Ann H. White (Receipt) Archives

W.M. Lawton and Company – Agricultural Factors

City Directories and History: The W.M. Lawton Co., of factors included: W.M. Lawton, R. Wainwright Bacot, W.M. Taylor, and Joseph T. Dill.

The enterprising planters of upper St. Peter’s Parish, however, did not confine their activities to agriculture. They branched out into commerce and industry. In 1819, Alexander and William Lawton opened their store in Robertville. In the 1820s, J. B. Lawton and Company of Robertville had become a major cotton factor in Savannah. By the 1830s, the Lawton family had opened a cotton brokerage house in Charleston known as Taylor and Lawton that dealt with many Beaufort District cotton planters.

Information from: A History of Beaufort County, Vol. I, Rowland, Moore and G.C. Rogers, Jr. – Un. of S.C. Press, 1996

The importance of Charleston’s factors can not be over emphasized. They provided extremely important functions as agents for farmers and individuals all across South Carolina. As a farmer’s agent, the factor would provide information on crop pricing, sales and shipments. As their factor, the firm also insured and often sold cotton and other agricultural commodities as directed by the local farmer. Often the agent was also asked to extend financial credits to their clients as well as make suitable purchases of finished goods for shipment to their clients.

Anne H. White of Rock Hill, S.C., often directed her factor to purchase furniture and other household goods and ship them to her home. Factors were not only found in Charleston but in nearly every town across the state. In some cases, the factors and cotton buyers worked in conjunction with one another, providing services for their clients which would have otherwise been prohibitive due to travel difficulties and geographic barriers.

The Southern Wharf was just that, the most Southern of the shipping docks along the Cooper River – East Bay Street area. Excerpt courtesy of the Sanborn Map Co., 1888.

Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61 and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917

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R&R HISTORY LINK: SCHS Mag. article; “Capt. William Lawton: 18th Century Edisto Planter” by T.O. Lawton, Jr.

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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137 East Bay Street

City Directories and History: The fourth store south of Queen St., was operated by William Curtis, who offered burning fluid and whale oil, etc. A receipt from the store dated May 30, 1868 states it is currently that of; Laurey and Alexander. It appears from the statement that it had taken over the former firm of R. & A.P. Caldwell, Company.

Laurey and Alexander Co., at this location in 1868.

Other sources: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61, Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917, Charleston 1861 Census Schedule, and a 1872 Bird’s Eye View of Charleston, S.C. The Hist. Charleston Foundation may also have additional data at: Past Perfect

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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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1 Hayne Street or Robertson – Taylor Company

City Directories and History: The correspondence between the George W. Williams Company and Mr. James “Enoree” Anderson of Spartanburg, S.C., in the mid 19th

R&R HISTORY LINK: UPCOUNTRY PLANTERS SHOP

century identifies this as the extensive location of the Williams Wholesale Grocery business. Also see #1 Broad Street as well as #16 Meeting Street for additional information on Mr. Williams. Anderson’s Mill was an early upcountry, S.C. grist mill which remained in operation until ca. 1975.

Bill of sale in 1885 at the traditional location of the Williams Grocery. Courtesy of the Thomas Store Collection, Ridgeway, SC

The 1860 receipt, of Ann H. White of Rock Hill, S.C., states the store was located at 1-3 Hayne Street and 67-71 Market Street. A later receipt states that he was in business with: George W. Williams, E.C. Williams, James H. Taylor, William Birnie and Edwin Platt.

Illustration of this address – Guide to Charleston, S.C. by A. Mazyck, (1875)

Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61 and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917

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R&R HISTORY LINK: SELLING TO THE UPCOUNTRY CONSUMER

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234 King Street – Bailie Company

City Directories and History: An 1859 receipt

Photograph of Mrs. Ann H. White of Rock Hill take in the late 1860’s on one of her visits to New York City.

#234 Kings St. pictures here middle of the block on the left. Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1910. “King Street, south.” Among the merchants vying for your trade are a Bible depository, Victor Talking Machines dealer and branch of the “Wide Awake” store. Courtesy of the Shorpy Archives Collection. Not for distribution of reprint.

for the purchase of fancy carpets from the Charleston store of James G. Bailie, for the home of Ann H. White, in Rock Hill, S.C., is one of many purchases made by S.C. residences at this store.

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R&R HISTORY THREAD: The White Home in Rock Hill, S.C.

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243 King Street – Siegling and Company / A.F. Browning Company

“One of the oldest business locations in Charleston, S.C.”

City Directories and History: SIEGLING MUSIC HOUSE
Constructed circa 1838; exterior rehabilitated and interior altered 1984-85

“John Siegling, a native of Erfurt, Germany, established a music store in 1819, selling harps, pianos, and wind instruments. Moving his business from Meeting Street to King Street, he rebuilt on the site of a building destroyed in the fire in 1838 at the corner of King and Beaufain Streets.

Ad from the Charleston City Directory, ca. 1851-52 for the Joel Ketchum and Orrin Taylor Company

Remaining in business until the early 1970s, the company was advertised as “America’s oldest music house.” The three-story masonry building was remodeled in the mid-nineteenth century and again circa 1900 with the application of Italianate style window hoods and a modillioned cornice with bracketed corners. Acquired in the early-1980s by the present owners, members of a religious order, the structure was renovated and the storefront, with its cast-iron pilasters, was partially renewed.”

Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997

Italian Revival style was very prevalent within its period of popularity, more so than the Gothic Revival Style. It was especially dominant in the period from 1855 – 1880. Since it was easily adapted to numerous building forms, it became a popular style for urban and rural residences. The Italianate style is especially identified as the common architectural theme of mid-to late-19th century commercial buildings that lined the main street of many American cities and towns. Italianate buildings display the cornice under widely overhanging eaves, while contiguous Italianate rowhouses or commercial buildings have a bracketed cornice on the front façade. Other markers of the Italianate style are tall, narrow windows, some with elaborate hoods. Most Italianate buildings have columned porticoes or porches, sometimes extending across the full width of the front façade. Courtesy of the Penn Arch. Field Guide – Website

Reported to be the location of A. F. Brown and Co., in ca. 1860 In 1882 this was also the location of G. Del Guidice dealers in fancy and rare fruits and birds.

In 2015 it is the home of Daughters of St. Paul.

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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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260 King Street – KERRISON DRY GOODS BUILDING

City Directories and History: KERRISON DRY GOODS BUILDING / 257 King Street
Constructed circa 1920; storefront rehabilitated 1996-97

“Kerrison’s Dry Goods spent its early years, after its founding in 1830, at the site of the Riviera

1920s view of the store. Courtesy of the Historic Charleston Foundation Archives - 2016

1920s view of the store. Courtesy of the Charleston Museum Archives and Historic Charleston Foundation Archives – 2016

Theater (227 King Street). It took over new quarters in the 1860s on Hasell Street. The latter building was enlarged in 1920 with the four-story yellow brick section facing King Street. The first floor storefront, infilled with architectural glass work, provided the chief ornamentation for the otherwise simple facade, now with three bays of triple windows on each floor but missing its modillioned cornice.

Illustration of this address – Guide to Charleston, S.C. by A. Mazyck, (1875)

Billed in recent years as the South’s oldest department store, this headquarters facility closed after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and remaining suburban operations ceased in 1996. The building has undergone a recent renovation for a new clothing store.”

Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997

Mrs. Ann H. White of Rock Hill ordered goods from the firm of Fogarties and Stillman at #257 King Street in pre Civi War Charleston, S.C. Additionally, druggiest J.E. Torlay also had an office here who was the successor to William A. Skrine.

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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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From the Porch

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