| | | | | | A Nonprofit Membership Organization Working for South Carolinians Since 1990.
| | | | | | Headlines + Happenings October 22, 2025 | | | | | | | | Taveau Church Cordesville, SC | |
In November 2024, we partnered with BVL Historic Preservation to research the early history of Taveau. We are thrilled to share their findings, made possible by a generous donation.
Taveau Church stands as a rare and powerful testament to the national Christian missionary movement that sought to evangelize enslaved African Americans in the rural South.
The church served as an antebellum Methodist mission until after the Civil War, when it became a public school for the area's newly-freed children. In 1869, the student body comprised of 20 students under the age of 6, 9 students between the ages of 6-16, and 32 students over the age of 16. Pupils included 14-year-old Binah Simons and 15-year-old Dorcas Green, the daughters of Mathias and Phoebe Simons and Stephen and Celia Green. All four of their parents appear in a list of freedmen who engaged in work contracts with Keating Simons Ball for lands associated with Comingtee Plantation in 1866. The Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort contains a document showing that Taveau Church's enrollment had reached 83 students by 1870, merely a year later.
Strategically located in one of the Lowcountry’s most dense plantation districts, Taveau Church impacted the lives of hundreds of Black families, serving as a spiritual and educational anchor in a landscape shaped by enslavement and its aftermath.
The United Methodist Conference closed Taveau in 1974, merging with a nearby church. In 1978, Taveau was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. | | | | 1930s Photograph of Taveau. Courtesy of Meadors, Inc. (Left) | | 1971 Photograph of Taveau. Courtesy of Meadors, Inc. (Right) | | | | The image on the left, dating back to the 1930s, is the earliest known photograph of Taveau. The photo on the right captures Taveau in 1971. This photograph reveals several significant alterations to the structure. The portico’s columns were reset and repositioned, the original wooden entrance steps were rebuilt in brick, a commemorative marker or plaque was installed near the main entry, and a stove chimney was added to the east facade. The earliest image offers significant evidence for reexamining the front porch as we progress with this stabilization project.
What's next? Since Preservation SC purchased Taveau Church in June 2023 from the United Methodist Conference, $800,000 has been raised to support the continued rehabilitation of the ca. 1835 structure. This number being raised by $200,000 this year with a grant award from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This grant funding will support exterior restoration efforts to ensure the building can remain standing as a monument to the congregation’s history. | | Learn more about Taveau Church, its history, stabilization, and future plans, here. | | | | | | | | | - Phil Gast, author of Civil War Picket, shares details about window restoration at the Dawkins House with Robert Schmitt and funding plans for the USC-U Alumni and Corporate Events Center. Learn more here.
- The Public Buildings Reform Board, created by Congress in 2016 to streamline the process for disposals of Federal owned or leased property, evaluates three historic Federal properties in South Carolina for disposition. Learn more here.
- Save the Date for the 2026 African American Heritage Conference titled "Uplifting Voices" on February 28, 2025 at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Learn more and view 2025 conference presentations here.
- Save the Date for the 2026 South Carolina Historic Preservation Conference on April 24, 2026 at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia.
- The Richard H. Jenrette Foundation is working on a series of reports called, “The State of…” to address gaps and opportunities in historic preservation, historic landscapes, historic trades, and the decorative arts. Learn more here.
- The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) has recently launched an independent website. The mission of the SCAAHC is to identify and promote the preservation of historic sites, structures, buildings, and culture of the African American experience in South Carolina. Learn more here.
- The former Bull Swamp Colored School in Orangeburg has been restored and rededicated, thanks to a three-phase preservation project led by Bull Swamp Baptist Church. Learn more here.
- The Camden Opera House and Clocktower, located in Downtown Camden, to be redeveloped into a boutique hotel and restaurant. Learn more here.
- View recently added South Carolina sites, districts, and properties to the National Register of Historic Places, here. | | | | | |
The Pottersville House Edgefield, SC | Edgefield, SC is not only the home of 10 South Carolina Governors, but it is also recognized as the "Gateway to Southern History".
| | | | As a part of Preservation SC's mission, we help rural communities with historic preservation projects that spur economic development while preserving and protecting historic buildings and places. With a vision to honor its history, and bring visitors to Edgefield, we have partnered with the Town to stabilize the Pottersville House, located one mile from the town square.
The Pottersville House stabilization is the beginning of a larger vision to fully rehabilitate the property into an immersive history museum, telling the story of the Black potters of Edgefield and the area's stoneware legacy.
Through the stabilization and weatherization planning grant, the Town was able to engage the services of Meadors Inc to undertake a comprehensive conditions assessment, 3-D scan of the building, and prepare architectural drawings and specifications.
Their comprehensive analysis has shown that portions of the house date to as early as 1790. Preservation SC remains committed to this historic property and its stabilization and will continue to engage with the Town in implementing this project. Learn more about the Pottersville House here. | | | |
South Carolina Historic Properties FOR SALE Real Estate Marking Platform | | Preservation SC is in the initial phases of developing a real estate marketing platform, aiming to increase awareness of historic properties across the state that are for sale and facilitate connections between homebuyers and realtors/sellers. Anyone looking to sell a historic property that would appeal to preservation minded buyers would be able to advertise on our e-newsletter and website. From colonial to modern houses, old mills, and commercial buildings, we will accept advertisements from both listing agents and owners. If interested, please contact Joanna Rothell, Director of Outreach and Preservation at: Joanna@preservesc.org. More details coming soon. | | The following property was previously part of our Revolving Fund and is now being resold after its rehabilitation. | | | Ruff Cobb House, Newberry | 808 Boundary St, Newberry, SC 29108 Dramatic and unique describes the Ruff Cobb House. Built around 1850, this Greek Revival structure was remodeled in 1890 to include elaborate wrought iron railing around a 2nd story front balcony. This 3,940 sqft space features six beds and four baths and is a short walk to the Newberry Opera House, restaurants, and galleries. | | | | | | | |
Endangered Historic Properties Form An Endangered Properties Program Initiative | | Preservation SC's Endangered Places Program was created in 1996 as a part of the organization's initiative to support historic preservation in communities across South Carolina. The program was created to save threatened historic buildings, usually by getting the right to purchase the properties, then selling them to people who agree to restore them. To date, more than 40 properties have been protected by the program. The program is made up of two components: the Endangered Places Revolving Fund, and Endangered Places Advocacy.
This Endangered Historic Property Form is a part of the Endangered Places Advocacy component of the Program. The purpose of this form is to identify vulnerable historic properties for potential investment, while advocating and encouraging for their preservation.
Do you know of an endangered historic property that has not received the attention it deserves? Forms are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. We will reply to your submission within 60 days. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Preservation South Carolina1109 Broad Street, 2H Camden, SC 29020803.729.7782 | | | | You are receiving this email as you signed up for our newsletters. Want to change how you receive these emails?
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