The Yorkville Enquirer of March 21, 1872 reported – “A fire in Union last Friday destroyed nearly all the buildings on the two principal blocks of Main Street at an estimated loss of $40,000. On the west side of the street the corner store of Col. J.L. Young and two stores belonging to H.L. Goss, a store belonging to Mrs. Lamb, and the store of A.H. Foster were all destroyed. The Office of the Union Times was in the upper story of Mrs. Lamb’s Building. Merchants who lost their stock include: William Eller, Ruben Sims, Grocery, Gibbs and Thomson (Druggists), Dr. W.C. Bennett (Dentist), Gen. J.F. Gist (Furniture Store), Palmer, Rogers and McKissick (National Hotel), and Herman Thomson and James Robinson (Saddler), Dr. J.A. Moore (Surgical instruments and meds), R.W. Tinsley (Jewelry), P. Malloy (Dry Goods and Grocery), B.D. Culp at the Central Hotel and Joseph Crawford (Furniture Dealer). The large store of J.T. Hill and Co., was saved by a pump and hose that he had installed.”
City Directories and History: 1954 – (#111) Unique Beauty Shop and Mrs. Clarice B. Sanders (Alterations), (#113-115) – Wilburn Dry Goods, Arthur Stores, 1984 – Graham Cash Company and Wilburn’s Dept. Store.
This structure appears to be #16-18 (the department store next to #16 appears to have had a single entrance to both shops as well as the dry goods stores) on the accompanying 1917 Sanborn Insurance Maps of Union, S.C. This lovely building was constructed circa 1900 by Confederate Capt. A.H. Foster who operating his Mutual Dry Goods Company here employing some thirty clerks and laborers. In 1901, #115, was purchased by Guy Wilburn who operated Wilburn’s Dept. Store, while living at 603 East Main Street.
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