Historical “Soapstone School” set to be renovated [Video]

The historical 7-acre property in the Liberia community of Pickens County is home to Soapstone Baptist Church and Soapstone School.The one-room, Soapstone School was built in the 1920s and was once a place of education for Black kids in the area. In fact, it was the only place they were allowed to go to get an education.At 81 years old, Mable Owens Clarke is the oldest living member of Soapstone Baptist Church. Her parents were farmers who owned the property on Liberia Road, and she also attended Soapstone School.”I had the opportunity to attend this school in 1948,” Owens Clarke said. “I remained in this school until 1953 when the government shut the one-room school down. I started coming here initially when I was three but legally when I was six. By the time I did turn 6, I already had listened to what the teacher was teaching the first …