South Carolina's Statewide Historic Preservation Nonprofit Organization

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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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.

2024 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards

Please join us, along with the SC Department of Archives & History and The Office of the Governor, in celebrating this year's recipients!

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Union County

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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Berkeley County

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 UMC Conference.

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Edgefield County

Edgefield Hotel

In 2017, an Edgefield citizen donated the town’s historic hotel to PSC. 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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Breaking News

Exciting news for the Dawkins House! We are thrilled to announce that it will be the new home of the USC-Union Alumni Center. We look forward to sharing more updates as we progress, but for now, take a moment to appreciate the brand new sign dedicated to this joint project with USC-Union, Union County, and the City of Union.

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The Latest Headlines + Happenings

Preservation South Carolina E-Newsletter

Taveau Church Stewardship Planning

October 15, 2024

We are pleased to announce the commencement of our project's next phase: Taveau Stewardship Planning. The Asiko Group will facilitate this initiative, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and planning for the building's sustainable stewardship.

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The Pottersville House

September 6, 2024

We are pleased to share that the Town of Edgefield has purchased the Pottersville House and obtained a grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

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The Edgefield Hotel's New Chapter

August 5, 2024

BIG NEWS: We are excited to announce that the Edgefield Hotel has been acquired by B&B Real Estate Company, a South Carolina-based developer with a track record in preservation and community development.

Learn more

As the stewardship planning phase of our project at Taveau draws to a close, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the community for engaging with us in discussions aimed at identifying the best possible use of Taveau, with a focus on its future and sustainability. We are also deeply grateful for the support provided by The Asiko Group, who facilitated this phase, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who provided funding for this work. We look forward to providing an update on The Asiko Group's engagement work in the new year.

Learn more about the church, and this project, by visiting the link in our bio ⬆️

Since our purchase of Taveau Church in June 2023 from the United Methodist Conference, we have raised $600,000 in grant funding towards its emergency stabilization. Having completed that work, we are are now eager to engage community residents, in partnership with The Asiko Group, to determine the best use of Taveau, prioritizing its future planning and sustainability.

We hope you follow along!

We are pleased to share that the Town of Edgefield has received a grant from the Historic Preservation State Grant Fund for the Pottersville House!

This grant will support a conditions assessment of the structure and the creation of plans and specifications for its stabilization.

We remain dedicated to this historic property and its stabilization, and will continue to collaborate with the Town in implementing this project.

ABOUT POTTERSVILLE: This structure is the last structure remaining from what was once the town of Pottersville 208 years ago. It is believed to have originally been built for and owned by Abner Landrum. Abner and John Landrum are credited with introducing Edgefield Pottery to much of North America through their potteries located in Edgefield.

The long-term plan for the property, located one mile from the historic Town Square, is to launch a sustainable pottery heritage tourism site, featuring a Living History Museum, a potter-in-residence studio, and active use of the existing city-owned Groundhog Kiln.

Since the South Carolina legislature passed the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act in 2013, we have seen over 2,200 buildings reap the benefits, $96M in tax credits and life brought back into abandoned historic buildings.

In July 2024, legislature passed both an expansion and extension of the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act. The new law amends the Act by:

- Extending the credit through December 31, 2035 (it was previously set to expire on December 31, 2025)
- Increasing the income tax credit cap to $700,000 per building site (previously, the cap was $500,000 per building site)

This tax credit will continue to encourage development and investment in communities across the state.

On October 19th, we hosted a Cordesville Community Tour and Input session, where residents received a tour and project update for the potential uses of Taveau Church post-restoration. This conversation was facilitated by The Asiko Group and emphasized future planning and sustainability.

JOIN US at one of the next Community Open House events, which are offered on:
🗓️ Friday, November 8th, 10am - 12Noon
🗓️ Saturday, November 9th, 10am - 12Noon
LEARN MORE at the Community Engagement link 🔗 in our bio ⬆️

Are you wondering how Taveau Church can shape the Sacred Corridor?

Join us and learn about the restoration project taking place at Taveau Church, a beacon of history and tradition. The Asiko Group, in partnership with Preservation South Carolina, will facilitate the event.

🗓️ Oct 19, 2024 | 10:00 AM
📍 Cordesville First Baptist

REGISTER at the Community Engagement link in our bio ⬆️🔗
Project made possible by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

We are pleased to announce the commencement of Taveau Church's next significant phase: stewardship planning. The Asiko Group will facilitate this initiative, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and planning for the building's sustainable stewardship.

