#103: SC Historic Preservation Awards, Independence Day, and Hotel Hartness
For South Carolina history lovers far and wide! Enjoy weekly SC history and upcoming SC historical events
Dear reader,
Welcome to SC History Newsletter #103!
Next week I’ll be in Nova Scotia, Canada for a fun vacation with my family, so I’ll be saying “Happy Birthday!” to America from across the border. I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July week ahead! Grateful for our country and our wonderful state of South Carolina.
I’d like to welcome the following new subscribers to our community. Thank you for your interest in South Carolina history!
pacerobert1973
pcgaillard
rosehuxfordlovestobake
sherog2
tim.galsworthy
Myopinion4
New friends! If you are new to the newsletter, please note that there are over 100 previous SC History newsletters on topics ranging from the founding of Charleston, sunken Confederate submarines, railroad tunnels filled with blue cheese, and so much more! I encourage you to take a look at our archive here:
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And now, let’s learn some South Carolina history!
Yours truly,
Kate
(Writing from Greenville, SC)
➳ Featured SC History Events
Please enjoy our featured SC History Event below, and click here to visit my SC History Events Calendar that organizes all the upcoming SC history events I have discovered. Please let me know if you’d like to add an event to the calendar! Reply to this email, send me a note at schistorynewsletter@gmail.com, or use the button below to send me your events.
(Note from Kate… can I just say that the below event looks soooo fun! Hot air balloon launches?! Historical toasts?! Fun!)
Event Recommendation of the Week:
Saturday, June 29th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | “Living History Saturday: Independence Day” at Historic Brattonsville | Historic Brattonsville | McConnells, SC | $8 Adult General Admission, $5 Youth
“Join us this Saturday to learn and experience how Independence Day was celebrated in the 1850s in the Carolina Piedmont. Enjoy fun activities including 19th-century toys & games, relay races, hot air balloon launches, and readings of some of our nation’s founding documents. Be sure to check out the complete list of activities and times below.
On-Going Activities:
• 19th century refreshments
• 19th century toys and games
• Blacksmithing demonstration
Timed Activities:
• Hot air balloon launches (11 a.m. & 2 p.m.)
• Relay races for children (11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.)
• “Patriotic Musings” presentation at the Oak Grove Stage, featuring guest-led toasts and readings from some of our nation’s founding documents (Noon & 3 p.m.)
Bring your own family-friendly libation for the toasts, or pick one up in the Gift Shop!”
➳ SC History Book & Article Recommendations
Published June 13, 2024 in Garden & Gun:
“Aviation (and Agricultural) History Helps a South Carolina Hotel Take Flight”
“For the founders of Hotel Hartness, which opened last year in Greenville, South Carolina, there was no better way to put a beloved piece of family land to good use than by sharing the natural beauty with guests from around the South. “We wanted the design to authentically incorporate our family history and draw on the culture and spirit of Greenville,” says Sean Hartness, who grew up on the bucolic plot just outside of downtown.
Part of that lineage is rooted in agriculture, and part of it in aviation. Thomas “Pat” Hartness, Sean’s father, had a love of flying from an early age, and in the eighties he began hosting aviation events on a grass runway at his family farm, including the Big Bird Fly-In. When those get-togethers outgrew the runway, Hartness purchased land nearby and founded the nonprofit Triple Tree Aerodrome…”
Do you have a book or article on South Carolina History that has caught your attention? Submit below! We would love to highlight.
➳ SC History Topic of the Week
Did you hear who won the 2024 SC Historic Preservation Awards? Here are the winners below!
(Note from Kate: I will be adding many of these people to my list of “people to interview” for this newsletter! Grateful to all these fabulous people for caring so much about the history of our state!)
Award Categories
The Honor Awards celebrate successful and exemplary historic preservation projects around the Palmetto State.
The Stewardship Awards recognize those who have ensured the ongoing preservation of historic buildings, structures, or sites through long-term care, planning, management, protection, or continuous ownership for a minimum of ten years.
The Preservation Service Awards recognize projects and activities that make exemplary contributions to the advancement of historic preservation.
