The Herald reported on Oct. 13, 1881 – “Mr. A.D. Holler began work last week on the new buildings being constructed for A.E. Hutchison on Main Street. The building to be occupied by Fewell and Steele as a drugstore will be 60 ft deep by 36 ft wide. The building to be occupied by Reid and Gill as a furniture store will be 100 ft deep by 36 ft wide. The second floor of both these buildings will be 60 ft long. The brickwork on the buildings for Frew Brothers and for B.N. Craig and Co., is finished. He will proceed at once on the woodwork.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – J. W. O’Neal Grocery (agent for the Swift Company), 1917 – J.W. O’Neal Grocery Company, 1922/23 – City Wholesale Grocery (#103 West Main), 1925 – O’Neal’s Grocery, 1946
– Craig and Company Inc., Wholesale Grocery, 1963 – Comer Furniture Company
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 1, 1881 – “Mr. B.N. Craig has associated with Mr. W.M. Steele as his business partner. Mr. Steele recently resigned as a Rock Hill policeman. The firm will begin in one of the new buildings going up on Main Street.” Later on Sept. 29, 1881 – “The new stores going up on Main Street are progressing. B.N. Craig and Co., hope to occupy their store by late October. Mr. Craig has opened a temporary store on Depot Street and the space lately occupied by Mr. Markham, and their stock of dry-goods will be there until the Main Street building is completed.”
The Herald on Jan 11, 1883 contained an ad stating – B. N. Craig featuring novelties, fruits and confectioneries. Later on Jan. 22, 1885 the Herald reported, “Mr. D.P. Steele, Mr. W.M. Steele and David Hutchison have formed a partnership to conduct a mercantile business in the store room on Main Street recently occupied by B.N. Craig and Company. They will carry a general stock and will carry Steele Brothers and Company. Also, Mr. B.N. Craig has removed his headquarters to the corner grocery, and has a good stock of confectionaries and groceries.”
The Charleston News and Courier of June 7, 1890 states – “B.N. Craig has a store on the corner opposite the Roddey Building and sells groceries, confectioneries and apples. ”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 25, 1891 _”the gasoline tank on the peanut roaster in the store of B.N. Craig exploded, setting fire to the store and injuring the boy in attendance.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Dec. 9, 1891 – “Damage to the Roddey Building on the corner of Main and Railroad Ave., and to the stocks of B.N. Craig and Co., and T.P. Roddey (Grocers), has been assessed via the fire last Tuesday. The stores are back in business. There was also damage to Hope and Evans Druggists.” Later the Herald reported on Feb. 22, 1893 – “The firm of Hope and Evans has been dissolved. Mr. Evans has purchased the interest of his partner and will continue in the business in the old stand.”
The 1894-95 Rock Hill Sanborn Map #1, shows this as the location of one of Rock Hill’s passenger depot sites, a frame building – not Rock Hill’s original depot which was located on the west side of the tracks close to what became West White street.
The Rock Hill Herald of Feb. 1, 1893 reported – “The Firm of B.N. Craig and Co., has been dissolved by the withdrawal of Mr. Craig. The firm will be succeeded by J.W. O’Neal and Company. Mr. O’Neal was a junior member of the firm. Mr. Craig came to Rock Hill fifteen years ago with very little money and by his energy and hard work he has built up a good trade and has accumulated funds. His plans for the future are yet unknown.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 18, 1894 – “Mr. John O’Neal is reconstructing his store for the accommodation of a stock of hardware, notions, shoes, etc.” [It is believed this is the same location under Mr. O’Neals ownership.]
The Herald contained an ad on March 14, 1896 for O’Neals – “You can enter from Main Street or Railroad Avenue.”
The Herald reported on Aug 13, 1897 -“That B.N. Craig and A.R. Smith are planning to build a two story brick building for wholesale business.”
The Herald reported on June 21, 1902 – “The firm of B.N. Craig and Co., consisted of Mr. Craig and Paul Workman, has dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Craig continues the brokerage business at the same location.”
The RH Record reported on Sept. 5, 1907 – “The J. W. O’Neal grocery company are excavating predatory to erecting an extension to their building on the west side of Railroad Avenue.”
The Herald reported on July 14, 1925 – “That a building permit had been issued to J.W. O’Neal Grocery Co., for an addition to the building costing $150.”
The Record reported on April 25, 1927 – “That a fire was set recently at the City Wholesale Grocery, operated by A.C. Patterson. The owner of the building is Dr. J.B. Johnson.” (This may have been a part of the Craig’s operation but appears to occupy the same space.)
The O’Neal Family History states, that J.W. O’Neals sold the O’Neal’s wholesale business to his nephew, B.N. Craig in 1932.
The City of Rock Hill began their urban renewal project to transform the city in the late 1960s and it continued into the early 1970s. It involved the demolition of hundreds of homes and private businesses in the African American area as well as the East Black, West Black, Johnston, Hampton, and Trade Street corridors were all affected. Within a short span, nearly 40% of Rock Hill’s older downtown buildings were destroyed to provide economic opportunities, benefiting a few businessman. As part of this action, the railroad lines were moved and a new bridge crossing over Black Street was built to also alleviate traffic jams created by trains but in doing so, the old Rock Hill Depot building was also razed.
But the most trans formative aspect of the move was to add municipal buildings to the landscape; the Rock Hill City Hall, the Center for Aging, the Library and the Rock Hill Police Department buildings.
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