The 116th Chapel, once destined for demolition following more than 50 years at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, may get a new lease on life. 

 

Because of the efforts by several retired 116th Airmen the planned demolition of the building has been put on hold as representatives of the Air National Guard and Dobbins Air Reserve Base work out plans to move the chapel to another location on the base. The group is headed by retired Air Guard Brig. Gen. Scott Mikkelsen, and retired Air Guard chiefs Richard Roberts and Pete Bagley, 

 

"The Chapel was scheduled to be razed as part of an overall base improvement plan for the main entrance to the Base from Highway 41," said Roberts.

 

Although there was preliminary interest in saving the structure and possibly moving it to Warner Robins Air Force Base south of Macon, that interest and the resources to do it soon waned, and the chapel's future looked dim, he explained. The chapel was later moved to Dobbins, and plans moved forward for its demolition to make room for base improvements associated with the renovation of the base's main gate.

 

"This chapel has been in its present location for more than half a century, and to see it demolished was unthinkable," said Bagley. Colonel James A. Withers, 22nd Air Force staff chaplain said the 116th Chapel, originally located in North Carolina, may be the nation's only Air National Guard chapel once designated as a surplus military structure and moved to Dobbins in the 1950's.

 

According to Roberts, a non-profit 5013C corporation known as the Dobbins Chapel Foundation is being formed to concentrate on the building's future. The foundation's purpose is to raise funds for moving the structure to another area of the base. A second location for the chapel has already been designated. Roberts said that the new location will be adjacent to the Dobbins Base Exchange, an area that already has available utilities.

 

Roberts said the foundation is seeking donations amounting to more than $55,000 to be used for moving the chapel from where it now sits to its new site. The money also would provide necessary improvements to the structure.

 

The chapel which has been used for numerous events from marriages to funerals in its 50-year period at Dobbins is expected to be used again for religious services.