504 Oakland Avenue the Sykes-Mauldin House

City Directories and History: 1908 – Martha C. Barber, widow of James F. Barber and Mary E. Barber widow of F.H. Barber, 1913 – J.B. Sykes, 1917 – William M. Mauldin, 1936 – Mrs. Hattie C. Griffen (Griffin) 1946 – Hattie C. Griffen (Griffin), 1963 – Cinema Theater

Syleecau Manufacturing Company

This was the original location on an early 20th century home. In 1908’s Rock Hill City Directory there is no listing of a home at this site but by 1913 the prominent J. B. Sykes family was residing here.  Mr. Sykes was a partner in building manufacturing firm, the Syleecau Company located in downtown Rock Hill.  The manufacturing plant was once located on the west side of the railroad tracks behind Winthrop College.  It is plausible that Mr. Sykes had this house constructed to help showcase the work of his newly founded company.

The McElwee Store ledger of 1915-16 states that J. Browning Sykes and wife Amie B., Pres. Mutual Dry Goods Co., were customers at the store and lived at this address.

The Mauldin family moved into the house prior to 1917.  William M. Mauldin was the owner and operator of the Rock Hill Coca Cola Bottling Company which at that time operated near the corner of Black and Dave Lyle Blvd., but would later move to  East White Street.  The Mauldin family resided here until they constructed their fine new home on 607 Aiken Avenue.

Delivering Coca Cola to the residences of York County, S.C. (Courtesy of the Mauldin Collection)

In the 1960s, Oakland Avenue was ripe for development and the historic home of the Sykes – Mauldin families was demolished to make room from Rock Hill’s second successful theater on Oakland Ave., the Cinema.

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Two of the Mauldin children standing in front of their Oakland Ave., home. And a view of the early advertisement campaign launched by the Coco – Cola Company. Courtesy of the Mauldin Family Collection – 2014

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Later Mauldin Home

East White St. Coca Cola Bottling Plant

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