Great Branch Rosenwald Teacherage

The Great Branch school and teacher's home were and continue to be of great significance to the African American Community.  The persons in this community had a strong sense of the importance of education and success.  They raised funds that allowed them to provide the matching grant required of all Rosenwald schools.

The school began as a two-room school and quickly grew to a six-room school because persons traveled from other communities to attend the school.  The growth convinced the committee to recommend the construction of a teacher's home so that they could attract better principals and teachers.

The school was burned in the early 1960's by arsonists.  This left a shop and the teacher's home.  In later years the shop was torn down , and the house was rented to persons from the community.  The house lay vacant for some 15 years yet the wood was very well preserved.

In 2004, when the Rosenwald schools, shops and homes were placed on the "most endangered " list, we realized that we had a "jewel" in the community.  Several members of the community  began to do research and solicited the help of SC Archives and History.  In 2007, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic places and in 2009 it was listed on the SC National Heritage Corridor.

Restoration of the home began in 2006 and was completed in 2009.  The house has become a place of pride in the community and is used as a house museum with visitors from schools, churches, the surrounding communities,  a place for health screenings, and as a small meeting place.

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