ne hundred members of the Rowan Museum gathered Thursday evening, Oct. 27, in the Messinger Room of the Rowan Museum to celebrate the museum’s 58th anniversary.
Guests enjoyed the exhibits and tours of the Museum before going to the Messinger Room to have a dinner of chicken and dumplings and all the trimmings prepared by local caterer Debbie Suggs.
A brief general meeting was held to elect new board members: M.J. Maddox and Paul Brown, both of Salisbury. Returning board members up for re-election were Larry Brown of Landis, Buddy Gettys of Spencer, Dick Huffman of Salisbury, Jeannie Misenheimer of Rockwell, Ann Fryar of China Grove and Reginald Brown of Salisbury.
Retiring board member Jennie Sparks of Salisbury was honored for her many years of service to the museum, and spoke on her love for her work with the museum.
Dick Huffman, president of the board, asked for reports on the upcoming Antiques Show, Silent Auction and History Club. Executive Director Kaye Brown Hirst gave her annual report on the programs and services of the museum, and recognized staff members, volunteers and high school volunteers.
Members of the Museum’s Maxwell-Chambers Society were honored with gifts of crystal ornaments of the museum.
Also honored at the event were two local Scouts: Eagle Scout Marshall Brady, son of John and Elizabeth Brady, and Gold Award Scout Meredith Hovis, daughter of the Rev. Marcus and Vanessa Hovis. Brady completed work for his Eagle project by building two footbridges over the creek at the Museum’s 1766 Old Stone House in Granite Quarry and also by clearing a new trail on the property. Hovis began a chapter of the Tar Heel Junior Historians for the museum, a program associated with the NC Museum of History in Raleigh. Middle schoolers participate in Saturday history programming at the museum. Visual presentations were given for each of the Scout’s projects.
Tricia Denton Creel, education coordinator for the museum, along with Terry Holt, board member, and Hirst, presented a visual presentation on the new Civil War camp conducted this summer by the museum for middle school students. The camp was sponsored by the Woodson Foundation and the Robertson Family Foundation.
Huffman, Hirst, past board presidents Susan Waller and Lib Taylor then helped to present the museum’s Norvell Cup, an award presented at the board’s discretion to an outstanding volunteer. The recipient was Clyde, who has given over 40 years of service, time and energies to the museum, especially through the camp programs and exhibits work and acquistitions. A visual presentation was given of his work with the museum. He received a leaded crystal loving cup.