Historic Restoration Projects for Our Collective Soul

Michael Bedenbaugh, the Executive Director of Preservation South Carolina, talks about restoring more than just historic buildings in South Carolina. He discusses what it means to be aware of our sense of community. The historic structures he and his team restore represent a time when small towns were more than just a collection of buildings, but a foundation of thriving close-knit communities. Our contemporary sense of belonging has been, in many ways, uprooted in our pursuit of a promising future. As banks and businesses consolidated and the world shrank, our country fractured and left large parts of itself behind. Michael points out that by preserving and restoring our past, we have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the precious sense of strong community that - unless it’s rescued - may well leave an open wound that will undermine and sabotage our future.