2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards

JULY 30, 2026

SC STATE HOUSE

Our Mission

Formed in 1990, Preservation South Carolina preserves and protects South Carolina's historic buildings and places, advocating for their productive use, and promoting the state's diverse cultural legacy.

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Preservation South Carolina 2025 Appeal

Thank you for supporting our efforts to preserve South Carolina’s historic places. Since 1990, we have helped save landmarks, advocated successfully for statewide preservation incentives, worked collaboratively to recognize outstanding preservation work through the SC Historic Preservation Awards, and accepted perpetual conservation easements on more than 40 properties across South Carolina. This past year has seen Preservation South Carolina continue its decades-long work, as well as break ground on new projects and initiatives.

Year-End Review

Current Projects & Initiatives

In order to meet our state's most pressing needs, we have used support from people like you to create programs that address the preservation of our historic rural churches, the revitalization of smaller community downtowns, and the saving of significant African American landmarks. Below are a few of our current statewide projects and initiatives.

Recipients of the 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards

Sponsored by the SC Department of Archives & History, The Office of the Governor and Preservation South Carolina.

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Endangered Historic Property Form

In September 2025, Preservation SC launched our Endangered Historic Property Form. The purpose of the form is to identify vulnerable historic properties across the state for potential investment, while advocating for their preservation. Forms accepted on a rolling-basis throughout the year.

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E.T. West House

In December 2024, Preservation SC purchased the E.T. West House through our Revolving Fund, made possible by a substantial appropriation from the SC General Assembly and the support of our members. We are working with experienced local builders before locating a new owner to care for this historic property.

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Edgefield Hotel

In 2017, an Edgefield citizen donated the town’s historic hotel to Preservation SC. The original hotel, known as the "Planters Inn", was built in 1813 later burned and rebuilt in 1919 to what we see today. We are working with developers and the Town in bringing this building back to life.

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Pottersville House

This property was donated to Preservation SC in 2019. Having been vacant for over three decades, the house had undergone considerable deterioration. The House is presently owned by the Town of Edgefield. Its stabilization is the beginning of a larger vision to fully rehabilitate the structure into an immersive history museum

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Taveau Church

Built in 1835, and used as a place of worship for Black Methodists since 1847, Taveau is a remarkable rural Black church with rich history. In 2023, with the full support of the congregation, its minister, and the Taveau Legacy Committee, we purchased historic Taveau from the UM Conference.

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The Dawkins House

Located at the end of N. Church Street in downtown Union is an unassuming building that does not outwardly show its history as the one-time state capital of SC during the Civil War. In November 2023, Preservation SC acquired the rights to the Dawkins House at a property tax sale.

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Statewide Impact

For more than 30 years, Preservation South Carolina has developed programs and undertaken initiatives that have preserved a variety of our state’s historic landmarks.

Our Mission

Preservation South Carolina preserves and protects South Carolina's historic buildings and places, advocating for their productive use, and promoting the state's diverse cultural legacy.

Conservation

Our Conservation Easements safeguard 45 historic properties in 21 counties. We work tirelessly to ensure the preservation of these valuable cultural assets.

Advocacy

Preservation SC advocates for policies like the Abandoned Buildings Tax Credit. Since its inception, the act has successfully rehabilitated over 2,200 buildings, generating more than $385 million in statewide investments, and has been extended through 2035.

Endangered Places

The Endangered Places Program identifies and rescues threatened historic buildings. By purchasing and reselling these properties, we revitalize communities and protect our heritage.

Explore how Preservation South Carolina is making a difference.

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The Latest Headlines + Happenings

Preservation South Carolina E-Newsletter

The Dawkins House | Union, SC

September 5, 2025

We are thrilled to share this rendering of a restored Dawkins House, the future alumni and corporate events center for the University of South Carolina-Union.

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The E.T. West House & Lawrence Reese Event

July 28, 2025

Join the Darlington County Historical Commission and Preservation South Carolina for an informative event at the Grand Old Post Office concerning Lawrence Reese, Black entrepreneur, carpenter, and architect, and the E.T. West House, currently being restored by Preservation SC.

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The Historic Preservation Fund | Advocacy

June 4, 2025

The HPF support has helped the SC SHPO carry a range of state programs and services including the state historic tax credits, reviews of projects for state agencies, the State Historic Preservation Grant Fund, and the state historical marker program.

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Why join?

Becoming a member of Preservation South Carolina is the best way of supporting our work. Membership represents an appreciation for South Carolina's rich architectural and cultural heritage and is a meaningful way to support our preservation and advocacy efforts.

Together we can secure the future of our historic places, inspire a sense of community, and keep our history alive for future generations.

