Chester in Chester County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Brainerd Institute
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, December 8, 2008
1. Brainerd Institute Marker
This institute grew out of an 1866 school for freedmen; it became Brainerd Institute in 1868 when the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in New York appointed Rev. Samuel Loomis to help establish churches and schools among the blacks near Chester. At first an elementary school. Brainerd grew to ten grades by 1913 and was a four-year high school by the 1920s. Renamed Brainerd Junior College about 1935, it emphasized teacher training until it closed in 1939.
Erected 1997 by Chester Middle School Junior Beta Club. (Marker Number 12-10.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.
Location. 34° 42.33′ N, 81° 11.904′ W. Marker is in Chester, South Carolina, in Chester County. It is at the intersection of Lancaster Street (State Highway 9) and Wilson Street, on the left when traveling east on Lancaster Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chester SC 29706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Finley High School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chester County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Blaser Building (1871-1874) (approx. 0.8 miles away); Chester Lodge World War II Marker
this page online
More about this marker. Marker is located at Lancaster Street & Wilson Street. A stone marker is located on the old school property at Cemetery Street & Marquis Street. Kumler Hall is located at Marquis Street and Bailey Street.
Also see . . . Brainerd Institute. South Carolina Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on April 9, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Brainered Institute Alumnus
I can remember my mother talking about the institute. her name was Lela Mae Wilson (Rita) and she talked about Brainered with pride. I have a picture of her and her friends standing in front of the building. She was one of many persons proud of her school and her heritage, being an alumnus of Penn School on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. She was born June 5, 1923,
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, December 8, 2008
2. Brainerd Institute Stone Marker
— Submitted January 28, 2012, by Karen Linda Hamilton of Clayton, New Jersey.
Photographed by Brian Scott, March 21, 2016
3. Brainerd Institute Marker
Photographed by Brian Scott, March 21, 2016
4. Brainerd Institute Marker
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, December 8, 2008
5. Kumler Hall
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, December 8, 2008
6. Kumler Hall
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, December 8, 2008
7. Kumler Hall
Rear View
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,572 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 8, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on May 29, 2016, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 8, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
