7-52 Berean Church/J.I. Washington Branch Library - South Carolina Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

Berean Church
Berean Presbyterian Church was founded by Samuel J. Bampfield, an influential African American political figure during Reconstruction. Bampfield served in the S.C. House of Representatives, was Beaufort's postmaster, and clerk of the county court. In 1892 the congregation purchased this lot and constructed a church in the Gothic Revival style. Solomon P. Hood, who later was appointed U.S. Minister to Liberia, was the first pastor.
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J. I. Washington Branch Library
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In 1931 the building was purchased by the Beaufort Township Library and converted for use as a segregated branch library for African Americans. It operated in that capacity until 1965 when this branch closed and Township Library was desegregated. The building was later used as headquarters for the Neighborhood Youth Corps and in 1993 was purchased by USC Beaufort for use as an art studio.

Sponsored by the Beaufort County Historical Society, USC Beaufort, and the Old Commons Neighborhood Association 2014

Marker Name: Berean Church/J.I. Washington Branch Library Marker Location: City Type of Marker: Building Marker number: 7-52 County: Beaufort

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Date Logged Log User Rating   12/31/2019 Markerman62 visited it 12/05/2019 Bon Echo visited it

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