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cracking on
bicentennial
The start of 2007 means that the bicentennial of Columbus County, 2008, is fast approaching.
Columbus County began as an afterthought. In the original bill signed in December,1808, Columbus was still an unnamed county. At the time, what is now Columbus County was part of Brunswick and Bladen counties, but travel to the county seats of Smithville (now Southport) and Elizabeth (now Elizabethtown) was too distant for most folks.
Someone introduced a bill in the General Assembly that called for the creation of Buncombe County (Asheville) and an unnamed county. That unnamed county was us.
So Columbus County’s start was somewhat inauspicious, but there’s no reason why the county’s bicentennial celebration should be so. In fact, the celebration should be a year-long, meaningful affair.
The county’s bicentennial celebration of the signing of the Constitution was a major event, with a large parade from the courthouse to Legion Stadium, followed by a program and Zambelli fireworks show. Hundreds of people participated.
The county commissioners have appointed a committee to begin work on the bicentennial celebration, but it needs to name a chairman and expand its focus with as many people as possible.
History and the celebration of history are important. You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.
The 200th birthday of Columbus County is truly worth celebrating. Such a milestone is something to be proud of and deserves an effort worthy of the accomplishment.