Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society - Collecting the Great War Exhibit

1145 North College,Mount Pleasant NC 28124

04 March, 2023

Description

David Newton Goff was born and raised in Gastonia, NC. He proudly attended N.C. State University earning a BS degree in Recreation and Parks Administration in 1975, followed by a Master of Arts in Adult Education in 1980. He was an avid Wolfpack fan! In 1976, Dave moved to Concord and began his career as a 4-H Extension Agent with the NC Cooperative Extension Service. In this role, Dave led programming for youth across Cabarrus County, facilitated engagement of 4-H volunteers, and for more than 30 years he was known as “the voice” of the North Carolina State 4-H Horse Show where he served as an announcer.  Dave and Gina met in Concord, were married in 1981 and have two children, Allison and John Wesley. In addition to being a busy father, husband and Extension Agent, Dave was an active community volunteer serving as president of the Noon Optimist Club, Cabarrus Rotary Club, and Carolina Regional Mustang Club; Board Chair and disaster action team chair for the American Red Cross and was a 20-gallon blood donor. He and Gina were founding members of the Carolina Mule Riders Association. It was Dave's great privilege to offer his collection of WWI era Cavalry equipment and accoutrements to the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society. Over a 10-15 year period during the 1980s and early '90s, Dave amassed the collection you see today from military collectors as far away as Missoula, Montana, and from individuals, antique stores and flea markets locally and across the country. Dave's fascination with WWI Cavalry, and his quest to collect a near complete set of uniform and equipment from this time-period, began with his ownership of saddle mules. Reading everything he could about the mule and its history, Dave learned that the McClellan military saddle was often a good fit for the body style of a saddle mule. Learning further that in addition to the Model 1904 McClellan saddle, the basic model used by the Cavalry in WWI, a Model 1913 McClellan Saddle with a unique brass horn had been made specifically for army mules. Thus began Dave's search for these saddles and his subsequent desire to learn about and collect all things WWI Cavalry.  As you would expect with 80+ year old leather, repairs were sometimes needed to be sure the saddle and all the leather parts were complete and in safe useable condition. Dave took great care to keep all repairs as original as possible including searching far and wide for brass rivets and original patterns. He became fast friends with the good folks at Lentz Harness Shop! Over the years, Dave took great pride in participating in area Veteran's Day events and parades mounted in uniform on his favorite mule and carrying many of the items you see here today. He did the same at local and statewide horse and mule shows and never tired of sharing all the details of the uniform, saddle, guns, sword, and all the other equipment carried by a WWI horse soldier and his mount.