Perpetual Building and Loan Archives

Mr. Watson said, “Anderson in my book is just a tremendous place to live. … Just one human being taking care of another one.”

City Directories and History: The collection of interviews provided here on Anderson’s heritage, are a wonderful tribute to the character of the citizens of Anderson, S.C. But none so much as that of Jim Gray Watson who provided insights into Anderson’s character and perseverance as no other. Mrs. Watson’s detailed accounts and stories shed a light on Anderson’s history. He provides details in with the following names and events: 1701 North Main Street (Now 201 N. Main St. built in 1930), Moultrie Square, John Gates, Joe Black, Linley Home, McClain Home, Wade Watson (author’s brother), James Andrew Gray (Lived at Gluck’s Mill – left side Starr-Iva Hwy., six miles south of Anderson), Rufus Hill (sold land to group that started Gluck Mills), Dr. Lewis Gray (Author’s uncle), D.S. Gray (Author’s uncle), Orr – Gray Drug Store, Arthur Seawright (bought Dr. Gray’s Home on Orr St), kenneth Seawright, Wade Allen Watson (Father), Caroline Elsie Gray Watson (Mother), Fritz Watson (Uncle), Will Watson, D.S. Gray’s Drug Store (2nd floor – Dr. J. Lewis Gray and Dr. A.B. Henry), Drug Store (located 2nd building from Main St., on the SE side of the square), Baz Hillard (Policeman), Dredging the Saluda River, Wiggington (Anderson Foundry), Jesse McKey (McKey Shoe Shop), W.E. Madison and Wilbur Madison (Founders of Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co.), Mr. Kugle (Americus Ga.), Horace Williams, Arthur Holman, Perpetual Building and Loan, H. “Hawk” T. Jordan (Gossett Street Store), Julius Anderson (First Pres. of Perpetual B&L), Wade Watson (Second Pres. of Perpetual B&L), Jim Gray Watson (3rd President of Perpetual B&L), Fred Anderson, Louie Anderson, Susie Anderson, Anderson Farms, Robert Norris (And. Courthouse founder), Julia Anderson Watson (Wife),

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

***GLUCK MILLS IN 1905: GLUCK MILLS, R.E. Ligon prest and treas, J.R. Vandiver v-prest and asst treas, G.B. Walton sec, T.H.
Cromer supt, mnfrs cotton goods Three miles south, Gluck Mills School, Miss Pearl Norris prin, Gluck Mills

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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.

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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.

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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….)

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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.

Thanks!

THE MEMORY OF EARLY ANDERSON BY JIM GRAY WATSON – AN INTERVIEW

219 East Church Street – David Gray Residence & Memories of Mr. Norris

From the Porch

Southern Queries – Forum