The Heritage Tourism Award recognizes those who best use South Carolina’s cultural and historic resources in the documented development of tourism that directly benefits the preservation of our heritage.
The Elected Official Honor Award may be presented each year to an individual elected official in recognition of significant achievements or landmark efforts in the support of historic preservation in South Carolina.
The Governor’s Award may be presented each year in recognition of an individual’s significant achievements or landmark efforts in the support of historic preservation in South Carolina.
Selection Panel
A representative from the Office of the Governor
Preservation South Carolina Board Chair (or designee)
The Director of the SC Department of Archives and History (or designee)
A representative from the Board of the Preservation South Carolina
Two representatives from the SC Department of Archives and History
A representative of Preservation South Carolina’s Membership Program
A representative from the SC African American Heritage Commission
A representative from the Confederation of SC Local Historical Societies
A representative from the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Elected Official Honor Award
Lisa Sulka served as the mayor of Bluffton for 16 years and was recognized with the Elected Official Honor Award for her dedication to historic preservation. Under her leadership, Bluffton saw extensive preservation efforts, including “historic resource surveys, formation of historic districts, and passage of preservation ordinances.” Under Ms. Sulka’s leadership, significant investments were made in the rehabilitation of historic structures, such as the Garvin-Garvey House. Additionally, Ms. Sulka was a part of efforts to create the Historic Preservation Grant Program, which has provided $200,000 in mini grants to historic property owners in Bluffton. These projects and many more reflect her commitment to maintaining Bluffton's character and history for generations to come.
Heritage Tourism Award
Chumley Cope received the Heritage Tourism Award for his work with Explore Up Close, a travel company focused on small group tours highlighting local history and culture. Since its inception in 2004 and the launch of the “Exploring South Carolina” series in 2021, the program has organized over a dozen trips showcasing the heritage of South Carolina’s small towns. These tours, limited to 18 participants, collaborate with local historic sites, historical societies, and museums, bringing attention to areas often overlooked by mainstream tourism.
Preservation Service Awards
Cecil Williams received a Preservation Service Award for his work as a distinguished photographer who has documented South Carolina’s Civil Rights history for over 60 years, amassing over 1 million images. He founded the SC Civil Rights Museum in Orangeburg in 2019, which showcases his extensive collection of photographs and artifacts. He also serves as the Director of Historic Preservation at Claflin University and is currently working on digitizing the university's photographic archive. Williams is also the recipient of the Order of the Palmetto and a Governor’s Award in the Humanities.
The City of Fountain Inn received the Preservation Service Award for its successful Main Street Improvement Grant Program. The program, with included a $250,000 budget, focused on façade improvements and enhancing outdoor areas within the city. In just 2 years, the grant program successfully led to 41 new building permits, 17 new businesses, 78 new jobs, and over $6.2 million in investments in 2023 alone. The program’s integration with broader community goals made it a model for similar initiatives across the state.
Susan F. Boyd and the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation received the Preservation Service Award for their significant contributions to historic and cultural preservation in Columbia and the Midlands. Notably, their efforts transformed the 1818 Hampton-Preston Mansion and its gardens with a new horticultural program, as well as a historically appropriate greenhouse and summer house. These projects enhanced local community engagement and have made a lasting positive impact on the area's residents and visitors.
The City of Columbia Planning & Development Services received the Preservation Service Award for their comprehensive Historic Preservation Program. Many people associate historic district design review with city preservation departments. While this is a key responsibility, Columbia’s Historic Preservation Program goes further, advocating for historic buildings and serving as a resource for property owners. They promote preservation's benefits to the broader community. The jury was impressed by the department's diverse programs, such as educational videos, newsletters, events, and reports, including the recent "Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Columbia," created in partnership with the Historic Columbia Foundation.
Stewardship Awards
Thomas C. Barnwell, Jr. received the Stewardship Award for his significant contributions to historic preservation on Hilton Head Island. A native of the area, Barnwell has been instrumental in preserving the Barnwell Tabby House, the oldest structure on the island. His efforts in research, documentation, and restoration transformed the deteriorated building into a source of pride and education, highlighting Hilton Head’s long history. His community work also includes advocating for affordable housing, health services, and economic development.
The University of South Carolina-Union received the Stewardship Award for its dedication to historic preservation since its founding in 1965. The university initially acquired the former Union High School, built in 1909, as its first building. It has since rehabilitated other historic schools in Union and Laurens, incorporating these structures into its growing campus of 1,100 students. This preservation effort underscores the university’s commitment to maintaining its historical heritage and contributing to the community.
Ruth Ann Butler, based in Greenville since 1987, focuses on preserving African American history and facilitating local research. Her efforts include curating artifacts, hosting researchers and students, and establishing the Greenville Cultural Exchange Center, housed in a renovated historic home downtown. The jury commends her for preserving both a building of historical significance and vital aspects of her hometown's heritage.
Preservation Honor Awards
The St. George Rosenwald School received a Preservation Honor Award. Built in 1925 during the Rosenwald School construction program, the St. George school originally served Black schoolchildren in the area with 6 teachers. After being abandoned in the 1970s, the town purchased it in 2014. Following a remarkable rehabilitation, it reopened 9 years later as an educational center, interpreting the work of Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington. It also serves as a community center and a satellite of the Lowcountry Children’s Museum. The jury acknowledged the significant effort by the Town of St. George, the rehabilitation's complexity, and its positive impact on the community.
The South Caroliniana Library received a Preservation Honor Award. Built in 1940, the South Caroliniana Library has been a landmark at the University of South Carolina. Modern updates had previously obscured its historic character. Design work began in 2017, and by 2023, the library reopened with a restored reading room, updated stacks, and new exhibition spaces and galleries showcasing its vast collections. The jury appreciated the project's sensitivity, exhaustive planning, and attention to historical detail.
The Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital building received a Preservation Honor Award. Completed in 1952, the Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital served Columbia’s African American community after intensive local fundraising. It was the first hospital built for the Black population in Columbia and was listed on the National Register in 2008, having been closed since 1973. In a visionary renovation, the building now houses Allen University’s Institute for Civility, the Emanuel Nine Center for Peace, the Palmetto African-American Hall of Fame, and the Waverly Wall honoring former hospital staff. The jury recognized the vision, sensitivity in rehabilitation, and exceptional programming of the site.
Campbell’s Covered Bridge received a Preservation Honor Award. Built in 1909 in Greenville County's “Dark Corner,” Campbell’s Covered Bridge is South Carolina’s last remaining covered bridge. Significant deterioration and erosion had affected the bridge, its approaches, and abutments since its last rehabilitation nearly 35 years ago. Recent restoration efforts addressed erosion and water flow, repaired the wooden structural components, and added a new fire-rated wooden shingle roof to match the original. The jury recognized the thoughtful design and execution of this unique historic resource in the state.
The Powerhouse at University Center received a Preservation Honor Award. Built in 1929, the Powerhouse originally supplied electricity to the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company. After a 2.5-year rehabilitation, it has been transformed into a mixed-use site featuring a community food hall, craft brewery, and live performance venue. The jury recognized the Powerhouse's unique character and the creative architectural and engineering solutions that addressed rehabilitation challenges. The result is a stunning new community gathering place in Rock Hill.
Governor’s Award
Glenn Keys received this year’s Governor’s Award. Mr. Keys is an architect based in Charleston. For nearly 40 years, he has been a leader in historic preservation in South Carolina, overseeing the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of over 400 historic buildings statewide. Beyond his professional practice, Glenn shares his expertise to benefit historic communities, serving on various nonprofit boards and review committees. After working with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, he founded his own firm in Charleston, focusing on the city’s historic buildings. His architectural skill, commitment to preserving historical materials and design, and sensitivity to historic settings have set a standard of care for the city’s historic buildings, many of which are National Historic Landmarks.
Do you know any of the people, organizations, or projects above? Tell us more about them! Please leave a comment below!
➳ SC History Quote of the Week
"She guards her customs, buildings and laws."
—In 1783, Charleston established itself as a municipal government with the above motto (!)
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