3351 Chester Highway – Bratton Home / Guthriesville Community

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 24, 1893 – “Mr. N.B. Bratton is erecting a neat cottage at this place.”

Queen Anne Architecture 1880 – 1910 The Queen Anne style evolved from those early English designs to become a distinctly American style with numerous, sometimes regional variations. The use of three dimensional wood trim called spindle-work was an American innovation made possible by the technological advances in the mass production of wood trim and the ease of improved railroad transport.  Queen Anne buildings almost always have a steep roof with cross gables or large dormers, an asymmetrical front façade, and an expansive porch with decorative wood trim. A round or polygonal front corner tower with a conical roof is a distinctive Queen Anne feature.  Courtesy Penn Arch. Field Guide – Website

The Yorkville Enquirer of Aug. 24, 1887 reported – “An attempt was made to burn a house on the place of Mrs. Kate Williamson, a widow lady living near Brattonsville.  The house was occupied by a colored man and three colored people have been arrested for the crime.”

City Directories and History:   In 1896, Mr. Mason Bratton, a fourth generation York County Bratton, built this Queen Anne influenced home on Highway 321. The house displays a very prominent front central projecting bay with an entrance porch to each side. Boxed and flush cornice returns, cornice boards, verge board in the gable ends, and cross bar brackets are some of the decorative elements to be found in the construction of this home. (Note the date correction above…)

The RH Herald reported on Oct. 20, 1881 – “On last Thursday Mr. R.E. Guthrie of McConnellsville lost his gin house, two steam engines and several bales of cotton to fire.”

Mason Bratton also opened a general store in the community of Guthries which was at that time on the Chester and York Railroad line, and one of the numerous whistle stops along the tracks. [Historical Properties of York County, SC – 1995]

Courtesy of the New York J.H. Colton and Company, 1856; from Colton’s Atlas of the World

Note the 1860 Census listing is for Robert Guthrie who gave his name to the community. His two story farm house remained standing until circa 1980. His next door neighbors were the McConnells, Smiths, and Harry Wright. Mr. Wright was a free African American citizen who resided in this area for generations. He shopped at the original Bratton store (at Brattonsville) where he and his family had credit, on 4/12/1839 at the store for sugar and other supplies. Son, Isaac Wright was listed in the 1860 census as a successful carpenter.

In the post Civil War era, Rock Hill began to economically and politically dominate the upper Piedmont regions of S.C. One of the reasons can clearly be seen viewing the town as a major railroad hub. Postal Map from 1896 – Courtesy of the Un. of N.C. Guthries in 1896 boasted of a P.O.

Other names that remain associated with the area include the Williamson family who were also neighbors and have continued holding their property intact.

The old Carolina and Northwestern Railroad ran from Chester to Edgemont, North Carolina. It was the so-called “milk run” that transported produce for farmers along the line. It made stops at Lowrys, McConnells, Guthries, Philadelphia, York, Filbert, and Clover. Mr. Smyer, who lived on Columbia Street, and Mr. Lynn, who lived on Hinton Street were the engineers.

Chester County Heritage Book, Vol. I, Edt. by Collins – Knox, Published by the Chester Co Hist. Society – Jostens Printing, 1982

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 4, 1891 –  “A new school house has recently been erected near the residence of Wm. Ross, and Ms. Mary Moore of Guthriesville is the teacher.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Nov. 11, 1891 – “Mr. C. Henry Smith is prop. of the Turkey Creek Training Kennels located five miles south of Yorkville.  For several years he has been engaged in training bird dogs for sportsmen.  Recently he has begun breeding fine setters and pointers for sale.  Last week he sold a thoroughbred Llewellen Setter to a gentleman from Charleston for $125. cash.”

The YV Enquirer reported on Feb. 3, 1892 – “Mr. J. Marion Moore has left McConnells to go to Richburg to take charge of the school.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Nov. 3, 1900 – “Mr. J.J. Clinton, who lives near Guthriesville, had his barn destroyed by fire and lost two mules, a wagon, a buggy and corn and fodder.”

The Herald reported on March 22, 1902 – “Mr. Marion Moore, Principal and Ms. Ollie Elder, Asst. at the Guthriesville School, accompanied by a number of their pupils, visited the Charleston Exposition last week.”

Harvey Teal’s History of Post Office in SC states: F.A. Erwin was postmaster at Guthriesville from 1832 – CSA.

Informative links: Queen Anne Architecture

Open the MORE INFORMATION link (found under the primary picture), to view an enlargeable, 1896 Postal Map of York County, S.C.

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