The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 17, 1881 – ” Mr. Charles Lofton has recently come to Rock Hill from Columbia to engage in the tailoring business. He maybe found on the second floor of the London Building.”
The Herald on June 1st 1882 contained an ad for the Rock Hill Drug Store owned by J.B. Johnson stating – “It was established in 1869 claiming the largest and most complete stock of drugs, paints and oils.”
“All street cars stop at Phillip’s…..” The Rock Hill Record, June 9, 1916
City Directories and History: 1908 – Rock hill Drug Co. 109.5 – Life of Va. Insurance, #111 the J.P. Phillips Co., 1917 – Rock Hill Drug Company and J.L. Phillips Drug Company, (111.5) B&L Mechanics, C.A. Mobley, Stewart-Jones Company (contractors), Caro Life
R&R HISTORY LINK: Home of Peter Ihrie
Insurance, 1920 – Office of Dr. W.G. Stevens (111.5), 1922 – J.R. Williams Realty, 1922/23 – RH Drug Co. and D.E. Walker M.D. (#109 East Main Street), @ #111 East Main St. – J.L. Phillips Co., David Lyle M.D., J.R. Williams – Real Estate, and upstairs: W.G. Stevens, W.R. Blackmon, R.E. Sumner, W.E. Simpson, W.F. Strait, 1946 – (109) Stevenson Theatre, J.L. Phillips Drug Company, Ihrie’s Jewelry, David A. Bigger, M.D., W. Gilmore Stevens, M.D., Johnson-Phillips Building; Industrial Life and Health Insurance Company, Magistrate’s Court, Douglas B. Hughes, M.D., Tuberculosis Center, 1963 – Stevenson Theatre, Tollison -Neal Drug Company, Johnston-Phillips Building; RH Beauty Salon.
The Charleston News and Courier reported on June 7, 1890 – “W.B. (Fanik), does a jewelry and watch making business. He has for his competition B.B. Gordon and Co., and George Beach, both of whom are employed in a good trade.”
The Herald of Jan. 11, 1899 in an ad stated, “For M.G. Bryant’s store on Main Street featuring an auction of the jewelry stock of Mr. George Beach, one of Rock Hill’s oldest established jewelry businesses.”
The Herald contained an ad on Jan. 11, 1899 for Dr. I. Simpson and Son, surgeon and dentist with offices over J.B. Johnson’s Drug Store.
The Herald reported on Nov. 10, 1900 – “The ladies of the ARP Church will serve oysters Tuesday night in the basement formerly occupied by J. Henry Toole under the store of the Rock Hill Drug Company.”
Early view of downtown Rock Hill showing the location of the building sandwiched between Friedheim’s and the National Union Bank. Courtesy of the AFLLC Collection – 2017
The Rock Hill Herald on May 4, 1901 reported that, “Mr. J. Claude Cauthen has been a drug clerk for Haile’s Drug Store of Kershaw for three years but he will now go to Rock Hill where he has a position with the Rock Hill Drug Company.”
The Herald on April 4, 1903 – “Sales of ice cream last Saturday at the soda fountain of the RH Drug Co., totaled twenty two gallons.”
The Rock Hill Record on May 2, 1907 – “The J.L. Phillips Drug Co., have installed three handsome glass top tables for their ice cream parlor. The cases are made of mahogany. They are also placing new linoleum throughout the store.”
The RH Record reported on Dec. 5, 1907 – “Capt. W.W. Lewis of Yorkville and Dr. J.P. Hollis have formed a partnership in Rock Hill for the practice of law under the name of Lewis and Hollis, with offices over the Phillips Drug Store.”
The Record reported on April 13, 1908 – “Dr. Fennell and Dr. Young, are having a four room suite of offices fitted up in the basement under the Rock Hill Drug Company.”
The RH Record reported on Jan. 11, 1909 – “The electric light wires created a fire which damaged the store of the RH Drug Company. The rooms of the Piedmont Club are on the second story.”
Images from the Old Rock Hill Collection of AFLLC – 2012
The Herald contained an ad on Sept. 11, 1914 listed at the same address, #109, “the Rock Hill Drug Company and Johnson – Power Drug Company.”
