Long-time Drexel residents work to turn one of the town's oldest buildings into a museum

Not much is left of what used to be an old five-and-dime store in downtown Drexel. Remnants of flooring, rugged walls, and no roofing contrast with the new, gray cinderblock wall constructed to hold the four together, a sign that something new is stirring in the oldest brick building in town.

What longtime Drexel resident Don Bumgarner sees at 102 S. Main St. is the future home of the Drexel Museum to teach folks about their small town with a big history. For the past couple of years, Bumgarner has been working on an oral history project he plans to incorporate into the museum, along with exhibits he’s developing and planning.

Years ago, he proposed that the town rebuild the Southern Railway depot for an informal museum. The depot was located just across the train tracks to the left and adjacent to the Drexel site. Those plans didn’t come to fruition. The interest, however, is still there. After the Drexel High School Mega-reunion, attended by more than 500 people, that enthusiasm was reignited.

“That kind of lit a fire under people,” Bumgarner said.

His main objectives are highlighting the history of Drexel Furniture Company, Drexel Knitting Mills, Drexel Police Department, Drexel Fire Department, Drexel High School, and Drexel Elementary School.

Drexel Furniture Company was established in Drexel in 1903 and is a central part of the town’s history as the company elevated the small town to a leading manufacturer of traditional and modern furniture, according to the North Carolina History Project. For decades, Drexel furniture was in various hotels, the U.S. State Department, and government agencies across the world.

Drexel Knitting Mills was another manufacturer in Drexel, Bumgarner said, that was primarily where the women went to work making cotton socks.

Bumgarner said he has started making modules for the exhibits that he can rearrange throughout the building. He also said that he has a few churches in the community working to add some of their history to the museum. The modules could also feature people significant to the town of Drexel, Bumgarner said. For example, late board of aldermen member Terry Yount, who served as a police officer and police chief for decades.

In addition to the museum itself, Bumgarner plans to convert two neighboring buildings into an annex. The space would serve as a workroom and breakroom, and also host workshops and classes led by community members interested in teaching crafts such as stained glass, quilting, and woodworking.

Getting the museum up and running won’t be a quick process. A new building will essentially have to be built within the space of the old building, Bumgarner said. It could take around $250,000 to complete the job, according to Treasurer Madeleine Murr. Buying the neighboring annex building will cost $225,000, increasing the base cost to about $475,000. More money will be needed for additional renovations, educational displays, or other materials needed for the museum.

Murr said that she is planning to work with other officers to write grants. In the meantime, the group is open to monetary donations at P.O. Box 101, Drexel, North Carolina 28619.

The interest from the community has been great, Bumgarner said. “There are so many people in town that have kept things, old football jerseys, pictures … and they keep saying ‘when can I get rid of this stuff?’”

If anyone has items, they would like to donate, Murr said to leave a message on The Drexel Museum’s Facebook page or direct message the account and someone from the museum committee with reach out.

Bumgarner and his team went before the board of aldermen last September to request $35,000 for the museum but were denied. However, Bumgarner said he hopes to continue working with the town to identify additional funding sources. The museum could take another three to five years before it’s ready to open, but he plans to open the annex building in September, ahead of the next Mega-reunion on Oct. 4.

Murr noted that there will be a donation drive at the Mega-reunion and that they will also be selling puzzles with photos of Drexel throughout the years to raise money.

Drexel is currently a bedroom community, with most residents commuting to jobs elsewhere in the county or surrounding areas, he said. He hopes the museum could be a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

Murr noted that people used to travel from all over the world to come to Drexel’s showroom. Now, she just wants to see Drexel thrive and hopes that the presence of the museum will draw people back in.

“I’d like to see some industry back here that brings working people back into town, through town,” Bumgarner said. He added that the clearing of the former Drexel site is a promising step, saying, “That will revitalize a lot of it.”