News

Commissioners split on museum board appointment

Jim Toms (left) performed in a readers theater play by Tom Orr (right) on the founding of the Henderson County Library.

By Bill Moss, Published: October 13, 2014

Both trace their family roots to the earliest settlers of Henderson County. Both have been active in the county Heritage Museum's commemorative plays, and both have pursued a lifelong love of local history and genealogy. Only one of them could win a seat on the Heritage Museum Board.

Jim Toms edged Tom Orr for the seat on the Museum Board in a 3-2 vote of the Board of Commissioners on Monday night.
Commissioner Grady Hawkins nominated Orr and Larry Young nominated Toms. Commissioner Michael Edney joined Hawkins in voting for Orr while Tommy Thompson and Charlie Messer voted with Young in favor of Toms. The appointment will come up again before long. It was made to fill a vacancy that expires on June 30, 2015.
Orr, the longtime theater teacher at Hendersonville High School, writes a weekly column on local history for the Times-News and has written plays about the county's heritage. Toms, who traces his roots to the 18th century here, has always tracked local events. Just recently, the Heritage Museum reprinted a long report he wrote in 1963 on the story of the Fleetwood Hotel, the Laurel Park building that rose over Jump Off Rock before the market crash of 1929 halted its development.
Orr and Toms were unwitting rivals.
"My word," Toms said when told of the split vote. "Good night, I wouldn't have for anything wanted to step in Tom Orr's way because he's a dear friend. I didn't know that was even in play. Tom's an extremely great guy and we work closely together. He's one of my very special friends."
Orr has written plays on county history and Toms has performed in them.
"I'm interested to hear there was a contest I didn't even know was there," Toms added. "Maybe there'll be another seat that opens up."