ROCKINGHAM — Since Jan. 16, the new Richmond County Museum has seen more than 500 people come through the doors to see and hear a little history about the county.
According to museum director Kelly Pruett, those same people and more will need to come back as the museum is still adding pieces.
Most of the items that are currently on display were put together in roughly three months, said Pruett, but a lot of them have been rearranged or moved to a different section. Other displays have been added with more in storage ready to see the light once again.
Pruett said she is working with the American Legion to add to the military section and stuffed pheasants and quails will be joining the museum to represent Webb Farm and DeWitts Farm, both of Ellerbe. There is such a giant gauntlet of items housed inside that it’s an ongoing job to fit everything in.
“It’s just amazing,” said Pruett. “We keep putting a little bit out at a time, but it’s just so much.”
On the education and sports side, Pruett added that people have been bringing in annuals from schools such as Rockingham High School and Richmond Senior when it first opened in 1972. Some from Rohanen High School between 1962-69 called “The Torch” are also on display.
All the Raider annuals were changed to “The Treasure Chest” in 1973 and were donated by former county coach Bill Eustler’s son.
“He also has a tub full of newspapers from all the way back to the 1940s. A lot of them talked about World War II,” said Pruett. “We have all of his (Eustler’s) playbooks and coaching notes and have put a lot of things out already. We have all ladies’ sports from volleyball to basketball.”
There are also five signed footballs from Rockingham High School football teams — including the 1948 team — currently on display.
With racing being such an integral part of the county, James Lowery of Rockingham brought in a race ticket from Oct. 26, 1969 at the fifth annual American 500 Grand National stock car race at North Carolina Speedway as well as promotional literature from the race that attendees were given upon entering the track.
Lowery also brought in four German coins from World War II ranging from 1941-44.
Upon entering the museum, to the left sits the farming section and Pruett said a new display with farming equipment, garden rows and a movable platform are on the way. The platform is being designed and built by Don Taylor, who built the cabinets that sit in the museum. A mannequin will be set up to look like he’s plowing a garden, said Pruett.
Another new display will feature a Coca-Cola bottle for every year the plant was opened on U.S. 74 outside the Hamlet city limits from 1903-53. That amounts to 50 years of Coke bottles.
Although the museum is currently chock full of artifacts reflecting Richmond County history, Pruett knows that’s a good thing and still encourages people to keep dropping items off.
“It’s an everyday chore to keep up with this stuff, but everyone is still encouraged to keep bringing items,” she said. “Every day is Christmas. It’s awesome. I’ll tell you one thing. I’m learning. Everybody that brings stuff has been really positive and are very excited. I still have plenty of walls.”
Reach reporter Matt Harrelson at 910-817-2674, follow him on Twitter @mattyharrelson and listen to him at 12:10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on G-104.3 FM.
