By Gina Malone
As Waynesville’s historic Shelton House celebrates its 150th anniversary, a crucial part of the home—its museum—is getting an update and a new name. Formerly the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts, the space will now be called the Museum of North Carolina Craft and History, a name says Shelton House board chair Jerry Jackson that reflects “a broader and more contemporary vision for our mission.” In addition, the collection will undergo a comprehensive reinstallation, expanded tour options will become available and the board of directors will look to the future with consideration of the museum’s mission, programming and growth.
Cow Blanket, circa 1930. Granny Donaldson, artist
On Sunday, April 26, beginning at 4:30 p.m., Shelton House will hold a ticketed anniversary celebration headlined by acclaimed Western North Carolina author Ron Rash. The evening will include a seasonal dinner by Singletree Heritage Kitchen, a look at the newly installed craft and history collections, live music and an initiative allowing attendees to help fund the acquisition of new works by Haywood County artists.
The museum refresh promises visitors a more user-friendly approach to the collection. “In the past, we had lots of items on display,” says Morgan Winstead, the Shelton House managing director. “This was great, but it was a lot for visitors to take in. Our newly curated collections focus more on telling stories, with similar items grouped together. Additionally, we will be incorporating more text into our exhibits so visitors can read more about what they are seeing and how it all relates to the craft traditions and history of our region.”
Convenience and accessibility are also part of the plan. Along with the availability of guided tours, visitors will have the option also for a self-guided walkthrough of the museum.
Sarah Jane League grew up in Waynesville near the Shelton House to which she has family ties. She served as chair of the site’s board of directors for a number of years and is still active with the board today. “My grandmother was a Shelton and my great-great-grandfather was a brother to Stephan Shelton who built Shelton House,” she says. “I believe that Shelton House is a wonderful example of our Appalachian craft and history. Its preservation benefits the WNC community as well as Waynesville and Haywood County, for both locals and our visitors.”
The museum got its start in 1977 thanks to Mary Myrtle Cornwell who selected Shelton House as a home for a collection exemplifying North Carolina’s craft traditions such as pottery, woodworks, baskets and fiber art. A wall hanging, Cow Blanket, was made by Appalachian artist Granny Donaldson around 1930 and is considered an especially prized piece in the collection.
By 1980, the museum had opened to the public. Current updates, including the use of the more widely accepted term “craft” rather than “handicraft,” intend to build upon Cornwell’s original vision while promoting growth and community engagement.
“To me, local history serves as a cornerstone for community,” Winstead says. “We relate to one another through shared experiences, stories and traditions. Having a site like the Shelton House, which has stood in Waynesville for 150 years, means there is a physical space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to appreciate the things that make WNC so special.”
League sees preserving the past as an important aim for Shelton House and for the wider community. “It reflects in some sense how our predecessors lived in these mountains,” she says.
Learn more at Shelton-House.org. Tickets for the anniversary celebration are available at GiveButter.com/150th-anniversary-fundraiser-q5lzt7.
