Canton Area Heritage Center to Debut Museum Expansion
By: Forgottonia Times™ Report
The new Mining Room is still being put together with photos of miners, safety equipment, miner certificates, maps of mines and We-Ma-Tuk development, and much more.
In a testament to the enduring community interest in local history, the Canton Area Heritage Center has expanded its space at 111 South Main Street. The expansion, made possible through a collaboration with Graham Health System, adds 50 percent more room for exhibits, enhancing the center's ability to share Canton's rich past with visitors.
The newly renovated space, formerly an adjacent office, will debut during a public open house on Thursday, December 12, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by the organization's annual meeting at 1:00 pm.
When asked what prompted the expansion, board member Cheryl Bielema said, "Simply, the heritage center ran out of display space…but fortunately, the office opened up next door!" Board Chairman Jack Pollitt also shared the additional space allows for more comprehensive and dynamic exhibits, including Mining artifacts which had outgrown the space originally allotted, as well as a Reading Room to contain a library of resource books. Local organizations, too, will now be able to reserve a secured glass case to display artifacts related to significant events or milestones they're celebrating.
Among the anticipated new displays is "Salute to Historic Fulton County Farms," highlighting Sesquicentennial Farms that have been in the same family for over 150 years. Additionally, the center will unveil contents of Canton's Centennial time capsule next year during the town's Bicentennial celebration.
Since its grand opening in 2018, the Canton Area Heritage Center has grown into a vital resource for preserving and sharing the area's history. "We are about the business of preserving our history," said Bielema. "People are increasingly turning to us for all sorts of research and to donate their special memorabilia and to tell their family's personal stories. We appreciate their trust and confidence in our ability to fulfill this important mission."
The center invites visitors Fridays 10 am - 12 pm, Saturdays 10 am - 2 pm, and Sundays 1 pm - 3 pm, with group tours available by appointment. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page. Volunteers for all sorts of tasks are always welcome to join the effort in preserving Canton's legacy.
Chair Jack Pollitt surveys the Canton Businesses collection that now has its own room.