Caldwell County Historical Society

September 2011 Newsletter

October, 2011 meeting: October 14, 2011 at 7 pm
St. James Episcopal Church

Guest presenter: Karen Wheeling Reynolds, Author of Tom Dooley The Story Behind the Ballad

        Author Karen Wheeling Reynolds grew up on the banks of old Elk Creek in Elksville, North Carolina (now Ferguson), where the famous lovers' triangle and the murder of Laura Foster occurred. Many of Reynolds’ neighbors, friends and family are descended from individuals involved in this story. She is the great–great–great granddaughter of Calvin and Martha Cowles and a relative of Colonel James Horton.

         Reynolds will talk about her book, followed by questions and discussion. There will also be a book signing and sale before and after the program. The Public is invited to attend free of charge.

July Meeting. Twenty–nine members and guests attended the Dutch Treat dinner at AJ’s Family Steak house on July 11, 2011. The program was the Colletsville Historical Society presented by Mr. Wayne Beane, president of the society. The society was established November 15, 2005 and covers the history of the northwestern part of Caldwell County. Several members of the Colletsville Historical Society were present.   Despite the hot and humid weather it was a good time had by all, with good food and a very interesting and informative program. Several people stayed after the program was over to chat.

         Following the meal, President Kathryn Jackson welcomed the members and guests and reported that the July newsletters had been mailed and hoped everyone had a chance to read it; the Civil war markers fee has been paid for 2011; a color photo of the school room at the museum was passed around for people to see the new paint job; and the museum now has security cameras. On a sad note, Kathryn announced the passing of Mary Lib Blackwell a former member.

Executive Board. The Historical Society's Executive Board met at Giovanni’s Restaurant on July 28. 2011. The minutes of the July meeting were approved, and the treasurer’s balance was reported as being $ 9,946.24. Possible changes to the by-laws were discussed. On a motion by Lynda Campbell, seconded by Mary Gay Hickman, the Board voted not to make any changes to the by –laws.

Membership. The total membership is now 92.  About membership.

Member Projects. Members Barbara Watson, Lynda Campbell and Andrea Calloway are working on the Davenport Room project at the Museum.   Sydney Halma, former Director of the Catawba County Museum, has been invited to help the room committee to make the Davenport College Room look more “professional."

About Our Members. Long-time member Peggy Crane passed away on June 27, 2011, and former long time member Mary Lib Blackwell passed away on July 6, 2011.

Thank You to Lynda Campbell, Barbara Watson, Kathryn Jackson and Andrea Calloway for helping put together the last newsletter.

     Civil War markers. $24 dollars in donations were received at the July Dutch treat dinner on July 11, 2011. Our total thus far for 2012 is $34 with $400 total needed for both markers. We depend on contributions from you for their maintenance.

     For the annual maintenance of the two Civil War Trails markers in the county, the Historical Society has a special account separate from the rest of the Society's budget; and designated gifts for that purpose are always appreciated. Please make checks payable to "Civil War Markers" and mail or bring them to the Caldwell Heritage Museum, c/o the Society , at 112 Vaiden St SW, Lenoir 28645.

     Our markers are located in Patterson (above) at the Ruritan building, across from the Happy Valley School, and in Lenoir at the Corner of Main Street and Harper Ave, behind St. James' Episcopal Church. See more details here.

Field Trip. On August 10, 2011, the Caldwell Heritage Museum Board took a field trip to Catawba County Museum of History in Newton. Eighteen people made the trip. Eleven members of the Caldwell County Historical Society were part of the group. They were Andrea Calloway, Lynda Campbell, John Hawkins, Barbara Watson, Bob Booth, Tom Shuford, Colin Foust, Betty Huggins, Bob Hensley, James Spears and Forest Tate. After touring the Catawba Museum, the group had lunch at Geppetto’s in Newton.

         The afternoon was spent at Hart Square. Dr. Hart, his wife Betty and grandson Robert gave attendees a guided tour of the “farm”, as they simply call it. For nearly forty years, Dr. Robert Hart of Hickory has rescued and restored Carolina life of the nineteenth century, creating in the rolling countryside of Catawba County an entire village of the largest collection of original historical log structures in the United States.

         The Hart Square Festival is scheduled on October 22, 2011. A clothbound, full color coffee table book, Hart Square: One Man’s Passionate Preservation of North Carolina’s Pioneer Heritage, is available to festival ticket purchasers at the discounted price of $70.00. Tickets and books can be purchased from Hart Square Foundation at 679 Sixth Street NW, Hickory, North Carolina 28601. All proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the Hart Square Foundation for the long-term preservation of the village. The book features 798 color photographs of the structures and their period furnishings with detailed histories and the often humorous anecdotes of moving and restoring them (sometimes at peril to life, limb, and digit).


July 2011 Newsletter         December 2010 Newsletter         May 2010 Newsletter        April 2010 Newsletter

About the Historical Society. The Caldwell County Historical Society was organized in 1949 and chartered as a non-profit corporation on July 3, 1950. The purpose as stated in the charter continues as: “…to investigate and study the history of Caldwell County, provide for collecting of information relevant thereto; protect and display archival documents, records, artifacts; mark and preserve historic sites and buildings; own, lease, operate, or sell real or personal property, publish and sell a history or other works of interest to citizens of Caldwell County.”

The first president of the Caldwell County Historical Society was Mrs. W. I. Pitts, and one of the first items of business for the group was to find a location for a museum. In this they were finally successful when the museum opened to the public in 1991. The Museum and the Historical Society are now separately incorporated, and each continues its own work in the common purpose of saving Caldwell County history for future generations.

Executive Committee Officers for 2011

President…………………..……Kathryn Jackson

Vice-President..............Barbara Watson

Secretary…………………………Andrea Calloway

Treasurer…………………………Charles Triplett

Members-at-Large…………..Lynda Campbell (2011) Barbara Love (2012) Mary Gaye Hickman (2013)

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

Membership dues for 2011 are $15.00 per person per calendar year and are pro-rated quarterly.
Members joining for the current year between July 1 and September 30, dues are $7.50; after October 1, dues are $3.75 for the remainder of the year.
Annual dues for the Friends of the Library are $5.00.
Checks should be made to the Caldwell County Historical Society and mailed to 112 Vaiden St. SW, Lenoir NC 28645.