Ridge Hill High School

National Register Listing

Street Address:

206 Ridge Hill Dr., Ridge Spring, SC (Saluda County)

Alternate Name:

Ridge Spring Star Community Center

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NRHP Nomination

Record Number:

S10817741011

Description and Narrative:

Ridge Hill High School, built in 1934, is significant in the areas of education and African American heritage. The Ridge Hill High School replaced a Rosenwald-funded wood clapboard school built on the same site in 1924 which burned ten years later. The Ridge Hill High School was rebuilt as a brick version of the original industrial school, using the same six teacher plan, the Six Teacher Community School Plan No. 6-A. The total building cost was around $8000 in a particularly tough economic climate for Saluda County. The new Ridge Hill High School was considered one of the finest school buildings in Saluda County. The school is a large, one-story building with a north/south orientation. Keeping the center of the building for communal uses such as an auditorium, cafeteria, and school events, the six classrooms are situated on the outer perimeter of the plan. The overall effect is symmetrical with the floor plan following an H shape. As such, the back resembles the front in form and materials. Ridge Hill was used as a high school until the 1956-1957 school year and at the time of nomination is still in use for Ridge Spring’s vibrant black community. Listed in the National Register June 9, 2010.

Period of Significance:

1934

Level of Significance:

Local

Area of Significance:

Education;Ethnic Heritage: Black

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

June 9 2010

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