Final Report: A Historic Resources Survey of the Gadsden-Lancaster Streets Corridor, Chester, South Carolina, May 2001

Public History Program, University of South Carolina

From introduction: "The project area follows along Gadsden-Lancaster Streets, beginning on the border of the existing Chester Historic District. The streets along the perimeter of the survey boundary are roughly Columbia-College Streets, Gadsden Street, to Elliott Street in the mill village, crossing over to Graham Street in East Chester, up Loomis Street and cutting across to Marquis Street to Cemetery Street and back to Lancaster Street. It encompasses the Child-Edwards Quarter, the College Street School area, the Lancaster-East Lacy Streets area, the Springsteen Mill Village, and East Chester. The area also includes the Brainerd Institute site (the only remaining building at Brainerd, Kumler Hall, is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places). Other important resources in the project area include Carmel Presbyterian Church, a circa 1850 railroad depot, and a small section of commercial buildings along Gadsden Street. One site outside the boundaries of the survey area, Mount Hebron Cemetery, was recorded after research determined it to have been historically associated with the African-American community in Chester. The intensive level survey of the project area recorded 229 properties. These are all properties which were built before 1950 and which retain sufficient integrity to be included in the Statewide Survey of Historic Places. The criteria used to determine eligibility for intensive survey are discussed below. The objective of the project was to compile a comprehensive inventory of historic properties in the Gadsden-Lancaster Streets area. The recognition of the historic resources in this area has been a long-term goal of the City of Chester and its Historic Review Commission. The City has an ongoing plan to enhance this corridor, which serves as a gateway to the city of Chester from I-77. The planned improvements include entrance signs, landscaping, lighting, and street and sidewalk enhancements. In addition, if the long-term plans for establishment of an Amtrak route are successful, the passenger depot would be located in the project area. The materials compiled by this survey will serve as a documentary record of the historic resources within the Gadsden-Lancaster Streets area at the time of the survey. This report includes a narrative history of the survey area, an evaluation of the properties recorded during the survey, and an inventory of recorded sites. The project will benefit the City of Chester by increasing public awareness of historic preservation and by encouraging the restoration and reuse of structures within the survey area. The historical overview included in this report should add to the public’s appreciation and understanding of these valued resources. Recently this area has suffered from vandalism, and a historic rail depot has been lost to arson. Future threats to the area include a general decline of buildings due to lack of maintenance. Historic preservation programs offer several potential tools for providing a measure of recognition and protection for the area’s resources." Funding was provided in part by a 2001 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Chester (project number SC-01-004) administered by the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Chester, South Carolina is a Certified Local Government.

Final Report: A Historic Resources Survey of the Gadsden-Lancaster Streets Corridor, Chester, South Carolina, May 2001

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