John Goldsmith, curator of the DeMoulin Museum in Greenville, thrives on finding new items for the museum.
Very recently, the museum acquired a lodge initiation item that Goldsmith had never seen.
Goldsmith told us the piece is called the “Sliding Stairs” or “Seven Ages”. He said it looks like a series of seven steps, which collapse under someone sitting at the top of them. When activated, a bell rings, a blank fires, and the “victim” slides to the bottom.
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The sliding stairs was obtained from a man in Texas who found it at an Indiana antique store. He actually delivered it to Greenville, tied to the top of his van.
Another recent acquisition for the museum is a DeMoulin-made doctoral gown that was worn by the well-known actress Ruby Dee.
Goldsmith was a thrilled to get the robe, which is also on display in the museum.
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Dee wore the gown on at least four occasions, receiving honorary degrees at Howard University, Spellman College, Princeton University and Dartmouth.
The DeMoulin Museum is located at 110 East Main Street in downtown Greenville.
It is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
