The Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) recently highlighted three culturally significant landmarks in Charleston County that face uncertain futures without preservation efforts: the Folly Beach cottage linked to George Gershwin, a formerly segregated school in the Red Top community, and one of the last remaining Rosenwald Schools.
The “Porgy House”
Located on Folly Beach, this 1930s-era cottage was the summer home of Dorothy and DuBose Hayward, authors of “Porgy,” the novel and play that inspired George Gershwin’s iconic 1935 opera “Porgy and Bess.” Gershwin himself stayed at the home in 1934 while composing parts of the opera, making it the last direct link to his time in Charleston. The house remains well-preserved by its longtime owners, but after being listed for sale last year, its future is uncertain. The PSC team is working with the owner and real estate agent to ensure its permanent protection.
The Nine Mile Fork School
Built in 1927 on Wadmalaw Island with support from businessman Julius Rosenwald, the Nine Mile Fork School was one of 5,000 Rosenwald Schools created to educate Black students in the segregated South. Today, only about 200 remain, and this is the last intact Rosenwald School in the county. Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it is currently for sale and in need of a preservation-minded buyer to secure its future.
Tobin-Boyd Elementary
Opened in 1961, Tobin-Boyd Elementary was one of the last segregated schools built in Charleston, serving students from the Red Top community in West Ashley. After desegregation, the building housed various programs until it closed in 2004. Now, its owners are seeking state coastal zone permits to demolish it. The PSC and Red Top community leaders are advocating for its recognition as a historically significant site, which could become part of a future Red Top County Historic District.
If you have any ideas or are interested in helping protect these sites, you can email the PSC team.
