CHINA GROVE — The great thing about the China Grove Roller Mill Museum, according to Carole Brooke, is the historic building at 308 North Main St. offers both South Rowan community history as well as the story of how wheat is processed into flour.
“We have a combination of stories that are told through the museum,” said Brooke, a member of the Historical Society of South Rowan.
The organization is hoping to reach out to the community once again this Sunday with an open house slated to feature flower pot painting for children in addition to an art exhibit showcasing the work of South Rowan High School students.
The art on display will include pictures and glass mosaics.
The event is free to the public and will last from 2 to 4 p.m.
Goodman Farm Supply is supplying the pots for the children to paint, and South Rowan’s art department is providing the supplies, Brooke said.
“We have sponsored this event for several years,” Brooke said. “It rained last year, and we still had 30 to 40 children. We are hoping for a larger crowd this year. They can all come in and see the museum and also the art exhibit.”
Brooke said the event traditionally has catered to children in kindergarten through second grade.
This year, they are trying to bring in people of all ages.
“The point of the open house is to get children to come to the museum with their families,” Brook said. “We thought, if we gave them an art project, we could increase attendance and get people interested in history.”
In addition to the museum tours, open house attendees also will have the chance to view South Rowan High School students’ masterpieces.
“The kids really enjoy it. It’s really fun to see how much they respond when learning about their past,” Brooke said. “They love the painting of the flower pots, too.”
The way wheat was transformed into flour for years, Brooke said, is an “engineering marvel.”
The museum’s tours open children’s eyes and impart a sense of understanding as to how everyday products are made, Brook said.
“A lot of the children don’t know where the flour they see in the grocery store comes from,” Brooke said. “This was not only a place to come and buy your flour and cornmeal, but also a place to socialize, learn the news of the community and gossip.”
Barbara Doby, president of the Historical Society of South Rowan, said Sunday’s open house is the society’s “dream” of exposing the Roller Mill to the community as a teaching tool.
“We’ve got a lot to offer to people of all ages,” Doby said. “This is a top-notch event.”
For more information on the China Grove Roller Mill Museum and Sunday’s open house, call Doby at 704-433-3912.