Bluffton asks residents for help preserving Old Town history

BLUFFTON, SC (WTOC) - The Town of Bluffton is launching a historic resources survey of the Old Town Bluffton Historic District, and it needs your help.

“By creating a complete, accurate inventory of historic resources in Old Town, we can better protect them, plan future preservation projects, and ensure Bluffton’s heritage is honored for generations to come,” Glen Umberger, Historic Preservationist for the Town of Bluffton said in a press release. “Knowing what we have is the first step toward making sure it is protected."

The Bluffton historic resources survey will focus on properties built in or before 1986 that are still standing.

Fieldwork is planned for September 8-12, 2025 and will include photographing buildings, noting architectural details, and mapping properties in Old Town.

The Town has hired professional historians and architectural historians from Stantec Consulting Inc. to complete the work, but for it to truly reflect Bluffton’s history, the town says its needs the help of the public.

How to help preserve Bluffton history

To assist, Bluffton is asking residents to email BlufftonHistory@stantec.com with stories, places, people, or events in Old Town that you believe should be part of this record.

Emails will be accepted until September 5, 2025.

“We especially welcome information about places that may not have received much attention from historians in the past,” Umberger says. “Your insight will help ensure the survey reflects the full story of our community."

Join Bluffton’s Historic Preservation Commission meeting

The Bluffton Historic Preservation Commission meeting will take place on September 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall, 20 Bridge Street, Bluffton.

If you can’t make it to the event in-person, you can watch it live on Beaufort County TV (BCTV) or view the meeting later at https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/bctv/.

Following the survey’s completion, results and recommendations will be presented at the February 4, 2026 Historic Preservation Commission meeting.