122 South Congress Street – Gerig Building

City Directories and History:  1961 – M. E. Wright’s Grocery

In 1912 from the corner from Washington Street to this location lists numerous business including: the Southern Express Office, general store, Hardin and Queens, Queen’s Jewelry and other misc. businesses. The Gerig building was next door with apartments above it. Those were demolished in the Mid-Twentieth Century. A variety store which became a Rose’s Store opened in the late 1930’s run by Mr. Berthold until 1944. The Harold Renwicks rebuilt the store in the 1970’s for their variety and office supply business later run by their son and daughter-in-law, Erwin and Martha Renwick. Mrs. Vashti Sims managed the Cato store in the left side during the 1970’s. Part of the Renwick building now houses Price’s Prescription Drugs run by Dr. Carolyn Price at 116 S. Congress. “Mr. Jim” Aiken’s barbershop was for many years at 118 S. Congress in the small space now occupied by H&R Block. The left side of the Renwick building is now Young’s Fashions at 112 S. Congress Street. [Courtesy of J.M. Lyes]

The Francis Gerig Building and Shop:  Pelham Lyle, the Ex. Director of the Fairfield Co Museum posted the following information in 2016 – “From what I could find, Francis Gerig, a native of Prussia, died in 1899 and is buried in the Presbyterian cemetery lot here in Winnsboro, S.C.  He apparently was in active Confederate service most of the war years as a mature man, leaving his wife and large family of children (12 at one count) to mind the store and keep the chickens, I presume. He is listed as a member of Lyles Rifles (sponsored, I think, by my elderly 3^rd great grandfather). The 1860 census shows his eldest son managing a store—most likely his father’s.  The accompanying newspaper article says the old Gerig store building predates the Civil War.  In 1906, Postmaster Preston Rion reminisced about the Winnsboro of his remembrances.  He describes the Gerig and Chandler harness shop as being in the middle of town and that Francis Gerig lived in the “Cathcart House”. 

The Fairfield News and Herald reported on Feb. 6, 1884 – “Connor and Chandler have just moved into their new store south of the Gerig Building.  It is handsome and well arranged.” 

There was an influx of German townsfolk in the mid 1800s and many of them were early store merchants, some Jewish Germans.  Although Gerig must have frequented the Presbyterian church, he was likely a Prussian Jew, as there was no synagogue for 30 miles, (Columbia was the closest) and many of the Jewish families married into our local families.  As close as anyone can tell, the holster must have been made in his harness shop.”    –  It would be of interest to determine the relationship between other Jewish families who made their home in Winnsboro in the 19th century, including: Gerig, Buechel, Seigler, and Wolfe families.  How did they each arrive in Winnsboro, S.C. and what happened to their families?

Also see the MORE INFORMATION link found under the primary image for further details.

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IMAGE GALLERY – HOLSTER

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