NC Cotton Museum
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on March 27, 2016 1:45 AM
PIKEVILLE -- Sequestered in a brick building on the outskirts of Pikeville, the North Carolina Cotton Museum embodies the concept of a "hidden gem."
The museum is an eclectic collection of artifacts from most of Wayne County's history, featuring items from the mid-1800s up to the 1970s. Old farm equipment covers the rear wall, and handmade clothing from the mid 19th century is displayed on mannequins and hung up on display walls throughout.
These older pieces sit next to school chairs and newspapers from the 1950s and 1960s, coming together to paint a picture of Wayne County throughout its history.
The museum was established in 1991 at the Lions Club headquarters and moved to its current building in 1996.
The single-story building, all that remains of what was once Pikeville Elementary School, sits next to Town Hall.
Co-curator David Bissette said that the intent of the museum is to preserve northern Wayne County history for those who may not be aware of it.
"A lot of people around here don't know their history, and we like to be able to show it to them." Bissette said.
While the items hanging from the walls tell the story of Wayne County, they far from tell the whole story of the museum itself. That can be found in a small room off to the side of the main gallery, in the many shelves and filing cabinets filled with genealogical research done by the museum's curators.
The museum has done research on 12 different families in the area and helped to identify 146 veterans buried in Pikeville Cemetery. This focus on the military extends to the gallery where a wall is set aside for pictures of active and retired military personnel. Other photos, some nearly 100 years old, dot the walls as well.
Co-curator Rosie Colvin said that this photo collection is part of what makes the museum special.
"People come in here and realize we have a picture of their great-grandma or great-granddad." Mrs. Colvin said. "That kind of thing makes people excited."
Originally funded by grant money established by founder Charles Ellis, the museum has recently encountered financial troubles. The facility now runs primarily on donations from the community, as well as proceeds from the occasional public event such as raffling off handmade quilts. However, after the buildings insurance rate increased by $200, it became difficult to pay the bills. At one point, water in the building had to be shut off.
To combat this, the Pikeville Town Board decided at its March 7 meeting to foot the bill for the facility's utility costs. Furthermore, the board will vote at its April budget meeting to approve a motion that would set aside $1,000 in the annual budget for the museum's benefit.
Commissioner Lyman Galloway encouraged Pikeville residents to continue to donate to the museum.
The museum is also working with the Dobbs County Historical Society to secure further grant money.
Mrs. Colvin, for one, hopes to be able to keep the museum going for the foreseeable future. She said that facilities like the Cotton Museum are an important link between what came before and what will come next.
"A museum is not just a building." Mrs.Colvin said. "We are the past, the present and the future."
The N.C. Cotton Museum is open every fourth Sunday of the month, and is also open by appointment. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Rosie Colvin at (919)920-3028 or David Bissette at (919)738-8939.