City Directories and History: The old Mack – Belk House of Fort Mill, S.C. is an example of late Victorian architecture with Italianate influences, consists of a one-story rear section built in the early 1860s and a two-story
main block built about 1890. The house shows influences of the Italianate style, including paired windows in the central bay, segmental arches, wide roof overhangs, and a hip roof. There is a one-story hip-roofed porch across the façade and wrapping around a portion of the east elevation. The porch has chamfered posts and a decorative balustrade. The brick is laid in six-to-one common bond.
The house has been associated with the Mack and Belk families for about one hundred years. It was occupied by Dr. Edward Mack, a native of Fort Mill who was a Presbyterian minister that later taught for a number of years at the seminary located in Richmond, Virginia. After his death, the house was owned by his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Mack Belk. Her husband, Thomas Heath Belk, operated a mercantile store on Fort Mill’s Main Street and was part of the Belk family which was developing a chain of stores. Listed in the National Register June 11, 1992. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]
R&R
R&R Notes: It appears the historic house has been added to, remodeled and changed numerous times. Interior finishes are of three distinct “differing” architectural finishes; the last being the early 20th century changes introducing pocket doors, blocked surrounds, and mantels appropriate to the turn of the century period. It is possible that the main staircase has also been reversed to provide a rear second floor landing for a bathroom and other modern conveniences.
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Calvin says
I am the current owner of the Mack-Belk House in Fort Mill. We have done some extensive study on its history. We have come to believe that this was originally a “commercial” venture. Banks St. was the original “Nations Ford” road and leads down to the Catawba and the old Nations Ford crossing. We believe it was used as a “last” stop before traveling south before the river. Supplies, food or visit? The original walls go all through the structure and it was built over in 1890 when it was turned into a upscale home in Fort Mill By the Belks who owned a retail store in downtown Fort Mill.