You are in the Penn Center Historic District.
Founded in 1862 by Northern Abolitionists as a school for freed slaves, it also served as a community center for St. Helena Island. During the Civil Rights Era, it was a retreat for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Civil Rights leaders. The center functioned as a school until 1962 and now is a community center. A museum dedicated to the history of St. Helena Island, Penn Center and the Gullah people is located on this grounds.
More detail about the Penn Center:
The Penn Normal and Industrial School was founded in 1862 on St. Helena Island as a school for freed slaves by Northern Abolitionists and missionaries who came to the South Carolina Sea Islands following the Union takeover of the area during the Civil War. Penn School established a commitment to black education, welfare and heritage which has remained strong for more than 100 years. The school functioned as an educational institution, health clinic, farm bureau, and catalyst for community action. It also served as a repository for preserving the island's unique Gullah heritage and written history. The history of Penn Center is told at the Dr. York W. Bailey Museum.
Education was a top priority of the many Northerners who came to St. Helena and classes were held in cotton houses, cabins, and deserted plantation houses throughout the island. The only school of this type to survive was the one established at Brick Church by Laura Town of Philadelphia and her friend Ellen Murray. This became the Penn School. While located on the Penn campus the Brick Church is no longer directly associated with Penn Center and functions as an independent church. The Brick Church, founded ca. 1855 for island planters.
With the exception of the Brick Church, the buildings on the Penn Center have no particular architectural significance. The buildings, an eclectic collection of styles, were all built during the 20th century and consist of dormitories, administrative buildings, workshops, a dining hall, tennis courts, staff housing, health clinics and the Dr. York W. Bailey Museum. A Beaufort County library and a regional health center are being constructed on the campus in 2011.
Although the Penn School closed in 1948, the community service and cultural preservation functions originated by the school have flourished through Penn Community Services, organized in 1951. Penn Center played an important role in the Civil Rights movement on the 1950's and 1960's. Penn personnel actively supported school desegregation and voter registration and education. The also initiated a training program for community organizers. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his staff held retreats and workshops at Penn during this time. The initial planning session for the 1963 March on Washington was held here. The center also has been used for Peace Corps training.
Penn Center was listed in the National Register on September 9, 1974 and was designated a National Historic Landmark District on December 2, 1974.
Penn Center Historic District
You are in the Penn Center Historic District.
Founded in 1862 by Northern Abolitionists as a school for freed slaves, it also served as a community center for St. Helena Island. During the Civil Rights Era, it was a retreat for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Civil Rights leaders. The center functioned as a school until 1962 and now is a community center. A museum dedicated to the history of St. Helena Island, Penn Center and the Gullah people is located on this grounds.
More detail about the Penn Center:
The Penn Normal and Industrial School was founded in 1862 on St. Helena Island as a school for freed slaves by Northern Abolitionists and missionaries who came to the South Carolina Sea Islands following the Union takeover of the area during the Civil War. Penn School established a commitment to black education, welfare and heritage which has remained strong for more than 100 years. The school functioned as an educational institution, health clinic, farm bureau, and catalyst for community action. It also served as a repository for preserving the island's unique Gullah heritage and written history. The history of Penn Center is told at the Dr. York W. Bailey Museum.
Education was a top priority of the many Northerners who came to St. Helena and classes were held in cotton houses, cabins, and deserted plantation houses throughout the island. The only school of this type to survive was the one established at Brick Church by Laura Town of Philadelphia and her friend Ellen Murray. This became the Penn School. While located on the Penn campus the Brick Church is no longer directly associated with Penn Center and functions as an independent church. The Brick Church, founded ca. 1855 for island planters.
With the exception of the Brick Church, the buildings on the Penn Center have no particular architectural significance. The buildings, an eclectic collection of styles, were all built during the 20th century and consist of dormitories, administrative buildings, workshops, a dining hall, tennis courts, staff housing, health clinics and the Dr. York W. Bailey Museum. A Beaufort County library and a regional health center are being constructed on the campus in 2011.
Although the Penn School closed in 1948, the community service and cultural preservation functions originated by the school have flourished through Penn Community Services, organized in 1951. Penn Center played an important role in the Civil Rights movement on the 1950's and 1960's. Penn personnel actively supported school desegregation and voter registration and education. The also initiated a training program for community organizers. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his staff held retreats and workshops at Penn during this time. The initial planning session for the 1963 March on Washington was held here. The center also has been used for Peace Corps training.
Penn Center was listed in the National Register on September 9, 1974 and was designated a National Historic Landmark District on December 2, 1974.