April 2012
Issue No 3.
NotesandNotables
Greetings!

Spring has arrived at the Museum and there is much to see, both inside and out. The Children have had planting days in the garden; warm weather and rains have gotten everything off to a wonderful start.  
 
Visitors are still being educated and engaged by the current Exhibit "Perseverance, Strength and Faith: The African American Experience in Transylvania Couny."  
 
One survey form stated that the exhibit helps 'the people of the county appreciate the innumerable contributions to the county by these courageous culturally rich people.'  If you haven't seen it, make plans to do so! 
 
I'd also like to extend an invitation to you to become a Museum Luminary. Your membership and support makes it possible to provide quality programs and exhibits for the community. We couldn't do it without you! 

Sincerely - Rebecca Suddeth, Executive Director

Become a Museum Luminary in April

 

Beginning this week, the Museum is offering a special kind of membership, similar to one we offered last year.  Members will be known as Museum Luminaries (honored members who inspire others and provide the oil that keeps our lights burning).

 

The cost:  $151/ household (this is the County's 151st year)

 

Term:  1 year (renewals at the end of June or December, after 1 year)

 

What does this money do?  It keeps our doors open and our lights on.

 

Benefits for each membership, assuming 2 people in the household participate (total value $255 or more):

  • Calendar featuring historic photos from Transylvania County (value $25)
  • One year membership for Transylvania Genealogy Society (value $40)
  • Free admission to all ticketed events (value $120+)
  • Exclusive special walking tour lead by a costumed guide, sat., May 12 at 9:30 AM (value $30)
  • Exclusive Spring Luncheon with a speaker (value $20)

 

Click here to download our Museum Luminary membership form! 

Edith
Edith Darity

"From Africa to America-The Legacy of African American Music"   

April 27 from 5:30-7:00pm

 

The Transylvania Heritage Museum will kick off the First Fourth Friday Gallery Walk on April 27, with a special program entitled   "From Africa to America -The Legacy of African American Music."   

 

Speaker Edith Darity will discuss the way African American music has carried aspects of the African culture into American culture. She will be accompanied by Rosenwald Community Musicians and other special guests. The program begins at 6:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. This event is funded in part by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council in support of the current exhibit, "Perseverance, Strength and Faith: The African American Experience in Transylvania County."

Wendy
Wendy Hawkins working in the Children's Garden.
The Children's Garden - Spring Planting!

This year's 2012 raised garden bed, erected especially for the 4-H club under the auspices of the NC Agricultural Extension Service is a major upgrade from 2011.

 

"We were able to save the perennial herbs and replant them in the new garden space," said volunteer Wendy Hawkins. Other volunteers who used 4x4s to build the raised beds were Brian du Toit, Tom Frederickson, Betty Sherrill, and Charles and Jean Brendle. Top soil was provided by Mark Willis Grading, Inc. 

 

This year's garden has a better position, taking advantage of the sun's rays and having a larger space. Included in the 2 raised beds this year, are many more vegetables, a few flowers laid out in a square-foot garden .A large load of horse manure from Jimmy and Jackie Whitmire, owners of the Whitmire Century Family Farm in the Cherryfield area of Transylvania County, will make all the gardens on the grounds grow better and healthier. The first cold weather crops have been planted, such as peas, carrots, greens and onions. The next planting date will be April 29 at 3:30 on the museum grounds. Children do not have to be part of the 4-H to participate in the planting-all are welcome. For more information, call 884-2347.

 

 


Media Center

 
Need photos or additional information? Contact Leigh Trapp, Publicity Chair at 949.610.5570 or email [email protected]

Teaching Trunks launched across the Region

 

In March, three "Meet the Trunks" events were held across the Western North Carolina region   Events were held at the Hunter Library on the Brevard College Campus, the Mountain Heritage Center on the Western Carolina University Campus, and at the Department of Cultural Resources Western Office in Oteen. 

 

Through the actual events and communication about the events, educators in eight counties across the region discovered the resources of the Teaching Trunks program. Information about the Teaching Trunk Program was also shared at two sessions of the North Carolina Museum Council's Annual Conference in Asheville on March 18th and 19th

 

As a result of the Conference, the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh will be placing a link to the Teaching Trunk Web site as a resource for educators across the state. With this announcement, the NC Department of Cultural Resources, The Mountain Heritage Center, and the Friends of Mountain History also requested permission to link to our site. The Teaching Trunks were developed in part through funding from the Transylvania Endowment of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina

 

 

 

In This Issue
Museum Luminaries
Edith Darity Presentation
The Children's Garden
Media Center/Press
Teaching Trunks
Calendar of Events
Calendar Items

* Now Through June 30

 

Perseverance, Strength and Faith: The African Amercian Experience in Transylvania County. Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. On display now through June 30th.

"From Africa to America -The Legacy of African American Music." Friday, April 27 6:00-7:00pm.

 

* April 29th

 

Spring Planting. The next planting day at the Museum's Children's Garden is April 29th, at 3:00pm.

 

 

* Save the Date: 

May 19 at 1 p.m.

 

Transylvania County Library Rogow Room. Special speaker Omar Ali will present a program entitled "Understanding Black History as American History."

 

 This presentation will engage audiences in an exploration of how "Black History" is "American History" without glorifying the contributions of men and women of African descent, yet demon-strating their significance in shaping America's narrative. This program is sponsored by the North Carolina Humanities Council, the Transylvania Heritage Museum and the Transylvania County Library North Carolina History Room. The program is free and light refreshments will be served.