Engaging the community residents for the best use of Taveau Church is top priority for future planning and sustainability. Join us for a tour, project update and community conversation on how best to use the church. Conversation will be facilitated by The Asiko Group on October 19, 2024 to discuss ways the community can utilize the sacred site post restoration. Learn more at the Community Engagement link in our bio ⬆️🔗

This phase received funding from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

We are thinking of all those affected by Hurricane Helene, whose broad reach significantly impacted the entire Southeast. We have compiled a list of resources that might help those in need of assistance.

- The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) Public Information Phone System is available 24 hours a day. Call 1-866-246-0133 for information about shelters, resources and other information.

- If you need help with damage clean up following Hurricane Helene, call Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386. Volunteers may be able to assist with:
• Mucking out
• Cleaning up trees
• Tarping roofs
• Clearing debris
(All services are free. Service is not guaranteed)

- Harvest Hope Emergency Food Pantry
Midlands: 2220 Shop Road, Columbia, SC | 803-254-4432
Upstate: 2818 White Horse Road, Greenville, SC |864-281-3995

- The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a public-private partnership between FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, is supporting response and recovery efforts of South Carolina’s arts & culture sector, and the public. Public Assistance is currently only available for Category A (debris removal) and Category B (emergency protective measures, including direct technical assistance) in the following counties: Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties. Learn more about @fema assistance at the link in our bio.

Please consider donating to the American Red Cross.

Did you know we have business memberships?!

Becoming a member of Preservation South Carolina is the best way of supporting our work. You’ll join with other companies and individuals who support Preservation SC’s important mission and understand the value that a rich past imparts to our present and future.

Together we can secure the future of our historic places, inspire a sense of community, and keep our history alive for future generations. Check out our business membership levels by visiting the link in our bio!

NEW BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT! Please join us in welcoming Josh Johnson of Pendleton to Preservation South Carolina.

Josh Johnson is curator at the Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina in Pendleton, where among other duties he is working to revive the State’s Century Farm Program. With extensive experience in archival research, oral history, public engagement, and exhibit design, he has been involved in a number of preservation projects in the Upstate. He is currently serving as research consultant for a Black history trail project for Clemson University and the cities of Clemson and Seneca, funded in part by a major grant from the Mellon Foundation. Welcome, Josh!

Our Annual Membership Meeting took place this past Friday, graciously hosted by Hunter Gatherer Brewery at the historic Curtiss-Wright Hangar in Columbia!

We were pleased to be joined by the new owners of the Edgefield Hotel, B&B Real Estate Company, as well as various preservation professionals from across the state. We extend our gratitude to all attendees for making it a memorable event.

Special thanks to those who signed up for memberships or purchased the beautiful artwork of Charleston's Gaye Sanders Fisher. Your contributions and purchases will help us save our state’s incredible historic structures.

If you would like to become a member, or donate to our cause, please visit our website at the link in our bio ⬆️🔗

BIG NEWS: We are excited to announce that the Edgefield Hotel has been acquired by B&B Real Estate Company, a South Carolina-based developer with a track record in preservation and community development.

We remain committed to this historic property and its preservation and integration back into the community. In the coming months, we will be sharing more about its adaptive reuse, but for now, please join us in celebrating this milestone.

To learn more about the hotel and our efforts, visit the link in our bio 🔗⬆️

UPCOMING EVENT 📣

Join us at our annual meeting on September 13th at 4:30pm at the historic Curtiss-Wright Hangar, now the home of the @huntergathererbrewery!

Get an exclusive look into our projects across the state, followed by a reception featuring a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hangar. Enjoy food, drinks, and learn about preservation in our state. This event is free to Preservation SC members (please RSVP) and $25 to nonmembers. Not sure if you are a member? Contact us at 803.729.7782.

More information can be found in the link in our bio🔗⬆️

The WeJOGA Foundation has launched an oral history project to document the experiences and memories of individuals associated with Taveau Church in Cordesville, South Carolina.

This initiative complements our comprehensive restoration efforts and promises to offer valuable insights into the history of this church.

We would like to thank the @wegojafoundation for this incredible project, and we look forward to learning more about family, faith, and fellowship in the Cordesville community.

For more information, contact the WeGOJA Foundation at info@WeGOJA.org or visit the link in our bio ⬆

Pottersville House Update! Last month our team performed an initial survey of the house, resulting in a preliminary report that contained a measured field plan of the house.

Pottersville, like many modest historic dwellings, has a complicated and interesting history of construction, changes, addition, and improvement in various ways since it was built. The house is located on 2 acres and is currently owned by Preservation South Carolina. Though it has suffered from 30 years of neglect, much of its historic fabric is intact and can be rehabilitated.

