City Directories and History: This home is reported to have been constructed in circa 1820. Abraham Cook’s, the son of John Cook, opened a store at this location in circa 1930.
“On State Highway 418, about six miles east of Fountain Inn is Cook’s Crossroad named for Abraham Cook. The Cook homestead stands near the intersection, an imposing structure against a background of aged and stately oaks. A study of family records reveals that the lower portion of the Cook house was moved by Sterling Smith from a site across Enoree River in the early 1800’s. Starling P. Hughes and wife, Anna Jones Hughes, were the next owners; and they in turn sold to J. H. Todd in 1850. Surrounding property had been bought by Mr. Todd by the tract until his lands extended to Enoree River. He added a second story to the home in 1870, which date was affixed to a chimney. An inside kitchen was added about 1898 by Abraham Cook, who had acquired the property, including the house, some fourteen years earlier. The crossroad was a stop for mail on the route from Woodruff to Cedar Grove.
John B. Cook, son of Abraham Cook, was the next owner. John opened a country store in the early 1930’s. The store, a typical example of a thriving rural business in the early 1900’s, was a favorite meeting place for the scattered inhabitants of the countryside. The potbellied stove and lounging chairs on the porch remain today as reminders of an age of less frenzied activity.
Miss Nell Cook, daughter of John B. Cook, and granddaughter of Abraham Cook, is proprietor of the business and mistress of the old home.
The house gives the visitor a feeling of great strength, with its massive chimney at each end of the rectangular building, double windows across the front upper story and solid square posts supporting the roof of the front porch. In recent years the handmade banisters around the porch have been removed. The plain brackets adorning the posts are in keeping with the architectural designs of that early day.”
Information from: The Laurens County Sketchbook, Author – J.S. Bolick, 1973
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