Whether you intend to go to jail soon or not, Sara Smith said everyone should visit this summer. Smith has been overseeing restoration of the Old Jail Museum In downtown Hayesville for about two years. She believes all will find something interesting in the building, whether they are lifetime residents, visitors, or transplants, regardless of whether they have been there before.
Once allowed, the Clay County Historical and Arts Council will welcome visitors to the Old Jail again. “We hope the governor’s next phase of opening will allow us to open,” Smith said, as she pointed out renovations. “We have finally finished two years of restoration, repairs, and upgrades. It’s difficult to believe it’s finally over because for two years, that is all that I have been able to think about or do. I must really express my appreciation to those that have helped with this project: Ron Wallace, Fannie Watson, Jim Glock, Joe Slaten, Paul Price, and Reba Beck. I am especially grateful to Ron and Joe for being patient with my questions and requests through this last indoor phase. I have spent many hours at the museum during the past few months, but it kept me busy and gave me a safe place to go during the COVID outbreak.”
Whether you have visited dozens of times since it became a museum in 1972, or have never entered the building, something will draw your interest. Grant funds and donations allowed walls to be painted, the office to be remodeled, and floors to be replaced. Several new exhibits have been added, along with newer, brighter lighting to shine on everything. Custom built, rolling display cases hold several exhibits, including a banjo and guitar owned by Gordon Parris, the Mountain Music Man, and other antique musical instruments. The summer 2020 art exhibit features David Goldhagen handblown glass and paintings by former Hayesville teacher A. Zimmermacher.
Familiar exhibits have remained, as well. The building still contains a variety of Appalachian history including an authentic jail cell, a moonshine still, and the kitchen of the sheriff’s family who resided in the Old Jail. Schoolhouse items, feed sacks and other textiles are displayed along a with a loom, a spinning wheel, and vintage photographs from around the county. A collection of Civil War cutlery and antique toys are some of the new items on display.
An African American history exhibit highlights the importance of their culture to the region, both before and after slavery. Longtime local residents may recall stories of Dr. Killian whose office sets in one room. In the early part of last century, he was Clay County’s traveling physician who delivered many of the county’s babies, but he also saved quite a few lives.
Another room holds a switchboard used by the county’s blind phone operator “Blind Jim Penland” and a life-sized, hand-carved Cherokee woman named Lura occupies another room filled with Native American artifacts, many excavated locally. A meticulously made Cherokee quilt hangs from a wall, across from Cherokee Clan masks. native American artifacts.
The 1912 structure wore red paint for decades; however, brick mason James Cross discovered the building’s façade was not red brick at all. During exterior renovations, he found the bricks were tan concrete, rather than clay. As such, CCHAC returned it to its original color to maintain the building’s integrity. The building also has new windows which closely replicate the original windows instead of the replacement windows installed in the 1940’s or 50’s. The marble windowsills have also been restored and polished, too.
The imposing building on a hilltop remains one of the first things drivers see while going into town. A Cherokee village structures, informational signs, a native garden and the old Hayesville Town Hall rest behind the Old Jail, waiting to share their histories.
“It is hard to believe two years have passed, and the work on the museum is finally finished. I’ve often thought I must have been crazy two years ago when I said at a CCHAC board meeting I would chair a committee to work on repairs to literally keep the museum from falling down,” Smith continued. “I got a few volunteers together and we began thinking about what was ahead of us and knew that just raising the funds could take several years. But then a miracle happened. At the mere mention of our project, a generous benefactor offered to give us $100,000. Yes, I believe in miracles. Many other people made donations, Historic Hayesville Inc. gave us proceeds from Steins & Wines for two different years, and we were ready to get started. When we finally open, I am just looking forward to some relaxing stress-free time to call my own.”
Smith ended, “So many local people have never visited our museum or haven’t in several years. I would like for this to be a year when they really want to see how we have preserved our history and made it interesting for everyone to visit.”
Admission is always free, but donations are accepted towards operations, building maintenance and restorations, especially since Festival on the Square, CCHAC’s main fundraiser had to be cancelled for 2020. Smith and other CCHAC members are hopeful Governor Cooper will allow museums to open after June 26 with visitors wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
Normal summer hours for the Old Jail Museum are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday through Labor Day and Friday and Saturday from 10-4 through October. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the outdoor areas year-round.
Members of Clay County Historical Arts Council like to introduce others to their collections, as well, and group tours may be arranged for school groups or other visits during the months the museum is closed. The Old Jail Museum is at 21 Davis Loop in downtown Hayesville. Visit: www.clayhistoryarts.org or call (828) 389-6814 to learn more.