Historical Museum showcases musical icons from Aiken County

The Aiken County Historical Museum has debuted a new exhibit celebrating those who have made beautiful music in Aiken County throughout the years.

"The Musicians of Aiken County" will be on display in the ballroom throughout the month of October. A reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. The exhibit features memorabilia from such luminaries as Flo Carter, Peggy Lee and James Brown, and contains both items from the museum's permanent collection and on loan from musicians and fans in the Aiken area.

"We're going to be the permanent repository for Niles Borop's awards and memorabilia. The Gospel Hall of Fame asked him for some things, but he didn't want to break up his collection, so we've got them now," said Mary White, the director of education at the Aiken County Historical Museum. Borop, an Aiken native, is a celebrated gospel musician and songwriter.

The exhibit also follows the careers of members of early rock band Mike Stewart and The Intruders. Stewart Harris of the group went on to find success writing pop songs and advertising jingles. Archie Jordan wrote songs for Ronnie Milsap such as "It Was Almost Like a Song" and "What a Difference You've Made In My Life." Harris also has developed a career in performing and songwriting that includes such country hits as "No One Else on Earth" and "Angels in Waiting."

Flo Carter and Peggy Lee both got their start in North Augusta, appearing in gospel programs on rival television stations, and went on to become friends.

Many of the collectibles on Carter, Lee and James Brown were lent to the museum by longtime music journalist Don Rhodes, White said.

"We hope to be adding things from Jim Nabors, who has ties to North Augusta, things from Maureen Simpson, and more things from our own collections," she said.

"This is an exhibit we've been planning for two years and kept having to postpone. Every time we'd start to gather things for it we'd find more and more great things to use."

For more information about the current exhibits, call the Aiken County Historical Museum at 642-2015.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.