Chester in Chester County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Finley High School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 19, 2025

1. Finley High School Marker, Side One

Inscription. Finley High School opened In 1923. It was originally known as Chester Colored High School and located ¼ mi. N on McClure St. In 1927 the school was renamed in honor of its founding principal Samuel Louis Finley who came to Chester in 1905 to join the Loomis St. School. The 1923 two-story wood frame school as well as a brick shop building (1929) were both built with support from the Julius Rosenwald Foundation. Finley High School moved to this site in 1956.

This campus was designed by architecture firm Lockwood Greene and funded by the S.C. equalization program, a state effort to preserve segregation by upgrading Black schools. Upon opening in 1956 the school enrolled more than 500 students. The last class graduated from Finley High School in 1970 after which this site became integrated Chester Jr. High School. Elliott Richardson served as the high school’s principal throughout its time at this site. It later became a community center.

Erected 2023 by Department of Archives and History. Sponsored by S. L. Finley Restoration Association. (Marker Number 12-13.)

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 34° 42.674′ N, 81° 12.072′ W. Marker is in Chester, South Carolina, in Chester County. It is at the intersection of Caldwell Street and Crosby Street, on the right when traveling east on Caldwell Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Caldwell St, 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 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: Brainerd Institute (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chester County Veterans Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); World War Soldiers (approx.

Finley High School Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 19, 2025

2. Finley High School Marker, Side Two

¾ mile away); Chester County Courthouse (approx. ¾ mile away); Chester County Courthouse (1825-1855) (approx. 0.8 miles away); Confederate Parrott Field Rifle Model 1863 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Blaser Building (1871-1874) (approx. 0.8 miles away); Chester Lodge World War II Marker (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.

More about this marker. This was South Carolina’s 2000th historical marker.

Finley High School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 19, 2025

3. Finley High School Marker

The Former Finley High School and the Historical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 19, 2025

4. The Former Finley High School and the Historical Marker

The Former Finley High School, the S. L. Finley Community Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 19, 2025

5. The Former Finley High School, the S. L. Finley Community Center

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 8, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.