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Historic Charleston Foundation Secures $1.25 Million Grant

Restoration project of the Pine Tree Hotel at Mosquito Beach.

News Summary

The Historic Charleston Foundation has received a $1.25 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to restore the Pine Tree Hotel and Skeeta Beach Lounge at Mosquito Beach. This project is significant for the African American community, aiming to preserve cultural heritage and revitalize a historic site. The restoration will include modern amenities and educational programs, making it a vital community space once again. The foundation hopes to complete the project in two years, reflecting a commitment to cultural preservation.

Charleston, South Carolina – The Historic Charleston Foundation has been awarded a significant grant of $1.25 million from the Mellon Foundation to fund the restoration of the historic Pine Tree Hotel and the Skeeta Beach Lounge at Mosquito Beach. This funding marks a pivotal moment for efforts aimed at rehabilitating a site that holds deep cultural significance for the African American community.

The grant will facilitate restoration projects on the Pine Tree Hotel, which first opened its doors in the 1960s. Over the years, it has seen substantial deterioration due to damage from hurricanes and flooding. The Skeeta Beach Lounge, located nearby, also requires restoration as part of the overall effort to revive this historic location.

One of the key figures leading the restoration is William “Cubby” Wilder, a descendant of the original owners of the Pine Tree Hotel. Wilder’s vision is not only to restore the buildings but also to establish a cultural and educational center to honor the history of Mosquito Beach, which was known during the Jim Crow era as a gathering place for African Americans and one of the few designated Black beaches in the Lowcountry.

Winslow Hastie, the CEO of the Historic Charleston Foundation, highlighted the importance of this project for both economic development and the preservation of local culture. The restoration is expected to incorporate modern amenities alongside critical flood prevention technologies and fire suppression systems to safeguard against future climatic disasters.

The revitalization plans include access to shared bathrooms and kitchens within the hotel, preserving a semblance of its original setup but augmented with modern conveniences like air conditioning. Additionally, there are plans for a new pavilion designed for dancing and events, aiming to replace a historic structure lost to hurricane damage.

Wilder also envisions offering educational boat tours that focus on local history, including narratives about Black Civil War hero Robert Smalls, adding an interactive layer to the visitor experience. Part of the funding may allocate resources for an engineering study to assess the restoration of the pavilion that previously drew many visitors to the beach.

In pursuit of enhancing the overall visitor experience, the restoration will include offerings of fresh seafood sourced from nearby oyster beds, ensuring that guests can enjoy local flavors as part of their visit to this historic site.

Prior to this latest grant, approximately $534,000 had been received through various funding sources for the project. The recent grant from the Mellon Foundation stands as the largest single contribution secured for the restoration, reflecting a growing commitment to preserving this significant piece of history.

The Historic Charleston Foundation is optimistic about completing the project within two years, although there is hope that the timeline could be shortened. This initiative coincides with Preservation Month in May, a time dedicated to celebrating the preservation of cultural history and the importance of such initiatives across the country.

Community leaders are enthusiastic about the potential of Mosquito Beach to regain its role as a communal gathering space for the African American community, reigniting the rich cultural atmosphere that once thrived in this historic location. As efforts continue, Mosquito Beach remains an important symbol of Black history in South Carolina, and the ongoing restoration efforts aim to ensure that this legacy is maintained amid the region’s growth and change.