CHARLESTON , S.C. (WCIV) — Efforts are underway to preserve a vital piece of Charleston’s Black history, as volunteers gather to restore and maintain the historic Philip Simmons House and forge tucked just off Blake Street.
Early Saturday morning, community members, preservation leaders, students and blacksmiths came together for a cleanup day at the property, which served as the home and workspace of renowned Charleston blacksmith Philip Simmons. The goal: protect the legacy of a man whose ironwork still shapes the city’s streetscapes and whose influence extends far beyond wrought iron.
“We’re having a cleanup day,” said April Wood, Preservation Director with the Historic Charleston Foundation. “We’ve had a small working group for the last several months trying to help.”…