404 East Main Street – Rock Hill, S.C.

R&R HISTORY LINK: Wymojo Mill

City Directories and History:  1908 – J.B. Johnson, 1917 – J. B. Johnson, 1922 – J.B. Johnson, 1946 – Mrs. Ida Johnson, 1963 – Mrs. Luciee Rossi, 1975 – William H. Taylor, Gene W. McCormick, 2014 – Social Services

*** Note R. Lee Kerr is listed in the RH PO Ledger as living on Charlotte Ave., no number in 1914.

The RH Herald reported on July 28, 1881 – “Mr. J.B. Johnson’s Soda Fountain is now in operation.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 8, 1881 – “Harmony Church, of which Rev. J.H. Edwards is pastor, is now being remodeled.  (On Oct. 27, the Herald further stated, T.C. Ward of Rock Hill is is the contractor for this work.) The building will soon be ready for painting, the materials for which will be supplied by Mr. J.B. Johnson of Rock Hill. He has on hand two tons of lead and ten barrels of oil for various paint jobs.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 17, 1888 – “Mr. J.B. Johnson will soon commence work on three Elm Street cottages.”

The Herald reported on May 2, 1889 – “That Mr. John T. Roddey has let the contract to W. G. Adams for a ten room house on the lot on Main Street south of the avenue leading to the Graded School.”

The Charleston News and Courier reported on June 7, 1890 – “J.B. Johnson is a large dealer in drugs, oils, paints, cigars, tobacco and onion sets.  He occupies a handsome and suitable store opposite the Roddey Building and does a good business.”

The YC Enquirer reported on Jan. 20, 1892 – “There was a fire in the kitchen house of Mr. John T. Roddey on Main Street.  That building was lost along with china stored there but his home was not damaged.”

The Herald reported on May 30, 1896 – “Dr. J.B. Johnson is erecting on west main street the 72 house which he has built in Rock Hill.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 23, 1898 that Mr. J.B. Johnson of Rock Hill has sold his drug business to Mr. Andrew J. Evans and will now devote his time to real estate.

The Rock Hill Herald reported on May 17, 1899 – “Mr. R. Lee Kerr is having some very elaborate improvements made on his attractive residence.  A Charlotte paper hanger is now engaged in decorating the dining room.”  On Oct. 4, 1899 the Yorkville Enquirer reported on these improvements at the cost of $2,500.”

The Herald reported on April 4, 1903 – “J.R. Neisler has moved his family to the residence of R. Lee Kerr. The cottage on White Street vacated by Neisler is now occupied by R.L. Mobley and family.”

The Rock Hill Herald on Jan. 8, 1969 – Carried a photo of the old J.B. Johnson Home on E. Main Street being demolished, making way for the new Social Security Administration building.

No better example of the business opportunities offered by the town of Rock Hill is

An 1890 etching in the Charleston News and Courier, of J. B. Johnson, one of Rock Hill’s leading businessman.

afforded than in the career of Dr. J. B. Johnson. This gentleman came here from Yorkville, in 1872, a boy of thirteen upon his own resources, and generally speaking, without friends or money. In 1876 he secured a situation in the drug store of Dr. T. C. Robertson, at a salary of $4.50 per month. At that time there was not $500 worth of drugs in the town.  Mr. Johnson worked faithfully, and at the end of two years service, were rewarded with a one-third, or working interest, in the business. The senior member of the firm retiring in I860, Dr. Johnson purchased his interest with a “promise to pay” $2,500. He is now free from encumbrances and has acquired considerable property outside. MEN OF THE TIME by J.C. Garlington

“Opposite the Good house on Main Street (southeast corner) stood the large and imposing frame residence of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Roddey, Sr., probably built about 1889. There were several outbuildings on the lot. In later years the R. Lee Kerr family lived there, and still later the J. B. Johnson family occupied the house (the family of Dr. Boney Johnson). This house had a few stained glass windows and the millwork was both expensive and elaborate. An iron fence enclosed the entire lot. The Social Security Office occupied this lot in later years.”  [Robbins – White History Tour]

Designed originally by Rock Hill Architect, Hugh Edward White (1869 – 1939), born in Fort Mill, S.C. he 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.

The Rock Hill Journal reported on June 19, 1901 – “Dr. J.B. Johnson is building three four room cottages on East Main Street which will be for rent.  He has built about 108 houses for sale and rent in Rock Hill during the last few years.”

The Rock Hill Record reported on Feb. 2, 1904 – “That it is rumored that a compromise has been reached in the lawsuit of J.B. Johnson of this city, for his son Julian, against the Southern Railway, for injuries sustained in the Fishing Creek wreck on Sept. 3, 1903.”

The Rock Hill Herald of Aug. 30, 1918 reported, “Julian B. Johnson, who has been in the mts. of Western NC recuperating has returned home.  His condition is greatly improved as a result of his stay.”

The Rock Hill Record reported on Jan. 10, 1927 – “There was a fire on the roof on Sunday of the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Johnson on Confederate Avenue.”

The Herald reported on July 3, 1897 – “S.T. Frew and Co., are erecting a handsome iron fence around the homes of R. Lee Kerr and Mrs. W.M. Frew.”

The McElwee Store ledger stated that Jerome B. Johnson and wife Ida B., (Pres. of RH Drug Co.,) and Julian B. Johnson and his wife Isbell (Sec. of RH Drug Co.), each had accounts at the McElwee Store.

The Herald reported, Oct. 4, 1935, “That Mr. and Mrs. N.O. McDowell moved yesterday from the Moore residence on East Main Street to an apartment in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Anderson on East Main Street.”

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R&R HISTORY LINK:  RH Drug Company Link

R&R HISTORY LINK:  Earlier home of J.B. Johnson

R&R HISTORY LINK:  Train wreck involving son of J.B. Johnson

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