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News and Special Events

One-day Exhibit of Cole Pottery at the Johnston County Museum

On Saturday, May 17, the Johnston County Museum will host a book-signing and one-day exhibition of pottery made near Smithfield from 1927 to 1942. Stephen Compton of Raleigh will bring a sampling of his vast collection of Herman Cole’s Smithfield Art Pottery. He will also sign copies of his book, North Carolina’s Hillside Pottery and Smithfield Art Pottery: The Pottery With Two Names, which is currently for sale in the museum’s gift shop.

Located near the banks of the Neuse River on Highway 301 (formerly known as Route 22), Cole’s roadside operation shipped out as many as 2,000 pieces each week and did a booming business with passing motorists in the days when 301 was a main traffic artery between New York and Miami. Cole came from a celebrated pottery-making family and joined forces with artist and entrepreneur Anna M. Graham of New York to start the Smithfield business. He pulled in some of the state’s most talented potters to help keep up the huge demand for their products.

“We are thrilled to have Steve Compton come to Smithfield to talk about his book and show off some of his amazing collection,” says Heritage Center and Museum Director Todd Johnson. “If anyone misses the May 17 event, we have a very nice collection of Cole pottery that visitors can see year-round, thanks to local collector and Heritage Center patron Art Andrews.”

This is a free public event. The museum is located at 329 E. Market Street in Downtown Smithfield and is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. For more information, call the Johnston County Museum at 919-938-5912.

 

Memoir Writing Workshop with Author Barbara Presnell on May 10th at 11 a.m. at the Johnston County Museum

This Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m., author Barbara Presnell will hold a workshop at the Johnston County Museum, 329 E. Market Street, Smithfield, to give some guidance on writing stories about wartime at home and on the battlefield. Visitors can also learn about local history (including lots of war stories) and NC Barbecue history through a traveling exhibit, courtesy of the NC Museum of History.


It's free and open to the public, so y'all come!

NOTE: It's not at the Heritage Center but at the Johnston County Museum (next to Ava Gardner Museum).

 

Celebrate Smithfield Includes Tuscarora storytellers, performers at Johnston County Museum 

The Johnston County Museum will host singers, dancers, and storytellers from the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina as part of the Celebrate Smithfield International Culture Festival on Saturday, March 15th. The event will begin at 11 am and conclude at 4 pm.

“We are honored to have this opportunity to share our rich history and culture with the people of Johnston County,” said Tuscarora elder Robert Chavis of Red Springs. “This is part of the land our people called home for hundreds of years. This land is part of who we are.”   

The dance troupe will perform between 1:30 and 2:30. Storytelling and informal discussions will take place at other times throughout the day.

This is a free public event. The museum is located at 329 E. Market Street in Downtown Smithfield. For more information, call the Johnston County Museum at 919-938-5912, or visit www.jcheritagecenter.org.


Johnston County Heritage Center Receives Grant from North Carolina Humanities

The Johnston County Heritage Center has received a Large Grant from North Carolina Humanities. This $20,000 grant is helping Heritage Center staff and teachers to provide more local history content for students, whether in public, private, or home schools. Click here to read more.


Johnston County Literary and Historical Journal Published

The Johnston County Heritage Center recently published a second edition of the Johnston County Literary and Historical Journal. The book includes contributions by 22 writers. It is on sale in the Johnston County Museum for $30.

View the press release:  Johnston County Literary and Historical Journal Published

 

Videos of Special Events

Videos of our most recent Ghost Walks, Black History program, Patrons' Gala, and Historical Marker unveiling ceremonies are available for viewing on the Heritage Center Video Library page, the Heritage Center YouTube channel or the Johnston County YouTube channel. 

 

Donations are needed and greatly appreciated to offset costs of putting on these events. You may give online by clicking "DONATE" at the bottom of our home page.  

2023 Annual Report

Pre-2023 Newsletters  

Newsletters through 2022 are in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF) and can be downloaded using the links below.  

 



Page last updated:  May 6, 2025