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A NEWSLETTER OF HISTORIC COLUMBIA
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ISSUE № 04
FALL 2019
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ANNUAL REPORT
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VOLUME
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Historically Speaking
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From the Executive Director
Historically Speaking
onsistently committed to and excited about partnering with other community groups, in 2018-19 Historic Columbia took engagement to a new level with a series of dynamic partnerships that helped shift perspectives and priorities at the organization. While the organization has an abundance of historic assets and programs managed and developed internally, this year our collaborations took on new stature and significance.
President Robert Lewis
After fielding an inquiry from the Smithsonian Channel in August 2018, HC staff welcomed a film team working on a documentary about the Green Book – a guidebook for black travelers during the Jim Crow era. Providing the filmmaker tours of extant buildings that housed tourist homes, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses as well as facilitating an interview with Dr. Henrie Monteith Treadwell, whose aunt Modjeska Monteith Simkins ran Motel Simbeth, HC helped ground the South Carolina story that was highlighted in The Green Book: A Guide to Freedom. The film’s world premiere played to a full house at the SC State Museum in January 2019.
Treasurer Jamie Keller
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Just two months later, in March 2019, the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) and HC launched the Columbia City of Women Initiative at an event announcing 12 inaugural honorees. An idea hatched by SC’s former first lady Rachel Hodges and her son Luke, Columbia City of Women was designed to raise awareness in the lack of representation of women in public spaces and to develop tools to close that gap. By identifying places where women have blazed extraordinary trails, this initiative literally and figuratively places them on the map of Columbia where they belong. Working with a steering committee with representation from the City of Columbia, Richland School District One, and the University of South Carolina, and funded by the City as well as the Knight Foundation and Central Carolina Community Foundation, WREN and HC will continue to build awareness through community engagement projects, public programs and the installation of a new monument to women in Columbia. In the spring of 2018, Tanya Wideman Davis and Thaddeus Davis of Wideman-Davis Dance approached HC about hosting a technical residency at the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Grounds. In preparation for the residency, staff deconstructed all period room settings, providing complete access for the work to be created and viewed. The performance, Migratuse Ataraxia—an exploration of the experience of black bodies moving in an antebellum structure—proved transformational for the 75 people who attended over 3 days in April 2019. For HC, the partnership inspired a reconsideration of how historic spaces are used, who has access, and what steps we need to take to ensure that a more diverse collection of voices is heard across all sites.
Fall 2019 | Volume 59 | Issue 4
1st Vice President Gina Lesslie 2nd Vice President Dr. Isa Mandell
Secretary Mark Jones The mission of Historic Columbia is to nurture, support and protect the historical and cultural heritage of Columbia and Richland County through programs of advocacy, education and preservation.
In This Issue 3 Board & Staff, Financial Statement 4-5 Cultural Resources Continue to Expand 6-7 Successful Programs and Partnerships On the cover Tanya Wideman Davis (left) of Wideman Davis Dance is joined by artist Michaela Pilar Brown in the April performance of Migratuse Ataraxia at the Hampton-Preston site. This ground-breaking work that explores the movement of black bodies in antebellum spaces premiered at Historic Columbia and will travel to other sites in the region in 2020. Image credit: Sean Rayford Photography
Partnerships take time and effort to develop and cultivate, but for HC this year, this practice has resulted in access to new audiences and institutional shifts that will reverberate for years to come.
