May 20, 2025
by Holley Owings
As part of our continued collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT), our team recently visited the Great Branch Teacherage Rosenwald site in Orangeburg County. This unique stop gave us the chance to experience one of the few remaining teacherage, residences built to house teachers at Rosenwald schools.
We were welcomed by Mrs. Rosa Kennerly along with several alumni and community members, who generously shared their memories and experiences connected to the school. It was a special opportunity to hear firsthand stories that help bring the history of the site to life.
We spent time walking the large campus and touring the teacherage, which is filled with artifacts and furnishings that reflect the era when the home was occupied by school principals and teachers. Photo albums, mementos, and everyday objects gave SCPRT staff a deeper sense of what life was like for educators who lived and worked at Rosenwald schools.
We wrapped up the visit with a thoughtful conversation about the community’s hopes for the site and how those ideas can be reflected in the Rosenwald School Trail Study. We’re grateful for the warm hospitality and meaningful dialogue—and look forward to continuing this work together.
