Roddey Mercantile Company Archives

From the Yorkville Enquirer, March 2, 1892

Blacksburg held a celebration for the town and honored the original settlers of the community, first known as “Black’s Station.” In 1876, just after the completion of the Charlotte & Atlanta Air Line Railroad, there were 12 houses, 3 stores, a freight depot, a saw mill and a population of about 60.

Today, there are 7 churches, 2 schools with 324 pupils, 240 houses, 32 stores, 2 barbers, a livery, a market, 2 blacksmiths, a machine shop, a foundry, a sash and door factory, a planning and wood working mill, 2 ginneries, 2 grist mills, 2 saw mills, a spring hand factory, a tin shop, 2 shoe and harness shops, a barytic mill, a brick yard, 4 hotels, the machine shops and offices of the 3C Railroad, the Sulphuric Acid Mining & Manufacturing Company, the Magnetic Iron & Steel Ore Company, the Blacksburg Land & Improvement Company and 2 savings and loan associations.

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 20, 1887 – “Mr. J.R. Schorb, of Yorkville, has been in Blacks taking birdseye landscape views of the town. The town authorities intend on having them electrotyped to use in advertising.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 30, 1889 – “By an act of the legislature, the name of the town Black’s or Black’s Station has been changed to that of Blacksburg. The PO is still officially called Black’s, resulting in confusion and lost mail.”

City Directories and History: This building was constructed in 1898 for use as the Masonic Temple.

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 30, 1889 – “Dr. T.B. Whitesides and Mr. W.D. Johnson have sold their stock of drugs to Dr. Fewell of Ebenezer. He will continue the business on Shelby Street until he can have a brick store erected on the opposite side of the street.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 3, 1889 – “Mr. W.M. Jones of Cary, NC has bought land near the 3 C’s Depot and will soon brake ground for a factory for wood manufacturing.”

The Yorkville Enquirer carried an article of events in Blacksburg covering 1889 dated Jan. 1, 1890 – “Seventy five new dwellings constructed, a new city hall and jail, the brick school building, the brick livery on Church Street built by Reese and Black, and occupied by Borders and Cline, two new stores on Mountain Street occupied by R.A. Westbrooks and George Parker, two new church (Pres. and Episcopalian). New businesses include M.L. Holland (grocery and confectionary), J.D. Gault and Co., (beef and vegetable market), George Parker (General Merchant), the 3CCC Railroads Paint and Machine Shops, and W.H. Stewart making brick on a large scale using steam power. Also a large sash, door and blind factory owned by W.M. Jones of Cary, N.C.”

On June 2, 1887 the Rock Hill Herald reported – “G.M. Cline has added a new front to his stable.”

On July 3, 1889 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “Borders and Cline, the livery business has recently added to their stock several new and comfortable buggies.”

On Aug. 21, 1889 the YV Enquirer reported – “Work has begun on Mr. Isaac Moore’s house on Carolina Street. Mr. H.M. Angle is the contractor.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 9, 1890 – “The Methodist Church of colored people has recently been enlarged and improved.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 4, 1891 – “The Blacksburg Town Council has authorized issuing bonds in the amount of $700. for building a school for colored children.”

The YV Enquirer reported on May 20, 1891 – “The Blacksburg Foundry will produce a newly invented cooking stove which has special flues that are dampened controlled. The inventor is B.B. Babbington. Mr. Joe Black is owner of the foundry.”

The Yorkville Enquirer of June 17, 1891 – “Mr. G. M. Moore is completing a neat cottage on Shelby Street near Lime.”

The Yorkville Enquirer on June 17, 1891 – “Reported is building a dwelling on the extension of Rutherford Street in the NW part of town.”

The same date – “The trustees of the graded school selected the following teachers for the next term: Prof. A.M. Spessard, Supt., Ms. Esther Moser of Cedar Springs, Penn., and Ms. Mary L. Clarkson of Charlotte are in the primary department. Ms. Mamie Logan of Cleveland Co., NC, is the music teacher and Mr. J.R. Barnes, Esq. is in charge of ….. The trustees will also make improvement to the inside of the building.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 1, 1891 – “Mr. J.M. Guyton, the Blacksburg Postmaster, is having his building on Shelby Street raised several feet and improved.” And on Aug. 5, 1891 the paper reported, “The scaffold used in building Mr. Guyton’s house gave way, throwing Mr. Peter Kitchen to the ground. He was bruised by falling lumber but no bones broken.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 1, 1891 – “Dr. S.C. Fewell and wife, will soon return to Blacksburg and occupy their handsome residence on Pine Street.” (Also see Dr. Fewell in York Co., S.C.) The YV Enquirer reported on July 11, 1894 – “Mr. M.R. Reese has bought the house on Pine Street from Mr. Lee Wylie adjoining the Fewell residence. Mr. Wylie has purchased the J.D. Gault property on Lime Street.”

The Enquirer reported on Aug. 5, 1891 – “Mr. Joseph Black has opened an extension of Cherokee Street though his land in the western part of Blacksburg. He has also laid out two new streets in the same section of town.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Dec. 30, 1891 – “Miss Mary Gregory has been hired to teach in the primary dept. of the school. Miss Mary Clarkson, who has served as principal of the primary dept., has resigned and her replacement will be sought.”

The YV Enquirer reported on Feb. 3, 1892 – “Town council has ordered the opening of a new street running from Carolina Street, near the residence of L. Briggs to Cherokee Street. It will be named Giles Street in honor of Major Giles who once lived where Mr. Briggs currently resides.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 10, 1892 – “Mrs. M.E. Deal has recently finished a very neat cottage at the corner of Claiborne and Rutherford Streets and was occupied last week by Rev. M. Hamiter, pastor of the Presbyterian church.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 13, 1892 – “Wm. Wilkie has bought a lot on Cherokee St., from T.L. Black. It is opposite the grade school building and plans to build a cottage there.”

