The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Nov. 13, 1879 – “Mr. W.J. Cross of Shelby Co., Alabama has come to Chester to live. He will form a business with his brother Mr. I.N. Cross.”
The Comporium Story by C.E. Horton (2007) states – “In 1891 Chester businessman I.N. Cross strung wires between his baggage transfer center to the local depots. Other local merchants recognized the value of the phone and the Chester Telephone Company was born about 1893 with a 50 line switchboard. It was incorporated in 1897 by A.W. Love, I.N. Cross, J.K. Henry, C.W. Carpenter, and S.M. Jones with a capital stock of $2,000.”
The Rock Hill Herald of Jan. 4, 1893 – “Mr. I.N. Cross returned to Rock Hill yesterday for the purpose of trying to induce our people to establish a telephone exchange here.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – William B. Hardin (V.P. – Tres. of the Wylie Mills Company) , May Hardin and D. Earl (Louise) Salesman at Jones Co.,
Known locally as the Cross-Love-Gregory home, this circa 1860 home does not reflect much of it’s original
Early 19th century postcard image of prosperous Pinckney Street in downtown Chester, S.C. Image courtesy of the Davie Beard Collection – 2016
architectural features besides the door, sidelight and transoms on each level of the dwelling. In the late 19th century, many area homes were remodeled to reflect a more contemporary Queen Anne look. In the case of this home the porches, turned balustrade, and front bay were all added to “enhance” the home. In 1863, the Rev. J.R. Pickett gave the property to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. This was once of many fine homes that were constructed along Pinckney street, the road to the Pinckney District court house in Union County, S.C.
The Hardin family most likely updated the home to the current appearance while they were occupants.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 27, 1892 on the death of Mrs. John R. Pickett of Chester, “The widow of Rev. Pickett. The family’s will results in an estate of $30,000. and a large library going to Wofford College.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Oct. 24, 1894 – “Fire has destroyed the warehouse of I.N. Cross in Chester. There were 400 bales of cotton in the warehouse and on the platform, all but 50 bales were saved from the fire.” (Unidentified location.)
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 7, 1899 – “The store of D.E. Colvin and Co., was broken into on Monday night.”
“In December 1933, four months after the consolidation, Springs purchased the Chester plant of Aragon-Baldwin Cotton Mills, a subsidiary of J.P. Stevens, for $300,000. The Baldwin plant, built in 1900 and known as the Wylie Mill until 1912, was renamed Gayle Plant in honor of Walter Gayle’s role in acquiring the machinery.” [Wylie Mill became the Gayle Mill. According to Louise Pettus in The Springs Story, Our First Hundred Years, p.92]
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