Robin Waites Executive Director
Visit us on the web: HistoricColumbia.org
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HISTORIC COLUMBIA | ANNUAL REPORT
Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Robert Lewis, President Gina Lesslie, 1st Vice President Dr. Isa Mandell, 2nd Vice President Jamie Keller, Treasurer Mark Jones, Secretary At-Large Members Katherine Hopkins Jeff Payne Doug Quackenbush Rodrick Shiver Alison Summey
Palladium Board of Directors City/County Council Liaisons Kim Jamieson Gary Gabel Dawn Mills-Campbell, PhD Ex-Officio Members Kenneth Childs C.D. Rhodes Grace Salter
HC Advisory Council C.D. Rhodes, III, Chair Janice Bowman Frank Braddock Susan Brill Anne Bristow Jim Byrum Ann Cameron David Campbell Russell Cann Frank Cason Kenneth L. Childs Debbie Cohn Beryl Dakers Jim Daniel Fred Delk Kate Dixon
John Dozier Jessica I. Elfenbein Lindsey Griffin Alex Guzman Jamie Harpootlian Mel Hart Monya Havekost Susan Haynsworth David Hodges Ann Holtschlag Michelle Hurley Gloria S. James Holly King Jeff Lawler Richard Linden Andrew R. Lucas
Staff
Betsy McDonald Todd Miller Stuart Moore Kathy Norton Lorin Palmer Debbie Parker Eleanor Pope Keith Powell Michael Ritchie Henry Roe Scottie Smith Jenna Stephens Darrin Thomas Cleve Walker J. Calhoun Watson Mozella White
Grace Salter, President Parrish Behles Janie Campbell Patrick Cleary Carter Davis Lauren Elliott Lauren Gilstrap Anthony Goldman Oliver Hartner Jordan Heavner Lisa Mathew Rebecca McCormack Andrew Montgomery Elaina Penney Kelty Riddle Amanda Rogers Abi Snyder Myers Truluck David Wiesendanger
2018-19 Financial Statement Historic Columbia’s Statement of Activities for the year ending on June 30, 2019. Operating Income City of Columbia................................. 661,500 Richland County................................. 495,143 Individual/Corporate Donations......... 361,951 Grants.................................................... 39,360 Assets Released from Restriction........ 68,000 Rental.................................................. 101,876 Tours/Public Programs........................128,196 Other...................................................... 75,401 Total Operating Income.................... 1,931,427
Robin Waites, Executive Director Katharine Allen, Director of Research Heather Bacon-Rogers, Tour & Program Coordinator Fielding Freed, Director of Historic House Museums Debbie Giles, Director of Administration & Finance Kevin Jennings, Facilities Coordinator Mitch Journey, Gift Shop at Robert Mills Manager Kelly Kinard, Youth & Family Programs Coordinator Betsy Kleinfelder, Visitor & Interpretive Services Coordinator Jeff Kruse, Facilities Assistant Keith Mearns, Director of Grounds Liv Miller, Executive Assistant Megan Plott, Director of Development James Quint, Director of Education John Sherrer, Director of Cultural Resources Christopher Tenny, Research Coordinator Kathryn Trier, Office and Special Projects Manager Chandler Yonkers, Marketing Coordinator
Operating Expenses Program Expenses............................. 1,571,510 General Supporting..............................192,568 Fund-Raising Expense.........................162,978 Total Operating Expense.................. 1,927,056 Net Operating......................................... 4,371 Increase in Unrestricted Net Assets..... 22,843 Decrease in Restricted Net Assets..... -116,009 Decrease in Net Assets......................... -93,116 Net Assets, beginning of year..........2,688,347 Net Assets, end of year..................... 2,595,181
FALL 2019
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Historic Site Stewardship
Research and Collections Unprecedented discoveries, programs, and interpretive content made 2018-19 shine like no other, as Historic Columbia participated heavily in community initiatives, fielded inquiries, and shared stories about the capital city and Richland County with a host of audiences. Some of the highlights include: • • • • • • •
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Researching and writing 12 1,500-word Columbia City of Women entries Supplying 100 site entries for the South Carolina Jewish Merchant Project Researching new content for a revised African American Sites Tour Identifying Columbia sites for the Smithsonian Channel’s Green Book documentary Producing 3 of 6 chapters for a Congaree National Park Resource Study Uncovering new sites of historical significance including 2101 Gervais Street—the oldest extant black-owned surgery/hospital—formerly owned by Dr. W.D. Chapelle, Jr. Aiding in the preservation of the collections of the Civil Rights era (Monteith, Smith, and Simkins families) and the Civil War (Manning, Hampton, McMaster, and Woodrow families) Giving four presentations and offering five tours for the Urban History Association meeting in Columbia
Artifact Highlight
