Near Orangeburg in Orangeburg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project

"A Mission-Driven Endeavor Whose Time Has Come"

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

1. Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project Marker

Inscription.

Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project. "A Mission-Driven Endeavor Whose Time Has Come". , As reported in the Times and Democrat Newspaper, on Thursday, February 27, 1936, construction of the three-room Bull Swamp Negro School House commenced! The school served as a beacon of hope, preparation, and promise for all of the students who attended over the course of more than twenty (20) years!, When brick and mortar schools were built in the city of Orangeburg for colored stu dents, the Board of Trustees of Orange County School District Five wanted to preserve and promote the culture of excellence that was prevalent at the Bull Swamp School. The District's Trustees, therefore, voted to deed the Bull Swamp School to its name sake, the Bull Swamp Baptist Church., On January 23, 1959, the Trustees of Orangeburg School District Five met with Bull Swamps Trustees Dave Dantzler, Henry D. Fersner, Jr. and Frank Pimple to complete the transfer of ownership to the School to the Bull Swamp Baptist Church for the expressed and documented purpose of developing a "Community Center" to serve the needs of citizens residing in rural Orangeburg and Calhoun counties., Our mission to "Restore, Repurpose, and Resurrect" the Bull Swamp School will become a reality.. , Bull Swamp Colored School , Preservation and Community , Center Project , Board of Directors. Aiken, Mrs. Linda . Aiken, Mrs. Sandra . Brown, Mrs. Hattie . Carson, Mrs. Julia (Benjamin) . Cook, Mr. Samuel . Dinkins, Mrs. Frances . Dykes, Dr. Emma Caldwell . Fersner, Mr. Henry Alfonso . Hanton, Deacon Clyde . Holman, Mr. Harry . Holman, Mrs. Jacqueline . Hanton, Deaconess Brenda . Houser, Mr. Roger . Lee, Ms. Janet . Loiacono, Dr. Hallie . Mack, Deaconess Virginia . Mack, Mrs. Loretta . Morrison, Ms. Annette . Pace, Deacon Wilfred Lewis . Pace, Deaconess Sharon . Robinson, Mrs. Norma Lee (Owens) . Sandle, Mrs. Rosa Lee (Buskey) . Stephens, Reverend Dr. Ephriam D. (Pastor)

As reported in the Times and Democrat Newspaper, on Thursday, February 27, 1936, construction of the three-room Bull Swamp Negro School House commenced! The school served as a beacon of hope, preparation, and promise for all of the students who attended over the course of more than twenty (20) years!

When brick and mortar schools were built in the city of Orangeburg for colored stu dents, the Board of Trustees of Orange County School District Five wanted to preserve and promote the culture of excellence that was prevalent at the Bull Swamp School. The District's Trustees, therefore, voted to deed the Bull Swamp School to its name sake, the Bull Swamp Baptist Church.

On January 23, 1959, the Trustees of Orangeburg School District Five met with Bull Swamps Trustees Dave Dantzler, Henry D. Fersner, Jr. and Frank Pimple to complete the transfer of ownership to the School to the Bull Swamp Baptist Church for the expressed and documented purpose of developing a "Community Center" to serve the needs of citizens residing in rural Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.

Our mission to "Restore, Repurpose, and Resurrect" the Bull Swamp School will become a reality.
Bull Swamp Colored School
Preservation and Community
Center Project
Board of Directors Aiken, Mrs. Linda • Aiken, Mrs. Sandra • Brown, Mrs. Hattie • Carson, Mrs. Julia (Benjamin) • Cook, Mr. Samuel • Dinkins, Mrs. Frances • Dykes, Dr. Emma Caldwell • Fersner, Mr. Henry Alfonso • Hanton, Deacon Clyde • Holman, Mr. Harry • Holman, Mrs. Jacqueline • Hanton, Deaconess Brenda • Houser, Mr. Roger • Lee, Ms. Janet • Loiacono, Dr. Hallie • Mack, Deaconess Virginia • Mack, Mrs. Loretta • Morrison, Ms. Annette • Pace, Deacon Wilfred Lewis • Pace, Deaconess Sharon • Robinson, Mrs. Norma Lee (Owens) • Sandle, Mrs. Rosa Lee (Buskey) • Stephens, Reverend Dr. Ephriam D. (Pastor)

Erected by The

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Historic Bull Swamp Baptist Church of Orangeburg; Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project; South Carolina Department of Archives & History; Innova Architecture; First Citizens Bank; Midlands Gives Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the South Carolina Historical Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 23, 1959.

Location. 33° 31.26′ N, 80° 46.84′ W. Marker is near Orangeburg, South Carolina, in Orangeburg County. It is on Purity Street east of Holbrook Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Purity St, Orangeburg SC 29115, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry

and in Santee Cooper Country.

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

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

2. Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project Marker

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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alexander S. Salley (approx. 3 miles away); Wilkinson High School (approx. 3.7 miles away); a different marker also named Wilkinson High School (approx. 4.3 miles away); Felton Training School & Teacherage (approx. 4.4 miles away); Miller Cemetery (approx. 4.4 miles away); Civil Rights Meetings / Sit-in March (approx. 4.6 miles away); Claflin College (approx. 4.6 miles away); Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Graveyard (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orangeburg.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

3. Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project Marker

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

4. Bull Swamp Colored School Preservation and Community Center Project Marker

The Bull Swamp Colored School Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

5. The Bull Swamp Colored School Building

Bull Swamp Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

6. Bull Swamp Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 189 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.