Plans being made for arches

Relocating pieces of school history will be the topic of discussion for a newly formed committee at its inaugural meeting Monday.

Held in the Evans Middle School cafeteria at 6:30 p.m., the Save the Columns group will discuss options for moving seven pillars and an arch located on the school's campus at the corner of Belair and Washington roads.

The pillars and arch are the sole remnants of the original schoolhouse built on the site in 1927.

The Columbia County School Board sold the site in May 2004 and is building a new Evans Middle on Hereford Farm Road. The current school buildings will be razed in the summer and the site converted into a shopping center.

"I know it's important to the community. They're emotionally attached to them," Evans Middle Principal Michael Johnson said. "We want to make sure everybody has a chance to voice their opinion on where they go."

Possibilities for their relocation include Evans High School, the new Evans Middle School and the John Pierce Blanchard memorial garden in Appling, Johnson said.

"There's nothing finalized," he said. "The board will be the one to make the ultimate decision on where those historical landmarks will be placed."

During a series of meetings by the Save the Columns committee, members will gather the information and submit a proposal to the school board.

The group also will discuss possible fundraisers to pay the expense of moving the pillars and arch. In fact, the meeting itself will double as a fundraiser. Chili will be served for tax-deductible donations, Johnson said.