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Award Spotlight: South Carolina State Museum for the Columbia Mills Building

We are proud to celebrate the South Carolina State Museum as a recipient of a 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Award for Heritage Tourism, recognizing the thoughtful rehabilitation of the Columbia Mills Building!

Built in 1893 and expanded in 1901, the Columbia Mills Building is one of South Carolina’s most significant industrial landmarks. Designed by Lockwood, Greene, and Company, the four-story brick mill played an important role in the state’s textile industry and is widely recognized as one of the first textile mills in the United States powered by electricity.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in1982, the building now serves as the home of the South Carolina State Museum, bringing this remarkable piece of industrial history to thousands of visitors each year.

The recent rehabilitation addressed critical building-envelope issues while carefully respecting the character of this historic resource. Work included new roof systems, complete replacement of non-historic windows, improvements to the atrium enclosure, and repairs to deteriorated eaves and rafter tails.

The new custom aluminum windows are a particularly thoughtful example of preservation in practice. Guided by historic imagery, the designs replicate the scale, proportions, and profiles of the building’s original industrial windows while providing the durability and performance needed for contemporary use.

At the atrium, a new roof design with dormers preserves the original intent of bringing natural light into the space while significantly improving weather protection and reliability. The rehabilitation also expanded and reconnected the greenhouse to the atrium, creating a more functional gathering and event space for the public.

This project demonstrates that preservation and modern performance can work hand in hand. Through careful research, collaboration, and sensitive design, the project team extended the life of a nationally significant landmark while ensuring that it can continue serving South Carolinians and visitors.

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Award Spotlight: Julie O’Connor for Save Our Structures Charleston (SOS Charleston)

Please join us in celebrating Julie O’Connor, founder of SOS Charleston, who is a recipient of a 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Award in the Preservation Service category!

Since founding SOS Charleston in 2018, Julie has championed a simple but powerful idea: we can’t save historic buildings if we don’t know they’re there—and if we don’t document them before they’re gone.

Through field documentation, research, and community collaboration, Julie and the SOS Charleston team have tracked more than 150 vulnerable historic structures across the Charleston peninsula, updating the survey in 2020, 2024, and 2026. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into an invaluable public resource at SOSchs.com, where residents, advocates, policymakers, and preservationists can explore the stories and changing conditions of Charleston’s most threatened historic buildings.

The impact is tangible. The SOS Charleston map now includes 70 structures that have been rehabilitated since the survey began, demonstrating that documentation can do more than record loss—it can help inspire preservation, rehabilitation, and renewed life for historic places.

Perhaps most importantly, SOS Charleston has shown how preservation data can become a tool for action. Its documentation has helped inform community discussions and decisions before the Board of Architectural Review and has even provided critical information for reconstruction efforts when historic buildings have been lost.

Julie’s work reminds us that preservation is not simply about protecting old buildings. It is about documenting our history, empowering communities, informing better decisions, and giving vulnerable places a chance to survive.

Congratulations to Julie O’Connor and Save Our Structures Charleston on this well-deserved recognition!

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards Spotlight!

Congratulations to Clemson University’s Anthropology-History Department on receiving a 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Award for the Hopewell Carriage House Archaeology Field Lab!

At Hopewell, historic preservation is more than something to study — it is taught, tested, practiced, and shared.

Once a deteriorating wood-framed carriage house on the historic Hopewell Estate, the building has been thoughtfully rehabilitated and adaptively reused as a field laboratory and teaching space. Rather than replacing an aging historic structure, Clemson recognized its potential and preserved its character while giving it a new and meaningful purpose.

Today, the Hopewell Carriage House Archaeology Field Lab is a vibrant center for archaeological research, artifact conservation, experiential learning, and community engagement. Students gain hands-on experience with preservation practices, while workshops, training sessions, and outreach programs bring community members, avocational archaeologists, and preservation professionals into the work of protecting South Carolina’s cultural heritage.

The impact is tangible: the facility supports 100+ students annually, has hosted five workshops and public programs, and has engaged community participants in preservation education and outreach.

The project is a powerful example of how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into small-scale historic resources while creating lasting educational and public benefits.

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards Spotlight: Spartanburg County Foundation for Walnut Grove.

We are honored to recognize the Spartanburg County Foundation with a Stewardship Award for its leadership in preserving Walnut Grove Plantation, an irreplaceable piece of South Carolina’s Revolutionary-era history.

Established around 1765, Walnut Grove is one of South Carolina’s few remaining Revolutionary-era log structures and a rare example of an Upstate working farm. For generations, the site has connected visitors to the people, places, and events that shaped our state — including the Moore family’s role in the fight for independence and the events surrounding the 1781 Battle of Cowpens.

But this remarkable landmark was at risk. Years of deterioration threatened the Manor House and the stories contained within its walls.

