Someone in Augusta finally stepped up with a plan to capitalize on the diverse list of celebrities rooted here besides James Brown, but hard financial times have gotten in the way.
Last month Augusta Museum of History Director Nancy Glaser asked the Augusta Commission for $12.4 million in special purpose sales tax funds toward a $16 million new wing to house exhibits for musicians, authors, actors, journalists and athletes whose stories begin in the area.
On her list of more than 50 names are Matrix and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation actor Laurence Fishburne, gospel great Amy Grant, blues icon Blind Willie McTell, pro wrestler and reality TV star Hulk Hogan, Lay Lady Lay pedal steel guitar player Pete Drake, Gone With the Wind actress Butterfly McQueen, Tobacco Road author Erskine Caldwell, Western movie character actor Dub Taylor, astronaut Susan Still and cable news journalist Judy Woodruff.
But the project didn't make the sales tax short list, and Ms. Glaser said she doesn't see much hope of it's being added.
"I feel like I've done the best I can right now in convincing them," she said of commissioners. "I understand they have to prioritize.
"But am I giving up? Absolutely not."
Ms. Glaser said that for about $40,000, she could set up a smaller display in what's now a storage room off the rotunda, which would be about the size of the current baseball exhibit. Even that will be tough, though, with the commission appropriating only $175,000 for the museum this year -- $31,250 less than last year -- and charitable donations scarce.
The director said she sees her local legends project contributing to economic development. The James Brown exhibit has seen museum foot traffic shoot up by 40 percent, and her experiences in a past job at the history museum in Frankfort, Ky., taught her the same lesson: Tourists like history, but they love celebrities.
For now, Ms. Glaser is doing research and publishing Local Legends profiles in the museum's bi-annual Archive magazine. The current issue has former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry and country singer Brenda Lee.
Which famous people the museum could spotlight would depend on what memorabilia she could obtain.
"Every day I find out there's somebody else," Ms. Glaser said. "These stories need to be told."
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
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If the musicians, authors, actors, journalists and athletes want their rags to riches story told let them pay for it.
This is the type of display the community would get behind. A long term fund raiser may be the way to finance this project.
Billy Morris should be on that list, too. Matter of fact, that may solve the financing problem for the project.
Lol riverman1 billy morris probably would pay for it. If he was included.
Lol riverman1 billy morris probably would pay for it. If he was included.
I wonder why everything has to be entertainment? The city needs to look at the Historical possibilities of Augusta and build on them. I think a city that was home to two signers of the Declaration of Independance, the boyhood home of a president, The actual home of military aviation, the former capitol og Georgia, etc, etc, etc, could find a better theme. BTW did any of the people listed actually live here? I wonder why they don't live here now? As for Perry the Frig, I thought he lived in Aiken and if so why is the city promoting him as living in Augusta? In conclusion if the museum belongs to the city why isn't it free? If I remember correctly it used to be free at times.
I suppose entertainers leave Augusta because they don't get an exhibit at the history museum. But fortunately there's change in the works. The moment the museum turns to James Brown they get a 40% pop! Any business owner would jump at that, and congratulations to Nancy Glaser for listening to the people. In the meantime I too wish the museum were free, and invite anyone that agrees with me to send a contribution, or ask a commissioner to help them out!
Don't forget Terry Gibbs ("Somebodys Knockin"), or does Grovetown count? She still lives there.
"If the musicians, authors, actors, journalists and athletes want their rags to riches story told let them pay for it." ----- Pack up and leave Augusta, as you're yet another cancer on the city. We need more displays of famous (not just "celebrity") Augustans, as an inspiration for all what anyone can be, if they didn't just be the status quo. I love my hometown, and want the rest of the world know there's more to Augusta than the Masters, and these rednecks that give it a bad name.
I would hope you would include Forest Griffin ms. Glaser. He grew up here,worked for the RCSD,and occasionally worked the door at the Soul bar to make a couple of bucks.