DRB approves ADA ramp, roof restoration and a donated horse statue for China Springs Schoolhouse

The Aiken Design Review Board unanimously approved a package of restoration and accessibility improvements for the China Springs Schoolhouse on June 2, including construction of an ADA-compliant ramp, replacement of a failing cedar-shake roof with a standing-seam metal roof that replicates historic tin appearance, removal of a non-historic stoop and cupola, and approval to display a donated fiberglass horse statue named 'Homestretch' on museum grounds (CERH26-061).

Lauren Virgo (speaker 17), director of the Aiken County Historical Museum, and Mary Rosbach (speaker 18), operations manager for the Friends of the Museum, said the roof replacement is funded by a grant and that the Friends organization will maintain the sculpture. Virgo explained some past, nonhistoric alterations will be reversed as part of returning the building closer to its earlier configuration. Dave Cavanier (speaker 20), board president of the Friends of the Museum, described the statue as a lightweight fiberglass piece with an internal drawer for sandbag anchoring and said the Friends will be responsible for maintenance and relocation when programming requires.

Committee members asked about responsibility for maintenance of museum artifacts versus county-owned structures; Virgo explained county buildings and grounds handle certain structures while the Friends and museum seek grant funding for artifact-related work. The DRB approved the application unanimously and allowed either of two proposed locations for the horse statue, with the Friends agreeing to relocate the statue if event logistics or underlying utilities require it.