The Columbia Heritage Foundation Board enters 2026 with a new slate of officers elected at the board’s December meeting. The board also approved the addition of two new directors, Billy Jenn and Sandy Schroller Cook, at the December meeting.
Leading the CHF board this year will be President Karen Rowold Mostyn who replaces Tracy Gupton. Cindy Brandt Saville returns as vice president for another year while Judy Kay Tomlin returns as the board’s secretary. Gupton, who served as Columbia Heritage Foundation president the past three years, will now serve as treasurer. He is replacing Linda Anderson who will remain active with the CHF board but chose not to continue as treasurer for another year.
Other returning directors on the Columbia Heritage Foundation Board include, in addition to Linda Anderson, Peggy Lou Gupton Boone, Jo Frances Jones Chastain, Misty Congdon, Clara Gallemore Dannhaus, Brenda Hobbins Henderson, Lee Ann Massengale Johnson, Laurie Beal Kincannon, Janel Trahan McCallister, Betty Jo Setzer Mosley, Jana Smith Ogilvie and Louise “Ditter” Barta Williams. Laurie Kincannon is the mayor of West Columbia.
The Columbia Heritage Foundation was established to save the old West Columbia Junior High School buildings from potential demolition. Over the years, the CHF board has been successful in refurbishing the gymnasium and auditorium on the campus grounds between East Bernard and Clay streets in West Columbia where the town’s high school once was located. The campus became West Columbia Junior High School in 1963 when Columbia High School opened at the location it occupies now. The majority of CHF board members are graduates of either old West Columbia High School or the newer Columbia High School. Peggy Boone, Jo Frances Chastain, Betty Jo Mosley and Judy Tomlin attended high school at the campus that is now Heritage Hall and surrounding buildings.
Heritage Hall, which used to be the gym, and the Gusher Inn, which formerly served as the cafeteria on the junior high school campus, can be rented for parties and other large gatherings. For information on renting the Columbia Heritage Foundation facilities, contact Jo Frances Chastain at (979) 557-3290 or Karen Mostyn at (512) 787-4144.