Through a collaborative restoration effort led by the Spartanburg County Foundation, approximately $1.5 million was secured beginning in 2022 to stabilize and preserve the Manor House. The work required extraordinary care — from reinforcing original timber members and restoring unstable fireplaces to uncovering and reproducing original grain-painted finishes and preserving historic hardware.

Since the Manor House reopened in October 2025, Walnut Grove has once again welcomed the community for school tours, public events, and immersive educational experiences. Thousands of students and visitors can now experience the full house and connect with history in a way that simply isn’t possible through a textbook.

As Spartanburg County Foundation President and CEO Troy Hanna shared, the original donor envisioned Walnut Grove as “an immersive educational experience where we can learn from the past.” By honoring that vision, the Foundation has helped bring the community together around a shared piece of our heritage.

This stewardship ensures that Walnut Grove will continue to educate, inspire, and connect generations for years to come.

Congratulations to the Spartanburg County Foundation on this well-deserved Stewardship Award!

We are thrilled to celebrate the Footlight Players as a recipient of a 2026 Stewardship Award as a part of the South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards for their extraordinary commitment to the Queen Street Playhouse.

For more than nine decades, the Footlight Players have cared for, preserved, and brought new life the Queen Street Playhouse, located at 20 Queen Street in downtown Charleston. Founded in 1932 during the Charleston Renaissance, the Footlight Players purchased the former cotton warehouse in 1934 for just $1,800 — and have remained its continuous owners and stewards ever since.

What began as an industrial warehouse dating to the late 1850s became a home for the arts, while retaining important pieces of its historic character, including the original arched Queen Street doors that once welcomed horses and carriages.

Inside, the building holds treasures that tell the story of Charleston’s theatrical heritage, including a carved proscenium cartouche from the 1860 Academy of Music and the magnificent Hutty-Robinson mural, commissioned by the Footlight Players in 1945 and depicting 200 years of Charleston theater history.

Through economic challenges, aging infrastructure, and the ongoing demands of maintaining a historic building, the Footlight Players have remained committed to keeping the Queen Street Playhouse safe, active, welcoming, and open to the community.

Their stewardship is about more than preserving bricks and mortar. It is about preserving a living cultural legacy — a place where theater continues to thrive, where artists and audiences gather, and where Charleston’s rich creative history remains part of its present and future.

Congratulations to the Footlight Players on this well-deserved recognition!

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards Spotlight: Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue

We are honored to celebrate Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, recipient of a Stewardship Award for its preservation and long-term care of Charleston’s Historic Coming Street Cemetery.

Hidden behind pre-Revolutionary War brick walls, the Historic Coming Street Cemetery is the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the South. Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim has been its steward since 1764, when the congregation purchased the cemetery from the Dacosta family.

Today, this remarkable one-acre site is an island of quiet reflection in the heart of Charleston—and an invaluable record of South Carolina’s Jewish history. More than 900 burial sites can be identified, including the graves of Revolutionary War patriots, veterans of the War of 1812, Civil War veterans, and many influential South Carolinians.

Among those resting here are trailblazers whose contributions helped shape Charleston and the state: industrialists, builders, merchants, physicians, lawyers, educators, and artists. The cemetery is also the final resting place of remarkable women such as Rachel Lazarus, an early female business owner, Penina Moise, one of the first American-born Jewish women to publish poetry, and Sally Lopez, an educator who established Charleston’s first Jewish school.

For 15 years, the Coming Street Cemetery Restoration Committee has worked to preserve this extraordinary place and ensure that its stories endure. Through careful restoration, the committee has completed work on two of the historic brick walls, approximately 200 grave markers, all existing ironwork, and the unique Lopez stone canopy tomb.

Volunteer docents share the cemetery’s history through tours and educational programs, welcoming students, visitors from across the United States, and international guests. Clemson University graduate students in historic preservation have also gained hands-on experience in stone restoration and cemetery maintenance at the site.

𝐀𝐧 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Right now, Congress is considering changes to the Section 106 review process—a cornerstone of the National Historic Preservation Act that has protected our nation's historic places for nearly 60 years.

Section 106 ensures that when federally funded, licensed, or permitted projects may affect historic properties and sites, federal agencies identify those resources, consult with stakeholders, and consider ways to avoid or minimize harm before decisions are made.

Right now, proposed 𝐟𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 to the Section 106 regulations would 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬.

Section 106 doesn't prevent projects from moving forward—it ensures that our history has a seat at the table before irreversible decisions are made.

In this video, we highlight the impact of the 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 through several past projects. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, these examples are especially meaningful because they demonstrate how Section 106 has helped uncover, protect, and preserve important Revolutionary War sites and artifacts that might otherwise have been lost.

As proposed changes to the Section 106 process are considered at the federal level, we encourage you to 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝.

Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators and ask them to protect the Section 106 process and the historic places that tell America’s story.

