Going Local-Two Shelby Museums

 

 Greetings!

It's been a while since we've featured some local attractions.

But then, it's been some time since we've gone anywhere.

With the last two years keeping us mostly home,

it felt good to get out and about again.

We headed to Shelby,

which is just southeast of our location,

to visit a couple of museums we've been wanting to visit.

 

 

The first place we stopped was the

International Lineman Museum.

 

This museum is dedicated to 

"Preserving the history of lineman

and the electrical utility industry".

There were rooms of equipment from all over the country.

 What an amazing display of materials they own.

We were totally mesmerized with the vintage pieces of apparatus.

 

 

Along with all of the equipment,

were displays explaining the job of a lineman,

including information about many of the hazards of the job.

A plaque out front honors those who have perished on the job.

 There were so many wonderful antiques,

and I couldn't help but think about

how some of these items could be repurposed for other uses.

With a little tweaking,

this would make a swanky chandelier.

 

The other museum that we've wanted to visit for ages, 

is the Earl Scruggs Center, right in the heart of Shelby.

Earl Scruggs, for those of you who may not know,

was one of the pioneers of bluegrass music.

His unique style of playing the banjo

has been replicated by many musicians.

 

The museum offers a self-guided tour,

including many interactive displays.

A gift shop where tickets can be purchased 

sits at the entrance,

and I couldn't help but treat myself

to a pair of banjo earrings!

After our tours, 

Big K and I found a great lil' bistro

and got some food to take home for lunch.

All in all, 

it was a fun morning and it felt great to be able to discover

such wonderful places,

just a hop, skip and a jump away.

 

More Going Local Posts:

 Asheville

 Catawba County Firefighter Museum

 Vending Machine Museum

Antique Tractor Show

This gorgeous spring weather got us outside for a field trip.

We visited The North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer

for the annual Tractors & Trains Festival.

This has always been one of our favorite destinations on vacations.

Now that we live so close by, we decided to purchase a family membership.

There are many events scheduled throughout the year,

so we know we'll be back again and again.

This place has so much to see,

especially for history buffs. 

The Roundhouse is filled with vintage trains that are serviced by 

an array of dedicated volunteers. 

We've wandered through this area many times.

You can read about one of our visits here.

 Today, the tractors took Center Stage.

Just look at this 

MONSTER 

combine harvester!

 No matter what type of tractor you favor,

there was something here for every tractor lover.

Also on display were many of the vintage and antique autos 

housed in the workshop that is not usually open to the public.

The model railroaders were on site,

with a massive display.

I can't imagine the hours and patience it took to get them set up.

Everything is so realistic, down to the last detail.

We ambled through part of the museum on our way to the rest of the tractor exhibit.

There is so much to learn about our nation's early modes of transportation. 

What a fantastic homeschooling field trip!

 This sweet little mailtruck always catches my eye.

The mail used to be delivered using this buggy and a whole lotta horsepower!

We took a 20-minute train ride in a restored car.

One of the perks of obtaining membership at the museum

is that all train rides are free!

There's nothing quite like the relaxed jostling of the train 

            meandering 

                                 down 

                                          the 

                                                        track.

 Several hands-on demonstrations were presented,

including this apple press,

 as well as this hand-cranked corn sheller.

Folks sure had to work hard back in the day!

Artisans Joe Allen (top), Sonny Howell (middle) and Tad W. Kepley (bottom) displayed their wares

We were able to enjoy several craftsman exhibiting their creations.

Hand-forged steel, iron sculptures and hand-carved spoons

were just a few of the items available for purchase.

 There was even a Master Gardener display.

Of course, I had to chat with these nice ladies for a while.

Their main focus at this event was to educate folks

about the importance of supporting bats.

Did you know that bats are pollinators?

What a fabulous place to spend some family time.

It seems that every time we visit,

there is something we learn anew.

It is indeed "The Museum That Moves You"!

Here is their website 

so you can check it out before you pay them a visit.

Going Local-Grier Truck Museum

As part of our ongoing series,
we enjoy featuring local historical sites.
Today we are introducing you to the 
C. Grier Beam Truck Museum in Cherryville, NC.
(To visit their website, click on the highlighted text.)

We'd been wanting to visit this place since before we moved to North Carolina.

Museums are always a great source of local history

and we sure do love the old stuff!

This museum is housed in the gas station used at one time

by Carolina Freight, one of the most successful trucking companies in the world.

As you enter the double doors,

you'll find a wonderful display of vintage photographs and memorabilia.

The desk and office furnishings are all original.

Our guide pointed out that the telephone had a three-digit number.

A timeline just inside the main building
aides visitors in understanding the impact that this company had on the region,
as well as the rest of the country.
From humble beginnings and a lot of hard work,
Mr. Grier took his company from one truck to a whole fleet,
which became known as Carolina Freight.

These vehicles were a sight to see.

Each one has been lovingly restored to its original glory.

This long-distance hauler has a unique component.

At the front of the trailer lies a sleeping compartment.
This allowed one driver to sleep while the other drove,
or allowed a single driver to pull over and have a place to rest.
There was no heat or air conditioning, not even a light.
Talk about roughin' it!

The trucks all look pristine and it is easy to see that they have been well cared for.

The wooden spokes on the tires of this beauty were an uncommon feature.

The simplicity of the interiors is so appealing.

Nothing to distract a driver from getting the job done.

Some youngsters of today may not even know how to operate the crank windows.

This early model was one of my favorites.

The windshield was split horizontally, as a form of early air conditioning.

Another feature was the windshield wipers that had to be operated by hand.

The lever on the upper section of the windshield

allowed the driver to move the wipers from the inside of the truck.

Look at this roomy cab!

We're so glad we finally got to see this fascinating place.

If you're every near Cherryville,

I hope you'll stop by.

Tell 'em daisy sent you!

Going Local Series:
New Library
Hardware Upgrade
Memory Lane Museum
Troutman Farmers' Market
Mooresville Farmers' Market
The Mundy House
Davidson Farmers' Market

Going Local-Memory Lane Museum

Big K had the day off yesterday,

so we decided to pay a visit to this museum that we pass all the time

going back and forth to Mooresville.

The Memory Lane Museum is located about 30 minutes north of Charlotte,

but only about 10 minutes from where we are staying.

Inside the expansive warehouse,

we found a treasure trove of vintage automobiles and memorabilia 

as far as the eye could see.

With over 150 exhibit pieces,

the motor enthusiast is sure to find something that floats their boat.

Race cars, motorcycles, toy cars and vintage automobiles

are some of the gems you'll find here.

Here's an old milk delivery truck,

which must have taken over after the horse-drawn carts were discontinued.

Quite a number of these antique cars were used in movies

that were shot locally.

A slew of early stock cars were available to enjoy.

Here's a whimsical creation based on the US space vehicles.

One of my favorite things was this wall of pedal car tractors.

Imagine all the fun that was had by the weest of farmers.

There were a ton of vintage bikes as well.

These bicycles were works of art back in the day.

This is The Whizzer, which was based on the earliest of motorcycles.

It's a gas-powered bicycle.

These types of bikes are still available today, although they are not street legal.

These roller skates bring back memories.

Every kid on our block had these kind

that attached to their gym shoes sneakers.

No one wore helmets or knee pads.

Those were the days, huh?

Remember the old coke machines

that had the glass bottles inside the door?

That was when soda was a once in a while treat.

Another fun field trip,
especially for my two "car guys".
We love getting to know our new state,
one museum at a time.
If you're in the area, feel free to call for more information at (704)662-3673.

Other Going Local posts:
Hardware Upgrade 
New Library