Lincoln County Historical Association
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As early as 1907, citizens of Lincoln County determined a need in the county for an historical society to acquire and preserve the artifactual history of the county and make plans for the propagation of this history for posterity. Local supporters explained that local preservation of historic relics, and development of a site to store and display these relics would add charm that that was found in the New England states. They explained that the appeal of these states lies in their marking of �every spot where an event of any importance occurred.�
The Lincoln County Historical Association was organized in 1954 with interested members from the county�s various civic organizations. The Association was officially chartered by the State of North Carolina on March 28, 1955. The organization�s mission included the investigation, compilation, and preservation of historical facts, data, or other information concerning Lincoln County and its citizens. Their objectives were to produce, operate, and participate in the production of pageants, dramas, lectures, writings, or shows for the dissemination of such historical information and historical education of the residents of Lincoln County and surrounding areas. In addition, they made provisions to purchase, lease, own, compile, or develop historical sites and mementos of Lincoln County to education the residents of the county.
The greatest challenge to the Association since its inception came in 1987 with the forming of the Lincoln County Museum of History. At this time, Lincoln County purchased the old First Baptist Church at 403 East Main St., which had been used as the Lincoln Campus of Gaston College for several years prior. The objective was to form the Lincoln Cultural Center to house the various arts and history groups in Lincoln County. From 1987 to 1991 representatives from the Association to the Lincoln Cultural Development Center reported on the status of the project, and advised the organization on the structure of the fundraising campaign and the place of the Association in the overall planning of the new project. The Association appointed Bill Beam, John Friday, and Mercer Simmons to work with John Ellington, Director of the Department of Archives and History and History Museum branch of the State Museum, in the early planning stages of the new museum. As early as 1990, the Association began organizing and publishing a calendar with monthly historical photographs to showcase the rich photographic history of the county, and to raise money for future museum projects.
In 1991 the former First Baptist Church of Lincolnton was remodeled, due largely to a one million dollar grant from the Timken Foundation. For many years the Lincoln County Historical Association had dreamed of an opportunity to open a museum and house donated and loaned artifacts and objects. As an original member of the Lincoln Cultural Center the Association opened the Lincoln County Museum of History in conjunction with the opening of the Lincoln Cultural Center in 1991. The museum enlisted the services of myriad volunteers during the early years of its operations, and acquired artifacts, objects, display units, and other museum-related materials to professionally represent Lincoln County�s historic character and roots.
Since the founding of the museum, the Association has maintained a core group of volunteers that provided an exorbitant of hours to bring the museum to fruition. With the assistance of Sam Grey and Terrell Finley from the Western Office of the North Department of Archives and History in Old Fort, North Carolina, these volunteers painted platforms, collected artifacts, filled out paperwork, organized displays, promoted the organization�s projects, conducted tours, planned exhibits, and met incessantly to ensure that the their museum became an institution that other North Carolina counties would seek to emulate. The volunteers that worked hard throughout the early years of the museum�s existence include Bill Beam, John and Lila Friday, Mercer and Peggy Simmons, Robert and Ann Dellinger, Elsie Keever, Joe and Ruth Leonard, Marshall Ramseur, Bill Ramseur, William �Bill� and Matt Carpenter, Brad Bangle, Hunter Rudisill, John and Rubylee Cline, Darryl Harkey, David Heavner, and Sarah Yoder.
In 1991, with the opening of the museum, the Association began an endeavor that would lead the organization towards a reputable future of presenting quality shows to the people of Lincolnton and Lincoln County. On November 18, 1991, Bill Beam reported that NASA had selected the Lincoln County as one of four sites nationwide where it would sponsor their SPACE exhibit. The museum premiered the exhibit during the week of April 6-15, 1992. This exhibit involved the inclusion of local schools, businesses, industries, and the entire community. During this time, the Association secured the assistance of John Ellington, Director of the Department of Archives and History Museum Branch of the State Museum, and organized a display of the time capsule from the Lincolnton Grammar School at the Lincoln County Courthouse.
In addition to museum-related activities during the 1990s, the organization published and sold various booklets to educate the general public about the history of Lincolnton and Lincoln County. The family of Frank Crowell donated reprinted copies of the Annals of Lincoln County by William Sherrill to sell for the benefit of the organization, and the organization reprinted various works from Alfred Nixon on the history of Beatties Ford, the Finger Family, and a history of Lincoln County. In addition, William �Bill� Carpenter wrote a booklet on Lincoln County�s involvement with the Civil War, and a booklet on the Battle of Ramsour�s Mill that the Association sold at the museum. These publications accompanied publications that the Association published prior to the 1990s.
In 1993, the Association hired its first museum curator. With funds provided by the City of Lincolnton, the organization planned to utilize this position for the betterment of the organization by allowing this new position to oversee museum projects with assistance from various committees and volunteers. On August 17, 1993, the organization hired Ralph Farmer, III to serve as the Director/Curator of the Lincoln County Museum of History. While leading the organization, Farmer formulated and organized all of the museum�s necessary forms and manuals. He organized and oversaw all of the museum�s exhibitions, school programs, and collections. His service to the organization was well received, and his leadership cannot be over-stated.
In November 1996, the Association hired its current executive director, Jason L. Harpe, and the organization embarked on a new journey in a direction that its founders never would have imagined. The organization has been able to undertake a plethora of activities and events that range from large scale exhibitions to collaborations with other history-related organizations in the county. The increased financial support from the Lincolnton City Council, Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, individuals and families from all over the United States, and grants from local, state, and federal sources have enabled the Association to foster growth in the areas of membership, community outreach, collaborations, and collections. The Association has taken part in actively collecting artifacts and objects from all over the county, and has worked incessantly on book projects, and conservation and preservation projects that showcase the organization�s commitment to its stated, mission, goals, and objectives. The current executive director and board of directors remain mindful of the commitment and dedication that so many members over the years have provided the organizations. Though these men and women are memorialized in the organization�s archives, it is only appropriate to show them as they were during the periods that they worked at establishing this Association on a firm and solid foundation.
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