🏛️ Easement Highlight: Great Falls Company Store

The Great Falls Company Store, located on Dearborn Street in Great Falls, is a significant landmark protected by a preservation easement held by Preservation South Carolina.

Constructed around 1910 by Republic Cotton Mills, the two-story brick building was the first commercial building in Great Falls. As the textile industry transformed the community, Republic Cotton Mills developed not only its mills, but also housing, streets, and commercial buildings to serve the growing mill population. The Company Store became an important part of everyday life for mill workers and their families.

The store offered a variety of goods and services, including groceries, drugs, dry goods, millinery, and even coffins. The second floor also played an important role in the community, housing Great Falls’ first public school until 1916, before later becoming a Masonic lodge. Over the decades, the building continued to serve the community, eventually becoming the McFadden Mercantile Company and later a Belk department store, which remained in the building until 1982.

Today, the Town of Great Falls owns the historic building and has worked toward its rehabilitation as part of the community’s broader revitalization efforts. Plans have envisioned transforming the former Company Store into a visitor center, state park office, exhibit space, retail area, and community gathering space, connecting Great Falls’ industrial heritage with its growing focus on outdoor recreation and tourism.

The Company Store is also a contributing building within the Great Falls Downtown Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Its preservation helps tell the story of how the textile industry shaped Great Falls—and how historic buildings can continue serving the community long into the future.

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award Spotlight: Hutchinson House

Preservation South Carolina is proud to recognize the Hutchinson House on Edisto Island as a recipient of a 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award.

Built around 1885, the Hutchinson House is one of the oldest surviving homes constructed by African Americans during the Reconstruction Era on Edisto Island. Built by Henry and Rosa Hutchinson, the house is the only remaining 19th-century home from the historic Clark Community, a Black settlement founded by Henry's father, James "Jim" Hutchinson. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home stands as a powerful testament to the resilience, craftsmanship, and success of a free African American family in the decades following the Civil War.

When the Edisto Island Open Land Trust acquired the property in 2016, the house had been vacant for more than 30 years and was on the brink of collapse. Over the course of nine years, preservationists, craftspeople, and Hutchinson family members worked together to restore the home to its original c.1885 appearance. Guided by historic photographs and extensive research, the team recreated the home's distinctive wraparound porch, restored its intricate Victorian bargeboard, installed a historically accurate lead-coated copper roof, conserved original yellow pine beadboard interiors, and carefully replicated missing architectural features using traditional materials and techniques.

Today, the Hutchinson House once again reflects the vision of Henry and Rosa Hutchinson and preserves an irreplaceable chapter of South Carolina's African American history. Opening to the public with an inaugural exhibit exploring the question, "What is Freedom?", the restored home will educate and inspire future generations while honoring the enduring legacy of the Hutchinson family.

Congratulations to this year's award recipients for their outstanding work on the project:
Edisto Island Open Land Trust
Simmons Young, Young + Wales Architects
Richard Huss, Huss, Inc.

Preservation South Carolina is proud to welcome David Blake, Brian Branton, and John "Jay" Ervin III to our Board of Directors. Each brings exceptional leadership, professional expertise, and a shared passion for preserving South Carolina's historic places.

Brian Branton brings more than 30 years of experience in government affairs and public policy. In addition to his leadership at McKesson Corporation and years of service on Capitol Hill, Brian is an active preservationist who has restored four historic homes, including a recently rehabilitated National Register-listed home in Edgefield.

David Blake is a longtime preservation advocate with extensive experience in historic districts, National Register nominations, preservation easements, and preservation law. A leader in Aiken's preservation community, he successfully challenged the demolition of historic buildings in the city's historic district and continues to advance local preservation efforts.

Janie Campbell, a historic preservation consultant with the Roger Lewis firm, has guided numerous National Register nominations and more than 85 federal historic tax credit projects across South Carolina. She is widely recognized for her preservation leadership and service to organizations including Historic Columbia Foundation.

John "Jay" Ervin III is an attorney with decades of legal and public service experience. A former prosecutor and longtime attorney in Darlington, he brings valuable legal expertise and a strong commitment to community leadership.

Together, these new board members strengthen Preservation South Carolina's ability to advocate for, protect, and preserve the places that tell South Carolina's story. We are excited to welcome them and look forward to the experience and vision they will bring to our organization.

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award Spotlight: Bennett Rice Mill Façade Restoration

One of Charleston's most iconic landmarks has been given new life. Preservation South Carolina is proud to recognize the Bennett Rice Mill Façade Restoration with a 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award.

Constructed in 1844 under Governor Thomas Bennett, the Bennett Rice Mill was once among the most productive rice mills in the world, reflecting Charleston's prominence as a global center of the rice trade.

