4 minute read
Explore Our Roots
By Jan Penton Miller
The Newport-Cocke County Museum is the perfect place to explore the county’s history. Several permanent collections are on display three days per week from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jackie Garbarino, museum co-chair, and assistant Courtney Vargas can help guide you through Cocke County’s past. The Newport-Cocke County Museum located at 433 their day; some share stories of the bravery and sacProspect Avenue, is one of Newport’s hidden gems. It rifice of men who fought for our freedoms, and still is tucked away in the Community Center and houses others give a glimpse into the ordinary days and ways quite a collection of treasures from a bygone era. of life in the past. The various articles on display enlighten visitors to Opened over 20 years ago, the museum began as a the rich and proud history of the area. project of the William Cocke Chapter Daughters of Each display tells a tale. Some speak of the overcom- the American Revolution. ing spirit of individuals who stood strong during adversity; some shed light on the fashionable ladies of Continue to page 21
From page 20 The late Wilma Dykeman was very instrumental in the museum’s organization and successful opening. In 1980, the late U.S. Rep. Jimmy Quillen cut the ribbon to officially open the museum’s first exhibit, a collection of Grace Moore items loaned by UT
One of the items donated to the museum was this pair of baby shoes from the 1800s.(Photo by JAN PENTON MILLER)
Left: Fashionable ladies finery, including this hat, can be seen at the Newport-Cocke County Museum.
Right: A few items at the museum honor the late operatic soprano singer and actress Grace Moore. Moore was born in Del Rio in 1898. She was nicknamed the Tennessee Nightingale.
(Photos by JAN PENTON MILLER)
One of the main exhibits at the museum honors Sgt. Charles L. McGaha. McGaha received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman. ( Photo Submitted )
Knoxville. Hundreds attended the gala event, and many of these items remain on display today. The museum’s permanent collection includes three rooms: a pioneer kitchen, a bedroom, and a Victorian parlor. Items ranging from locally crafted furniture, hand-thrown pottery, photographs, dolls, and vintage clothing fill these rooms. Another corner is devoted to the late Gov. Ben W. Hooper (1870-1957), and another Cocke County native, Sgt. Charles McGaha, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II, is remembered with a special case containing his uniform, medal, and other memorabilia. Of special interest is the museum’s outstanding quilt collection, centered around a bequest by the late Miss Edna Smith. Of particular interest is a Friendship quilt, a gift of the Baxter-Matthews family, which has been deemed by internationally known quilt experts as one of the finest pieces of craftsmanship they have ever seen. Hanging high overhead is a Depression-era mural painted by internationally known artist Minna Citron, which originally graced Newport’s post office. Guests can travel back in time as they meander these scenes from Cocke County’s past. There is no entrance fee and the museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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