Harper General Contractors Adopts School as Community Service Project
PICKENS, S.C. — Harper General Contractors, a Greenville-based construction company, has announced its adoption of a historic one-room school building in the Liberia Community of northern Pickens County as its latest community service project. The Soapstone School, which served as the only education outlet for Black children in the community, will be renovated as part of a larger plan to establish the site as an historic stop on the Black History Trail in the Upstate.
The Soapstone Preservation Endowment, a public charity dedicated to promoting and protecting the history and story of the Liberia Community and Soapstone Baptist Church, has partnered with Harper General Contractors for this project. Carlton Owen, Chairman of the Endowment, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “When we launched the Endowment in 2022, we envisioned the school as our first project. With the help of Harper General Contractors, we know that this will be a success.”
The Soapstone School has a rich history, with its origins dating back to the 1870s when children took classes on a rock that gave the church and school its name. In the 1920s, a one-room school building was constructed to accommodate students in first through sixth grades. It served the community until it was closed in 1953 due to consolidation efforts. The renovation of the school building is the first step towards establishing the entire site as an historic stop on the Black History Trail.
Harper General Contractors has a strong reputation for its community engagement and philanthropic efforts. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation of Greenville’s 2022 Philanthropic Spirit Award for its exceptional partnerships with non-profit organizations and vital programming. Doug Harper, Chairman of Harper General Contractors, expressed his admiration for the Soapstone Community and his eagerness to contribute to the preservation of its history.
The renovation of the Soapstone School will include stabilizing and rehabilitating the building, as well as furnishing it with period furniture to provide visitors with an authentic experience of the education system for Black children before school consolidation. The Soapstone Preservation Endowment has already achieved 40% of its financial goal and is actively seeking additional support through “The Partnership Challenge.” The challenge invites businesses, churches, and individuals to make a tax-deductible gift of $3,000 or more to support the Endowment’s mission.
The work day for the renovation project is scheduled for Saturday, May 4. It will be an opportunity for volunteers from Harper General Contractors and the community to come together and contribute to the preservation of this historic site. In addition to the renovation of the school building, the Endowment and Harper General Contractors have plans to establish the entire site as a historic stop, featuring exhibits and information about the Liberia Community’s history and culture.
For more information about the Soapstone Preservation Endowment and how to support their mission, visit their website at www.soapstonepe.org.