Today, its restored façade stands as one of the last visible reminders of the city's historic working waterfront.
After surviving the decline of the rice industry, decades of abandonment, and extensive damage from Hurricane Donna and Hurricane Hugo, the remaining freestanding masonry wall faced an uncertain future.

Through an extraordinary preservation effort completed in 2025, engineers, preservationists, and skilled craftspeople stabilized the façade using innovative structural solutions while carefully preserving its historic materials in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.

As the centerpiece of the future Union Pier redevelopment, the Bennett Rice Mill demonstrates how historic preservation can successfully complement modern development, ensuring that Charleston's rich industrial heritage remains an integral part of its future.

Congratulations to this year's award recipients for their outstanding work on the project:

Edward H. Stehmeyer III, South Carolina Ports Authority
Greg Jacobs, Landmark Preservation, LLC
Jonathan Sigman, GEL Engineering, LLC

2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award: 60 Meeting Street

Preservation South Carolina is pleased to recognize the restoration of 60 Meeting Street in Charleston with a 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award.

Located at the corner of Meeting and Tradd Streets, 60 Meeting Street is an 18th-century home that was extensively remodeled in 1893, giving it many of the architectural features that define the building today. Before restoration began, the project team conducted extensive research to better understand the home's history, including analysis of its stucco, mortar, and paint, and determined that restoring the building to its 1893 appearance best reflected its historic evolution.

The project included repairs to the historic stucco, recreation of the deteriorated stamped metal mansard roof, restoration of the home's historic wood windows and decorative metalwork, structural stabilization, and rehabilitation of the historic outbuildings. Archaeological materials uncovered during the work were documented, and modern improvements were incorporated to allow the home to continue serving as a single-family residence while preserving its historic character.

Congratulations to this year's award recipients for their outstanding work on the project:

• Joseph Steven Cronk & Clifford G. Duch, Cronk Duch Architecture
• Stephanie Jarvis, Stephanie Jarvis, Inc.
• James C. Meadors, Meadors, Inc.

Join us in celebrating the 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards recipients!

Last week, we gathered at the South Carolina State House to recognize this year's award winners. Now in its 31st year, the awards program recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of South Carolina’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Preservation South Carolina is honored to co-sponsor this program alongside the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the Office of the Governor, recognizing the extraordinary preservation efforts taking place in communities across the state.

Over the coming days, we'll be highlighting each of this year's recipients and the incredible work they have accomplished. We hope you'll join us in congratulating them and celebrating the impact preservation has in communities across South Carolina.

VIEW ALL AWARD RECIPIENTS AT THE LINK IN OUR BIO

The ET West House Begins a New Chapter!

Preservation South Carolina is pleased to announce the sale of the historic ET West House in Darlington.

Acquired in 2024 through our Revolving Fund as part of the Endangered Places Program, the property was identified as a significant historic resource in need of intervention. Through rehabilitation efforts, the deteriorated front façade was restored, preparing the home for its next phase of stewardship.

We are delighted that the ET West House has been transferred to a preservation-minded owner who will continue to care for the property. To ensure its long-term protection, a permanent preservation easement has been placed on the property, safeguarding its historic character for future generations.

The successful sale of the ET West House reflects the purpose of Preservation South Carolina's Revolving Fund: to acquire endangered historic properties, stabilize and rehabilitate them, and return them to use.

We extend our appreciation to Preservation Consultant Bill Segars, Chisholm Construction, and realtor Max Davenport for their expertise and partnership throughout this project

A Legacy That Will Endure.

Former Board Chair, Bill Fitzpatrick, reflects on the remarkable life of Gaye Sanders Fisher and the lasting impact of her legacy to Preservation South Carolina.

In 2019, I spoke to a small audience at the Huguenot Church in Charleston about my new book, South Carolina’s Sacred Spaces. After my talk, a woman in her mid-80s approached me and said that she also loved our state’s rural historic churches. Her name was Gaye Sanders Fisher.

If the phrase, “Renaissance Woman” ever appears in Western civilization - and I don’t think it will - Gaye, a writer, watercolor artist, organist, businesswoman, and philanthropist, should be in its inaugural class. But I remember Gaye less for her talents and more for her joie de vivre.

Read Bill's heartfelt reflection and learn more about Gaye's incredible impact in our bio.

Carolina Day — Thomas Heyward Jr. (1746–1809)

On Carolina Day, we reflect on South Carolina’s Revolutionary past - and the landscapes and burial places that keep that history present today.

Thomas Heyward Jr. - lawyer, planter, and signer of the Declaration of Independence - was among the Lowcountry leaders who helped guide South Carolina through the pivotal year of 1776.

As the colony stood at the center of the Revolution, Heyward represented the political resolve behind the movement for independence.

After the British occupation of Charleston in 1780, Heyward was taken prisoner and held until his exchange in 1781, sharing in the hardships faced by many who led the Revolutionary cause.

