New sign celebrates Georgetown’s West End heritage and Howard High legacy

The City of Georgetown, in partnership with the City of Georgetown Arts and Cultural Commission, dedicated a new sign last week at the West End Heritage Center, honoring one of the city’s most storied neighborhoods and the enduring legacy of Howard High School.

Several dozen community members gathered for the dedication despite the warm temperatures. Attendees included Georgetown Mayor Jay Doyle, City Council members Sharon Melton, Bruce Carl and Hobson Henry Milton, City Administrator Scott Whittier, members of the Arts and Cultural Commission, representatives of the Howard High School Alumni Association and West End residents. Main Street Director Al Joseph served as emcee, and Pastor Sam Livingston opened the ceremony with an invocation.

Mayor Jay Doyle

Mayor Doyle said he was pleased to see the project come to fruition and praised the West End as a cornerstone of Georgetown, rooted in heritage, culture and community pride.

“History is something we carry with us every day. We look to the future to preserve our legacy,” Doyle said. “This cultural center is a point of pride not just for the West End but for all of Georgetown.”

Tina Guillard Rice, president of the Howard High School Alumni Association, recognized several key visionaries behind the Center and sign project — Natalie Pantuso, Dell Omega Grant and Alan Sherlock — and thanked alumni members who attended in their bright yellow Howard High T-shirts.

Built in the late 1930s, the historic building has served the community in many ways over the decades. It began as Howard School’s lunchroom and band room and later became a USO Club for African American soldiers. It has also served as a community center, the home of CAAHO’s Dream Keepers Center for the Arts and the headquarters of the Howard High School Alumni Association.

About the Georgetown Arts and Cultural Commission

Established in October 2022 by Georgetown City Council, the Georgetown Arts & Cultural Commission identifies and champions the creative needs of South Carolina’s third-oldest city and its 11th official Cultural District. The Commission supports creative placemaking, public art projects and local arts programming across the historic Winyah Bay region.