The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Nov. 26, 1874 – “Chester is rebuilding after the fires of 1870 and 1872. The gap in Main Street has now been filled. The McKee lot now houses two buildings; one occupied by Wilson and Cousar, a substantial firm and another building put up by Major Thomas Wilkes, a successful farmer. Capt. A.W. Clarkson is the architect. R. Brandt will occupy one of the store. He arrived from Germany a few years ago with no money. He erected a building on Main Street two or three years ago which housed furniture and jewelry stores. He will now separate these stores.”
The Yorkville Enquirer contained an ad on Sept. 20, 1877 by R. Brandt – “for jewelry, watches, and clocks. Also repairing and engraving R. Brandt, opposite the Courthouse in Chester, S.C. Also an ad for the Chester Furniture Store – we continue the same furniture business opposite the Courthouse, R. Brandt, Prop.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 8, 1879 – “Mr. R. Brandt keeps a large and attractive stock of watches, jewelry and other goods, and is also the agent for the sale of organs and sewing machines.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on April 3, 1884 – “The wooden building in Chester on the hill adjoining the bank was destroyed by fire last Wednesday night. It was occupied by Mr. E.J. West as a harness shop and belonged to Dr. Davega. The bank building was damaged, as was the law library of Hemphill and Brice and a wall of the Brandt House.”
On Nov. 19, 1885 the Yorkville Enquirer reported: “The Chester Town Clock is a great convenience and ornament. Mr. Brandt worked hard to get the project completed, added by the liberality of the citizens. He bought and placed the clock and installed the bell which weights 300 pounds. The town in which the clock is suspended was built by Mr. Joseph Morrow.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported June 12, 1889 – “The Chester Town Council has agreed to pay Mr. R. Brandt $50. a year for winding and keeping in order the clock on Mr. Brandt’s store.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – Rudolph Brandt (Approximate – Prior) , 1940 – (127.5) James W. Crowder, 1958 – Peacock Beauty Salon, 1978 – Peacock Beauty Salon, 1986 – Runyan’s Jewelry Company
Erected in three stages: Circa 1855, 1875 & 1877 by Rudolph Brandt, a Prussian immigrant who was a jeweler and watchmaker. His mortgage of 1876 to the Chester Building and Loan, reads: “All that lot and the iron front, tin roof two-story brick building in the Town of Chester, fronting on Main Street now used as a jewelry and furniture store.” The building originally had a clock tower. This building until recently had a jewelry store on the first floor. The square brick Courthouse built between 1818-1822 stood slightly in front of this spot, as well as the town cistern and well.
Note that young R.G. Brandt of Chester was studying at the prestigious Fort Mill’s Unity Academy in 1879-80.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 15, 1886 – “Mr. R. Brandt proposes enlarging his store which fronts the main square. The storeroom when completed will be one of the largest and handsomest in the state.”
The YE reported on March 6, 1889 – “Mr. C.T. Degraffenreid will open a grocery store in the Brandt Building soon.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 15, 1891 – “The office of the Chester Enterprise has been moved to the Brandt Building opposite the Courthouse.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Aug 15, 1896 – “J. Clough Robinson, the son of J.E. Robinson of Cotton in York Co., has secured a situation in R. Brandt’s jewelry store.”
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