Today, he rests in the Heyward family burial ground at Old House Plantation in the South Carolina Lowcountry - a quiet, tangible connection to the world of the Revolution.

Preservation reminds us that history is not only remembered, it is still present in the places we protect, the landscapes we walk, and the stories that remain rooted in South Carolina.

🏛️ Restoration is underway at the Wolfe House in Winnsboro

Constructed prior to 1823 and attributed to John Miller, the Wolfe House is one of the oldest surviving residences in Winnsboro and an important example of early nineteenth-century architecture in Fairfield County. Originally built as a two-room-over-two-room dwelling, the house was expanded in the 1830s into its present four-room-over-four-room configuration.

Located one block south of the Town Clock and diagonally across from the Fairfield County Museum, the Wolfe House stands as a reminder of Winnsboro’s prosperity during the antebellum era. Remarkably, the home survived General Sherman’s march through the town in 1865, when dozens of buildings were destroyed by fire.

After years of searching for the right preservation-minded buyer, Preservation South Carolina sold the property last year, and we are thrilled to see this landmark come back to life.

Repairs are underway to the two-story front porch, including replacement of deteriorated flooring, railings, and ceiling materials. Structural stabilization has been completed in several areas, damaged exterior siding is being repaired, and the building has been secured to protect its historic fabric. Electrical upgrades are also underway to prepare the house for its next chapter.

These improvements represent the first phase of a restoration that will continue over the coming years, ensuring the Wolfe House remains a centerpiece of Winnsboro’s historic streetscape for generations to come.

As we commemorate Juneteenth, Preservation South Carolina reflects on places like Taveau Church in Berkeley County that help tell the story of African American life before and after emancipation.

Martha Caroline Swinton Ball Taveau, wishing to worship as a Presbyterian amidst the Cooper River Episcopalians, built Taveau on Clermont Plantation no later than the 1840s. By 1847, Taveau Church was established as part of the Methodist missionary movement along the Cooper River. Methodist circuit riders and missionaries traveled through the South Carolina Lowcountry, preaching to congregations that included enslaved people living on nearby plantations. Taveau became one of the gathering places associated with the Cooper River Mission, which served hundreds of worshippers during the mid-nineteenth century.

Following the Civil War and the end of slavery, Taveau entered a new chapter. In 1869 - just four years after Juneteenth - the church housed a public school for newly freed Black citizens. Records show that 61 students attended classes there, reflecting the determination of formerly enslaved families to pursue education and opportunity during Reconstruction.

Today, Taveau Church stands as a powerful reminder of the many layers of South Carolina’s history. Its story connects the experiences of enslaved people, the work of Methodist circuit riders, the transition to freedom, and the pursuit of education by newly freed communities.

On this Juneteenth, we reflect on the resilience, achievements, and enduring contributions of Black Americans whose stories are an essential part of our nation’s history.

Photos courtesy of the South Carolina Historical Society.

Welcome Our Newest Business Member!

Preservation South Carolina is proud to welcome Midwest Maintenance, Inc. (MMI Restoration) as our newest Business Member!

Since 1979, MMI Restoration has been trusted to preserve some of America’s most treasured historic structures. Combining expert craftsmanship, innovative restoration techniques, and an unwavering commitment to quality, MMI restores the past while protecting it for future generations.

MMI has made a significant impact on historic preservation throughout South Carolina. Their restoration portfolio includes work at Trinity Church in Abbeville, Historic Brattonsville, the Union County Courthouse, and most recently, Preservation South Carolina has partnered with MMI on the restoration of the historic Pottersville House in Edgefield.

Supporting historic preservation is more than a charitable contribution—it is an investment in our communities, our shared heritage, and the future of South Carolina’s historic places. We are grateful for MMI’s commitment to preserving the buildings and landmarks that tell our state’s story.

To learn more about MMI Restoration and other preservation-minded businesses, visit the Business Members Directory on the Preservation South Carolina website.

JOIN US July 30, 2026 at the South Carolina State House as we honor the recipients of the 2026 Historic Preservation Awards. The ceremony will take place from 3:30pm - 4:30pm.

Now in its 31st year, the awards program recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of South Carolina’s architectural and cultural heritage.

This year, 32 individuals will be recognized for their work on 13 projects throughout the state.

Following the ceremony, guests are invited to attend a reception at the Taylor House, a 2025 Honor Award recipient, located at 1501 Senate Street.

FOR SALE: An opportunity to restore and steward a piece of South Carolina history.

The Connor–Hodges House in Cokesbury, South Carolina, is a former Preservation South Carolina Revolving Fund property awaiting its next chapter. Built in 1850 by Francis A. Connor, the first president of the Cokesbury Masonic Female College, this home stands as a testament to the history, craftsmanship, and architectural legacy of one of South Carolina’s earliest planned communities.

