Museum Mystery Item The ceramic “thing” shown, now on display in Fuquay-Varina’s Centennial Museum, was found in a small house believed to have been a millinery shop opened in the early 1900’s near Joe Ballentine’s Varina Mercantile Store across Main Street from the Fuquay Mineral Spring. Joe Starr, who found the strange item in the old millinery shop building behind his home, gave it to the museum. Neither he, nor any other area history buff, has been able to identify it. The museum is open from 1 until 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and during downtown festival days. Groups may arrange tours on other days by calling Shirley Simmons at 552-5562. Shirley Hayes/Fuquay-Varina Independent

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The Board of Friends of the Museums has launched its “Campaign 2012” to enlist support from the community to expand the museums complex on South Fuquay Avenue. The board knows that there are many civic-minded individuals and a vast number of businesses and organizations who always strive to support efforts to improve our community. They hope to enlist each of you so that you may become a part of “your museums.”

In February 2012, the Board of Commissioners of Fuquay-Varina adopted an official Master Plan for this historic park. Following visits to a number of sites, the plan committee, chaired by Commissioner Adcock, completed the preliminary plan. The aim is to locate several other buildings to join the Ballentine School House, the little Fuquay Springs Post Office Museum, and the Centennial History Museum in the old muncipal building.

Friends are currently implementing a plan to celebrate our Tobacco History by adding a tobacco curing barn with shed attached. Here the museums staff will showcase old machinery, the story of tobacco farming, curing, and sales in the Fuquay area, and be able to present “the actual barning” process. Coupled with this will be an artistic work called “Ghost Farmers” which has been donated for the site. This piece honors local small farmers which no longer exist and pays tribute to their lives.

A second effort underway involves securing a depot building to house much of the Rail History associated with Fuquay and Varina. This is to be joined with an actual caboose of historic authenticity. The dream will be creating a diorama which explains all the railroad lines as they operated historically. Other efforts will focus on several local businesses and individuals, a small playhouse, an outdoor classroom which can be utilized by school tours as the staff interprets history to students, and landscaping and lighting for the site.

The Friends is a membership organization. Individuals may join for $10, Families for $25, or honor can be paid someone with a Lifetime membership of $250. From this organization committees are being set up to assist with publicity, funds, events, collections, and operations. Interested individuals should contact the museums staff at www. fuquay-varina-museums.org.

The Fundraising operation is under way with Campaign 2012. The Fuquay Springs Questers # 1134 assisted with this committee’s work. Interested persons note there will be a Celebratory Occasion at the end of the campaign in September. Board members are: Max Ashworth, President; W. E. Medlin, V. P.; Orlean Newton, Secretary; Brenda Johnson, Treasurer; Larry Bennett, Past President; Donald Cotton, Eleanor Stephenson, Shirley Simmons, and Charlie Adcock.

Two ways the public can participate: 1) Let us know of your interest in becoming a member or working on one of the committees 2) Contribute to Campaign 2012 (501 c 3) by mailing a donation to P. O. Box 2034, Fuquay-Varina, 27526. Help your museums grow! If you haven’t visited, don’t delay. Every Wednesday 1-4 p.m. or all day on June 2 during the town festival, docents will be on duty.