Yemassee in Hampton County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Yemassee Rosenwald School
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Fennell Elementary School
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones, May 23, 2026
1. Yemassee Rosenwald School side of the marker
Yemassee Rosenwald School. In 1929 Elvira Jackson sold 4 acres of land to Yemassee School District #26 for $500. The land was to be used to build an African American school and Yemassee Rosenwald School (Yemassee Colored School), a five-teacher school funded in part by the Rosenwald Foundation, was built here that same year. Between 1917-1932 the Rosenwald Foundation helped to fund four schools in Hampton Co.
Fennell Elementary School. Yemassee Rosenwald School served the African American community 1929-1954. In 1954 it was replaced by Fennell Elementary School. Fennell, which remains today, was built with funds from the S.C. Equalization Program. It was named for Clarence Fennell, an African American farmer, preacher, and community leader from Hampton Co. It remained a segregated African American school until 1970.
Erected 2019 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History; sponsored by the Yemassee Community and the Arnold Fields Community Endowment. (Marker Number 25-25.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition,
this page online
Location. 32° 41.592′ N, 80° 51.351′ W. Marker is in Yemassee, South Carolina, in Hampton County. It is on Yemassee Highway (South Carolina Route 68) east of Church Street South, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 131 Yemassee Hwy, Yemassee SC 29945, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, in the Ashepoo and Combahee and Edisto Basin. 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 New Spain, 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: Salkehatchie Presbyterian Church (approx. 4 miles away);
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 23, 2026
2. Fennell Elementary School side of the marker
Other markers no longer nearby. "The Frampton Line" (was approx. 4.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Southern Live Oak Tree (was approx. 4.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 23, 2026
3. Yemassee Rosenwald School / Fennell Elementary School Marker
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 23, 2026
4. Yemassee Rosenwald School / Fennell Elementary School Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 31, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
