As part of our ongoing work on the South Carolina Rosenwald Schools Trail Study, our team recently hit the road with staff from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) to visit several of the rural schools included in the project. The goal was to give SCPRT a chance to see the two-room schoolhouses up close and to meet the community members who are working hard to preserve their stories.
We kicked off the day at Mt. Zion Rosenwald School in Florence County, where Mr. Terry James and several community members gave us a warm welcome. Mt. Zion hasn’t been restored yet, so it was a valuable opportunity to show what an unrestored school looks like. After sharing some great stories, our hosts treated us to a delicious homemade lunch—grilled chicken, chicken bog, mac and cheese, and a table full of desserts.
Before leaving Florence, we made a quick stop at historic Jamestown on the way we saw the site of another Rosenwald School in the area. From there, we traveled to Pine Grove Rosenwald School in Columbia. While our time there was short, we had a nice visit with school director Mrs. McGriff and her husband, who were working in the community garden and getting ready for an upcoming Easter egg hunt.
Our last stop of the day was Hope School in Pomaria, where we met with Ms. Tenetha Hall and a few members of her board. We spent our time talking about the school’s current needs and future programming ideas. It was a long day on the road, but incredibly rewarding. Each school has its own story, and it was helpful for SCPRT to experience those differences and similarities firsthand. We’re excited to keep building momentum for this important project.
NCSU: Voices of The Russell School. In September, 2024, the WeGOJA and Earth Design team visited NC State University to explore the extraordinary exhibit on the historic Russell Rosenwald School in Durham, NC. The exhibit showcases cutting-edge technology, including 3D scans, virtual tours, and immersive VR experiences, which left our team thoroughly impressed. Visitors can navigate the school through 360-degree images paired with alumni interviews, providing a vivid and captivating insight into its history and significance. The exhibit also highlights the broader Rosenwald Schools program, preserving the Russell School’s legacy in an engaging, interactive way across digital platforms. Our team was blown away by how the technology allowed us to fully experience the school without physically being there. The immersive quality made it feel as though we were stepping into the space, despite it being miles away. We wanted to see firsthand how these technological innovations could enhance the storytelling and visitor engagement in museum or digital environments. Some of these traveling exhibits offer exciting opportunities for the new South Carolina Rosenwald School network, helping to extend their reach and preserve history in a truly interactive and impactful way.
On April 26, 2024, at the South Carolina Historic Preservation Conference held at the SC Department of Archives and History in Columbia, SC, speakers Dawn Dawson-House, Dr. Valinda Littlefield, Tripp Muldrow, Holley Owings, and Zach Bjur presented the rich history of the Rosenwald Schools in South Carolina. This presentation built upon the one delivered earlier this year at the Landmark Conference, aiming to educate the audience about the ongoing South Carolina Rosenwald Schools Trail Study. The study seeks to evaluate the potential for a group of existing Rosenwald School sites to become South Carolina’s first state park focused on African American and Jewish history. This effort is a collaboration between the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the WeGOJA Foundation, SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, SC Department of Archives and History, and local preservation groups. It will focus on six key sites: Great Branch Rosenwald School and Teacherage, Lincolnville, Hope School, St. George, Mt. Zion, and Pine Grove. The project involves working closely with school alumni and community members to assess the current state of these schools and to craft narratives that emphasize their historical and cultural significance. Over the next 18 months, the team will produce a comprehensive report that will guide the development of both a physical and virtual trail, highlighting the successes of the Rosenwald Schools and the communities they served. During the conference, participants raised important questions, including how additional schools could be integrated into the trail, what to do if a Rosenwald School site is known but not included in the study, and ways to support these preservation efforts. For more information or to get involved, visit [https://scrosenwaldtrail.org](https://scrosenwaldtrail.org) or contact us at info@wegoja.org.
Dawn Dawson-House, WeGOJA Foundation Executive Director, presents why the RSTS Study is so important in helping to develop a statewide trail of Rosenwald Schools that will showcase this important aspect of African American history in SC.
From Vision to State Park: A study of Rosenwald Schools will help determine the viability of a new historic trail.
Speakers, Timika Wilson, Dr. Larry Watson, Dr. Valinda Littlefield, Tripp Muldrow, Holley Springs, and Zach Bjur presented the rich history of the Rosenwald Schools in South Carolina at the 2024 Landmark Conference at SC State University. These early-20th century schools were built to serve rural African American children. Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald helped to ensure that the Black community could have a sustainable network of schools focused on community and education based on a cost shared model with funding from the Rosenwald Fund, the community, and the state. With over 500 schools built in SC, this network has regrettably been lost over time. At least 44 schools remain in some shape or form across SC. The Rosenwald Schools Trail Study seeks to determine whether a set of extant sites could become South Carolina’s first state park focused on African American and Jewish history. The study is a collaborative effort of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the WeGOJA Foundation, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, the SC Department of Archives and History, and Rosenwald preservation organizations across the state. The study will focus on six sites: Great Branch Rosenwald School and Teacherage. Lincolnville, Hope School, St. George, Mt. Zion, and Pine Grove.
During the study, the Master Planners and Oral Historian will engage with alumni and community stakeholders to assess site integrity and build a descriptive narrative to design a plan that shares this important history with the public. This 18-month initiative will provide a report that any school and stakeholder could utilize to develop an interconnected trail both virtually and physically highlighting the success of the students and surrounding communities.
Key concerns from participants at the conference included: how other schools may be incorporated and included in a wider trail, what to do if you know a Rosenwald School isn’t depicted, but should be, and how best to assist in this important work. Join our community of volunteers, stakeholders, and advocates at our website for project updates and inquiries.
On March 20, 2024, we conducted our second visit to St. George as part of our ongoing study of the Rosenwald School and its impact on the community. Rotary Club Breakfast: Tripp Muldrow from the design team attended the St. George Rotary Club breakfast, where he introduced our study to the local business community. This event served as a vital platform for raising awareness and fostering connections among stakeholders. Community Engagement Meeting: In the afternoon, we held a community engagement meeting attended by key stakeholders, including board members from the Rosenwald School, county council representatives, Senator Stevens, and representatives from the Low Country Children’s Museum, along with engaged community members. The meeting was vibrant and productive, featuring lively discussions about the school’s upcoming programs, including a summer program for youth and the exciting opening of a satellite location for the Low Country Children’s Museum. Key Takeaways: The design team gained valuable insights into the community’s needs and the current utilization of the center. The input received during these discussions will play a crucial role in shaping our ongoing efforts and ensuring that our project aligns with the community’s vision and priorities. We appreciate the warm welcome from the St. George community and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we move forward with this important initiative. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their perspectives!
