Community Voices Take Action in Echo Hall Restoration

On April 21st, I attended an open meeting regarding the efforts to restore an important landmark in our small town with huge history. The Augusta College Echo Hall Association had its first official

meeting. The outgoing support and willingness to assist in any way possible from several members of the community was very inspiring and encouraging.

Echo Hall was once the dormitory for Augusta College, and according to some historians is the world's first Methodist college. The building was built in 1830 and has served a multitude of purposes since. But since the flood of 1997, the building has seen consistent deterioration.

Augusta College served as a breeding ground for the antislavery and abolition movement in years leading up to the Civil War. James Thome was a an Augusta citizen and graduate of Augusta College. After returning from teaching at various schools in the northeast,Thome convinced his slave-owning father, Sir Arthur Thome, to release his slaves in 1834, becoming the first Kentuckian to do so. Several Republican senators from all over the south were Augusta College graduates and several graduates became professors and administrators at prestigious universities including Northwestern University (Randolph Foster).

The Augusta College Echo Hall Association began its meeting going over the by laws. Officers were then elected. Local historian and author Caroline Miller will serve as president. In an open forum, the potential uses of the building were discussed. Augusta Independent school district superintendent, Lisa McCane, voiced her approval of any potential use for the public school system granted by the organization.

Kentucky Trust Foundation for Historic Preservation will acquire the property and will also assist in finding the appropriate grants for the difficult task of the building's restoration. Private funding and fundraising will also be an equally important part of the restoration process.

Augusta citizen and educator Aaron Linville attended the meeting and didn't say much. He did however have very nice things to say about the sweet tea and desserts provided.

At close, the second meeting was set up for May 13. Please stay tuned with the blog for further news on an important restoration of the town's very rich history.