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Sally & Sunny

November 27, 2023 / admin

This is Sally and Sunny, “Cutout Dolls” that were donated by Elizabeth McCann Nester. They were sold in booklets for kids to carefully cut out- no die cuts or punch-outs, back then- and were a product of prolific illustrator and graphic artist, Beatrice Mallet (1896-1951) in 1939.

(And they’re an excellent addition to this season’s Christmas exhibit!)

“Here’s Sally
Cute- Isn’t She?
and she has many cute clothes, too-“

“And Here’s Sunny
This little man has a handsome wardrobe, too-“

Born, Beatrice Fox, in 1896 in Long Eaton, Nottingham, UK, she became Beatrice Mallet after having married in 1919, Hervé Mallet. Hervé was an illustrator. They moved to Paris, where she began her career as an illustrator in advertising.

Part of Alleghany Historical Museum’s Exhibit for Autumn, 2023: Ghosts of Christmas Past

Seasons Greetings

November 24, 2023 / admin

When you’re in Sparta for the big parade, tomorrow, plan to stop by the Historical Museum and see the new Exhibit, Ghosts of Christmas Past.

Help support the Museum:

Pick up a book for that “person who has everything.”

And if you have something you’d like to loan for display this season, let Ross know. He will be there, tomorrow 11am-3pm, and as always, admission is free.

The nutcracker in the photo is one of Delta Peterson’s collection of smokers and nutcrackers currently on display.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 23, 2023 / admin

We hope you have the best Thanksgiving Day!
Plan to visit this season for our holiday exhibit:
Ghosts of Christmas Past

Winter in the Country. A Cold Morning.
by George Henry Durrie in 1864.
Hand-colored lithograph by Currier & Ives.

November 7, 2023 / admin

A little history at Christmas, from J.M. Sturgill (1926-2016), about the Troutman Industries branch in Sparta.

Mr. Sturgill was employed by Troutman, from January 8, 1951, until February 3, 1972, first in Mooresville and later as manager of the Sparta plant.

Troutman’s Sparta employees at Christmas, 1950.
Photo from Leonis Joines.

Just by chance, H.J. Brown of Troutman Shirt Company, was passing through Sparta and stopped to buy gas. A service station attendant saw his company credit card and asked Mr. Brown why he didn’t open a plant in Sparta. Mr. Brown replied, that if someone would send him some information on the town he just might do so. Mr. Brown soon got his information in the mail and a local committee was set up to negotiate a new branch in Sparta.

Troutman Shirt Company, owned by brothers L. A. Brown and H. J. Brown, came to Sparta in 1949. Sparta was their first branch plant and there, they began to manufacture blue chambray work shirts. As part of the plan Mr. Dorace Bare and his brother Hiram Bare of Laurel Springs built the plant adjacent to a building they owned on the corner of Grayson Street and Highway 18. (Where the Crouse Park stage now stands) With their own saw mill they sawed the lumber for the plant. Troutman Shirt leased the buildings and later purchased them.

By the end of 1957, plans were being made to manufacture men’s and boy’s casual slacks and walking shorts. Mr. Pat Brown came to Sparta one day and asked me to go with a drive with him. I had no idea where or why. He drove to the location of the Sparta Lions Club softball park. He said he needed to build another plant to manufacture casual wear and would like to do so in Sparta, because of the outstanding record the Sparta division had.

He could purchase the Lions Club property and build there- but only if I would manage it for him. He also told me I would have 100% say as to how many people I needed to staff for supervisors and other key positions. The final decisions for Sparta to have another plant rested on my shoulders and it would be a huge step. I accepted the job. We then drove to Northwestern Bank and Mr. Brown signed a note for funds to purchase property and build the plant.

In December of 1957, construction of the new plant had been completed and we started to move in. From that time, the new building would be called Plant #1 and operate in the name of Atwood Inc. (Atwood was the middle name of Mr. L. A. Brown) and the old plant was used for a warehouse.

By 1958, employment in Sparta had exceeded 350 employees. Then in March of 1959, plans were made to reopen the old plant as plant #2. It received a new paint job inside and out, with new brick masonry at the front, facing Highway 18. All of the wiring and plumbing had been left intact, so the transition moved very quickly. The employees were happy to be back on their old home court and making work pants.

This move provided more room at plant #1 for more needed casual wear production. By the end of 1960, employment at both plants was approximately 475. Call this bragging or whatever but the success was really due to decisions of the company and the dedication of a wonderful group of loyal employees. —J.M. Sturgill

The plant operated until 1984 at which time it sold its operation to Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair ran it until 1987, and after that, Modern Globe of North Wilkesboro. Modern Globe closed its operation in April of 2000, and December 19, 2001, the plant #1 property was sold to Alleghany County.

Today, Troutman’s plant #1 building has been completely refurbished and repurposed. It is the home of Wilkes Community College, Sparta Campus; the Blue Ridge Business Development Center and the Alleghany County Public Library. This photo was made in 2015.

2023 Student Volunteers

October 22, 2023 / admin

Meet Joan, Mary, Fatima, Manaal, Madison, Lissette, Karalina, Matthew, Maria and Josh.

They are student volunteers from the University of Notre Dame who spent the last week in Sparta including a grueling day of effort at the Alleghany Historical museum.

These future leaders (who are studying fields as diverse as Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Economics, Neuroscience, Biology, Architecture, and Business Analytics) happily pitched in to paint, stain doorways, sweep, move boxes, build shelving and more.

We appreciate their help (and their great attitudes!) and wish them much success.