329 Hampton Street – Historic Lyle House and Hospital / Adams Boarding House

City Directories and History:  1908 – Mrs. M. H. Adams, James L. Adams (Adams Boarding House) Resident Manager of Hamilton Carhartt Mills, Jennie Adams, Mary Adams, Thomas Adams (student) and Mrs. Mary H. Adams, widow of W.S. Adams (operating Boarding House), ( W. Speight Adams and Rachel – Tres and Manager of the Harris Man. Co.), 1913 – James L. Adams and wife Mary (Huckabee and Adams),  also Mary Adams , stenographer for Wilson & Wilson, Mary H. Adams (widow), 1917 – Calvin M. Whisonant, 1922/23 – Dr. David Lyle and L.B. McFadden, 1936 – David Lyle, W. Charles Williford, 1963 – Lyle A. Nash

Dr. David Lyle was the brother-in-law of early Rock Hill doctor, Wm. Frank Strait, M.D.  Presumably, Dr. Strait was influential in brining his sister’s husband to the city to also practice medicine.  R&R.com

R&R HISTORY LINK: The J.B. Johnson home link.

“To the south of the O’Neal house (across what is now Marion Street) stood the large residence of Dr. J. B. Johnson (always called “Dr. Boney Johnson”). The house had a porch across the front and another along the side facing Marion Street. J. B. Johnson was one of Rock Hill’s first druggists. He had extensive landed interests and was a principal stockholder in the People’s Bank and the People’s Trust Company. Mrs. Johnson was Ida Boyd, daughter of one of the early pastors of St. John’s Methodist Church. Dr. Boney Johnson was a long-time, popular mayor of Rock Hill. This house later became the Lyle Hospital.”  [Robbins – White Tour Booklet]

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 27, 1886 – “On Sunday, the stable of Dr. J.B. Johnson in the rear of his residence on Hampton Street was destroyed by fire.  He saved a phaeton and three horses.  The loss is estimated at $125.”

The Herald reported on Nov. 12, 1890 – “J.B. Johnson has contracted to have four rooms added to his residence on Hampton Street.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Jan. 11, 1899 that the wedding will take place tonight of the popular young physician, Dr. W.W. Fennell to Miss Mary daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Lyle.  The wedding will take place at the ARP Church in Edgemoor, officiated by Rev. A.S. Rogers. The couple will board the Seaboard Airline Railroad for New York where they will spend a month.  Dr. Fennell will take a special course in Dr. Gill Wylie’s hospital while there.

The RH Record reported on Nov. 21, 1907 – “Mr. W. S. Adams and family are now living with Mr. Adams mother on Hampton Street, having vacated the house on Johnston Street, which is now being renovated and enlarged.”

The Lyle Hospital pictured here was operated by my grandfather, Dr. David Lyle. My grandmother, Martha Nash Lyle, came to Rock Hill as a registered nurse at the old Fennel Infirmary and met and married my grandfather. My grandfather was also a former Mayor of Rock Hill. After his death my grandmother turned the home into apartments for mostly family although she occasionally rented an apartment. I have lived in the house off and on since I was born in 1943. Most significantly while my husband, S. Michael (Mickey) Camp, was studying at USC and USC School of Law. We were there for several years until he began practicing law in Rock Hill. My son, S. Michael Camp, Jr., was born while we were living there. We also have an older daughter, Nancy Camp Johnson, who lived there as well. Over the years the house was

The Marion St., side of the Lyle home. Courtesy of the Hutchison Collection – 2015

occupied by all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. During and after WWII all of us lived in the hospital itself and the “little house” next door – I believe it was a home for the nurses. The little house is where we lived after we moved from Charleston to Rock Hill when I was three weeks old. The houses were occupied by three generations of Lyle family members over the years. Our parents and children; the children as we grew up, married and needed a place to start our families and, of course, my dear grandmother, the hub of our family. With the exception of two cousins born much later all of my father’s family lived there at one time or another and some of us several times. It was a large old home with an enormous entrance hall and four apartments. It was the Lyle Compound.