To commemorate the 300th anniversary of South Carolina’s founding, this bronze coin was minted by the Medallic Art Company of Rochester, New York in 1970. Like the state seal, it depicts the Roman goddess of hope, Spes, holding a laurel branch. Historic Columbia collection HCF 2015.10.1
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HISTORIC COLUMBIA | ANNUAL REPORT
Ongoing work with the Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative’s Kugels and Collards project yielded wonderful recipes, stories and images. Here George Port (Sam Zusman’s son-in-law) poses with his son, Ron Port, employee Louise Huthmacher, and an unknown young woman, in 1957 at the Zusman family’s Columbia Bakery, formerly on 1914 ½ Main Street. Image courtesy of The State Photograph Archive, Richland Library This fiscal year Historic Columbia acquired 33 new artifacts from both private and institutional donors. These pieces, which included 28 gifts, two purchases, and three institutional transfers, range in era and medium and allow the organization to better interpret the history of Columbia and Richland County. Among the highlights were 17 stereoscope slides of downtown landmarks produced by William Reckling between 1874 and 1877.
Cultural Resources Continue to Expand
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unding from a National Park Service grant empowered Historic Columbia to complete a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Modjeska Simkins House. The site, nationally significant for its association with the “matriarch of civil rights activists of South Carolina,” had never experienced a comprehensive, museumgrade rehabilitation. The work included stabilization of the main structure; repair and replacement of historic windows and doors; painting of all interior and exterior surfaces; and the installation of museum-grade mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Now complete, the site is ready for the upcoming interpretive upgrades that will premiere in May 2020. Building upon its previous support of capital improvements last fiscal year at the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens, the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation graciously underwrote the transformation of the building’s basement into two classroom spaces, a bridal suite, and modern restrooms in addition to creating a sunken patio with a footprint that mimics that of the building’s former circa-1850 addition. This tremendous project involved archaeological mitigation and provided the site with visitor and rental amenities that are unique in the capital city.
Capital projects in 2018-19 focused on the Modjeska Simkins House and Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens. On May 15, 2019, Historic Columbia hosted a ribbon cutting and reception to celebrate the completion of the third phase of work at Hampton-Preston and honor the contributions of the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation for their long-term investment at the site.
Historic Columbia’s Grounds Mature
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istoric Columbia’s horticultural collection further matured as gardens and grounds throughout the properties continued to expand in diversity and density. In addition to plantings surrounding the new features at the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens, a partnership with the Wisteria Garden Club resulted in a raised vegetable garden at the Mann-Simons Site. Beyond the properties, Historic Columbia shared its horticultural expertise through speaking engagements on SCETV’s “Making It Grow” and well-attended propagation and pruning workshops. Thanks to the efforts of generations of grounds personnel and volunteers, the Robert Mills House and Gardens now bear the distinction of being an official South Carolina Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat.
As gardens improved in 2018-19, property rentals increased:
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Total Bookings Weddings
$96,750 Revenue 11,000+ Visitors FALL 2019
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Successful Programs and Partnerships Expanding Access to Local History
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ith over 39,000 people participating in over 100 HC programs, the most successful programs this year could not have happened without our wonderful partners. Judge Richard Gergel’s hugely successful talk, in partnership with the UofSC History Center and UofSC School of Law, engaged over 300 visitors about SC’s role in the civil rights movement. Among the most popular programs were the Bull Street District tours, which visited historic buildings on the campus and included partnerships with SC DNR and Bone-In BBQ. HC worked with the South Carolina State Fair to commemorate its 150th anniversary by providing a special daylong program at Logan Elementary School, the original location of the state fairgrounds.
