The life of Andrew
‘Моте’
Dims, an Anson County native who
reportedly rode with Jesse James in the late 1870s, will be fea¬
tured in 'The Legend Never Dies, ' an exhibit about Jesse James'
time in North Carolina set for February 14-18 at the Museum of
the Old Waxhaws,
James Returns
To Waxhaw To Help
Open New Museum
Talk alxnit a special guest.
When the Museum of the Old
Waxhaws in Waxhaw holds it.*,
grand opening later this month.
Jesse James will be on hand.
Ol course, it won't be the leg¬
end in the flesh, but since it has
been more than 120 years since
his presence was felt in these
parts, no one in Union (anility
is getting too picky.
The special exhibit, “The
Legend Never Dies." will
include the largest Jesse James
collection in the nation and tell
the story of actual James Gang
members from Union and
Anson counties. Few know it.
but James did indeed spend
time here with fellow gang
members sometime in the
1870s, according to Ralph
Gan is. the museum's curator.
Ganis is hoping the James
exhibit will draw Old West fans
to Waxhaw and expose them to
North Carolina's newest muse¬
um. which tells the history of
the North Carolina/South
Carolina border region known
as the "Old Waxhaws."
The Waxhaws Settlement,
which was located in what is
now western Union County and parts of
South Carolina on the Great Wagon
Road, was at one lime the destination
for hundreds of early settlers coming
from Virginia and other regions of
colonial America. The Museum of the
Old Waxhaws covers a time line extend¬
ing from 1050 to 1900.
The museum serves in part as a living
memorial to President Andrew Jackson,
who was born in the Waxhaws area in
1 767. Other exhibits at the museum tell
how the settlement was affected by
important periods in American history.
They include Native American explo¬
ration, the American Revolution, the
Jacksonian Period, the Civil Wat and
the Gay 1890s.
There are several rare collections to
be found at the museum, including
weapons, documents and clothing.
I he Jesse James exhibit is one of
many “rotating special exhibits" outside
the Waxhaws story line but of regional
interest that Ganis plans to feature at
the museum.
The James collection will be on view
February 14-18. and admission is $1 per
|K*rson. The price includes the special
exhibit and the main museum.
For more information on the James
exhibit and the museum, call (704)
843-1832.
Seven Major Projects
To Change Face Of Raleigh
The times, they are a-changing in the
state's capital city.
The cultural and athletic entertain¬
ment opportunites for Raleigh resi¬
dents are expec ted to get a dramatic
boost in future years thanks to seven
big civic projects on tap.
Fleeted officials at the state and local
levels have approved more than $165
million to be spent, with a scheduled
completion for all con¬
struction set for no later
than 1999. The projects
will be funded in part by
the collection of hotel
occupancy and meals
taxes in Wake County.
Hopes are that the new
look will boost an already-
thriving convention and
tourism business in North
Carolina's capital.
The seven projects
include:
•Entertainment and
Sports Arena: A 22.340-
seat multipurpose arena
will be located adjacent to
N.C. State University’s
Cartcr-Finlcy Stadium.
Construction began in
January, with completion
due in 1998. The project¬
ed cost is $66 million.
•Raleigh Civic and
Convention Center reno¬
vation and expansion:
This SI 2.6 million project
began last fall. Upon its
completion in 1997, the
facility will have 135.000
square feet of rentable
space, a 38 percent
increase from its current
si/e of 98.000 square feet.
•Children's Museum
About The World: This $25 million
interactive museum will be built down¬
town. Construction of the 70.000-
square-foot facility will begin this fall,
with completion set for the fall of 1998.
Raleigh already features three respect¬
ed state museums in art, history and
natural sciences.
•New home for N.C. State Museum of
Natural Sciences: The ceremonial
ground-breaking took place in
December 1994. Completion is expect¬
ed in 1999. The $40.9 million museum
will be built next door to its current
downtown location on the Bicentennial
Plaza.
•Five-County Stadium expansion:
The Zebulon home of the minor
league baseball Carolina Mudcats. a
Class AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh
Pirates, will be expanded from its cut-
rent capacity of 6,500. The Mudcats
rank No. I among all minor league
l'lt.4,' "ntllnt .< Minnilll .4 tl* <M.I \W.lu».
The Slate/Febnury 1996
4