City Directories and History: The Harris or Wilson House (c. 1869) is significant as an example of Late Victorian residential architecture. It represents the early growth of Fort Mill, as it was originally located on Main Street and was moved to accommodate commercial expansion. The house, having been moved, falls under Criteria Consideration B. Since the move occurred well over
fifty years ago and the house has retained its character and form, and is significant primarily for its architectural value, the property qualifies. For a period of time following the construction of the railroad through Fort Mill in 1852, the village grew as a trading center and point of sale for cotton grown in the surrounding countryside. As the merchants became successful, larger houses began to appear, clustered around Main Street. The Wilson House was built about 1869 by Stewart Wilson. A visitor to Fort Mill in 1875 was a guest of Dr. S. A. Kell, then owner of the house. He described it as a fine, impressive home on the summit of the chief hill of the town on Main Street. In the 1920s the house was moved to its present location on Clebourne Street, just around the corner from the original location. Several houses existed on Main Street and they faced either demolition or being moved to make way for the expansion of commercial properties. The Wilson House is the only known house which still exists and underwent this process. The growth of the commercial properties along Main Street was fueled by the continuing growth of the downtown area as the textile^mi11s provided a steady payroll to a growing number of employees.
Please see the Elizabeth Reed article printed in the Herald Newspaper under the picture column marked – More Information. Click on the Thread link below to be directed to the Fort Mill Walking Tour (TBHH.info/fortmill)
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
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.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Share Your Comments & Feedback: