Chatham Historical Museum

Tragedy Strikes the Historic Chatham County Courthouse

Late Thursday afternoon, March 25, fire broke out in the court house in the circle in Pittsboro.  Most of the roof and much of the building's interior were destroyed before the fire was contained.  Built in 1881, the building has undergone several additions and renovations.  At the time of the fire the building was covered with scaffolding so that the windows could be replaced and parts repaired and repainted.  In addition to the loss of the court room, judges and other offices, belongings of employees and some court materials, the Chatham County Historical Museum was located there.  The extent of the damage to the CCHA collection is not yet known.

LAST EXHIBIT

"Chatham People" highlights the faces and stories of a handful of the many interesting Chatham residents, some famous, some not.   Included in  the new exhibit are Col. John Randolph Lane in his Confederate uniform; Mary Myrtle Siler—first woman sheriff in North Carolina; Bishop Leach, assistant principal at Horton and Northwood high schools and beloved mentor to many in the county; and someone’s “Aunt Duck,” about whom we’d like to know more. 
“The stories of the people whose pictures we have displayed are Chatham’s story,” said Jane Pyle, creator of the current exhibit.  “These are the kinds of stories that must be preserved if future generations are to look back and appreciate the county’s past.”

The public is invited to visit the museum to learn some of these interesting stories, and also to add to them. If there is a Chatham person whose photograph or story you would like to add to the museum collection, please contact the Chatham County Historical Association, PO Box 93, Pittsboro, NC 27312, or history@chathamhistory.org.  The Association wants to know about people from all walks of life—anyone who has helped make Chatham County what it is today.  Don’t forget the rogues, black sheep and scalawags who have added their own spice to the mix.

 The exhibit will be on display through March and is free and open to the public.

(Photo is of Margaret Jordan Ellis and an unidentified boy)



 

  
   

 

Last modified: 03/26/2010
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