Great Branch Teacherage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Great Branch Teacherage
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2890 Neeses Highway, near Orangeburg, South Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1924-1925 |
| Architectural style | American Folk Tradition |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001112 |
| Added to NRHP | October 24, 2007 |
The Great Branch Teacherage, also known as the Great Branch Rosenwald School Teacherage, is a special old house located near Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. It was built almost 100 years ago, between 1924 and 1925. This house was once part of a larger school called the Great Branch School.
What is a Teacherage?
A teacherage is a house built specifically for teachers. Imagine a school in a small town or a rural area where it might be hard for teachers to find a place to live. A teacherage solved this problem by providing a home right near the school. This helped schools attract and keep good teachers, especially in places where housing options were limited.
The Great Branch Teacherage is a one-story house with three rooms. It has a simple design with a sloped roof. It's built from wood, which was a common building material at the time.
The Story of Rosenwald Schools
The Great Branch Teacherage was part of a very important project called the Rosenwald School program. This program helped build thousands of schools and related buildings, like teacherages, for African American children in the Southern United States.
This amazing effort was a partnership between Julius Rosenwald, who was the head of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and Booker T. Washington, a famous educator and leader. At a time when schools for African American students often lacked funding and good facilities, Rosenwald and Washington worked together to create better educational opportunities.
The Rosenwald Fund provided money and architectural plans. Local communities, both Black and white, also contributed by raising funds, donating land, and providing labor. This teamwork helped build over 5,000 schools, shops, and teacherages across 15 states. These schools became centers of learning and community life.
Why the Great Branch Teacherage is Special
The Great Branch Teacherage is the only building left from the original Great Branch School complex. The school itself closed in 1954. This means the teacherage is a rare reminder of a significant time in history. It shows us how important education was, and how communities worked together to support their teachers and students.
Because of its historical importance, the Great Branch Teacherage was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. This is a list of places in the United States that are considered important to American history and should be preserved.
