Layout of the lots on Rock Hill’s Main Street in the mid 19th century.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 6. 1879 – “Mrs. Ann White sold 6 acres to Mrs. J.D. Smith / A.E. Smith, for $512.34.”
The Herald reported Jan. 8, 1885 – “Mr. A.E. Smith, Mr. T.P. Roddey, and Mr. Frel Mobley have formed a partnership for a mercantile business to be known as A.E. Smith and Company. They will occupy the old stand of Mr. A.E. Smith.”
The Herald reported on June 28, 1888 – “Capt. Iredell Jones has moved his stock of implements and machinery to the store of T.A. Robertson and Co., where he will be pleased to see his clients.” Later on Sept. 20, 1888 the paper reported – “Mr. T.A. Robertson and Co., have purchased the stock of goods of the racket store and will enter into the business in a large scale.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – Smith and Fewell Co. or A.E. Smith and Co.,, 1917 – Efird’s Department Store, 1936 – Sterchi Brothers Stores, 1946 – NA, 1963 – Melville’s Women’s Clothing (1946 – 1963: Leader’s Store, Ben Leader – Manager, Miriam P. Leader, Bookkeeper), also: Efird’s Department Store, James T. Jordan Mgr., 116-118 E Main, (Personal note: in 1913, Efird’s was on the north side of Main Street in the Smith-Fewell building.)
This building was constructed in the late 19th century under Architect, Hugh Edward White (1869 – 1939), born in Fort Mill, S.C. he attended Fort Mill Academy and started his practice in about 1894. Remained in Rock Hill until about 1903 and later returned to work. In the 1890’s
Postcard image courtesy of the Turner Postcard Collection – 2012
he worked in an architectural firm in Atlanta. Between 1903-1918 he was a field supervisor of the Supt. Architect Dept. of the Treasury. For about three years 1918-21, he was employed with Charles Coker Wilson in Columbia or Gastonia, N.C.
The Herald reported on May 26, 1881 – “Mr. A.E. Smith intends to erect a nice brick building above the store of Jones and Robertson. Mr. A. D. Holler is the contractor and is now laying the foundation.” Later the Herald reported on Oct. 27, 1881 – “Mr. A.E. Smith has left his old stand in the Holler Building and has taken possession of his new storeroom in the handsome building he erected on Main Street adjacent the building of Jones and Robertson.”
Redevelopment of downtown Rock Hill, S.C.
The YK Enquirer reported on Dec. 15, 1886 – “The office of the Herald Newspaper has moved from the Holler Building to the building lately occupied by Jones and Robertson.” The Herald reported on Sept. 29, 1887 – “T.A. Robertson and Co., have moved into the Jones and Robertson Storehouse, recently occupied by W.L. Roddey and Company.”
The Yorkville Enquirer on Oct. 24, 1888 reported – “A.E. Smith and Co., will erect a brick storehouse at the rear of their store.”
The Rock Hill Record reported, March 26, 1913 – “The Smith Building on Main Street has been leased by the Efird’s, successful merchants who run a chain of dept. stores in N.C., and they will open business here as soon as the necessary changes can be made in the building. Architect N.G. Walker has made the plans for the improvement.”
The Herald reported on Aug 27, 1914 – “that Mr. J.W. Efird is manager of the Rock Hill store of the Efird Chain. His brothers manage the other stores.”
Advertisement from the 1938 Bearcat Annual
The Herald reported Sept. 7, 1939 – “That Melville’s, a new Main Street ladies shop, is to open tomorrow. It is situated in the Smith Building, formerly occupied by Sterchi Brothers Stores. Ben Leader will be the manager. There are other branches in Shelby and Hickory.” (Mr. and Mrs. Ben Leader, prominent Rock Hillian’s managed and operated the Nelville Shop for decades, in 1963 the Leader’s remain active managers of the store.)
Also see Lot #2 – North
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.
R&R HISTORY LINK: Jewish Heritage Project
User comments welcome – post at the bottom of this page.
R&R HISTORY LINK: Efird’s Moved – A History Link
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: