The Herald reported on April 8, 1940 – “Mr. and Mrs. Chris Walker have moved from the home of Mr. A.M. Graham on Oakland Ave., to an apartment in the home of Mrs. J.B. Gaston in Oakland Avenue.”
City Directories and History: 1917 – J.B. Gaston (also Newton Snader and Clara C. Snader) , 1936 – Allen M. Johnson, 1946 – Ruben Anderson, 1963 – Ruben J. Anderson, Anderson’s Guest House
Three of the children of Newton Gaston of Chester County, S.C. moved to Rock Hill in the late 19th century as the town was developing a strong commercial base. These three children; Mrs. William Frances Strait, Mrs. Theodore Quantz and Joseph Gaston eventually constructed homes beside and behind each other. Mrs. Strait constructed her home first on the corner of Oakland and Strait street, Mrs. Quantz behind her facing College Avenue, and her brother Joseph and his family at 320 Oakland Avenue.
Mr. Gaston worked for many years as a clerk in the Roddey Mercantile company in downtown Rock Hill prior to the depression of 1929. The old Gaston house was sold to the Anderson family who operated a quest house and boarding establishment at the location during much of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
It appears likely that this home as well as Joe Gaston’s two siblings all used Julian S. Starr to construct their homes. Family tradition holds that Mrs. Strait (at 326 Oakland Avenue) was the first of the children of William Newton Gaston to construct on the corner lot, followed by her brother’s home next door and their sister later on College Avenue – the Quantz home.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 23, 1912 that Rock Hill is to have a cigar factory. Mr. Newton Snader from Rochester New York has decided to move to Rock Hill. The business will be located in the Fewell Building on West White Street. Mr. Snader is the father of Mrs. J. Barron Steele of Rock Hill, S.C. (The 1917 RH City Directory states the Cigar Factory was headquartered at 100.5 East Main Street. He and his wife, Clara C. were living at this address.)
The Herald reported on Feb. 3, 1942 – “Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Dobbs have moved from 124 Stonewall St., to 320 Oakland Avenue.”
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