The first restoration project, the Daniels-Stenhouse, was completed in 2001 at 109 South George Street, historic Goldsboro, and is now the location of Plum Tree Gardens Bed and Breakfast.
In 2007 the B&B donated space to Grandpa's Children, Inc. for a gallery to highlight Woodland Indian art and promote work by Wayne County artists and craftsmen. Since that time guests from throughout the United States have purchased Woodland Indian watercolors, photography, carved dough bowls, dreamcatchers, medicine bags, painted gourds, prayer feathers, and wampum jewelry as well as local pottery, baskets, jewelry, stained glass, and photography.
Dreamweaver continued to work toward the goal of building a separate facility to focus on Woodland Indian heritage and enlisted the help of area college students and local municipal and tourism agencies.
Timeline:
2007
- Dreamweaver was recipient of the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Month award. His work was featured on posters distributed throughout the state.
- Grandpa's Children, Inc. was recipient of a grassroots grant for the gallery from the North Carolina State Arts Council through the Arts Council of Wayne County.
- January 2009 - Eastern North Carolina Travel and Tourism brought Grandpa's Children, Inc. East Carolina University School of Interior Design and Pitt Community College Architectural Technology together. The partnership embarked on creating designs for First People Heritage Center via an educational tourism project and contest. Located around a central dance circle, the concept featured four buildings situated within a traditional medicine wheel form and surrounded by informal gardens: medicinal herb; three sisters (corn, beans, squash) and tobacco; butterfly gardens; and an aquatic turtle pond which flows beneath one of the buildings.
- April 2009 - Grandpa's Children, Inc. held “DRUMS” heritage center benefit concert. A grassroots grant was received from North Carolina State Arts Council through the Arts Council of Wayne County.
- April 2009 - Evergreen Team was awarded the best architectural design for their submission. Their sustainable buildings featured domed sod roofs with segments separated by ribbons of copper. One roof was highlighted by large copper bands, two roofs were nautilus shell forms, and the fourth roof was a turtle shell form. A unique tree sculpture was the central roof support for each building.The decorative band at the top of each web page is derived from Evergreen Team preliminary designs for the Museum and roofs of all four buildings.
- April 2010 - Grandpa's Children Inc. opened Plum Tree Market Place, a non-profit project which created organic community gardens and a farmers’ market for residents of Wayne County. Garden plots and vendor spaces with canopies and tables were offered to residents at no charge. Plots, plants, seeds, and instruction were given to Wayne School of Engineering students to plant Spring and Fall gardens.
- November 2010 - A grassroots grant was received from the North Carolina State Arts Council through the Arts Council of Wayne County for the 5th Annual First People Art Festival , which was held at Plum Tree Market Place and Plum Tree Gardens Gallery.
- Wayne County Travel & Tourism continues to be a staunch supporter by contributing promotional support for events and encouragement for the Heritage Center.
When Dreamweaver's plan reaches fruition, First People Heritage Center will contribute not only to the economy of Indian artists and their families but to the economy of Wayne County. The creative LEEDS gold design and model for sustainable architecture and landscaping will draw visitors from North Carolina, surrounding states, throughout the United States, and from other countries. Refer to news for updates.
