Leavitt House

MUSEUM  OF  EARLY  AMERICA

( THE  LEAVITT  HOUSE )

WADESBORO,  NORTH  CAROLINA

A PLACE TO STEP BACK INTO THE PAST

            How much do you know about the tools and house-hold items that were used by your ancestors of a hundred years ago?  Would you recognize a hand-turned wringer used for washing clothes, or a butter churn, or a hand-held block plane for making trim molding to decorate the inside of a house?  Or how about tools used by a black-smith to make rims for buggy wheels or horse shoes?  Has it occurred to you that 100-years ago there was very little electricity available, and generally all the boards used to make an entire house were cut with manual hand saws?  If not, there is a museum in Anson County North Carolina where you can see these items and a lot more!

THE TOM LITTLE COLLECTION OF TOOLS

            Many years ago Mr. Tom Little, a native entrepreneur of Anson County, started collecting antique tools, and through his continued efforts, assembled a large collection of assorted tools used by craftsmen of the past.  After his passing, the Anson County Historical Society acquired this collection, and now has them on display at the Leavitt House.  Along with his collection, the Historical Society as acquired many more tools, and this entire collection is on display for the public to see.   This display includes a large collection of block and shaping planes, hand augers, hand saws of all sizes, mallets, drawing planes, and much, much more. 

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ON DISPLAY

            At the Museum of Early America, you will see a collection of antique toy trucks, tractors and wagons.  Farm implements pulled by mules or oxen (when was the last time you saw a real double-yoke for oxen?), a black-smith forge, spinning wheels for spinning yarn, antique vacuum cleaners, and many other house-hold items are on display.  You will also see a huge set of cotton scales that was used by a local cotton gin. 

THE FULTON C. ALLEN ARROWHEAD COLLECTION

            For decades, Mr. Fulton Allen traveled over Anson County searching for Indian artifacts.  After years of searching and collecting, he very artistically organized his collection of arrowheads and artifacts into displays.  Today, almost an entire room in the Leavitt House Museum has been dedicated to this collection of arrowheads and other Indian artifacts – guaranteed to be the largest collection of this kind in Anson County.  Some of these artifacts date back hundreds (and possibly thousands) of years.

WADESBORO HIGH SCHOOL MEMORABILIA

            One room of the Leavitt House has been set aside totally to house and display a large collection of memorabilia relative to school days at Wadesboro High School, which existed from 1922 until 1967.  This collection contains many pictures, football jerseys, school emblems, old football helmets, school flags, posters, ball caps, letter jackets, and many other items relating to Wadesboro High School.  Come reminisce of the days when small, local schools were very competitive!

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LEAVITT HOUSE

            The Leavitt House is the only antebellum framed commercial building left in Anson County.  A fine example of the Greek Revival style, it was built in 1832 as a residence for Norfleet Boggan.  The heavy double paneled door of the main entrance was originally surrounded with many paned, beveled glass.  The parlor featured a ceiling medallion.  In 1876 Nathaniel Knight purchased this house and converted it into an Inn.  Harvey Levitt, Sr. adapted its use as a funeral home in 1935.  It was given to the Society in 2007. 

            Having moved the Tom Little collection of Early American artifacts from its inadequate building, the Society decided to establish a “Museum of Early America in the Leavitt House.  This collection of farm implements, carpentry tools, home furnishings, tack and wagons will take the visitors back in time to early life in Anson County and America.

HOURS OF OPERATION

            The museums operated by the Anson County Historical Society, Inc. are open Monday thru Friday from 10:00-am to 12:00-noon, and from 2:00-pm to 4:00-pm, or at other times by special appointment. 

ADMISSION CHARGES

            To tour a single museum, the admission for adults is $3.00 each and children is $1.00

            To tour all the museums,  the admission for adults is $5.00 each and children is $2.00

Please remember that admission charges are for the purpose of keeping the museums in operation, and any donations are welcomed and appreciated!)

HOW TO CONTACT THE ANSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

            ADDRESS:                Anson County Historical Society, Inc.

                                                206 East Wade Street

                                                Wadesboro, North Carolina   28170

            PHONE:                     704-694-6694

            FAX:                           704-694-3763

            E-mail:                        ansonhistorical@windstream.net

            Webpage:                   www.ansonhistoricalsociety.org

“INSURE  THE  FUTURE  BY PRESERVING  THE PAST”