The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 16, 1876 – Young men of Rock Hill are engaged in organizing a brass band…”
1916 – Confederate Reunion held at Friedheim Hall in Rock Hill, S.C.
City Directories and History: 1908 – A. Friedheim and Brothers, (#122) – Julia Hemphill and Alfred Murray and in rear – Sue Williamson, 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.
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. “
The Rock Hill Herald of March 1, 1893 reported – “Mr. Louis Friedheim, who has been studying veterinary surgery in Toronto, Canada will return to Rock Hill in a few days to practice his profession.”
The RH Herald reported on Feb. 18, 1899 – “J. Friedheim and L. Friedheim, stock dealers, are now occupying their old quarters, which had been used by A. Friedheim and Brothers since the fire that had destroyed their building. There is a fine collection of mules on exhibit.”
The Herald on Jan. 16, 1901 reported, “Dr. Louis Friedheim is making some improvements to his hall which will add very much to its comfort and attractiveness. When completed, it will be one of the best in the state.”
The Herald reported on May 18, 1901 – “Holler and Clark have a force of hands doing repairs on Friedheim’s Hall. They are now installing the ceiling and wainscoting. A stage of 18-24 ft is being installed along with two large dressing rooms. There will be about 500 opera chairs. The entrance, formerly on the inside of the building, has been changed so that a wide and very handsome staircase leads up from White Street.”
The Herald reported on July 31, 1901 – “Mr. S.T. Frew has been named manager of the new Friedheim Hall on White Street, which will open about the first of September. It will have about 800 seats of which 300 are opera chairs and the remainder ordinary chairs. In the rear will be a section for African American.”
The Rock Hill Record reported on March 8, 1909 – “Booker T. Washington, noted African American educator, will be in Rock Hill on March 14 and will deliver an address at Friedheim Hall. Seats will be reserved for those of our white residence who wish to attend. ”
The RH Record reported on March 15, 1909 – “Washington spoke for one and one-half hours to a capacity audience including a large number of white people. No more elegant address has ever been hear in this city…. Mayor Roddey gave an address of welcome. Traveling with Mr. Washington was his secretary, Emmett J. Scott.”
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.
On April 3, 1885, Mrs. Childs sold 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 is 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 Fort Mill Times reported on Sept. 9, 1903 – “Mr. E. L. McElhaney had resigned his position with Mills and Young and will go to Rock Hill to take a similar position with A. Friedheim and Brothers.”
The Rock Hill Record of March 22, 1909 – “Mr. Julius Friedheim, owner of the Opera House, has authorized Pride Ratterree and John N. McElwee to go ahead with plans to remodel the opera house. They plan to tear away the stable on the west side of the present building and completely remodel the building with the pit on the ground floor with galleries above. The floor will have a 30 ft pitch. The changes will allow for much larger and more varied scenic effects.”
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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