118 East White Street – Friedheim’s Hall of Rock Hill, S.C.

City Directories and History: 1908 – A. Friedheim and Brothers, 1917 – Marshall Sale and Feed Stable, 1946 – Moore and Rast Auto Repairs, 1963 – Moore’s Garage

“Let us move across the tracks to East White Street, on the south side of the street, opposite the railroad shops. Here stood a large brick building erected by the Friedheims and called “Friedheim’s Hall.” Downstairs was a livery stable. Upstairs was a large assembly hall, where dramatic performances and music recitals and dances were held.”  [Robbins – White Historic Tour] *** It appears from the images that the original building was constructed with native stone, not brick. It is likely the Friedheim’s brick veneered the structure at a later date as they built the adjoining brick warehouses.

HISTORY THREAD

The Charleston News and Courier of June 7, 1890 stated – “The sale of livestock has become one of the fixed industries of this place. There are four livery stables in this town.  They are owned by J. Edward Poag, John Ratterree, Heath and Kimball, and A. Friedheim and Brothers. The livery stable of J. Edward Poag is by far the handsomest in the upper section of S.C.  The other stables are well appointed and conveniently situated and accordingly do a very good business. “

Friedheim’s Hall was a popular social area often referred to as the Friedheim’s Opera house but it appears it was more of a social area above the Friedheim’s stables and storage area which ran from the rear of the store to East White Street.

Mrs. Ann H. White’s Lot 4, fronting 138.60¢ on the south side of White Street, was first sold to John T. Walker of Chester District, S. C., on January 1, 1856, for $175.  The depth of the lot was over three hundred feet, going back to the old dividing line between Mrs. White’s land and that of A. T. Black.  On January 10, 1856, John T. Walker sold a large portion of this lot to Henry F. Broach, who lived on the adjoining lot to the west, as shown above.  Broach was interested in enlarging his home place lot.  The evidence seems to indicate that Broach may have purchased the remaining part of Lot 4 soon after 1856.  At any rate, when he left Rock Hill after several years, he sold what he owned of the Lot 4 to Major Richard A. Springs, who thus came into possession of an unusually large and beautiful residential lot, together with a two-story house.  It is likely that Major and Mrs. Springs used this place for their town residence.  Their principal place of abode was located several miles east of Rock Hill.  “Springstein” plantation, considered a model of agricultural excellence in the antebellum era and consisting of nearly two thousand acres.

After both Major and Mrs. Springs died, their only child, a daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Springs) Childs (wife of Lysander D. Childs of Columbia, S. C.), rented the house and lot to various occupants.  In addition to the large residence on the property, there were also surrounding the house, a goodly number of outbuildings, including a large barn, a spring house, a brick kitchen, and numerous frame tenant shacks.  The writer must record here that he well remember two of those little tenant house which were still standing as late a the 1960’s on the back of the lot then occupied by a laundry (the old Friedheim’s Hall building).  It seemed rather odd to observe these relics of the antbellum South lingering in the midst of modern brick and steel structures in downtown Rock Hill.

Image of the Rock Hill Combination Co., “Singers”, pictured as a group in Lancaster Co., S.C., 1889.  It is believed these men often performed at the hall in Rock Hill.  (Courtesy of the Ratterree Collection) 2017

On April 3, 1885, Mrs. Childs sod a 181.5-foot portion of her property to A. Friedheim & Brother, merchants, for $2,000. The rear measurement of the lot was 217.90¢.  The side dimensions were 306.90¢ and 308.88¢.  It was on this lot that Friedheim’s Hall was built with a livery stable downstairs and a handsome auditorium with stage upstairs, a building that lasted until the middle of the twentieth century. Then, on November 25, 1898, Mrs. Childs conveyed the remaining part of her lot to Mrs. M. G. Kimbrell, for $1,325, the deed stating that the property purchased was “the remaining portion of the lot conveyed to Richard A. Springs by Colonel R. M. Sims by deed of January 31, 1874.”¹⁰⁹ Thus ended the Springses’ tangible connection with Rock Hill.  It is the writer’s recollection that Mrs. Kimbrell operated a boardinghouse on the lot she purchased from Mrs. Childs.

The following item appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer of February 18, 1886, written by “Hal”, the Rock Hill correspondent of the Enquirer: “Our town I going to lose an old landmark. Messrs. Freidheim and Bro., who purchased the “Old Springs House” some time ago, are going to remove it.  It is one of the oldest houses in our town.”

[Information provided via Along the Land’s Ford Road – Vol. I, 2008 by William B. White, Jr.]

The Rock Hill Journal reported, June 15, 1901 – “The Friedheim brothers are completing the new opera hall.”  In June 4, 1902 – The closing exercises of the RH Graded School will take place in Friedheim’s Hall on Thursday evening.  Music will be furnished by the Iredell Orchestra and pupils of Ms. Ella McDaniel’s music class.”

The Rock Hill Record reported on Nov. 24, 1919 – “That Walter Barnes Rawlinson has returned from a two week stay in NY City where he has bought a large supply of toys. He will open a toy store in Friedheim Hall.”

Click on the More Information > link found below the picture column for additional data. And be sure to see the #2 R&R page: Rock Hill Opera House  

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HISTORY THREAD #2

Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.

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