With its columned façade and grand, timeworn presence, the house remains a quiet witness to generations of stories and change. Located near the historic Cokesbury College site and Mount Ariel Church, the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers an opportunity for restoration and preservation.

Cokesbury was established in 1824 and played a significant role in the educational and religious history of the region. Francis A. Connor and his wife, Frances G. Hodges, raised their family here, contributing to the legacy of the community.

Property Details:
• 3,135 square feet
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms

While the house has unfortunately lost some of its historic fabric over time, it remains an important historic resource due to its architectural significance, history, and connection to the development of Cokesbury. Restoration often involves preserving what remains, repairing damage, and, where appropriate, rehabilitating lost features based on historical documentation. We hope this property can find a steward who appreciates its history.

PRICE: $95,000 | ZILLOW link in comments

Today the National Trust for Historic Preservation released its 39th annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and among the sites recognized is an important piece of South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history.

The Battle of Hanging Rock site in Heath Springs commemorates the August 6, 1780 battle in which Patriot militia forces led by Thomas Sumter, alongside many Catawba warriors, fought British and Loyalist troops commanded by John Cruger. The battle occurred just months after the fall of Charleston and was part of a broader campaign to challenge British outposts across the South Carolina backcountry.

Today, visitors to Hanging Rock Battlefield can explore a 0.7-mile interpretive trail featuring eight stops that highlight the history and significance of the site. However, only a small portion of the original 600-acre battlefield has been preserved. Rapid population growth and ongoing development pressures threaten to fragment the battlefield’s remaining core acreage, underscoring the urgent need for additional land acquisition, park development, and long-term stewardship efforts.

A coalition led by the American Battlefield Trust — including the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, South Carolina 250 Commission, South Carolina State Parks, and Friends of Hanging Rock — has been actively working to protect key portions of the battlefield and improve public access through enhanced signage, walking tours, and preservation initiatives.

Now in its 39th year, the National Trust’s endangered places program continues to be one of the nation’s most effective tools for raising awareness about threatened historic resources. Since its inception, the initiative has helped galvanize public support for more than 350 historic sites across the country, with only a small number ultimately lost.

In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s list highlights eleven places that reflect the enduring principle that all people are created equal. For the first time, each featured site will also receive a one-time $25,000 grant from the National Trust to support ongoing preservation efforts.

ADVOCACY UPDATE

We are pleased to share that S. 853, legislation concerning the Abandoned Building Tax Credit, passed the South Carolina General Assembly today and now heads to Governor Henry McMaster for signature.

This important legislation provides needed clarification and protection for one of South Carolina’s most impactful redevelopment incentives. Its passage reflects a strong statewide effort involving preservation advocates, local governments, developers, community leaders, and stakeholders across South Carolina.

S. 853 clarifies legislative intent and strengthens the program by:
• Removing the income-producing requirement
• Clarifying eligibility for state-owned buildings
• Establishing local government certification of abandonment as the final authority
• Prohibiting tax credits from being used as loan collateral

The Abandoned Building Tax Credit continues to play a critical role in encouraging investment in historic and vacant properties, supporting community revitalization, creating jobs, and preserving South Carolina’s built heritage.

Thank you to everyone who engaged in this advocacy effort!

📸Ellison Flour Mill, Fountain Inn

Since 1995, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Preservation South Carolina, and the Office of the Governor have honored outstanding achievements in preserving, rehabilitating, and interpreting our state’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.

This year, we’re excited to introduce a new award category: the Organizational Excellence Award. This annual award will recognize a South Carolina-based (or primarily active) nonprofit or foundation whose body of work reflects sustained impact and leadership in historic preservation.

We encourage you to nominate the individuals and organizations who represent the very best of preservation in our state. Previous nominations that were not selected are welcome to be updated and resubmitted.

And good news—there’s still time! It’s not too late to submit your nomination.

Learn more about the program and past recipients (including these 2025 award recipients, by visiting our website)!

The E.T. West House is officially on the market!

Since acquiring the circa 1890 property in December 2024, our goal has been to restore the double front porches. Now that the restoration is complete, this historic home is ready to welcome a new steward.

Located in the West Broad Street Historic District in Darlington, this residence is one of numerous properties in the district designed and built by Lawrence Reese—a self-taught Black carpenter, architect, and entrepreneur. Reese’s work is distinguished by intricate woodwork and elaborate Gothic-inspired detailing, which can be found in this Queen Anne Victorian home.

We are excited to see this special property begin its next chapter with a new owner who will continue to care for and appreciate its history.

ZILLOW link in our bio ⬆
📸 by: Anna Garrison @annagarrison_photography

Restoration is underway at the Pottersville house, one of the last structures remaining from the town of Pottersville.

