New heritage center to open Sunday

The Howard and Helen Hills Henry County Heritage Center (the old Saunders School) will officially open on Sunday, Nov. 18, with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m.

Charter memberships for both the Heritage Center and Van Allen House will be presented in a ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

Exhibits include information and illustrations on James Van Allen, Saunders School and other Mt. Pleasant Schools, a military display and various Mt. Pleasant memorabilia. A picture sorting table will also be available.

The Van Allen House will not be open.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Light refreshments will be served. Suggestions for displays and exhibits would be welcome.

When the Henry County Heritage Trust assumed ownership of the building, the structure was in need of repairs and rehabilitation, which was funded by monetary gifts contributed by the community and former Saunders students.

On the outside, a new roof was put on the original part of the building and new windows were installed.

In the basement, asbestos was removed and major repairs were made to the basement entrance where water was entering the building.

This was followed by painting the classroom walls of the first floor of the original building and refinishing the floors. A new furnace and restroom were installed and the floor of the hallway and steps were cleaned.