Milestones in 2024: These Augusta-area buildings, events are celebrating anniversaries

Augusta has a long and complex history spanning more than 280 years. As we say goodbye to 2023 and look ahead to 2024, there will be a variety of anniversaries over the next year. Some of them serve as birthdays for iconic buildings in the area, while others are opportunities to look back at major events and their lasting impacts.

Here are some of Augusta's more prominent, upcoming anniversaries:

Augusta area ravaged by ice storm 10 years ago

Although much of the South was affected by the ice storm of February 2014, officials said Richmond and Columbia counties were the hardest hit in Georgia.

According to the National Weather Service, there was three-quarters to an inch of ice with an inch of snow and another 1.5 inches of sleet. The snow and ice brought everything to a halt, knocking down trees and power lines, resulting in a loss of power to thousands and making the roads impassable.

Debris cleanup lasted for months afterwards, according to Augusta Chronicle archives.

"Return to Bethlehem" started in North Augusta 25 years ago

Since 1999, Grace United Methodist's live retelling of the story of Jesus Christ's birth has been a popular Christmas tradition. "Return to Bethlehem" brings guests through a Biblical-era village complete with vendors, costumed residents, and several different animals. The entire set-up is put together and acted out by church volunteers.

Grace United organizes "Return to Bethlehem" every other year. The most recent one was from Dec. 6 to 9 of this past holiday season, so it will tentatively return in 2025.

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Augusta's first Black mayor convicted 40 years ago

Edward M. McIntyre Sr. was a major figure in Augusta politics as the city's first Black mayor, the first Black member of what was once called the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, and an influential force behind the Augusta Riverwalk, according to AP.

However, his career got a black mark after being convicted in 1984 for extorting about $25,000 from developers who wanted to do business with the city. According to Augusta Chronicle archives, he was sentenced to five years but only served one.

Sacred Heart has a 50-year and a 150-year milestone coming

Sacred Heart Cultural Center is easily one of Augusta's most beautiful historic buildings. But, today's generation almost missed out on everything it has to offer.

In November 1974, the parish council decided the abandoned church should be bulldozed due to the building falling into disrepair, according to Augusta Chronicle archives. A concerned group called "Friends of Sacred Heart Church" was formed to help prevent this from happening, and the family of noted local businessman Peter Knox saved the church and had it renovated into a cultural center.

This next year also marks 150 years since the Sacred Heart parish was founded. It started in 1874 with its original home being a small building at 1322 Ellis St. which housed the Sacred Heart church and school. This was meant to be a temporary base-of-operations until the bigger Sacred Heart we know today was built around the turn of the century. The original Sacred Heart home still stands today as a local base for the Red Cross.

Lucy C. Laney High School built 75 years ago

In 1949, A.R. Johnson and the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute (started by celebrated educator Lucy Craft Laney) came together to create the Lucy Craft Laney Comprehensive High School.

According to Augusta Chronicle archives, this was also the year Laney's football team won its first state championship.

Masters Tournament started 90 years ago

It's hard to imagine there being a time when the Masters Tournament wasn't a pillar of the Augusta community. But that all changed in March 1934 with the inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament, which is what the Masters was called until 1939, according to the Augusta National.

This also marked the first time a golf event was broadcast nationwide on the radio and the first time a 72-hole competition was played on four consecutive days.

Recently, a rare badge from the '34 tournament signed by champion Horton Smith went up for auction. It was sold in December for $220,500.

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Historic bank on Broad Street built 100 years ago

The "uptown branch" of Georgia Railroad Bank was built in 1924 at 1109 Broad St. in downtown Augusta, according to Augusta Chronicle archives. It was the first branch bank in Augusta and was meant to look like a smaller replica of the larger parent company building: What is now the historic Citizens and Southern National Bank Building at Broad and 7th streets.

It was open as a bank for more than 60 years, and after its closure, served as the home of the Augusta Genealogical Society from 1993 to 2019. It became a bank again after being restored and turned into a branch for Security Federal which is still in operation today.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta history, 2024 anniversaries, important buildings, events