City Directories and History: 1908 – Mrs. N.R. Tompkins and R.E. Tompkins, 1917 – R. E. Tompkins, 1922 – R.E. Tompkins, 1946 – Grace Tompkins, A. Cicero Johnson, 1963 – Dorothy C. Tompkins, 1975 – Trans South Financial
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 27, 1888 – “Mr. Robert E. Tompkins, Supt. of the Haile Gold Mine, was in Rock Hill hunting a home. He will purchase a lot soon. Dr. J.M. Hunter, also of the Haile Gold Mine will move to Rock Hill in November.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 18th – “Mr. R.E. Tompkins has purchased the desirable lot nearly opposite the residence of Capt. E.R. Mills, and expects to commence the erection of a two story dwelling within a few day.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 24, 1888 – “Mr. R.E. Tompkins, Supt. of the Haile Gold Mine, has purchased a lot on Main Street and will erect a dwelling.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 14, 1889 – “The residence of Mr. R. E. Tompkins on Main Street, opposite the graded school, has been completed and the family moved into it last week.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Feb. 1, 1893 – “Dr. J.C. Kirkley, one of the best informed physicians in the district and Capt. R.E. Tompkins are fitting up a drugstore in the corner storeroom of the Kershaw Hotel. They will offer a full line of drugs and paints and will compound prescriptions.”
The Herald took this information from a Kershaw Letter in the State Paper.
The Herald reported on March 21, 1900 – “We understand the family of Mr. R.E. Tompkins will return to Rock Hill about the first of April and occupy their old home on East Main Street.”
The McElwee Store journal listed Mrs. R.E. Tompkins as a client at the store in 1915. Douglas, Grace, Dorothy and Mannie R., are listed as children of the Tompkins.
“Let us return to East Main Street. Next east to the E. E. Poag house was a large two-story frame house built in 1889 by Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Tompkins. This house had two main entrances, one on Main and the other on Academy (or Confederate Avenue). Mr. Tompkins came down from New York State when Haile’s Gold Mine in Kershaw County, S.C., was in operation. He built his house and moved to Rock Hill so that he could educate all his children there.” [Robbins – White History Tour]
This two story house was reported to R&R to have been constructed in circa 1905. The front porch faced to the left and there was a prominent bay window. There was a front projecting gable that had decorative sawn brackets. Over the front door there was a half round window making this a very handsome and busy home architecturally which bridged the high Victorian era into the more classical styles of the early 20th century.
The Tompkins family had moved from Camden, S.C. to Rock Hill to take advantage of the excellent public school system. Historic Research Papers in the Rock Hill Library state, “Robert Edmond Tompkins (1854 – 1922), moved from Camden in 1891 to provide his children with a good education in Rock Hill. Mr. Banks was Supt. of the schools which had a good reputation. The present homesite was purchased from the White Family and a residence erected in what was then a cotton field. Only a few homes had been built on Main Street at that time. Grace and Dorothy Tompkins are living in the old home (1952) and are among the few who still live and own their original home on Main Street.”
The Rock Hill Journal reported on Dec. 11, 1901 – “The well house at the R.E. Tompkins home on East Main St., caught on fire as a result of ashes being dumped too near it.”
The Herald reported on June 11, 1902 – “That the stock of Gibson and Tompkin’s, which is in bankruptcy, will be offered for sale on Monday.”
The Herald reported on Feb. 11, 1903 – “A dog, supposed to be mad, was killed on East Main Street near the residence of R.E. Tompkins.”
The Herald reported on Sept. 1, 1925 – “Mrs. E.A. Austin and her two daughters have taken up residence in the upper apartment in the house of Mrs. R.E. Tompkins on East Main.”
The Herald reported on Feb. 18, 1942 – “Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Drennan have moved from 367 Flint St., to 371 East Main Street.”
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