The McElwee Store ledger of 1915 states that Phillips Drug Store (Mr. Phillips lives at White Street at corner of Oakland – Caldwell), held an account at the store. Charles D. Stowe and Julia held an account at the store also, they lived at #101 Marion St., in the 1913 City Directory. Also at the store was listed John R. Williams, wife Margaret B. (real estate offices) living at 526 North Confederate Street).
The Rock Hill Herald of Aug. 26, 1918 contained an ad from Dr. Dave Lyle stating, “I have moved my office to the offices of Drs. Sumner and Stevens, over the Phillips Drug Store.”
Shipment of cotton to John A. Black of Rock Hill, S.C. by W.M. Patrick in 1929
The Record reported on Jan. 21, 1927 – “Saturday morning was the most disastrous fire in downtown Rock Hill in thirty years. It began in the Manhattan Cafe in the rear of the Rock Hill Drug Company, spread to the London Building (Cloud’s Store), the Rock Hill Drug Company and the J.L. Phillips Drug Company. Dr. J.E. Massey lost his instruments and library. The office of Dr. Blackmon, Strait, Massey, Hay, Walker, and Stevens, over the drug store were burned. Lyle Whitner lost all of his office equipment, located over Cloud’s Store. Frank D. Greene, the real estate agent saved the records in his office. John A. Black saved some of the records in his office. Flames endangered the National Union Bank, which also houses the Equitable and other private offices. On the other side, walls of the A. Freidheim and Brothers grew red hot but the fire did not penetrate.”
The Record reported on Jan. 3, 1927 – “A real epic in local business circles is the announcement today of Peter Ihrie from Beach – Ihrie Jewelry Company, which has been operating since 1887. It will be succeeded by Beach – Hearn Jewelry Company (George Beach) at the same location. Mr. E.D. Hearn has been with the old concern for a long time.” (The RH Record reported on Feb. 9, 1904 – That the Beach and Ihrie Jewelry Co., has been incorporated with capital stock of $5,000. George Beach is Pres., and Peter Ihrie is Treasurer. They also reported on March 1, 1904 – a delay in getting glass for the plate windows has postponed the opening of Beach – Ihrie Jewelers, they hope to open within a week.)
Ad for the Phillips Drug Co., 1922
The Record reported on April 21, 1927 – “J.E. Healan, contractor, has started work on the new home for J.L. Phillips Drug Company on East Main Street. It will be a two story brick building with a basement. The second floor will have fifteen office spaces for doctors and other professionals. Plans were drawn by A.D. Gilchrist, local architect. ”
Ad promoting the drug store from the 1952 RH Centennial Program.
The Record reported on April 28, 1927 – “Work began on excavation yesterday for the building to be erected on East Main Street by James S. White, and to be occupied by Peter Ihrie as a jewelry store. (Between Hope’s Store and the Woolworth Building) J.E. Healan has the contract to build the building and plans were drawn by A.D. Gilchrist.”
The RH Herald reported on Aug. 7, 1941 – “The Mary Ann Dress Shop will open at 104 Trade Street in the J.L. Phillips Building at Main and Trade. The business is owned by Al Gardner of Columbia.”
- Tollison – Neal Drug Store (Deas – Aiton Collection 1961)
The very popular Tollison and Neal Drug Co., prior to demolition in ca. 1970. Courtesy of the Ratterree Collection.
Alfred D. Gilchrist was born and educated in Manchester, England and came to America in 1900. In 1912 he arrived in Rock Hill and began practicing architecture. Several building can be attributed to him; Ebenezer School – 1921, Stevenson Theater, Oakland Avenue Pres. Church, and several buildings at Winthrop University. His son, William P. Gilchrist worked as a designer and draftsman with the firm. Following WWII, Gilchrist associated with W. Lewis Cook in the firm Gilchrist and Cook. That firm had buildings including: Woodland Un. Methodist Church, Park Baptist Church and homes and schools. Ms. Bessie L. Garrison, Rock Hill Historical Research Papers #10 – 1952.
Ad from the 1938 Rock Hill Bearcat annual.
Also see Lot #2 – North
Ad for the Williams Realty Co., 1922
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