Today we’d like to introduce you to John Guss.
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 1997, restoration and preservation efforts led by Preservation North Carolina began in the Glencoe Cotton Mill Village located just 3 miles north of downtown Burlington along the Haw River, to restore this 19th century water powered textile mill village as a historical community for people to live and visitors to come and enjoy.
In March 2004, the Textile Heritage Museum opened as a public museum on a part time basis to share the Southern textile history of early Industrial America. Thousands of textile related artifacts have been acquired to include machinery, clothing, fabrics and quilts, documents and ledgers of the operations of the mill, and many other artifacts from neighboring mills in North Carolina and South Carolina.
In May 2018, the Textile Heritage Museum, Inc. (a registered 501-C3 non-profit organization) and the Alamance Parks Department of Alamance County, North Carolina joined into a collaborative effort to continue to operate and support the museum as a full time museum.
The museum has grown with the addition of the Superintendent House and Machine Shop as part of the historical interpretation of this 19th century textile mill community. There are interpretive plaques throughout the village as well as hiking trails, a children’s outdoor park, and primitive camping in the wooded natural areas of the village property.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The greatest challenges have been increasing the full time staff and additional funding to maintain the historic structures and the vast collection of artifacts.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing. I then pursued a film and television career for about 15 years as an assistant director and member of the Directors Guild of America. Movies to include: Glory, Gettysburg, Andersonville, Something To Talk About, October Sky, Return To Lonesome Dove, Forces of Nature, and other television and film productions.
I served as the site manager of Bennett Place State Historic Site in Durham, North Carolina, where the largest surrender of the American Civil War occurred on April 26, 1865.
I have published 4 books by Arcadia Publishing along with having been on television and written numerous magazine and news articles related to history.
I currently serve as the Historic Properties Superintendent and Executive Director of the Textile Heritage Museum and Alamance Parks Department of Alamance County, North Carolina.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Mr. & Mrs. George and Jerrie Nall, Dr. Sam and Karen Powell, and Mr. John and Kathy Barry were all instrumental in making the Textile Heritage Museum a reality by investing their time, funding, and dedication to the development of the museum and the preservation of North Carolina’s early textile heritage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.textileheritagemuseum.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textileheritage1880/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TextileHeritageMuseum
