Eden Historical Museum

Here's the latest news from
The Eden Preservation Society:

September 25, 2011 TOUR OF THE COLLECTIBLES MUSEUM AT FAIRVIEW FARM (BURTON HOME PLACE) - All proceeds went to support the Eden Historical Museum and the Rockingham County Historical Society Museum and Archives' Lillian M. Coleman Leadership Grant Challenge. See articles:
News & Record: A Couple of Collectors
Eden News: Their History is No Mystery

April 2, 2011-July 30, 2011 - HATS FROM THE ATTIC: An exhibit brimming with style at the Eden Historical Museum. Open Saturdays from 10am-4pm. Exhibit photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

June 29, 2011 - GoDanRiver.com: Rockingham County Museums Host Civil War Symposium

June 25, 2011 - Civil War Symposium - SHARP INSIGHTS: The Story of Thomas Robinson Sharp, Mastermind of the Great Train Raid of 1861 (who later lived in what is now Eden). MORE INFO

May 22, 2011 - We spent an Afternoon with Author Charles Rodenbough. He gave a most enjoyable talk about his book: History of a Dream Deferred: William Byrd's Land of Eden. The talk was held at the beautiful and historic Church of the Epiphany, 538 Henry St. in Eden. See flyer.

March 26, 2011 - Our Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Theatre was a lot of fun! Barry Howard portrayed Mark Twain and the delicious fried chicken dinner (Mark Twain's favorite!) was catered by Church Street Station. You can see a couple of photos of the dinner/performance on our slideshow.

November 12, 2010 - The annual Christmas in Eden ornaments are here! This year's ornament features the John B. Ray Building, commonly known as the Central Hotel on Washington Street.

Annual Holiday Bake Sale - Sunday, November 14, 2010 from 2:00-5:00
The Eden Preservation Society will host their annual Holiday Bake Sale at Pace-Stone, 663 Washington Street during the Holiday Open House in Olde Leaksville Shopping District. A dazzling array of delicious goodies will be offered! This would be a great opportunity to buy your Thanksgiving desserts ahead of time! This annual fundraiser is vitally important so that the society can continue its many projects including the Eden Historical Museum and the Gov. Morehead Park. For more info, contact: Pam at 623-2348 or Jean at 623-2225. Download FLYER.

An Evening With Loudon Wainwright III - Saturday, September 25, 2010
This is a benefit performance at the picturesque Governor Morehead Park in Spray. The proceeds are to help Piedmont Folk Legacies in its effort to save the historic Nantucket Mill by turning it into the National Banjo Center, and to help the Eden Preservation Society repair the crumbling foundation wall of the area’s very first textile mill at the park itself. Tickets must be purchased by September 20th! Tickets will be available during Riverfest Sept. 17-18th at the Eden Preservation Society booth, which will be in front of the Eden Historical Museum. To order tickets online or for more information: click here. TEMPTATIONS IN THE GARDEN - Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Oak Hills Golf & Event Center. Sponsored by the Eden Chamber of Commerce. There will be lots of great food prepared by local chefs & caterers, music provided by Gerald Summerlin and the very popular silent auction & elegant cake auction presented by the Eden Preservation Society. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets or more information please call 623-EDEN.

Aug. 8, 2010 - SPRAY CEMETERY CLEANUP NEWS
News & Record: Cleaning up the Past.
Eden News: Cemetery Cleanup Continues in Eden
See photos of the cleanup project here.

On Sunday, July 18, 2010, Craig “Rocky” Rockwell of Virginia, portrayed Brigadier General William Clark of Lewis and Clark to a large attendance.
      Rockwell's involvement with the Lewis and Clark story began in 1980 with his first position as a Park Ranger for the Corps of Engineers. He has used the expedition story in his interpretive programs throughout his career, because of the importance of Lewis and Clark to the history of the Corps of Engineers.
      Since then, he has performed for a wide range of events and organizations across the country including: Lewis and Clark Bicentennial events, for schools and colleges, civic organizations and historical societies, for the US Congress in our nation’s Capitol Building, in several Lewis and Clark documentary films, and even on the theme float for President Bush’s second inaugural parade.
      Rockwell currently serves as the Operations Project Manager at Philpott Lake, which is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project.
      This program was ponsored by the Eden Preservation Society and the Rockingham County Historical Society.

MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND May 7-8, 2010 - Join us at the Eden Historical Museum this Friday and Saturday. The museum will be open on Fri., May 7th from 3-6 pm for the first Eden Farmer's Market of the season, to be held in the municipal parking lot in front of Karastan. THE SAME NIGHT, the museum will be open from 6-9 pm for Ladies Night Out sponsored by Olde Leaksville Merchants. There will be music, refreshments, health screenings, specials, and more! Then Saturday, the museum will be open regular hours from 10 am-4 pm. and then from 4-8 pm for the first Eden Cruise car show. Shops will be staying open late and there will be refreshments, giveaways, and more!

April 22, 2010 - A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped to make our TAG SALE AND SILENT AUCTION last weekend so successful! We had a great turnout and sales exceeded our expectations! We could not have done it without our generous donors, enthusiastic shoppers and energetic volunteers! We plan to have another one sometime in the future. If you have items to donate, please contact us!

April 8, 2010 - The latest edition of our quarterly NEWSLETTER is now online! Check it out to read all about what's happening!

March 20, 2010 - SPRAY CEMETERY - Another cleanup day was held at the old Spray Cemetery on Church Street across from First Wesleyan Church. We owe much thanks to Boy Scout Troop 553 under the direction of Jim Downs and Joshua Clark and the many other volunteers from the Eden area and elsewhere that came out to help. The cemetery has been neglected for years and many of the old markers cannot even be located due to the overgrown weeds and vines. There are about 120 known graves there. The earliest marker located is dated Dec. 1, 1881 and is that of Mary Ann Robertson Pollard. The most modern marker found so far is dated April 30, 1920, and is that of Beulah Bradley Miles. If interested in helping in the future, contact: David Clay, Cemetery Committee, 427-5711.

March 1, 2010 - The long awaited clean up of the old Spray Cemetery is scheduled for Saturday, March 6th beginning at 10:00 AM. Participants will need heavy garden type gloves, pruners or trim saws. There is very much trash in the cemetery that will need to be bagged. If you can spare some heavy duty trash bags, they will be greatly appreciated. We hope to recycle as much as possible so we will not have to arrange trash pickup. All brush will be pulled to the edge of the road near the adjoining vacant lot for city pickup. Our goal is to save the original plantings of the cemetery and clear out the rest. Work will continue at each individual's pace or ability. In other words, stay as long as you feel comfortable that you can handle. Our plans are to park at the rear of First Wesleyan Church (607 Church Street). Hope to see everyone Saturday. David Clay, Cemetery Committee, 427-5711.

-March 3, 2010 - Eden News: Local Cemeteries Due for Cleanup.

FEBRUARY 28, 2010 PROGRAM - Larry G. Aaron gave a most interesting talk to the Eden Preservation Society today about his book: The Race to the Dan, which explores the British and American armies race across the Carolinas in a 230-mile chase in 1781, an event which was pivotal to the ultimate victory of the Continental forces in the American Revolution.

February 23, 2010 - It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of one of our valued Eden Preservation Society members and dedicated museum volunteer, Pat Whitten. He passed away quietly on February 22nd after a lengthy illness. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to the Eden Historical Museum, PO Box 264, Eden, NC 27289-0264. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community.

FEBRUARY 19, 2010 - We would like to thank DYER'S SHEET METAL for donating a new heating system to the EDEN HISTORICAL MUSEUM after the old one became irreparable this week! Since we are a 501c3 non-profit organization that depends upon donations for our operations, this was a most-welcome donation! Please tell them "Thank you for supporting the Eden Historical Museum!"

HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY TO MOREHEAD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL!
The Eden Historical Museum is pleased to announce that it will be the first stop of Morehead Memorial Hospital's traveling display board highlighting 50 years of caring for our community. The museum is open on Saturday's from 10:00-4:00 and the display will be at the museum from Sat. February 6th through Sat. March 6th. See newspaper article.

January 26, 2010 - Congratulations to the Eden Historical Museum for winning the Community Appearance Award at the Annual Eden Chamber of Commerce Dinner!

January 8, 2010 - The latest edition of our quarterly NEWSLETTER is now online! Check it out to read all about what's happening!

The NEW YEAR is here and that means it's time to renew your membership to the Eden Preservation Society! Our membership year runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st. Please print the online membership form now and mail it to us so that you will continue receiving the benefits of being a member! Or, you can pick up a membership form or drop off your check at the Eden Historical Museum any Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Our next monthly meeting will be Monday, January 25, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Eden Historical Museum. Please join us and bring a friend!

November 15, 2009 - A big THANK YOU to everyone that helped to make the Annual Holiday Bake Sale today a great success! We would especially like to thank Pam Archer and Jean Harrington for coordinating the sale, and a VERY special THANK YOU goes to PACE-STONE for allowing us to use their beautiful showroom for the event!

Program on Eden's History
Bob Carter, Rockingham County Historian, gave a talk on the histories of Leaksville, Spray and Draper on Sunday, November 8, 2009. This event was presented by the Eden Preservation Society and was free and open to the public.

October 21, 2009 - Eden Daily News article: Mill Wall Restoration Planned

October 18, 2009 - News & Record article: Mill History Crumbling: Preservationists Pursue a Plan to Restore a Wall at Eden Cotton Mill

October 16, 2009 - The latest edition of our quarterly NEWSLETTER is now online! Check it out to read all about what's happening!

Change of venue for the remaining monthly meetings of the EDEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY this year. The meetings will be held at the EDEN HISTORICAL MUSEUM at 7:00 pm, Mon. Oct. 26 and Mon. Nov. 23

We would like to thank all of the volunteers and participants of the HOMESPUN MUSIC FESTIVAL on Sept. 27th. This was an important fundraiser for the Eden Preservation Society featuring a variety of outstanding local musicians and vocalists. It was held at Governor Morehead Park and proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the Park and repairs to the Morehead Mill wall (the old Leaksville Cotton Mill foundation). Performers included: Chords 'N Strings with Bill Rakes, John Colley, The Harts (Bret & Tina), Anthony Hearn, Morehead High School Choral Ensemble, Lee Dishmon & Keith Sigmon, Dave & Jesse Smathers, and Steve Turman and the Dusty Ridge Group. Thank you again to all who helped! Some photos of the event can be seen here.

The EDEN HISTORICAL MUSEUM had an official ribbon cutting on Saturday, September 19, 2009 during RIVERFEST! The first half of the permanent exhibits were unveiled at that time! This historic moment was the culmination of two years worth of temporaray exhibits and fund raising. MUSEUM PHOTOS.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Eden's Own...Journal to see the latest "Unknown Photo" they have published from the Francis Photography Collection. Maybe you will recognize it!

Aug 1, 2009 - The Old Leaksville Shopping Districts "Bringing the Beach Downtown" event on July 31st was a lot of fun for all! The Eden Historical Museum was open that evening with photo albums from the Francis Photography Collection for patrons to browse through.

July 4, 2009 - The latest edition of our quarterly NEWSLETTER is now online! Check it out to read all about what's happening!

May 31, 2009 - The Eden Preservation Society hosted Picnic in the Park with Charlie Poole at the Governor Morehead Park on Church Street in Eden. Honored historian and musician Kinney Rorrer presented a program detailing the life and music of Eden's most famous musician, the father of country music, Charlie Poole.

May 10, 2009 - Read the NEWS & RECORD article about the FRANCIS PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION at the Eden Historical Museum.

April 28, 2009 - Congratulations to the Eden Historical Museum which received an Appearance Award on April 27th from the Eden Community Appearance Commission!

SEE EPS CALENDAR FOR MORE DETAILS!

QUESTIONS? Email us!