Wayne County Museum -- Gift Shop and Exhibit open
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on July 28, 2004 1:58 PM
The Wayne County Historical Association is continuing its efforts to bring more people to the county museum by improving its gift shop and through exhibits.
A portion of the gift shop has been moved closer to the entrance so visitors will see it immediately. Sales have improved over the past few days and association members hope it will continue.
Catherine Belmonte, museum manager, has been working for the past year to bring more items into the shop. The items include books for all ages, toys, candy, American flags, pencil sharpeners in the shape of cannons and telephones, Christmas ornaments and coffee mugs from the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, and Christmas cards and postcards with information on the different historic buildings in downtown Goldsboro.
There is a discounted "book of the month" and videos from the recent book signing at the museum of local Medal of Honor winners. All of the items are reasonably priced and the money goes toward the association, said Ms. Belmonte. People can donate historical items to be sold in the shop.
The museum also has a popular Adamsville exhibit that is helping bring back the somewhat forgotten Adamsville community through photographs and memorabilia. The exhibit will remain until September.
Jenny Butler Wilder, a member of the B.F. Adams family, helped coordinate the exhibit, titled "Remembering Adamsville" and spent months gathering items that are connected with the over 100-year history of the community.
The items include family histories, documents, photographs, advertisements, magazines and newspaper articles, school annuals and diplomas and items from the area's businesses. It also has a place for visitors to write about their Adamsville friends, neighbors, co-workers and any businesses, organizations or events they remember. People can add items to the exhibit throughout the summer.
They are still looking for things like photographs of families that lived in Adamsville, which is now the corner area of Berkeley Boulevard and Ash Street, and anything to do with the old New Hope High School, where children from Adamsville were bused. That school is now Eastern Wayne High School.
They would also like to display items from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, a baseball league, bowling league or any other organization that used to be in Adamsville. Anyone with any of these items should contact Dr. Lee Adams at 735-6874.
Adamsville's history dates back to 1889. In the 1960s, Adamsville was a thriving community of more than 500 families. The disappearance of the community began with its annexation into Goldsboro, which was completed in 1970.
After the exhibit is taken down, the information and photographs will become a part of the association and the Wayne County Public Library.
Several women enjoyed their Tuesday afternoon reminiscing while looking through the exhibit's photos.
"It brings back a lot of memories," said Billie Merchant, who lived in the area.
The museum is handicapped-accessible and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. The museum can accommodate day cares, school field trips and other groups.
For more information, call 734-5023.
The museum is at 116 N. William St. in Goldsboro.