6 Cleveland Street – First Yorkville School & Hart Home

City Directories and History: 1907 & 1908 – John R. and Mary H. Hart (Attorney and Yorkville Mayor), 1958 – Mary H. Hart, 1966 – John R. Hart Jr

Immediately behind the Baptist Church on Cleveland Avenue is

For decades members of the Hart Family were highly influential in Yorkville. These advertisements ran in 1912.

the Smith/Hart/Runge house, a pivotal house. Built circa 1815 by Judge William Smith, who served in the U.S. House and Senate, this home was sold to Robert  McCaw in 1852. Major James F. Hart, a Confederate war hero and senator, bought the house in 1870. After an 1881 fire, the home was rebuilt in Victorian style. Other changes include a front porch and removal of the third floor of the tower.

The first school in Yorkville was taught by Miss Usher in the Major Hart residence, which was burned in 1881. Our venerable fellow-citizen, Mr. Schorb, taught the school of the town in 1853; and it was here that some of our parents were trained to be good and useful men and women. In 1854 a school for girls was organized by Rev. Mr. Adams and this formed the beginning of the Yorkville Female college, which occupied the building recently destroyed by fire. In 1855 King’s Mountain Military academy was established by Colonel Asbury Coward and General Micah Jenkins, opening in the building now occupied by our superintendent, Mr. Walker and his family. In 1857 the comer stone of the present barracks was laid. …. (Information courtesy of and from: YCGHS – The Quarterly Magazine – March 97)

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Jan. 27, 1881 – “The elegant residence of Major J.R. Hart of Yorkville was destroyed by fire last Thursday.  It is believed the fire started in the cook room.”

“Major J.F. Hart has completed a beautiful residence near the site of his house, burned about two years ago, on the McCaw lot. He moved into his new house last week.” Yorkville Enquirer – 1883

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Aug. 12, 1886 – “Mr. James A. Watson of Clover is building a home on New Street in York near the residence of Major Hart.”

The Yorkville Enquirer contained an ad in Nov 6, 1906 for John R. Hart, attorney with an office at #5 Law Range.

[Courtesy of the Yorkville Historical Society – 2002]

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Sanborn Map of Cleveland Street – 1910

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Major Hart was born in Union, S.C. and studied law under B.F. Arthur…

R&R HISTORY LINK: the JOSEPH HART HOUSE

R&R HISTORY LINK: THE HISTORIC HART HOUSE

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