Summerville in Dorchester County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Alston Graded School
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Alston High School
Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2010
1. Alston Graded School side
Alston Graded School. Alston Graded School, one of the first African-American schools founded in Dorchester County, stood here from 1910 to 1954. Named for its founder, Dr. J.H. Alston, it included grades 1-11 until 1949 and 1-12 afterwards. The two-story wood frame school, which was designed by architects Burden and Walker of Charleston and built by N.A. Lee, was moved to Bryan Street in 1953.
Alston High School. Alston High School, located on Bryan Street from 1953 to 1970, included grades 1-12. A new one-story brick school built on the new site in 1953 was constructed for about $200,000. It closed in 1970 after the desegregation of county schools. The present Alston Middle School, on Bryan Street, includes grades 6-8.
Erected 2000 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History; sponsored by The Alston Heritage Foundation. (Marker Number 18-9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 33° 1.352′ N, 80° 10.536′ W. Marker is in Summerville, South Carolina, in Dorchester County. It is at the intersection of West 1st N Street and North Cedar Street, on the right
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Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. 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: Summerville Water Works (approx. 0.2 miles away); Guerin's Pharmacy (approx. Ό mile away); Mayor Berlin G. Myers (approx. Ό mile away); Jewish Life (approx. Ό mile away); Timrod Library (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Timrod Library (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Axtell Dam at Sawmill Branch (approx. 0.8 miles away); Summerville High School / Coach John McKissick (1926-2019) (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerville.
Photographed by Mike Stroud, January 24, 2010
2. Alston High School side
Photographed by Mike Stroud, January 24, 2010
3. Alston Graded School / Alston High School Marker
Photographed by Mike Stroud, January 24, 2010
4. Marker seen at West 1st N Street and North Cedar Street intersection
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,548 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 21, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
