After years of planning and dreaming, months of work and preparation, and weeks surmounting glitches and setbacks, four Loudon women will be reopening the Fort Hill school building soon as a community arts center.

Initially opened in the mid-1800s, before Loudon became a county, the Fort Hill School started as a Cumberland Presbyterian-funded high school with a baccalaureate program as well. In subsequent years, the property - at 521 West Fort Hill in Loudon -  has seen incarnations as a high school, a library, a church and the Roane State Community College local campus.

The property was purchased from the Loudon County Board of Education in 1986 by Terry and Kathryn McGill. Soon after, around May, 1987, an arsonist's fire destroyed this historic part of the building, used as a gym. 

The other part, built sometime in the 1950s, was rented or leased out several time but has remained empty much of the time since Terry McGill's death in 2003.

The McGill's three daughters - Renee McGill, Amy Millsaps and Rebecca Willis - got the idea for a local arts school. All are heavily involved in the family business, McGill-Karnes Funeral Home, in civic organizations and church and charitable activities, and realized a need for local arts resources. "We didn't have time to take our kids to programs in Knoxville, and we were wishing there was something in the area," said Millsaps.  The sisters, along with friend Michelle Napier, decided to give the art school a try.

The women envision an environment in which to offer arts enrichment programs, at a time when schools are facing budget constraints brought on by tough economic times, and trimming back their arts offerings. They hope to see the building bustling with activities giving vent to creative expression. The art school seemed an ideal fit for the property.

"We rented it out and tried to sell the property, but God wants us to do something with this place, and I always thought it would be a good performing arts center," said Renee McGill.  "We want to introduce arts to the community, and to do that, we had to have a center."

The Fort Hill School of Cultural and Fine Arts will include spaces for visual art classes, as well as drama, dance and music. Programs are planned for people of all ages. The school is a for-profit venture, but will not offer a degree.

While any type of arts classes will be considered, proposed classes/activities currently include:

• Music -  piano, violin, guitar, mandolin, banjo, voice;

• Dance - ballroom dancing, square dancing, modern, ballet, jazz;

• Visual Arts And Crafts - pottery, ceramics, fabric sculpture, wire sculpture, scrap-booking, greeting cards, junk mail jewelry, catalog collages, wire jewelry, knitting, flower arrangement, wood carving, quilting, beginning sewing, concrete sculpture, mixed media sculpture, stained glass, acrylic, oil, watercolor painting and more.

 • Drama - community theatre project.

"This area is so rich in creativity and talent that we would like to see shared with the community," McGill said. "We are hoping to use instructors from our many talented local musicians, artists and craftsmen."

The Loudon County Arts Council, a non-profit arm, was formed in January, and an application has been approved for 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit tax exempt status. A board of directors is being established.

Organizers said the planned school will positively impact the community, and they hope to have some offerings in place before the end of the year. 

An earlier anticipated opening date was delayed because of code issues that needed to be addressed.

However, use of the property as an arts school has created a challenge for another group. The Loudon Quarterback Club has used the fields and parking lot for years, but the lot will be needed for the art school now.

Millsaps, appeared before the Loudon City Council in September to explain the art school plans.

 "I have been a member of the Quarterback Club," Millsaps said, adding that her main concern was safety, and that she was seeking a viable solution for both parties. "We have a conflict where there are 200 kids there three nights a week, and their parents. We have 9,000 square feet, and that's a lot of space. We are going to teach a lot of interesting things."

Council members inquired about allowing the Quarterback Club use of other public sports fields. 

Lewis "Charlie Brown" Garner suggested allowing them to use the baseball field in Lion's Field park. "It's got limited use now," Garner said. That idea was opposed by Councilman Gene Lambert, who said drainage problems made the field flood when rains were heavy.

Mark Harrill, Loudon Parks and Recreation director, proposed building a new practice field at the municipal park on Highway 72.  Dirt is being removed from a hill in that park, leaving an area with space for a football field without major expense, Harrell said.

"We're going to have to take the dirt from the hill on (Highway) 72 anyway, so this is an advantage and opportunity to crown it, and fix it in the form of a football field. ...there is enough room to put in a nice football field."

The Recreation Advisory Committee had discussed building a football field there for some time, said Millsaps, a member of that committee.

Harrill said the Quarterback Club would have to be responsible for raising funds for their own infrastructure needs - storage, bleachers, concession stands, etc. The first fund raiser is underway, a Fright Forest Haunted Trail in Loudon Municipal Park on Highway 72.