City Directories and History: 1908 – J.G. Anderson, 1913 – John G. Anderson (Alice), Pres. RH Buggy Co., Ms. Carrie Anderson, 1917 – J.G. Anderson, 1936 – John G. Anderson, 1946 – Alice A. Anderson, 1963 – Mrs. Alice A. Gill
The Herald reported on Jan. 18, 1883 – “That J. P. Gage, attorney at law, has moved into one of the rooms above the store of J. G. Anderson and Company.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 4, 1899 – “In a list of new construction projects in Rock Hill, the J.G. Anderson home was listed as costing $4,000.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 6, 1902 – “Mr. J.C. Wallace is placing lightning rods on the home of Mr. J.G. Anderson. He also has contracts for several additional house.” (This was shortly following damage to numerous homes in RH following a lightning storm.)
The John Gary Anderson home is significant for its association with John Gary Anderson, a key figure in the development of Rock Hill and the co-founder and president of the Anderson Motor Company, one of the few automobile manufacturing companies in the South during the early days of the automotive industry. Anderson was also significant in the field of agriculture for his creation of the Rock Hill Plan for reducing cotton acreage. In addition, the Anderson House is significant for its elaborate Queen Anne design. According to tradition, A. D. Holler, the foremost builder in Rock Hill at the time, built the house in 1898, according to a design published by George F. Barber, a nationally recognized architect from Tennessee who propagated his work in numerous architectural pattern books. It is a two-and-one-half-story frame building with a three-story turret on the north corner of the façade. A one-story porch wraps around the turret and spans the façade, with an attached gazebo at the south (left) end. The roof is of slate, with metal crestings.
Two brick chimneys with corbelled caps rise above the roof. Listed in the National Register May 13, 1982. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]
The Herald reported on March 16, 1892 – “As a drummer, J. G. Anderson is a hummer. Last week he made a trip to the lower part of the State and sold $1,921 worth of goods for the Holler & Anderson Buggy Company in six days. This is a good report, considering the ‘hard times.”
Interestingly, the Anderson home was design according to the local tradition by Architect, Hugh Edward White (1869 – 1939), born in Fort Mill, S.C. who 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 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. However, if he designed anything, it was in conjunction with the stand features offered in the package houses being sold and distributed across the US by George F. Barber.
The Rock Hill Journal reported June 12, 1901 – “That the Rock Hill Buggy Company 509 buggies during the month of May. Their average monthly production is 475.”
The Rock Hill Journal on June 12, 1901 – “J.B. Martin of Hickory Grove, S.C. has the contract for moving two houses on Wilson Street across the street and remodeling them and also for two new five room cottages on Wilson Street.” J.G. Anderson and J.M. Cherry are making these improvements.
The Herald reported on Nov. 15, 1902 – “A few days ago the home of George (D.) Holler narrowly escaped destruction by fire. The fire started from a stove while the family was away. The flames were seen through the window by neighbors who rushed in and put out the fire.” (R&R is not sure that G.D. and G.P. are the same individual. Nor do we know where this home stood.)
The Record reported on Jan. 17, 1907 – “A charter has been issued by the Sec. of State for the Oakland Dairy Farm of Rock Hill. The capital of the company is $5,000. John G. Anderson and George P. Holler are the incorporators. ”
The RH Record contained an ad on Nov. 21, 1907 for the Oakland Dairy Farm. It stated, “Elmore Miller, who has been with us for several months, now has charge of the dairy.”
The RH Record reported on Jan. 23, 1908 – “That the People’s Bank will sell all household furniture of the late George P. Holler at the Oakland Dairy Farm.”
The RH Record reported on March 19, 1908, included an article on a visit of Mr. Grist, the Editor of the Yorkville Enquirer to Rock Hill. He visited the Oakland Dairy. Mr. John G. Anderson has fine cows producing butter, cream and ice cream. The dairy devotes most of its business to ice cream. It is in the charge of Mr. W.R. Miller.
The Rock Hill Record reported on Jan. 25, 1909 – “R.E. Browne, freight agent for the Southern and J.G. Anderson went on an excursion to Havana Cuba. They went to Miami over the new Flagler railroad to Key West and from their to Havana by boat.”
Click on the More Information > link found in the picture column for additional data and articles on J.G. Anderson. Click on Laurelwood Cemetery Tours for his gravesite. Or click HOME to be returned to the Oakland Tour or click HOME to return to the numbered site tour of Rock Hill’s downtown.
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teresa lane says
I love this older home and i love this page,i enjoy looking at the old days iget so much joy out of it,i have lived here all my life and so many changes have took place and its good to be able to come to this page and go back in time i love it