City Directories and History: 1917 – NA
This area was just to the east of the Rock Hill Train Depot – 3 C’s railroad line. The Rock Hill Herald on July 30, 1885 reported carried a story on the proposal for a new railroad to connect Cincinnati to Charleston, S.C. “Surveyors have been in the area looking for a route for the line. One route would bring the line through Black’s Station to Yorkville and then on to Chester, crossing the Catawba River at Great Falls then to Camden and Sumter where it would connect to existing routes to Charleston. A second route would take the line from Yorkville through Rock Hill, crossing the river near Landsford and then on to Lancaster and Camden. The merchants of Chester are worried that they would loose business if it went through Rock Hill, S.C.”
The Three C’s or Charleston, Cincinnati, and Chicago, was an ambitious undertaking, and was to be a trunk line from Chicago to Charleston. When the line got to Marion, North Carolina, the tall mountains loomed up and the railroad did not have enough money to tunnel through the mountains. About 1912, the Clinchfield railroad did tunnel through the mountains at Marion, North Carolina, and that road from Spartanburg to the coal fields of Tennessee and Kentucky, filled in the gap that the Three C’s road had hoped to use. The Three C’s is now a part of the Southern Railway system. (Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
Let us come now to the White lots on the northside of White Street near the railroad. The land on the northeastern corner of White and Depot streets stood vacant until 1872. On October 11th of that year Mrs. Ann H. White sold two acres there to Mrs. Frances D. (Ratterree) Roach, wife of William L. Roach, for $500—quite a handsome sum for that day, for a vacant lot. On this property Mrs. Roach erected a large two-story frame house for use as her residence. She was the only surviving daughter of one of Rock Hill’s most influential citizens of that day, John Ratterree. It is likely that it was Ratterree money that bought the lot for Mrs. Roach. Interestingly enough, “The Widow White,” rigid Presbyterian that she was, inserted a clause in the deed to this property in order to prevent its being used for any purpose other than residential: “…there is to be no spirituous or intoxicating liquor sold on the following mentioned premises.” Mr. Roach’s husband, William L. Roach, owned and operated a barroom on Depot Street in the years before 1880. Anything or anyone connected with whiskey was anathema to “The Widow.”
When the “Three C’s” Railroad (Charleston, Cincinnati & Chicago) came to Rock Hill in 1888, the railroad officials offered Mrs. Roach a handsome sum of money for her property, which they wanted to use for a depot and for a marshaling yard for trains. Mrs. Roach sold out on White Street and moved to the corner of Hampton and Black streets, as mentioned above. The two-acre “Roach-Three C’s” lot remained in the hands of the railroad for most of the twentieth century. (The “Three C’s” company was bought out by the Southern Railway System).
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 7, 1888 – “Work will be started tomorrow on the rail line connecting the 3 C’s line and the CCA railroad. The connecting tract will start from a point near the baseball ground, run through the factory yard, and connect with the CCA at the White Street Crossing.”
On Aug. 15, 1888 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “On Aug. 13, the construction train of the 3 C’s RR reached Rock Hill and crossed over the CCA railroad at about noon. The company is now digging a well near the residence of Rev. James S. White.” On Sept. 19 the paper further reported. “The first passenger train on the 3 C’s line to arrived at Yorkville came from Rock Hill on Monday Sept. 17. A train on Sept. 18 arrived at 3 p.m., carrying business leaders of various leaders from town on the line. About 150 people dined at the Parrish Hotel and enjoyed the Italian String Band of Charlotte. A grand ball was given that evening at Bratton Hall. Also, A. Frank Woods and Walter B. Moore have received a contract from the 3 C’s to build a freight depot, cotton shed, a dwelling house, and a tool house. The dwelling is to be of four rooms.”
On Oct 10, 1888 the YV Enquirer reported – “The tracts of the 3 C’s reached Hickory Grove yesterday.”
On Nov. 29, 1888 the RH Herald reported – “The 3C’s RR is now using their new depot in Rock Hill. The freight depot should be ready for occupancy within two week and the large cotton platform is also nearing completion.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 7, 1891 – “The CCC Railroad is now under receivership. The railroad has 230 miles of tract completed and another 90 miles graded.”
[Information provided via Along the Land’s Ford Road – Vol. I, 2008 by William B. White, Jr.]
The Herald reported on Dec. 2, 1896 – “That conductor Albergotti of the OR & C, brought over 300 passengers on an excursion train from Heath Springs on Sunday. They came to attend the African American church conference. (Location unknown.)
The Herald on Aug. 4, 1900 reported that Frank Giles, a young Highland Park operative had both feet cut off trying to board the train while it was already moving on the SCG line.”
The Herald reported on July 16, 1904 – “The firm of Jno. R. Ashe Company, whose office was in the old SC&G Depot on White St., dealers in wholesale groceries have discontinued their business.”
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