along with them because his wife and ultimately his children were interested. The poor man was outnumbered.

However, my father did participate with me on one memorable trip. This time it was to a lost graveyard. My family line has lived in Alabama since the early 19^th century, moving from the Carolina’s and Georgia as land became available. The first family members to cross into the state were William and Catherine Luker. My father had no idea where they lived or were buried. By doing some research, I was able to determine their burial site. The old church that my descendants had attended relocated and the old cemetery, where William and Catherine were buried, had been abandoned. Surprisingly, my father and I were able to locate the old cemetery in the backwoods of Alabama and there were still a few grave makers visible.

Through this trip, I was able to share with my father all the information I had found out about our family, much of it he had never heard of before. We were connected to our past that day and ultimately better connected to one another.

That is what drives me in my work; connecting people to their past. I look forward to providing programs and sharing the rich history and culture of Gaston County with our patrons. I want their visit to be one that excites their curiosity about the past and gain a better appreciation of those that came before us. It is an honor to join such a wonderful team here at the Gaston County Museum and I hope you visit us soon.

Sounds of Carolina – Museum Fundraiser

Clyde "Pop" Ferguson

                We hope you will be able to join us for a fun filled evening and support the museum on Saturday October 19 from 7 – 10 PM!  This event promises to be exciting and entertaining for everyone.  During this night, our new Evolution of Recorded Sound exhibit will be open for patrons to view.  This exhibit explores the history of recorded sound, starting with the phonograph and continuing through the iPod.  Listen to the difference between a late 1800's song and one recorded in 2013.  Relive memories of the record player, 8-Track, and Walkman!

        In addition, there will be on-going live music from 7-8 PM from Royce Robinson & Friends (mill music), John Alexander (jazz saxophone music), the Chordweavers (barbershop quartet), and more!  Beginning at 8:30 PM, Clyde “Pop” Ferguson and his band will perform a set of Piedmont Blues music behind the museum.  At the event, there will also be fine food and drink, and silent auction items.  Tickets are $60 per person and we encourage you to contact 704.922.7681 x100 to purchase yours today.  We hope to see all of you at the event.

The Chordweavers

Best wishes,

Jeff Pruett – Director 

Extra! Extra!

Museum Staff buried alive under stuff!

Intern found giggling under collapsed pottery kiln!

Registrar disappears into paperwork sinkhole!

Okay, perhaps it won’t make the front page news, but the curatorial staff has been feeling rather ‘buried’ at the moment! BIG changes are in the works at the Museum.

Ms. Kim

The North Carolina Pottery Exhibit has come down (literally in the case of the kiln vignette falling on top of intern Kim Looby! She’s fine, Mom, we promise!) and The Evolution of Recorded Sound is going up.

Over the past several years we’ve done some exhibits that while interesting, have dealt with some pretty serious topics: child labor, children with serious medical issues, the Civil War, etc. And though these have been mixed with some amazing art exhibits, they haven’t really offered the staff (or the visitors) an opportunity to have any fun. The Sound exhibit is just that. A fun topic that while interesting and informative, concentrates purely on entertainment!

Ms. Regan

Of course we’re never still for long! As soon as the exhibit is up, we’ll be moving our offices around! The Curatorial and Education departments are doing a BIG switch-up, moving desks, files and shelves. Why? So we can all be together around the campfire! J Right now, our offices are spread out throughout the building. Now that we’re bringing on our newest partner in crime, Programs Coordinator Jason Luker, we thought it might be a good opportunity to try and get everyone in the same area. That way the ideas can flow a bit more smoothly and we don’t have to hunt everyone down to get feedback and input. A great idea, and while we’re at it, it’s the perfect time to go through 20+ years of old files, pare down and weed out. Which might take awhile….. 

It is that time of year! It is hard to believe that summer is gone and the new school year is upon us! The education staff has been very busy with fabulous summer camps and is now gearing up for school programs!

Teachers and students alike can expect to see some new and exciting changes to our popular America in the 19^th Century program! Not only will you meet some new smiling faces but you will also see some new elements in our interpretation!

Ms. Kelly

Kelly Mason, one of the educators at the museum has been busy with her needle and thread this summer and completed her first period outfit.

We also have a new beautiful piece of furniture that is in the process being refurbished in our domestic station.

When you walk out to the carriage house, don’t forget to check out our new hands on tack section near Van Gogh.

We look forward to seeing everyone this coming fall! Come and check it out!

 

The new Hutch