Client: Pendleton Foundation for Black History and Culture
Location: Pendleton, South Carolina
Services: Conceptual Design, Historic Preservation Planning, Zoning & Code Research, Site Planning, Community Design
Status: Conceptual Design Complete
Keese Barn Legacy Project
Honoring Pendleton's Heritage Through Historic Preservation and Community Design
MOA Architecture was honored to provide conceptual design services for the Keese Barn Legacy Project in Pendleton, South Carolina—a community-driven effort to commemorate and celebrate one of the town's most significant African American landmarks.
Preserving a Historic Landmark
Constructed between 1900 and 1910, the original Keese Barn began as a general store established by Benjamin Horace Keese, a Pendleton native who returned home after working in Philadelphia. Over time, Mr. Keese expanded the property to include a restaurant, antique store, auction house, and residence.
Most notably, the building became home to "The Hundreds," widely recognized as the first public gathering place and eat-in restaurant for African Americans in Pendleton. Residents would gather there by the hundreds to socialize, share meals, conduct business, and build community.
Following Mr. Keese's death in 1975, the structure gradually deteriorated. In 2003, Clemson University architecture students carefully dismantled the remaining building and constructed a memorial on the site. The Keese Barn Legacy Project builds upon that effort by creating a new architectural interpretation that restores the site's visual presence and preserves its story for future generations.
Design Approach
The conceptual design carefully balances historic interpretation with contemporary community needs.
Key design elements include:
Restoration and incorporation of the site's historic windows
Recreation of the iconic barn façade to reflect the character of the original structure
Integration of the former stage area into the surrounding park and streetscape environment
Creation of a dedicated space for rotating art exhibitions and cultural displays
Development of an open-air gathering space behind the façade for community events and educational programming
The design creates opportunities for festivals, concerts, meetings, picnics, and cultural celebrations while preserving the memory of a place that once served as the heart of Pendleton's African American community.
A Place for Community Once Again
Just as the original Keese Barn brought people together, the new structure is envisioned as a welcoming public destination for residents and visitors alike.
The open-air gathering area behind the façade will provide flexible space for community events while serving as an educational resource that shares the story of Benjamin Horace Keese and the lasting impact of "The Hundreds."
By reconnecting the community with this important chapter of local history, the Keese Barn Legacy Project helps ensure that the contributions of Pendleton's African American residents remain visible, celebrated, and preserved.