MEMORIES AND HISTORY BY JOHN H. GATES SENIOR “An Interview”

Mr. John H. Gates, Sr.  “An Andersonian who loved the circus of his childhood and fairground as an adult….”

City Directories and History: This extensive history by Mr. Gates covers his family’s upward mobility from bricklayers in Newberry and Greenville Co., to that of business owners in Anderson.  Topics cover and extensive list and are highly informative, particularly concerning the circus and fairgrounds – they include: William Gates, Switzer Community, Delia Henessy, Cullen J. Hennessy, Poe Mills (Greenville Co), Joanna Mills, Grove Park Inn, D.J. “Bob” Smith, Indian Motorcycles, Gates and Smith, Greer Dickson Ice Cream, 1009 North Fant Street, Gates and Smith

R&R HISTORY LINK: the downtown site of Gates and Smith Firestone store…

Firestone Company, Alvin Fleishman, Joe Davenport, Anderson County Fair, Circus @ Cater’s Park, Hodges’s Grocery (Corner of Ella and Greenville) Circus Staging Ground (Hodge’s Grocery), Downey Brother’s Circus (Downie Brothers), John Robertson Circus, Sells – Floto Circus, Sparks Brothers, Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey, Walter L. Main Circus, Tom Mix, Tim McCoy, Postelle Cater, 1907 North Main Street (Gates Home), Mr. Hembree (North Main Builder), Fluffy Rice, Blair Rice Junior, WWII, Ethel McGee Sherard, Captain John Sherard, Prison Gang, Anderson Prison Wagons, African American Chain Gang Camp (On Long Branch @Shirley’s Store), J.P. McLee, Paul McGee, Smith’s Mill (under Lake Hartwell @ Clemson Blvd), Tom Ashley (Anderson County Supervisor), Old Anderson Fertilizer Plant (delivering sulfur and fish), Ervin Campbell (Supervisor – Fertilizer Plant), Anderson Airport, Amelia Earhart (@ Whitehall Road), Earhart Welcoming Committee (Bonner Kidd – J.H. Mitchell – Mr. McGregor “Mayor” – Mrs. Forest Suggs  – Pete Thornton – Lon Sullivan – Tom Speer – Bill Garrison), L.B. Clardy Co, Food Wholesalers (Piedmont Candy & Cigar – Dexter Grocery – Barton Grocery Company – McGee & Bleckley – Leon Ledbetter), George W. Shelor (Essex Auto dealer on Calhoun Std.), Bonner Kidd (Ford Dealership at 303 South Main Street), Dewey Arnold (Appleton Mills), Leggett & Myers Tobacco Co., Ransom Williams (Buyer for L&M Tobacco), Parris Island, O’Neals Coal Yard (Mrs. Pat O’Neal), Kingstree Tobacco Market (“Man that was rough.”), Gates & Chapman, Charlie Daniels (Elberton Ga), Wilton E. Hall (Publisher), Fluor Daniels Company (Originally in Anderson SC), Arthur Klugh (Chamber of Commerce), Rev. E.C. White, Anderson Downtown Christmas Parades, May Frank R. Thompson, Brown Williams Marching Platoon, Reed Street High School Coach (Major Frank R. Thompson), Joe Ellison (Ellison’s Steakhouse), Gus Konduros (Konduros Lunch Room), Sam Konduros, Erskine Gallant (Gallant Belk), Clarence Ellison (Ellison’s Men’s Shop), Gene Anderson (Gene Anderson’s), Sears, Watson Village, Nathan Fleishman, Gates and Smith Firestone Co (Moved to corner of Murray and River Streets), J.D. McCoy and Glenn Warnock (Newspaper Hatchetmen), Fair Grounds (move to the Griffen Prop. or Griffin Property on Williamston Road), I.V. Hulme (Fair Grounds Director), Marion Campbell (Accountant), John Schwalm (Pres. of the Anderson Fairgrounds), Yellow Cab Company (Guy Sullivan promotor), Checker Cab Company (Doc Saylor promotor), Fairgrounds (sold to Jimmy Strates), Matt Phillips, WRIX Radio in Honea Path,

• Sells Floto Circus – A History
• Downie Brothers Circus – A Link
• The Walter L. Main Circus Wreck

All Credits: Anderson County Memories and Reflections compiled by R.C. Otter, Friends of the Library – 2004

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R&R HISTORY LINK: the Liggett – Myers Tobacco Co….

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