City Directories and History: 1963 – James H. Bates, 1975 – C. Albert Johnson, III, 1980’s – Ann Jacobs
The Herald reported on Oct. 13, 1887 – “The trustees of the Ebenezer Academy have advertised for a teacher to take charge of the school. Mr. Shurley, who has been principal for two years intends to go to N.C. after the present term.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Nov. 14, 1896 – “Mr. L. Shurley, one of the best educators in this section, has taken charge of the school at Pleasant Valley, S.C., leaving his business in the hands of a manager. Mr. Shurley was at one time principal of the Ebenezer Academy and is a brother of J. A. Shurley, York County Supt. of School.”
The Rock Hill Record reported on Oct 10, 1907 – “Mrs. Rosa G. Strait will move into her new home in Oakland. The house on Johnston Street vacated by Mrs. Strait will be occupied at once by Mrs. J. A. Shurley of Ebenezer.”
Located at 1544 Ebenezer Road today is the Barron-Fewell-Shurley House, doubtless the oldest structure in Rock Hill, having been built in the late eighteenth century, probably as a meeting-house (church) or a session house for one of the early Presbyterian churches in Ebenezerville. The house was moved from its original site a half mile to the west in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Today the house is used as an attorney’s office but was until recently a private residence.
In close proximity to Rock Hill, is the beautiful village of Ebenezer, celebrated as an ancient seat of learning, now enjoying the services of Mr. Shurley, a very laborious, experienced and successful teacher. The Academy at Ebenezer, is of long standing, and under the auspices of Harris, of Bishop and of Alston, (who was induced about a year since, to remove to Rock Hill,) sent forth many eminent scholars, who have been an ornament to the bar, the bench, and pulpit, and healing art. Ebenezer, besides a flourishing Male Academy, has also a flourishing Female School in operation, has a large Church, an extensive dry goods store, a well stocked grocery, and a well-filled clothing establishment, owned by enterprising proprietors, and some ten to twelve elegant private residences, occupied by citizens great responsibility, urbanity, and given to hospitality. [Along the Land’s Ford Road, Vol. I, – Wm. B. White, Jr.]
The home originally belonged to William Barron of Ebenezerville whose daughter Margaret married Alexander Fewell. One of their daughters was then married to John R. Shurley and they made it their home until 1908 when the property was sold once again to J.B. Mickle of McConnells. In the 1960’s C.C. Hargrove purchased the house and heavily remodeled it. Ann Jacobs worked hard to restore the house and remove many of its 20th century additions to enhance its historic character in the later 20th century.
John R. Shurley (1818-March 15, 1863), son of Meredith Shurley, was headmaster of Shurley Institute, Winnsbono, S.C. where he met and married Martha Ann Leitner, Dec 8, 1847. They had two daughters who died young and a son, Leitner Shurley.23 Martha Ann died ca 1852 and Shurley married second, Mary Ann Fewell (29 June 1833-2 Aug. 1900) of Ebenezer where Shurley headed the Ebenezer Academy. Children of the second marriage: Margaret Elizabeth m. N. J. N. Bowen; Mary Celia m. Lucian Gill; Sallie McMeekin; John Alexander m. Mary Josephine Fewell; Fannie Matilda; Barron B. and William Rooker. Courtesy of the YCGHS —June 1995
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