Learn more about Pottersville House at the link in our bio ⬆️🔗

Preservation News! 📣South Carolina legislature recently passed both an expansion and extension of the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act, which has been instrumental in the revitalization of abandoned and neglected properties across the state. The new law amends the Act by:

1) Extending the credit through December 31, 2035 (it was previously set to expire on December 31, 2025)

2) Increasing the income tax credit cap to $700,000 per building site (previously, the cap was $500,000 per building site)

This tax credit will continue to encourage development and investment in communities across the state.
Learn more here at the link below in our bio ⬆️

Don’t miss out on the 3nd annual Preserving Historic Cemeteries Workshop, hosted by the SC Department of Archives and History. This workshop will cover best practices for cleaning grave markers, documentation techniques, and more.

DATE: September 12, 2024
REGISTER: https://form.jotform.com/241435686247968

Two photographs showcasing Taveau’s remarkable development over the past year. We extend our gratitude to the Taveau Legacy Committee and our project partners for their support, without which this work would not have been possible. Visit our website at www.preservesc.org for more information on this project.

We are honored to announce the recipients of this year's historic preservation awards!

Please join us, along with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, and the Office of the Governor in celebrating and thanking this year's recipients for their exceptional accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation and interpretation of our state’s architectural and cultural heritage.

See FULL list of the recipients at the link in our bio ⬆️

The highly anticipated Charter Day photos have arrived! Preservation South Carolina, alongside the Taveau Legacy Committee, were recognized with the Whitelaw Founders Award in April for our joint efforts to preserve Taveau Church. We would like to express our appreciation to the Historic Charleston Foundation for recognizing us with this honor.

Photos courtesy of Historic Charleston Foundation 📸

In honor of Preservation Month, we are highlighting the All Star Bowling Lanes in Orangeburg.

The All Star Bowling Lanes was the city’s only bowling alley in the early 1960s . This local attraction played a pivotal role during the Civil Rights movement, and is specifically connected to the confrontation at South Carolina State College, referred to as the Orangeburg Massacre of 1968.

The bowling alley was built in stages, beginning in 1961, as a part of a shopping center development. The owner, Harry K. Floyd, built other bowling alleys in the state, including ones in Anderson, Florence, and Gaffney. By March 1962, All Star held its grand opening, featuring sixteen lanes, a nursery, conference room, and snack bar.

After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, All Star Bowling Lanes continued operation as a segregated facility for four years. Owner, Floyd, refused to integrate citing that the bowling alley did not fall under the Act's jurisdiction. SC State College and Claflin University students marched to protest Orangeburg's All Star Bowling Lanes' refusal to admit African Americans. The protests culminated in highway patrolmen shooting dozens, and killing three young men, at SC State on February 8, 1968. In the wake of the tragedy, there was a federal investigation and two trials, and All Star Bowling was forced to desegrated by a federal judge.

The building was abandoned for 13 years until an anonymous person purchased the property in 2020 for $145,000 and transferred the deed to the nonprofit, Center for Creative Partnerships. With help from the National Parks service, the nonprofit group is renovating the building and are now on Phase II. Their goal: to return the building into a fully-functional bowling alley with a civil rights theme. The Center for Creative Partnerships also plans to turn the adjacent space into a cultural center with a museum and performance spaces.

"It is not only gonna be a bowling center but it’ll be a place where everyone can come together, have a good time, and learn," states president of the Center for Creative Partnerships, Ellen Zisholtz.

In honor of Preservation Month, we are highlighting the Montgomery Building in Spartanburg.

In 1923, the Montgomery Family, a prominent fixture in Spartanburg’s textile manufacturing industry, commissioned Lockwood Greene Architects to design and oversee construction for what is now known as the Montgomery Building. Located along N. Church Street in downtown Spartanburg, the ten-story building was opened for business in 1924 and was one of the first Chicago-style skyscrapers completed outside of Chicago. At the time, Spartanburg was one of the two largest counties in the state due to textiles and railroads.

During its lifetime, the building has supported a variety of office tenants, including Lockwood Greene’s headquarters and the BMW Manufacturing Company. However, by the 1970s, the city saw a growing number of vacant downtown buildings and storefronts. In the 2000s, only a few loyal tenants remained in the Montgomery Building. By 2014, the building began to crumble, and scaffolding was installed to protect pedestrians below.

In 2015, a new developer and future owner, BF Spartanburg LLC owned by Tom Finnegan and James Bakker, came forward with a plan to revitalize the building. Spartanburg engaged McMillan Pazdan Smith to perform a feasibility study while their development team finalized plans to restore the 91-year-old high rise and create a mixed-use facility featuring retail, commercial, and residential space. In 2017, after acquiring Montgomery, their work began. Using the original Lockwood Greene drawings as a guide, the team documented the original design elements that remained and carefully created construction details, so these elements could be replicated, reusing the remaining pieces, and recreating those that were missing.

