Jugtown historian Steve Compton to trace pottery’s history in Asheboro library talk

Steve Compton

ASHEBORO – The history and influence of Jugtown Pottery will come to light in a talk by pottery historian and collector Steve Compton at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 5, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Randolph County Public Library, Compton’s appearance is free and the public is invited.

His talk, “Jugtown Pottery 1917-2017: A Century of Art and Craft in Clay,” shares a title with the book he published in June tracing the pottery’s history.

Jugtown was founded by Jacques Busbee, an artist from Raleigh, and his wife Juliana. Arriving in Seagrove in 1917, they gave national exposure to the traditional potters of the area by featuring the area’s wares in Juliana’s Greenwich Village tea room and shop.

The enterprising couple later founded Jugtown and employed local potters, paving the way for the development of the Seagrove area as the nation’s pottery center.

Compton’s talk will feature images from his lavishly-illustrated book.

Compton is an avid collector of mid-18th to mid-20th century pottery and has penned numerous books and articles about it, including Seagrove Potteries Through Time and It’s just Dirt! The Historic Art Potteries of North Carolina’s Seagrove Region. Widely recognized for his expertise, he is frequently called on as a lecturer and exhibit curator.

He formerly served as president of the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, and is a founding organizer of the North Carolina Pottery Collectors’ Guild.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6803.

History prof looks at youthful Revolutionary War soldiers in Asheboro library talk

Dr. Jake Rudman

ASHEBORO – Young soldiers carried a heavy burden in the American Revolution.

“Going for a soldier” forced young men to confront profound uncertainty and coercion, but serving in the military also offered novel opportunities.

Historian Dr. Jake Rudman will consider the experiences of these young men in “Becoming Men of Some Consequence: Youth and Military Service in the Revolutionary War,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 28, at the Asheboro Public Library. The talk, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Based on his 2014 book of the same title, Rudman’s talk examines the soldiers’ relationships, economic goals and politics, and their visions of their own independence.

Rudman, who holds a PhD in American History from Yale University, is an associate professor of history at Wake Forest University.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6803.

Teens: build a homemade radio in Asheboro library event

ASHEBORO – Teens are invited to learn the basics of radio science and help build a radio at 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Find out about AM/FM frequencies and even try to hear sounds from outer space. Will the radio built by participants pick up local stations?

The workshop is free.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6803 for more information.

Teens invited to learn basics of chess at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – All teens are invited to join Asheboro Chess Club founder Tom Hales for a beginners introduction to the greatest strategy game in the world in “The Basics of Chess,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 21, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Learn the fundamentals, the history of the game and find out about the Chess Club.

The workshop is free.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6803 for more information.