Preparations are underway for an event that has been centuries in the making— St. Clair County’s Bicentennial Celebration, coming up in 2018.

The Bicentennial Committee congregated in the large upstairs courtroom at the Pell City Courthouse Monday night for their first official meeting. Alan Furr, chairman of the Ashville Museum and Archives board of directors, led the discussion. “What’s about to happen is not just about Ashville, it’s about the entire county,” Furr said. “We need everyone to come together.” 

Besides developing plans for the celebration, the purpose of the committee is to build community awareness of the upcoming anniversary, as well as plan informative events and activities. A budget will also be prepared by May of this year for submission to the County Commission, which has agreed to do what they can to help financially, Furr said.

The committee, comprised of city employees and council members and citizens, also had a brainstorming session on ways to implement their purpose and goals. Potential projects to look forward to include a bicentennial calendar, historic tours, an art and photo exhibit, a commemorative historic marker and, of course, the celebration.

Notably, Furr and Pell City’s Gaston Williamson were unanimously elected chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Ashville’s Elizabeth Sorrell, who was elected secretary, was dutifully taking notes even prior to her nomination.

Prospective venues were also discussed for St. Clair County’s hosting of the Alabama Humanities Foundation’s Making Alabama: A Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit (makingalabama.org), which will require at least 1,000 square feet and 10-foot ceilings.

The committee will be working in conjunction with the St. Clair County Historic Development ,Commission. Indeed, many are members of both the commission and the committee. “I know this is a group of wonderful people who will work very hard to make this happen,” Furr said. “I appreciate everyone’s willingness to serve their community.”

For more information, email committee chairman Alan Furr at alanfurr@yahoo.com or visit facebook.com/Bicentennial-Celebration-St-Clair-County-Alabama-364020197314771.