Pottersville was once a thriving 19th-century industrial village and a cornerstone of Edgefield’s identity as a nationally significant pottery hub. Led by Dr. Abner Landrum, a scientist, planter, and innovator, the village became a center of groundbreaking experimentation in stoneware and porcelain production. Landrum’s work introduced stronger, more affordable pottery and even developed alternatives to imported materials, helping establish a self-sustaining and forward-thinking local economy.

At its height, Pottersville was home to hundreds of residents, skilled artisans, and laborers. The pottery industry not only supported regional commerce but also played a vital role in daily life throughout the South, producing essential storage vessels used across farms and households. Enslaved and freedman were central to this industry, contributing both labor and cultural influence, including techniques and artistic traditions that shaped the distinctive character of Edgefield pottery.

The legacy of Pottersville extends beyond industry. It is deeply connected to the broader story of Edgefield District, a region known for its influential leaders, early transportation networks, and contributions to American history.

The restoration of this structure represents more than preservation—it is a commitment to telling a complete story.

We are grateful to Meadors Inc, and Midwest Maintenance for their partnership on this project.

Since 1996, Preservation South Carolina’s Easement Program has safeguarded historic properties across the state, from rural estates to Main Street commercial buildings. Today, the program spans 21 counties, with three new easements added in Pendleton, Winnsboro, and Chapin in 2025.

Spotlight: Bostain Mercantile Building – Chapin

Built in 1943 by Addison Bostain Sr., the Bostain Mercantile Building originally served as a country store and community hub. Over the decades, it has remained in continuous use—today housing a local hair and nail salon—while preserving its historic character. Still owned by the Bostain family and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it demonstrates the enduring value of preservation easements.

Through voluntary, legally binding easements, property owners help protect South Carolina’s architectural heritage, ensuring that these historic buildings continue to serve their communities and tell their stories for generations to come.

In the final days of the Civil War, as Columbia burned, South Carolina’s government fled the capital.

For nearly two months in 1865, the Dawkins House in Union served as South Carolina’s provisional capitol, where Governor Andrew Magrath conducted the affairs of state.

Today, the Dawkins House stands as the only surviving building—besides the South Carolina State House in Columbia—to have served as the seat of South Carolina’s government.

Preservation South Carolina, the Union–Laurens Commission for Higher Education, USC Union, and Timken are working together to preserve this extraordinary landmark.

Through generations, it has borne witness to the people, stories, events and craftsmanship that shaped our state. Through the Dawkins House Preservation Campaign, we have a remarkable opportunity to restore this historic building.

Learn more and support the Dawkins House Preservation Campaign at the link in our bio ⬆️

Since 1995, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Preservation South Carolina, and the Office of the Governor of South Carolina have recognized outstanding achievements in preserving and interpreting South Carolina’s architectural and cultural heritage.

New this year: the Organizational Excellence Award, honoring a nonprofit whose sustained work has made a lasting impact on historic preservation in South Carolina.

Do you know an individual or organization making a difference?
📅 Submit a nomination by May 1.
🔗 Learn more and view past recipients at the link in our bio.

📸 The photos highlight the restoration of the St. George Rosenwald School, a 2024 Honor Award recipient.

Built in 1925–1926, the school is part of the historic Rosenwald School network championed by Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington to expand educational opportunities for Black students in the early 20th century. After years of advocacy and restoration, the building reopened in 2023 as a museum, tourism center, education space, and community hub—with plans for a satellite of the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

This inspiring project shows what’s possible when a community comes together to save an important place—and create new opportunities for the future.

Edgefield, South Carolina, is home to one of the richest ceramic traditions in the American South—Edgefield pottery.

Beginning in the early 19th century, artisans in the Edgefield District produced distinctive alkaline-glazed stoneware from the region’s abundant clay. This tradition was shaped by the skilled work of enslaved and freed African American potters, including the remarkable artisan David Drake, whose signed and inscribed vessels are now recognized as some of the most important pieces of American ceramics.

Today, the Town of Edgefield, in partnership with Preservation South Carolina, is working to celebrate and share this legacy through a Pottery Heritage Tourism Project at the historic Pottersville House, located just one mile from the town square. This house is one of the last remaining structures from the town of Landrumsville, presently known as Potterville, which mass produced Edgefield pottery in the early 19th century.

The project aims to establish a heritage tourism program within the 4-acre lot, incorporating a stabilized and eventually restored House, featuring a museum, a potter-in-residence studio, and utilizing the groundhog kiln located on the property to provide an educational and hands-on experience about the enslaved and freedmen who mass-produced Edgefield pottery in the 19th century.

#EdgefieldSC #EdgefieldPottery #DavidDrake #SouthCarolinaHistory #HeritageTourism #HistoricPreservation

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