625 South St. (Source: Davidson Friends Meeting)

The Davidson meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is proposing an addition to a home it owns on South Street so it can use the home as its new Meeting House.  A public planning workshop is planned Thursday, Feb. 18, to review the plans and gather public input.

The house, at 625 South St., is next door to Calvary Presbyterian Church and Davidson Elementary School.

The Friends Meeting has owned the home – known as the Little Yellow House – for some time and holds some events there. But it’s too small for Sunday meetings, member Jan Blodgett said. The renovations would help transform the house into a permanent Meeting House.

Last month, the Davidson Friends Meeting (Quakers) shifted its meetings to the nearby Calvary Church building from previous locations at Davidson College. (The church building became available after the Church of the Good Shepherd moved recently to the Lake Norman YMCA.) That brought the Friends Meeting closer to its own property – the Little Yellow House.

The Friends hope to meet at Calvary until they complete the renovations and move into their new home.

The proposal calls for an addition to the existing house, to be built between the elementary school on one side and houses on the other. The Meeting House would consist of a worship place, small classrooms, and meeting rooms.

The Feb. 18 meeting seeks input from citizens and other interested parties on the proposed alternations and addition. It will be held at the Town Hall Board Room, 216 S. Main St. Here’s the day’s schedule:

Noon to 12:30 p.m. – Site visit, meet at 625 South Street

12:30-1 p.m. – Planning staff presentation followed by architect’s presentation

1-2 p.m. – Questions and answers and public comments

2 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Public comments and design workshop

7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Pin up session

More information is available by contacting Parviz Moosavi at the Planning Department, 704-892-7592, or by email pmoosavi@ci.davidson.nc.us.

FRIENDS MEETING GROWS

Davidson Friends meeting began in 1989 with just three families, and now attracts 40 to 45 people weekly, according to Ms. Blodgett. The group had been gathering previously at Davidson College’s Tomlinson dorm conference room during the winter months, and at the college’s Carolina Inn at other times.

As of Jan. 17, the group has moved its Sunday meetings to Calvary Presbyterian. Worship begins at 9:45 a.m., with First Day classes for children beginning at 10 a.m.  The Davidson Friends Meeting is part of the un-programmed tradition of Quakers and welcomes newcomers and seekers.

For more information about the meeting, go to the group’s website http://davidson.quaker.org/.