About Us

Catherine B. “Kitty” Smith Springs

Catherine Springs (1828-1895) was a free person of color and was a dressmaker with a thriving
King Street business who opened a hat and dress shop in Summerville. She apparently married
Richard Springs, a dry goods merchant with a store on Hutchinson Square, in the heart of
Summerville’s downtown.
“Kitty” was probably born in Charleston; her mother was ½ Cherokee. Interracial marriages
were not recognized at the time. When he died in 1889, Richard Springs willed all hi possessions
and property to her for her “services for years as a housekeeper.”
Even before then, “Kitty” was donating money and land, to build landmark institutions such as
the Church of the Epiphany and the Bank School, the beginning of public education for blacks.
The Banks School was operated by the Epiphany Episcopal Church (a mission of St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church) on Central Avenue next door to what is now St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. The
Banks School was used for primary school for African Americans until the Alston School was
built.
After her death, the Alston School, renowned black school in town history, was built on
property Kitty deeded for “none but a genteel dwelling or cottage or school house,” with the
stipulation that no trees be “cut or destroyed” unnecessarily to build it.
A number of the building she owned or help build still stand, including Epiphany Church, where
a monument to her has been placed, and the old Post Office on Hutchinson Square. The
monument bears the inscription: “To the glory of God and in memory of Catherine Springs, Died
June 2, 1895. Grant her O Lord eternal rest and may light perpetual shine upon her. Erected by
friends who bear willing testimony that she did justly, loved mercy and walked humbly with her
God.”
Catherine is buried beside her husband at the Old White Church Cemetery.