The Rock Hill Herald reported on Set. 15, 1887 – “Milton Miller, colored, keeps a boarding house in the hut adjoining the McFadden’s Meat Market. One of the boarders, Raleigh Ballard has been accused of steeling from Elijah Nelson.”
City Directories and History: 1917 – Blankenship-Johnson Company, 1946 – City Market, 1966 – Davis Market – Grocery
“We head east to the railroad tracks and go up the steep hill toward the stores. On our left is the brick building of Craig Wholesale Company. Across Main Street from this business was the old McFadden Meat Market, operated and owned by V. B. McFadden. And to the south of the market, on Trade Street (or Railroad Avenue) was the Milling Wholesale Company, operated by J. H. Milling, who was killed in a tragic railroad-automobile collision in 1916. Across Trade Street from the market, to the east, was the Ratterree building (southeast corner of Main and Trade), owned by Mr. Gus and Mr. Pride Ratterree.” [Robbins – White Tour History]
Climbing the hill to the Trade Street comer we find the City Market owned and operated by the A. Foster Davis family. Under this building was a “Pressing Club” run by two brothers—Charlie and “Hokey” Allen. After repeal of the Prohibition Act they moved further north to the south side of Trade and opened a billiard parlor. (J.T. Williams – Tour of Downtown RH)
The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 1, 1888 – “Mr. S.G. Keesler now presides as butcher at McFadden’s Market.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Nov. 19, 1890 – “Our town now has a steam sausage mill. Mr. V.B. McFadden has placed in his meat market a steam engine, and is turning out large quantities of sausage daily.”
The Herald reported on Aug. 26, 1896 – “The sidewalk on Railroad Ave., from Davis’s Store to the White Street crossing is being paved with crushed rock and sand.”
Irish Shillinglaw, a FB following on R&R stated on 9.24.16 – “One of the guys that delivered for Davis was called Rabbit. He delivered groceries on his bicycle.”
The Rock Hill Herald on Jan. 10, 1919 contained an ad stating, the City Market will open on Jan. 11, in the building formerly occupied Sherer, where McFadden’s Market was located for years. This business will supply groceries, Sam Gordon is manager.
Following the fire that destroyed the old Ratterree Drug Store, the Snipes Store was constructed in its place on the corner of East Main and South Trade Street. It would have had the same address as the drug store on East Main.
Click on the More Information > link found below the picture column for additional data and image as well as the Main Street Database.
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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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