Our most popular and accessible school engagement program is Traveling Trunks.
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№ of trunks
9,214
1,738
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№ of new students
8% increase for trunks 8% increase for students Volunteer Engagement Buoys HC
Programs by the numbers:
39,607 Overall Attendance
10,751
117
7,100
Jubilee Attendance Tours of Historic Houses
Total Programs
A diverse array of school programs reached students of every age level. HC experienced double-digit growth in the number of visits from college classes and Pre-K programs. Hands-on activities at Hampton-Preston Mansion and Grounds and specialized garden programs facilitated this growth, especially new summer programs. HC actively engaged teachers and school districts following the introduction of new social studies standards to ensure that our programs continue to meet their needs.
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his year was full of activity for the volunteer program. Interpretive guides spent many hours mastering the new interpretive materials at HamptonPreston Mansion and Grounds and the expanded tours of Main Street. Garden volunteers continued to invest sweat equity to ensure diverse plantings thrive in 14-acres of well-manicured landscape. This year we celebrated long-serving colleagues, as Janice Bowman and Anne Weir both celebrated their 25th anniversaries with the organization. The two were recognized for their service at the 20th Annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon. Peri Tibshrany received the Volunteer of the Year award for her tenacity, dedication, and frequent commitments to HC.
By the Numbers: Volunteer Engagement
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Volunteers serving as Interpretive Guides, Garden Volunteers, Curatorial Assistants, Special Event and Education Assistants as well as Board Members
HISTORIC COLUMBIA | ANNUAL REPORT
2,336 Service Hours $58,417 Value
2019 Volunteer Award Winners (L to R) Paul Armstrong, Beryl Dakers, Peri Tibshrany, Frank Houston, Anne Weir, Janice Bowman, and Susan Boyd.
New Ways to Support HC To encourage more people to enjoy our increasingly vibrant public spaces, we added some new events to the calendar in 2018-19. Neighbors and friends enjoyed Food Trucks in the gardens on several occasions throughout the year. Fare from arepas to lobster rolls and gelato were enjoyed by hundreds of guests, many of whom had never visited our sites before. The Breeds + Seeds Dinner, a satellite event of the Columbia Food & Wine Festival, provided an evening guests won’t soon forget. Two of Columbia’s most revered restaurants — Motor Supply Company Bistro and Spotted Salamander Café & Catering — teamed up on a thoughtfully curated four-course meal, highlighting heirloom and sustainable ingredients and hosted at the Seibels House and Garden. On October 24, 2018, Historic Columbia hosted two mealtime conversations as part of On the Table, an initiative of the Central Carolina Community Foundation. The inaugural event brought people together at different tables across the community for a unique opportunity to share their thoughts on how to make our communities stronger and inspire action across a diverse group of people.
Historic Columbia’s On the Table conversations included a joint effort with Cola Gives, a black giving circle, over lunch in the Seibels House and an evening event over dinner at a private residence.
The ever-popular Columbia Down Under tour took on new life during Palladium’s inaugural Fall Tour. Look for the 2019 version featuring Mid-Century Modern architecture in Columbia on November 3, 2019.
FALL 2019
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hanks to donor Liz Cantey, interpreting the 1900 block of Main Street became a little easier following the acquisition of this rare image. Brothers J.A. and H.M. James established James Battery Service Station in May 1925 very close to where today’s AgFirst skyscraper is located. Their enterprise was one of the many automobile-related businesses in this block and in those north of Elmwood Avenue that increased in number throughout the following decades. By May 1936, a new automotive company, known as Crawford’s, operated at the site selling used cars. More about this site and about other Main Street properties is now part of Historic Columbia’s recently updated online tours.
Willard Service Station, 1927-1929 Main Street, ca. 1933. Historic Columbia collection, HCF 2018.15.1
1601 Richland Street
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Columbia, SC 29201
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www.historiccolumbia.org