The Yorkville Enquirer stated on May 10, 1893 that Moore, Bruce and Co has closed. This will leave only one barroom in town. (Unknown location.)

Images taken of the second floor of the City Hall – 2016

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The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Aug. 22, 1878 – “Whitaker is to have a depot. The lumber and other materials have been delivered and the contract has been awarded W.A. Bird (W.H. Bird).”

The YV Enquirer reported on March 23, 1892 – “Recent guests at the Cherokee Inn include businessman from Chicago, Detroit, and Asheville who are a party of sportsman. Others are there now from Conn. and Pittsburg.”

City Directories and History: The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 20, 1890 – “The water from the springs at Blacksburg has been analyzed by Prof., Burnie, the State Chemist. The water contains health giving elements. There are nine springs that bubble forth at the foot of Carolina Street. The water flows through a deep raven in Whitaker’s Mountain and then into Buffalo valley.”

The paper reported on Oct. 15, 1890 – “The Cherokee Inn is nearing completion. Major Jones is seeking a first class painter to finish the final painting. He hope to be ready for occupancy on Dec. 1st.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 22, 1891 – “The Cherokee Inn will be open for the season on May 1st.”

Arguably the most important landmark in the county, although the location is often misunderstood, the Cherokee Inn was built less than a mile north of the town of Blacksburg. The inn was located just across the railroad on present day Carolina Street situated on a small hill within equal walking distance of the grand home of Major John F. Jones and the railroad depot. Like almost all of the turn-of-the-century buildings in Blacksburg, the building’s architectural plans and funding came from Major Jones. Major Jones felt the town needed something grand, and that a large hotel would catch the eye of the passengers traveling along the railroad. This magnificent seventy room, two-story structure would include a large dining room, kitchen, ballroom, and accompanied by a small wood shed located behind the inn. The ballroom was known throughout the town and hotel as “The Annex” due to its separation from the residential portion of the hotel. In a late 1800’s newspaper advertisement, the inn was described as: “One of the best hotels in the state. Only two minutes walk from’ the Richmond and Danville, and Charleston, Cincinnati, and

Reportedly a view of the Cherokee Inn at Blacksburg, S.C. Courtesy of the AFLLC Collection – 2017

Chicago Railroad stations. Situated among the foot hills of the Blue Ridge mountains, on the south slop of Whitaker Mountain, 1,500 above the sea. New House. Modern Appointments. Cuisine unsurpassed. Elegantly furnished. Elevated position. Extended view from hotel in all directions. House three stories, surrounded by 800 feet of wide covered verandas. Lithia, Sulphur, and Magnesia Waters. Climate second to none in this country.” As said in the final two

Mr. A. Tripp of Blacksburg owed the Roddey Mercantile Co., $68.18 in ca. 1896. Courtesy of the RRF Collection 2020.

sentences in the advertisement, the inn was sought by many for its clear air, some hoping to relieve their sicknesses. With the hotel being on the rise, Major Jones constructed a small park located just across the railroad tracks for the guests at the hotel. Unsatisfied with the park, Major Jones would construct the Overlook Place atop Whitaker Mountain. According the a 1908 land surveyed map of Blacksburg, the inn closed in 1902 for unknown reasons. The inn burned down shortly thereafter.

The Herald reported on Dec. 10, 1890 – “A new hotel in Blacksburg, the Cherokee Inn is nearly completed. It will be three stories with a tower offering a fine view. There are sixty rooms in the main building and a wing with another twenty rooms. There is a fireplace in each room and pipes for heating. The first floor has a parlor and dining room and piazzas run around all floors. The hotel has electric bells and bathroom.”

On May 6, 1891 the Enquirer reported, “A new manager has been hired for the Cherokee Inn. The furniture is now arriving and a formal opening will take place soon.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 1, 1891 – “The new hotel in Blacksburg, the Cherokee Inn is fast becoming a popular resort with the traveling public.”

The Yorkville Enquirer of March 25, 1891 reported, “Mr. A. Tripp, the new Supt. of the 3CCC’s railroad, has taken a sweet of rooms at the Cherokee Inn and will bring his family here.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 4, 1893 – “The Cherokee Inn is gradually filling with winter borders, and every vacant room in the house is applied for by northern parties, principally from New England.” Also on Jan. 18, Mr. F. B. Alvord, the manager of the Cherokee Inn, is building an ice house for summer use.” The paper reported on Jan. 25, 1893 – “Mr. Alvord has completed his ice house and stored about 50 tons of ice. The ice was obtained from Buffalo Creek, and is blocks of 3-5″ thick.”

The Herald reported on Dec. 8, 1896 – “In the Co. Clerk’s office reported the Cherokee Inn had been sold……

The Herald reported on De. 30, 1896 – “The Cherokee Inn of Blacksburg will change hands on Friday (Jan. 1, 1897), it has been leased by A.H. Greene and G.H. Greene of Rock Hill and will be run by them. In Blackburg’s palmy days the Cherokee, a beautiful model of architecture, resembling a cottage in the Alps, as it nestles at the foot of Mt. Whitaker, was erected to attract Northern visitors. Ben Doby will be in charge of the culinary department. He was at one time connected one of the famous hotels in Saratoga. Mr. J.C. Cunningham, formally owner of a hotel in Kershaw will be the housekeeper. The Greenes will still be in charge of the Carolina Hotel in Rock Hill.

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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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101 South Shelby Street – City Hall of Blacksburg

Cherokee Inn – Blacksburg, S.C.

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