A significant piece of Columbia, South Carolina’s history is being torn down as the Robert Weston Mance House, built in 1903, is demolished. Allen University relocated the house in 2008, pledging restoration, but the property fell into disrepair over nearly two decades. The house held deep ties to the local Black community and prominent civil rights figures. Despite a legal challenge attempting to save it, the city ultimately approved demolition due to safety concerns and prolonged neglect. The demolition marks a loss for local preservationists and those who sought to honor the house’s legacy. Its fate follows years of debate over its future and the university’s responsibility to fulfill its initial promise.