12/3/15   Thursday

Hello All, David here.

We are having on board battery issues and this will be somewhat brief.

We had a great day going to Penn Center on St. Helena Island, SC. This is a historic preservation site that is the location of what I believe is the first school for freed slaves in the United States, founded sometime after the Emancipation Proclamation and originally staffed by several Quaker women from the north who came and set up a very successful school during the Civil War after this area was controlled by the Union and the black community was emancipated.

The school evolved into a sizable residential school for black children designed to provide a balance of liberal arts education and occupational, skills training. After the school closed and children's education was addressed by the public school system, the center evolved into a center for education and support for the adult community as the black community continued to be exploited out of their farm land and waterfront property as the area became more "developed" and attractive to people of wealth. Today it remains a resource center and museum, continuing to provide education and support to the black community and (opinion) faces the challenges of remaining relevant to a quickly evolving young community that, as all generations tend to do, easily forgets history.

We were intrigued and attracted to Penn Center because of what we had learned of the Gullah culture (consider a Google Search) and enjoyed our visit to the 50 plus acre campus.  We went with a couple from another boat and Jonathan summed up the experience quite aptly; "Interesting and I feel slightly depressed." I understood and agreed.

The story line of this community, from Emancipation to today is filled with a narrative of exploitation, oppression and racism, that was understated in the narrative, but clear to see. We all found it interesting that after the school was officially closed it continued to find its way as a center for liberation. We learned that a church down the road was burned several times and the Civil Rights Movement was fully supported at Penn. This must have been another challenging time.

Well, anyway, we appreciated and enjoyed the several volunteer docents and the grounds, in need of more repair, and left to return to our life aboard Grace.

Quiet evening aboard Grace. Nancy is reading with Amelia on her lap. We  are making an effort to consume as few amps as possible until we run the engine again so, I am signing off. (perhaps, since I have been asked to talk more about the details of the boat, I will discuss the electrical system and the ins and outs of amps and our evolving understanding of how to be at anchor and conserve electricity.)

Tomorrow, we will add some pictures, visit Beaufort again and depart for other places to the south on Saturday.

Warm regards,
David