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State H< special to The Gamecock NICKIE LAS8ITER For the State House, seven years of planning and renovation has resulted in a new look and a sturdier structure. The building will officially re-open to the public at 10:30 a.m. Saturday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The South Carolina Budget and Control Board began planning for renovations of the State House in 1991. The planning phase of the project continued until 1995, when the actual renovation phase began. The major renovation work included an earthquake protection system; new heating and air conditioning systems; fire protection systems; new entrances and exits; new stairs, elevators, and passageways to comply with fire and safety requirements; and an auditorium on the first floor for tour groups. Not all of the changes required additions to the structure. Restoration was part of the project as well. Steven and Wilkinson, the architectural firm for the project, attempted to restore many aspects of the structure to reflect the early 1900s. This task included uncovering and mof nrinrr nrirrinol firnnlnnoo clr\rlirrVifo l go wi 1U5 ui lguicu iu ugubo and marble floors; decorating the interior with appropriate paint and wall coverings of the era; restoring the slate roof and copper on the exterior dome; and cleaning the exterior of the building. There had been questions regarding the length of the project, which was to be completed in October 1997. Monty McKinning of Caddell Construction cited "unforeseen conditions which couldn't be seen until demolition, due to a lack of original blueprints" as the reason for the delay in construction. Despite the lengthy renovation phase, there have been several benefits of the improved building. 9 Time is it i 15C F You won't r ENROLL f great Offer good until 200 activations 3use to r r The fences around the State Hous< the public Saturday in a special rifc As seat of the state government, it is the No. 1 historic building in the state and is a place where the residents of South Carolina can see their government in action. The government officials and visitors are now provided with better security, not to mention a more at ease feeling with the new safety features added. iAVI loney. We never charge y SEl I minutes of use in-Zor niss a call with voice ma NO *JOW! Only 200 lucky I calling plan. So stop by IT ITS AL @ BELLS Offer C Ground Floor of Th< 10am-6pm Monday - Tl ; obtained. Subject to credit approval and e-open1 i 4 " r . e have come down with the complc >bon-cutting ceremony, which will fc "The improved State House will be more of a calling card for Columbia tourists. The State House, along with the other historic buildings, Riverbanks Zoo and the River Alliance, will mean better businesses moving into the growing area," said Louise Majors, assistant director of public affairs for the budget and control board. ou for your first local m ie airtime for only $25 f til, paging features, < js?o stuaents, tacuir le Russell House, becau LA MATTER O OUTH Ma Inly Available at Our Campi b Russell House Near the It hursdav. 10am-2om Fridav f to BellSouth Mobility DCS Terms and Ci with nev 4 ^ 'mmmm &.* ^ :tion of its additions and renovations. e open to the public. Construction for the original State House began in 1855 and continued i throughout the Civil War until 1865. i Minimal damage was caused by j several shell hits to the unfinished i building in 1865. However, much damage was done when building materi- ; als and plans were destroyed by the i Union Army. 1 ( im incoming minute on oi \mwmmm )ius no long-term cont fjMI :all waiting and caller I ME. / and staff can take adv se when they're gone, it's iF TIME. bility D(S. us Store: lailboxes - 318-0270 (Hours subject to change.) i Dnditions. See store for details. Certain res v look v I* J1' - - - ^msr^wKKr^ v > ;' VV. *' i I.JB1 M^k1 ^hB N1KK1 THORPE Photo Editor The State House will re-open to The building was deemed usable n 1868 when temporary wood floors md walls were installed, but the'com}letion of the State House wasn't comnissioned until 1884. Since then, small renovations, such is air conditioning and the addition of i women's bathroom, have taken place, Dut no major renovations have been lone until now. ur network. I IB ract. ID all in one. antage of this > over! JlSC rotfc SOUTH CAROUNA'S HRST DIGITAL MOBU PHONE SYSTEM I frictions apply. ? 1998 BellSouth Pilgrimage to include stop, visit in Columbia STAFF REPORTS It's a pilgrimage, all right, but Chaucer is nowhere to be seen. The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage will arrive Friday in Columbia. The cross-cultural, multi-generational group is on a 12-month journey. The group is traveling from Charlotte, N.C., and will leave Sunday morning for Orangeburg. The pilgrimage, which includes 70 people from around the world, is retracing the route of the slave trade and will assemble on the 4200 block of North Main Street near the Lutheran Theo logical aouinern seminary ana nyatt Park Elementary School. The main purpose of the Middle Passage Pilgrimage is to work toward healing and reconciliation as a therapeutic step for human beings. Pilgrimage participants also hope that their example will help break the pattern of defensiveness, denial and fear that forms the unconscious underpinnings of a society that is still dealing with the problems of racism. Participants, organizing volunteers and the community at large also have the chance to take advantage of a number of educational opportunities on the instituion of slavery in order to create a context for the current state of global communities in an honest history. The pilgrimage began in Massachusetts in late May and will follow major cities along the East Coast. The journey will continue through the Caribbean Islands, SouthAmerica and parts of Africa, and will end in South Africa in June 1999. A parallel pilgrimage is retracing the European origins of the trans-Atlantic slave system. ITINERARY ..Friday, Aug. 21 around midday - 70 pilgrims to arrive by bus from Charlotte, N.C., and assemble on the 4200 block of North Main Street, near the Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary and Hyatt Park Elementary School, to walk into Columbia 2:30 p.m. - Begin 2.2-mile walk to the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House, 2025 Marion St. at Elmwood Avenue 6 p.m. - Welcoming ceremony at the Simkins House 6:45 p.m. - Begin one-mile walk to the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 110 Sumter St. around 7:45 p.m. - Potluck supper at Trinity Cathedral Saturday, Aug. 22 around 9 a.m. - Begin one-mile walk to the Simkins House, passing historic African-American sites, such as Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ladson Presbyeterian Church and the Mann.Qimnnc rnHarrn ATjkumi wmimia wvvagv 10 a.m. to noon - Take part in a community forum on Human Righs Initiative on Economic Justice at the Simkins House, sponsored by the Collaborative for Community Trust 12:30 p.m. - Begin 14-block walk down Marion and Taylor streets to the Waverly Historical District, including the Benedict College and Allen University campuses, to the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 2229 Hampton St. 2 to 3 p.m. - Potluck community celebration at St. Martin de Porres 3 to 4 p.m. - Program by pilgrimage participants and the chance for fellowship 4:30 p.m. - Begin 1.5-mile walk, passing through the Martin Luther King Park, to the Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow St. around 6 p.m. - Potluck supper at the Shandon Presbyterian church Sunday, Aug. 23 around 9 a.m. - Leave Columbia and continue the pilgrimage I??