Tour of Restored Piney Grove Schoolhouse at Culbertson Backcountry Settlement Set for March 15

A rare glimpse into Laurens County’s early education history will be available to the public on Saturday, March 15, as the restored Piney Grove Schoolhouse for Black Americans opens for tours at the Culbertson Backcountry Settlement in Gray Court. The free tour, scheduled for 1:00 p.m., is sponsored by the Laurens County Museum and the Gray Court-Owings Historical Society, offering visitors a chance to step inside one of the few surviving one-room schoolhouses from the Reconstruction era.

Built around 1870, the Piney Grove Schoolhouse was established in response to the South Carolina State Constitution’s mandate for public education for all students. By 1935, Laurens County was home to 75 schools, including 50 for white students and 25 for Black students. Today, only a handful of these historic structures remain. The Gray Court-Owings Historical Society relocated the schoolhouse to its current site to preserve its significance alongside other historical buildings at the Culbertson Backcountry Settlement.

This event is part of the Laurens County Museum’s exhibit focus, “The Road to Education for Black Education.”Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the challenges and progress of Black education in the Upstate during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A Historic Landmark in the Backcountry

The Culbertson Backcountry Settlement, established by the Gray Court-Owings Historical Society, sits along the historic Georgia Road, once a key wagon and stagecoach route connecting South Carolina to Georgia. In addition to the Piney Grove Schoolhouse, the site features:

• Two log cabins dating back to 1790
• A 1770s blockhouse, used for protection during Colonial times
• An 1885 church, reflecting the spiritual life of early settlers

The settlement is also a stop on the Laurens County Revolutionary War 250th Driving and Biking Trail, adding to its significance in local and state history. Representatives from the Gray Court-Owings Historical Society will be on-site to provide interpretation and historical insights for attendees.

Preserving Laurens County’s History

The Laurens County Museum, a non-profit membership association, is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Laurens County and the surrounding region. The museum’s exhibit hall, located in downtown Laurens, is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information about the Piney Grove Schoolhouse tour, membership opportunities, volunteer programs, or museum exhibits, contact the Laurens County Museum at (864) 681-3678, visit LaurensCountyMuseum.org, or follow the museum on Facebook.