County museum will lose director to school district
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on November 15, 2006 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Museum is looking for a new director.
Museum Director Janet Clayton has resigned to take a job with the Wayne County school system.
Historical Association President Preston Garris told the museum board Tuesday night that the executive committee has known for some time that Ms. Clayton was looking for a job that would provide benefits the museum could not. Garris said he had helped her in her search and gave her a good recommendation.
"Janet is still a member and will be volunteering when she can. She loves this organization and wants to continue being involved," he said.
Garris said he plans to interview an applicant for the job today, but added that he doesn't know how long the search will take.
Mrs. Clayton had served as the library's director for about a year.
Meanwhile, board members Charles Ellis, Chris and Anna Lawson and Bobby and Velda Faye Howell are taking turns staffing the museum during its open hours.
In other business, Garris said historian Emily Weil has finished her book about the Union army's occupation of Goldsboro during the final days of the Civil War and the three-year period that followed. Federal troops took over Goldsboro in March of 1865 after the Battle of Bentonville. The town remained under martial law for several years while the South went through Reconstruction.
"The book is in story form, with romance, illness, some things that don't make it into history books," Garris said.
Mrs. Weil is donating the proceeds from the book sales to the Historical Association, and Garris said the museum can expect to net about $5,000.
He said the book is being edited and is taking a little longer than anticipated to get to the printer.
"We're looking at the spring now. We had hoped for Christmas," he said.
The printer will turn out 1,000 hardbacks, and he said he is looking for outlets for the sale of the book.
"A book-signing is on the plate," he said. "We'll have a gala, put on the dog and have refreshments. And I hope to get some other groups involved."
The association's next meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, with music and featured speaker Jewel Sauls. Mrs. Sauls will wear period dress and discuss the Civil War in Wayne County.