The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 14, 1886 – “The stock of goods of Ivy and Fewell was sold at auction to Mr. R.T. Fewell. The cost was $8,310., he will be in business with Mr. B.M. Fewell.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 2, 1886 – “The railroad company is adding an extension of about fifty feet to the cotton platform at the Rock Hill depot.” On Sept. 16, 1886 the Herald reported – “The store room of R.T. Fewell and Co., is being repainted and has been greatly improved in appearance.”
On Oct. 21, 1886 the paper reported – “The stable of Dr. J.W. Fewell and Mr. R.T. Fewell in Rock Hill was burned Tuesday night. Mr. Fewell’s horse was badly burned and may die. They lost two buggies, several saddles, and hay / fodder.” The Yorkville Enquirer on Oct. 27, 1886 reported further – “During the fire, the two story frame warehouse of W.G. Reid and Co., about 30 feet from the stable was damaged. The dwelling of Mr. Von Wittkie, about 25 feet away was also damaged.”
The Herald reported on Oct. 14, 1886 – “A telephone line for private use will shortly be established between the offices of R.T. Fewell and Co., in Rock Hill and the residence of Mr. A.F. Fewell in Ebenezer, a distance of two miles. The telephone instruments have been purchased. The poles will cost about $100. to be erected. The expense will be born by Mr. A.F. Fewell and his sons at the R.T. Fewell and Company. It is possible that Mr. F.H. Brown may extend the line to his home in Ebenezer Township, nine miles from Rock Hill.” Later the paper reported on Nov. 25th, – “the line between the store in Rock Hill and the residence of Mr. A.F. Fewell is now in successful operation.”
On Dec. 1, 1886 the YK Enquirer reported – “This line has now been completed and working nicely, it will be a great convenience for the Fewells and the people of Ebenezer.”
The Rock Hill Herald contained an ad on Feb. 17, 1887 for the board of corporators of the Enterprise Telephone Company announcing that capital stock will be sold to the public at the offices of the Savings Bank of Rock Hill. Signing the ad are the corporators: Richard T. Fewell, Edward R. Avery, William J. Roddey, Thomas L. Johnston, John C. Kuykendall, David Hutchison, Jerome B. Johnson, Alexander F. Fewell, Henry Massey, J.M. Cherry, and W. Blackburn Wilson, Junior.”
On March 10, 1887 the paper further reported – “The phone line between Rock Hill and Yorkville is working admirably. The distance is 15 miles and messages between the cities can be heard easily.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 29, 1888 – “R.T. Fewell and Co., have rented the London Storeroom and will occupy it as a grocery dept., an arched doorway has been cut between the two stores.”
The Herald reported on Oct. 18th, 1888 – “Ms. Mary Porter formerly of Lancaster has located in Rock Hill as a mantua maker, she has been a dress maker for several years in Jacksonville Florida, she can be found over the store of R.T. Fewell and Company.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – R.T. Fewell # 110 East Main St., along with Arcade Mill Office and B.M. Fewell, 1917 – R.T. Fewell and Company Coal Yard, 1922/23 – Same, 1946 – R.T. Fewell and Company (Coal and Lumber), 1963 – Rhea Coal and Supply, 1963 – (#106 West Main) B&B Distributors
The Rock Hill Herald of Jan. 28, 1903 reported that Mr. Ben M. Fewell, who has been head of the Smith – Fewell Co., for several years has sold all his stock to Mr. W.B. Dunlap and his sons Ira B. Dunlap and Herbert M. Dunlap. These men have also bought the stock which was owned by R.T. Fewell, Ed Fewell and others. Mr. W.B. Dunlap who has been Sec. – Treasurer of the Arcade Mill, has resigned that position. Mr. Ben Fewell has been in business in Rock Hill for twenty five years, at first with Ivey and Fewell until it went out of existence in 1886, when he became an organizer of R.T. Fewell and Company. This firm went out of existence with the big fire on 1896. In 1898 he was one of the incorporators of Smith – Fewell and Company and was with it until the recent sale.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 6, 1892 – “A frame warehouse of the R.T. Fewell and Co., burned on Sunday morning. The building was empty.”
The Herald reported on Jan. 8, 1896 – “T.B. Clyburn, the bookkeeper for Fewell and Co., has resigned to accept a similar position with Clyburn’s Mill, the old RH Construction Company. Mr. Cephas J. Kee is occupying his old place at Fewell’s.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 23, 1899 – “When the firm of Smith – Fewell was organized it was generally supposed that the firm of R.T. Fewell and Co., would go out of existence. That is not true, and it is still quit an institution with a large business in fertilizer, lumber, shingles, buggies, cotton seed, etc.” (1908 – 103 West Main Street, address of the Smith – Fewell Warehouse)
The RH Record of Dec. 3, 1908 reported “the local offices of the RH Water, Light and Power Company will be moved to the offices of Mr. R.T. Fewell on West Main Street.”
“To the east of the Wood lot on West Main Street was Mr. Ben Fewell’s lumber and coal yard. There was a small brick building on this lot. Just across the street from the Fewell business lot was a brick building occupied by Marshall Oil Company, and formerly by Mr. Ned Marshall’s livery stable. In the years from the Civil War until about the 1880’s or 1890’s this lot was the property of the Rutland family, one of whom, Miss Mariah, was postmistress of Rock Hill when she was a young woman.” [Robbins – White Tour History]
This row of buildings were the offices of the Fewell Company that also maintained a large cotton platform and warehouses behind their office complex bordering the railroad.
The Herald reported on March 16, 1892 – “R.T. Fewell and August Friedheim have gone to the wholesale markets to purchase their stock of spring goods. S. L. Reid and A. E. Smith will soon follow.”
The Record reported on April 25, 1927 – “A fire was reported at the lumber yard of R.T. Fewell and Company on Chatham Avenue.”
Also see Urban Renewal image for a 1950’s look at the area.
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