” The razing of the historic Cross home was one of the tragedies of the economic difficulties of a changing economic landscape.”
From the Yorkville Enquirer, December 19, 1872: A fire was discovered in Chester in the rear of the store of Mr. Pinkston Nail. The building is a very old wooden one and was engulfed in flames within minutes. He had some kegs of powder in the store and an explosion blew it apart and spread the fire to other buildings. To the east of the Nail’s store, the store of I. L. Gunhouse & Co. was caught, also an old wooden building. Next east was the old tin shop owned jointly by Mr. J. J. McClure and Capt. J. L. Agurs and occupied by J. E. Curtis & Co. This burned and the large brick building adjacent to the east and owned by Capt. J. L Agurs and occupied by Wylie, Roddey & Agurs. The shingles on the roof of this building caught fire and it was lost. The next properties were saved, the house of Mr. J. L. Chambers, the Bank, and the building occupied by Mr. E. J. West and Mrs. Passailaigue. To the west of Mr. Nail’s store a small wooden house owned by Mr. John McCauthren and occupied as a confectionary store was consumed. Next was the large house on the corner belonging to the estate of Maj. John Kennedy. It was occupied by the Kennedy family as a residence and by three businesses. These were Mr. J. W. Rothrock (dry goods store), Bourke & Tinsley (bake shop), and Mr. S. C. Kaufman (dry goods store). Across the street from this building stands the large and elegant iron front hotel recently completed by Smith & Melton. The doors and windows were scorched but its destruction was prevented by the work of the Stonewall Company. On the opposite side of the cross street from the Kennedy building stands a very large wooden house owned by Mr. E. M. Shannon and occupied by Mr. D. A. Brimer as a hotel and Mr. G. A. Drennan as a grocery. This building was saved by the skill of the Champion Hook & Ladder Company and a large number of citizens. This is the third destructive fire that has swept over the hill of Chester in three years. Now only four old landmark buildings are left from twenty years ago. These are the storehouse once occupied by McClure & Harris, the residence of James Graham, the Shannon House, and the house on the corner occupied by R. M. Cross.
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 23, 1880 – “The Planter’s Hotel located on Main Street in Chester is owned by Mr. R.M. Cross. He buys and sells cotton and his wife attends to the hotel.”
“The Pryor Hospital in Chester burned to the ground this morning. It was known officially as the Pryor Sanitarium and was operated by Dr. S.W. Pryor. The loss is estimated to be between $30-35,000. There were 30 patients in the hospital, all of whom were taken safely to nearby homes. The building occupied by the nurses connected with the hospital by a covered passage way, was saved by city fireman. The adjoining residences of W.W. Coogler was badly damaged with the roof burned off and the residence of S.D. Cross was also considerably damaged. Dr. Pryor will have temporary quarters for the hospital in the Latimer residence on Wylie Street, in his own home, and at the Chester Sanatorium.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – S.D. Cross and Nannie Cross, 1940 – Hubert R. Blackburn, 1958 – Alice Bradley Dress Shop
R&R HISTORY LINK: CRAIG HOME – ROCK HILL SC
This wonderful example of Gothic Revival architecture was demolished in ca. 2011. It was one of the wonderful pieces of architecture razed due to neglect in downtown Chester and a great loss for local preservation efforts. The home was designed on the basis of a very popular architectural style commonly found in the region just before the Civil War and following thereafter for about twenty years. The home is best know as the Cross family home, whose members owned the house at the turn of the century. Mr. Cross was in sales and enjoyed traveling widely throughout the region. The family was interested in photography and took a number of excellent images of the home and community.
Three households of the Cross family lived here in Chester including the S.D. Cross family on Saluda, and others of Pinckney and College streets. The architectural plan for this house, one of Chester’s finest older homes could have come from two sources, the most likely that of A. J. Downing’s plan books for houses just prior to the Civil War. However, at the close of the war, John Riddell’s Architectural Deigns for Model Country Residences, (1864) was also printed that had a very similar style to that of Downing’s earlier drawings. In either case, the home was a fitting example of the high style architecture enjoyed by much of Chester’s upper middle class.
Marie Cross – Craig was born in March 9, 1894 and later married N.B. Craig of Rock Hill. Courtesy of the Craig Collection – 2012
Be sure to enjoy viewing the history of Mount Holly Plantation and additional photographs under the More Information link. As well as a view of the architectural plan for the house.
Informative link: Gothic Revival Architecture A.J. Downing – Architect
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R&R HISTORY LINK: Locals took Vacations in 1909
R&R HISTORY LINK: ARCHITECTURAL CONNECTION – GOTHIC REVIVAL
NEARBY HISTORY – A GOTHIC BEAUTY ON CENTER STREET (DEMOLISHED)
NEARBY HISTORY – RUINS OF THE RIVES PLANTATION AT LANDSFORD COMMUNITY
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.
Receipt for payment in court case, 1875 collected by R. M. Cross of Chester, S.C. Courtesy of the Hardin – Oates – McMaster Collection, 2016
Thanks!
Sloan’s design for the several houses constructed in Chester, S.C. prior to the Civil War. Unfortunately, they have all been razed due to economic uncertainty.
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