About the Seashore Farmers’ Lodge
Built in 1915 by independent Black farmers, the Seashore Farmers’ Lodge No. 767 was more than just a meeting place—it was a cornerstone of the Sol Legare community. Serving as a funeral home, schoolhouse, and community center, the lodge provided essential resources, including health and life insurance, farming supplies, and educational opportunities.
Chartered in 1906 with the International Liberty Union, the lodge stands as a testament to Black self-determination and collective survival. Fraternal orders like the Seashore Farmers’ Lodge played a vital role in Lowcountry African American life, working alongside churches to support families through financial hardships, illness, and the demands of farming. Lodge members organized community gatherings, annual parades, and celebrations filled with music and fellowship. They also raised funds for community care, hosted Vacation Bible Schools, and ensured that families in need received vital assistance.
The two-story lodge, built on land belonging to member Henry Wallace, stands on Sol Legare Island, James Island, South Carolina. It retains original elements of its lateral gable roof, wood clapboarding, and full-panel wooden shutters, serving as a powerful symbol of community resilience. In recognition of its historical significance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 3, 2007.
Today, as the Seashore Farmers Lodge Museum & Cultural Center, the lodge continues to honor the Gullah Geechee legacy of cooperation, education,
and self-sufficiency with rotating museum exhibitions
and a permanent collection.
