Fayetteville’s curator and historian Bruce Daws, spends his time acquiring and preserving artifacts in the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, located at 325 Franklin Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Daws' commitment to manage Fayetteville's history can be contributed to the dedication and love for his work in the museum. His 15 years of service increased his knowledge of artifacts collection, preservation, research, interpretation writing, and presentation details.
When asked where he got the drive as Fayetteville’s Historian, Daws said, "I certainly enjoy all aspects of the work, but my greatest satisfaction is in acquiring artifact through different ways, putting Fayetteville History into a permanent institution, and safeguarding it which can be enjoyed by generations to come."
The 6-foot-tall gentleman dressed in a distinguish tailored black jacket which had a chain attached to the fourth button from the top of his vest. It disappeared in the underside of his jacket as the watch lay to rests his pocket. Daws accentuated his professional attire with a plaid bowtie and black felt hat.
As he spoke in an on-camera interview, Daws could've been mistaken for Eliot Nest in the movie “Untouchables.”
Coincidently, Daws has a graduate’s degree in Criminal Justice, but he was no actor nor detective, instead he was a expert Historian.
Daws did not use technology tools to aid in historical facts . during tours, instead he made presentations from his interpreted writing on each artifact.
The museum was originally a railroad depot from the nineteenth century, then known as, The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railways. The Historian and staff offices were on the second floor of the historic building..
On May 26, 2006, after a delicate architectural restoration project involving Daws, the Museum opened its doors to showcase Cumberland County local History.
Daws and his staff put together all the exhibits and serviced thousands of visitors throughout the year.
Mr. Daws said, "This museum started as really a concept. It was a dilapidated building in the historic district that was primarily a warehouse until an opportunity came along through the State of NC transportation agency.”
Daws continued, "They had what they call a T21 grant; we applied for it, which allowed us to restore the building and redesigned it into a museum, so it went from just a concept to what it is today."
Bruce Daws Cumberland County's Historian photos by Sharon Matthias
Based on the museum's data in 1890 cargo trains replaced the steamships, stagecoaches brought affluent passengers to conduct businesses in the colonial's city of Fayetteville. And the museum's exhibitions replicated 1890’s transportation era, back to life on the second floor for the visitors.
On both floors, the building's high ceilings and archways led to corners and corridors into a combination of natural and artificial lightings. Each wall displayed art that held information and value. The artifacts and photos pulled curious minds into them, possibly, to get a closer look at eyes or faces of prominent residents of Fayetteville they never knew. Yet, history lovers residing in Fayetteville can't help but accept they could someday be on the walls of the museum.
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