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

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

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 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.”

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 incumbrances 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 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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