Last updated: October 2, 2024
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Hutchinson House (Edisto Island, South Carolina)
African American Civil Rights Network
Henry Hutchinson was born enslaved on Edisto Island, South Carolina in 1860 but eventually became a successful businessman on the island. In 1885, Henry built a home on land he received from his father, James “Jim” Hutchinson.” Today, Hutchinson House is one of the earliest and the most intact homes on Edisto Island built by African Americans during the Reconstruction era and the only known surviving house on the island to be built by a freed man.
Jim Hutchinson was a prominent community leader on Edisto Island. He joined the Union Navy during the Civil War and afterwards returned to the community where he became a political activist. He served as Republican precinct chairman on the island and in that role registered residents to vote and facilitated the election of African American legislators. He also championed African American landownership and fought for economic empowerment and fair treatment of African Americans. Jim had acquired the property on which his son built a home from a former plantation as part of a land cooperative he led to assist fellow freed people in obtaining their own property. In 1885, a white man murdered Jim, likely due to his activism on the island.Henry and his wife Rosa raised nine children in Hutchinson House.
Henry found success as a farmer growing cotton and subsistence crops. Between approximately 1900 and 1920, he operated one of the only African American owned cotton gins on the island. He operated the gin as a co-op for the benefit other African American farmers in the community. In 1941, Henry died, and eight years later Rosa passed away.
Hutchinson House became a part of the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.
The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.
Henry Hutchinson was born enslaved on Edisto Island, South Carolina in 1860 but eventually became a successful businessman on the island. In 1885, Henry built a home on land he received from his father, James “Jim” Hutchinson.” Today, Hutchinson House is one of the earliest and the most intact homes on Edisto Island built by African Americans during the Reconstruction era and the only known surviving house on the island to be built by a freed man.
Jim Hutchinson was a prominent community leader on Edisto Island. He joined the Union Navy during the Civil War and afterwards returned to the community where he became a political activist. He served as Republican precinct chairman on the island and in that role registered residents to vote and facilitated the election of African American legislators. He also championed African American landownership and fought for economic empowerment and fair treatment of African Americans. Jim had acquired the property on which his son built a home from a former plantation as part of a land cooperative he led to assist fellow freed people in obtaining their own property. In 1885, a white man murdered Jim, likely due to his activism on the island.Henry and his wife Rosa raised nine children in Hutchinson House.
Henry found success as a farmer growing cotton and subsistence crops. Between approximately 1900 and 1920, he operated one of the only African American owned cotton gins on the island. He operated the gin as a co-op for the benefit other African American farmers in the community. In 1941, Henry died, and eight years later Rosa passed away.
Hutchinson House became a part of the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.
The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.