The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 4, 1916 – “The Palmetto Theater will undergo remodeling, according to manager A.D. Neal. The front will be improved and interior will be repainting and decorated.” Later on March 27th the paper reported – “The work of remodeling the theater has been completed. The front has been renewed and the inside has be repainted and decorated. New railing and curtains have been installed. The owners are: A.D. Neal and Company.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – M. Benj. Massey – Grocer, wife Lillie, (302 North Wilson), Gem Rest., Prop. John R. Burk, wife Mary (Home near the end of Jones), Rock Hill Candy Kitchen, D.T. Chellis, wife Theresa (232 West White St.,) – 1917 – Palmetto Theatre, 1946 – (#125) Carolina Theatre, Dora E. Jordan Confectioner, (#126) Hinson’s Cash Grocery, 1963 – Kimbrell’s Furniture Company
The Herald reported on March 21, 1903 – “Mr. M.B. Massey has bought the stock of light groceries and confectionaries of Milling and Johnson and has moved the goods to his store on Depot Street. Milling and Johnson will remain in business as wholesale grocers.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 10, 1905 – “M.B. Massey who conducts a grocery on Railroad Ave., has bought the stock and fixtures of R.A. Mosley on the same street and will continue it as a branch of his main store. R.W. Featherstone will have charge of this store.”
The Rock Hill Record contained an ad on Dec. 21, 1908 for the Candy Kitchen, located at 144 East Main Street, Gust Penusis and Son “Largest Assortment of Fruit and Candy in the City.”
The RH Record reported on May 10, 1909 – “Reported the oil stove in Gus Penuses – Penusis’s Candy Kitchen on Railroad Ave., caught fire. It was extinguished with little damage.”
The Rock Hill Record reported on June 17, 1909 – “Boyce Bigham has purchased the Rock Hill Pressing Club and will consolidate it with the Red Cross Pressing Club in the rear of Mr. M.B. Massey’s store on Railroad Avenue.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 4, 1914 “Rock Hill had three theaters, Pastime Reels, The Grand Theatre, and the Palmetto.”
The City of Rock Hill began their urban renewal project to transform the city in the late 1960s and it continued into the early 1970s. It involved the demolition of hundreds of homes and private businesses in the African American area as well as the East Black, West Black, Johnston, Hampton, and Trade Street corridors were all affected. Within a short span, nearly 40% of Rock Hill’s older downtown buildings were destroyed to provide economic opportunities, benefiting a few businessman. As part of this action, the railroad lines were moved and a new bridge crossing over Black Street was built to also alleviate traffic jams created by trains but in doing so, the old Rock Hill Depot building was also razed.
But the most transformative aspect of the move was to add municipal buildings to the landscape; the Rock Hill City Hall, the Center for Aging, the Library and the Rock Hill Police Department buildings.
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