Museum Matters

Peggy K. Woodlief

RANDLEMAN – St. Paul Museum has two more scheduled openings this year, both with programs you will find not only interesting but also entertaining. This month’s opening is November 20 at 2:00 and will feature the military experiences of two Randleman area men. 

Sgt. Lawrence Fredrick Gaffney, Sr. was a tank commander during World War II under General George Patton during the Battle of Welschied, December 24, 1945. Not only will you learn about some of his experiences during this very cold snowy time, but you will also hear of the unexpected good fortune of have lost possessions returned to him.

The second speaker will be Ben Newlin, who lived in Randleman as a child, and whose military career was in the Coast Guard. He will talk about some of his experiences and will present to the museum a military coat complete with his medals.

The last St. Paul program of this year is scheduled for the first Sunday in December and will be a double feature musical program. The first program will begin at 2:00 with the Center Street Saxophone Quartet (Dylan Misenheimer, Michael Price, Derrick Misenheimer, and Noah Bissell) who will present a program of Christmas music.

The second program will begin at 3 p.m. with Fidler Al (Al McCanless, who has played with the Red Clay Ramblers) and Charles Pettee. They will talk about the Celtic influence on the musical traditions of Appalachian folk music and perform on a variety of string instruments such as the claw-hammer banjo and the Irish fiddle. Christmas music will be a part of this performance.

At the December program, the museum will be collecting non-food items for the Randleman Community Service, which supplies food to those in need but which cannot provide household items. Paper towels, bathroom tissue, hand soap, tooth brushes and toothpaste, dishwashing soap, shampoo — any thing practical that is not food will be greatly appreciated.  Baskets will be placed in the vestibule for your contributions.

First-time visitors will find the museum at the corner of Stout and High Point Streets in Randleman.