Tryon Historical Museum set to open the end of September

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, July 8, 2015

After a couple of years of planning, Tryon will open a historical museum to tell the town’s story at the end of September.

A grand opening of the new museum is scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 26-27, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary celebration of the Tryon Toy Makers & Wood Carvers.

Proceeds from the Tryon Town Story weekend will go towards the museum’s startup expenses.

The museum will be located at 26 Maple Street downtown, which has already been leased.

The idea of a historical museum in Tryon originated at a Small Town Main Street conference in October 2012.

Tryon Commissioner Happy McLeod, who is also the museum board’s president, said the 2012 conference focused on helping small towns thrive, not just survive.

“One of the key points was to tell your town’s story,” said McLeod, “market your town’s uniqueness and draw visitors to your town rather than to your neighbor’s.”

The Tryon Downtown Development Association (TDDA) took the idea and “incubated” it until it was ready to be “birthed” under its own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and registered with the N.C. Secretary of State, said McLeod.

The museum now has its nonprofit status as well as a working board, adopted constitution and bylaws and an ex officio CPA to file tax returns and monitor IRS compliance.

For research, Tryon representatives visited other museums, including in Baden, Hendersonville, Cherryville and Spencer.

McLeod said the name “historical museum” was chosen because the name is more in keeping with the museum’s mission and is in sync with the Polk County Historical Museum. The Polk County Historical Association Museum was formerly located in Tryon’s Depot and moved several years ago to Walker Street in Columbus.

Fundraising for renovations to the 26 Maple Street building has begun. Parking in front of the building will also be made handicap equipped as funding becomes available.

“The museum’s mission is ‘To Tell Tryon’s Story,’ and will focus on the train, passengers who got off and stayed and the equestrian and arts communities they settled,” McLeod said. “Tryon has always been about her people, many of whom will be featured.”

The museum has a logo, created by Julia Calhoun that depicts the cupola that topped Tryon’s first train depot, has Tryon Peak in the background and dogwood blossoms like the ones used by the Tryon Toy Makers & Wood Carvers.

The Tryon Historical Museum Board includes: McLeod (president); Linda Lee Reynolds (vice president and fundraising chair); Steve Cobb (treasurer); Christine Mariotti (secretary and the arts); Gerald Pack (equestrian community); Dean Trakas (design); Matthew Baker (museum consultant and grants administrator); Calhoun (curator and historian) and Blake Smyth (ex officio CPA).

Donations are being sought for Tryon’s museum. Contributions can be mailed to: Tryon Historical Museum, P.O. Box 132, Tryon, NC 28782.

For more information or to volunteer, contact McLeod by phone at 828-283-1177 or email at HappyMcLeod9@gmail.com.