Town awards second Historic Preservation Grant to the Historic Bluffton Foundation

On June 29, 2023 The Town awarded an Historic Preservation Grant to the Historic Bluffton Foundation for exterior renovations to the enslaved cabin on the grounds of the Heyward House Museum and Visitors Center, located at 70 Boundary Street. The $12,075.00 Grant will help cover the cost of the project.

This is the second grant awarded to the Historic Bluffton Foundation. It also received a $20,000 grant in December 2022 for exterior renovations to the Heyward House. The Town’s Historic Preservation Grant Program, established in January 2022, is available to owners of “Contributing Resources” to the Old Town Bluffton Historic District to financially assist in the preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of these structures so, collectively, these will continue to represent the history of Bluffton. To date, more than $60,000 has been awarded under the Program.

Bluffton currently has 84 structures on its list of “Contributing Resources” which means these homes, church- es, schools, and other resources (i.e., non-structures which include the Heyward and Huger coves,) significantly contribute to the Bluffton’s history and tell a story about our collective past.

“The Town’s historic preservation grants help ensure these meaningful components of Bluffton’s history won’t be lost to time,” Mayor Lisa Sulka said.

“Town leaders and staff are fully aware the template to maintain Bluffton’s spirit, starts with preserving it’s ‘sense of place.’

“Bluffton’s structures and stories of our past influence Bluffton’s unique identity and continues to influence our community pride.”

Owners of qualifying structures in the Old Town Bluffton Historic District can apply for grants up to $30,000 for residential structures and for up to $20,000 for non-residential/commercial structures.

For more information contact the Town’s historic preservationist Glen Umberger at gumberger@townofbluffton.com.