City Directories and History: 1905 – D.A. Gray also:GRAY DAVID S. (Ina H.) Orr – Gray & Co, r 219 East Church Street, 1915 – David S. Gray (Pres. Tres. of Orr and Gray Co., @ #104 E. Benson St.) and wife Ina H., Also associated with the Orr – Gray Co., was J. Lewis Gray and wife Mary C. who lived at 403 East Orr Street.
1909 – Gray David S. (Ina H.), treas and genl manager Orr, Gray & Co, r 219 East Church, also; Gray J. Louis (Mary C.), sec Orr, Gray & Co and physician, 104 East Benson, r 403 East Orr Street,
Memories of Mr. Alphonso Norris, Jr. – begin at this address where his mother, was employed as a domestic by Dr. and Mrs. Dave Gray. His interview on Nov. 4, 2000, may be read as a PDF this page. Recollections of Mr. Norris are searchable this page by name. The importance of Mr. Norris’s interview becomes far more apparent as other interviews are read. His insights into family and community relationships are invaluable. Case in point, Mr. Bobby Norris, whom is given credit for having laid out the site of the first Anderson Courthouse was also the slave owner of Mr. Bobby Norris’s ancestor. Furthermore, it is the relationship of Mr. Gray, his mother’s employer, who provides the older Mr. Norris the ability to borrow from the Perpetual Building and Loan Co., an institution closely aligned with the Gray family.
All Credits: Anderson County Memories and Reflections compiled by R.C. Otter, Friends of the Library – 2004 Important links in this story include the following:
- Varennes Pres. Church @ Starr, S.C.
- Oscar Geisburg Home @ South McDuffie Street
- Perpetual Building and Loan @127 Bleckley
- Bobby Norris (One of Anderson’s early founders….)
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
R&R HISTORY LINK: the East Benson Historic District and Orr link…
R&R HISTORY LINK: the Orr and Gray Company
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