Prior to my grandfather’s death the family lived in a home on land that is now part of Glencairn Gardens. The house was moved around the corner to Edgemont Avenue and has been owned and occupied by the Finch family for years. My sister -in-law, Carol Finch Lyle, lived in that house. Sadly after my grandmother died the children sold the house and it was torn down and replaced with a small apartment complex. There was much activity on Hampton and Marion Streets back then. Marion Street would be blocked off some nights for skating. And Gettys’ Store on Hampton Street was a favorite place to visit when we had a few pennies to spend. Mrs. Bell had a cow, Bossy, in her backyard and we played with her like a pet. Everyone knew everyone and the children all played together. Someone would come around selling produce from the back of a truck. Best of all we lived two blocks from Main Street and as we got older we were allowed to walk downtown on our own. So many wonderful memories. And what better way to bond than all living together as one large family. It was a happy and busy home.

Information submitted by Martha Lyle Poole – 3.8.14

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The McEwee Store ledger of 1915 states that Calvin M. Whisonant and wife Sally F., are account holders. He is employed with Whisonant Real Estate Co., at 151 East Main Street.

The Herald reported on Jan. 18, 1915 -” Reported that Dr. R.M. Kennedy will move to Newberry.  He came to Rock Hill four years ago to open dental offices.  Mrs. Kennedy’s parents are in failing health in Newberry.  Dr. Kennedy practiced there for eight years before coming to Rock Hill.  Dr. David Lyle has purchase the Kennedy house on Marion Street.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Feb. 28, 1916 – “Dr. R.M. Kennedy has moved from Newberry to Due West, where he will open offices for the practice of dentistry.  He practiced in Rock Hill before making his home in Newberry.”

The McElwee Store ledger of 1915 states A.R. Reinhart and wife Iva live at this address and hold an account at the store, rooming at this address.

(The following obituary was sent in by T. E. Gill, copied from the Rock Hill Evening Herald November 27, 1933.)
J. A. Gill is Called Beyond – One of the Few Remaining Vets of Gray Here Passes

James Archibald Gill, 89, one of the few remaining confederate Veterans in this immediate section, died at 5 o’clock this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. M. Williford, on Hampton Street. Mr. Gill had been in failing health for some months and was critically ill some days prior to his death. He was born December 18, 1844, in the Fishing Creek section of Chester County, the son of Strait Gill and Feriba Steel Gill. He lived in South Carolina until several years after the War Between the States and then moved to Texas and since that time had lived in booth states.

Mr. Gill entered the Confederate service at the age of 16 years. He served for four years in company H, First South Carolina Regiment Cavalry, Hampton’s Legion, and was not wounded during the entire war. He followed Hampton throughout his campaign, and helped place him in office during the Reconstruction period. He was an enthusiastic member of the Ku Klux Klan and loved to reminisce of his many and varied experiences during the time he was in the army and service. Twice married, his first wife was Miss Nannie Partlow and he was married secondly to Mrs. Mary Workman Neely. Surviving are three children from each marriage as follows: Mrs. Louise Gill Simpson, Richburg; Richard Gill, Henrietta, Texas; Mrs. Margaret Gill Williford, Rock Hill; Fred Gill, Texas; Mrs. Essie Gill Freeman, Colorado; W. C. Gill, Texas; Mrs. Gillie(?) Neely Williford of this city is a step-daughter.

Mr. Gill was a gentleman of the “Old South” as well as a man of high integrity. He had a host of friends in this section of South Carolina as well as in Texas, where he formerly lived. Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church with burial in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Shaw Hamer and Gill Simpson, of Lando; Charles and
James Williford and Frank Sherer, of Rock Hill.  (Reprint courtesy of the CDGHS – Bulletin)

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R&R HISTORY LINK: the Lyle Family Home in Chester, S.C.

R&R HISTORY LINK: the Strait Family lives just around the block…

R&R HISTORY LINK: Home of Miles Johnson

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