OOPS! Moving the Museum

On a pleasant evening in May 1999, a crowd gathered on the corner of Falls and Maple where the old Badin kindergarten sat high on steel beams. Jim Moore threw his tractor into gear and the 83-year-old building inched forward. Suddenly, one of the tiny supporting wheels collapsed. The building tilted alarmingly. The crowd gasped. Minutes ticked by as the building was jacked up, the wheel replaced and the snail’s pace progress continued.

The 15’ X 50’ one-story frame building had outgrown its usefulness to Alcoa, and the company had given it to the town on condition it was moved off Alcoa property. Its new home was to be the town park and its new title: Badin Museum.

“This is a big day,” said David Summerlin, a member of the newly-formed Badin Museum Committee and an avid collector of Badin memorabilia. “I’ve dreamed of this for a long time.”

Anne and Tom Garrison felt their emotions tug. Their relationship leading to a long and happy marriage had begun here as kindergarten children. Tom pulled out a faded photograph of himself and his twin brother, Jim, a pair of five-year-olds standing in front of the building dressed as elves. 

By the time the building was eased on to its new foundation, dusk had fallen. The final work would wait until morning.