Mather School Coleman Hall

Alice B. Coleman Hall before it burned down in 1950.

Mercer University

Quick Facts

Location:

Beaufort, South Carolina

Significance:

This is the site of the Mather School, a school for formerly enslaved people established during Reconstruction in 1868.

Designation:

The site is a part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.

MANAGED BY:

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Coleman Hall overlooks the Beaufort River. Constructed by Charles A. Eshleman, the building was completed in 1928. Coleman Hall was the seventh building to be built on the Mather campus. Coleman Hall was named after Alice B. Coleman, who was the president of the Woman’s American Baptist Home Mission Society. The function of Coleman Hall was to serve as a dining hall, which was located on the first floor, and the basement served as a food storage area. As the school started seeing significant growth, a living area for students was added to the building. Coleman Hall stood for 25 years before it burnt down in 1950. The building received damage; however, the building was able to be recovered and later received renovations. These renovations included an extension of the building to allow faculty to live within it and allow them to supervise student extracurricular activities. Today, Coleman Hall is used as the administrative center for the Technical College of the Lowcountry, which contains services such as admissions, career planning and student records.