Today, the ten-story, 127,000 sq-foot building has been restored and features 400 custom mahogany windows, in addition to replicated steel windows and concrete cladding. The building now offers retail space, dining, office space, and 63 residential apartments. (Swipe to see the building today)

#preservationmonth

In honor of Preservation Month, we are highlighting the Keitt-Whaley Pearlstein House, now commonly known as Puritan Farm.

Located about 20 miles southeast of Columbia in Calhoun County, Puritan Farm is formally a sweet potato plantation, featuring an Upcountry farmhouse built between 1820-1825. Reverend Jacob Wannamaker built the house for Dr. and Mrs. George Keitt. Their son, Lawrence M. Keitt, who was born in the house, was elected to the US Congress in 1852, resigned in 1856, then re-elected to fill his own seat, only to resign again in 1860. The home remained with descendants of George Keitt until 1912, when Shep Pearlstine purchased the house. Pearlstine named the property Puritan Farm. According to the National Register of Historic Places, " Of four large plantation houses in the general area, Puritan Farm is the only one not destroyed by fire."

The property features a sweet potato kiln, pecan orchard, agricultural fields, a cotton gin complex from the late 1800s, and a row of live oaks that line a driveway for houses that no longer exist.

Today, the house and grounds are carefully maintained and preserved by the Walker family, who plan to continue to steward the property for generations to come.
#PreservationMonth

On April 25, 2024, Preservation SC, along with the Taveau Legacy Committee, received the Whitelaw Founders Award from the @historiccharlestonfoundation for Taveau Church.

“We represent the soul of Taveau Church. Slaves and descendants of slaves passed down 176 years of Black worship; inspirational sermons, soulful spirituals that are so iconic to so many of our Black churches across America today. Taveau’s bid for history is great, but it also represents what this country is all about - the freedom to worship as we want to.” - Cynthia Gibbs of the Taveau Legacy Committee.

We are honored to receive this award alongside the Taveau Legacy Committee and we are grateful to our project partners. Our work would not be possible without their support. (Swipe to see an image of Taveau today)

Learn more about this Preservation SC project by visiting our website, www.PreserveSC.org

During Taveau’s Lift ➡️ After Lift
Taveau has been successfully lowered onto its new foundation and brick piers. Our next steps: interior restoration and permanent stabilization.

We would like to thank the team at Meadors and Carolina House Movers for their partnership and incredible work on this project.

All of this would not be possible without our project lead, Bill Fitzpatrick, pictured below. To learn more about this project, visit www.PreserveSC.org
📸 By Bill Fitzpatrick

UPDATE on the Dawkins House: Today, engineers from Bennett Preservation Engineering were on site to examine the structure and determine a scope-of-work for its stabilization. This work would not be possible without the City of Union and Union County.

Thank you to the team at Bennett Preservation Engineering, the City of Union, Union County, and USC- Union for their partnership on this incredible project.

To learn about the Dawkins House, visit our website at www.PreserveSC.org

Stay tuned for more updates on this Preservation SC project!
📸 By Amanda Brown from Bennett Preservation Engineering

The Dawkins House, built in 1845, is a 4,500+ square-foot Federal-style home adjacent to the University of South Carolina-Union campus. It is also a “terminus” home in that it is located and its front door is at the end of N. Church Street, which connects to Highway 176, the main route from Union to Columbia.

In October 2023, we acquired the rights to the Dawkins House at a property tax sale. It is our intent to work with the community to not only find a purpose for this significant building, but also to ensure it will be standing for another 178 years.

🎥Video created and sponsored by Montgomery Construction of Lexington.

A behind-the-scenes look into the lifting of Taveau Church, featuring Fillmore Wilson with Meadors, Inc.

We are grateful for the work of Meadors, Inc., and Carolina House Movers and for their partnership throughout this project. It is our mission to return the historic church to usefulness as a local community space that is befitting of Taveau’s history and cultural legacy. Learn more, and support our efforts at Taveau, by visiting the link in our bio ⬆️🔗

We are excited to once again partner with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, and the Office of the Governor in sponsoring South Carolina's statewide Historic Preservation Awards.

Should you know any individuals, businesses, or organizations that have exceptional accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of our architectural and cultural heritage, we invite you to nominate them for one of our awards.

Learn more, and complete a nomination form, by visiting the link in our bio ⬆

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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 of 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.

Our Mission

Current Projects & Initiatives

2024 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards

Please join us, along with the SC Department of Archives & History and The Office of the Governor, in celebrating this year's recipients!

Taveau Church

LEARN MORE​

Breaking News

The Latest Headlines + Happenings

Preservation South Carolina E-Newsletter

Taveau Church Stewardship Planning

The Pottersville House

The Edgefield Hotel's New Chapter

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Why join?

Preservation with Purpose

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