The Herald reported on March 21, 1932 – “W.J. Roddey, who has been manager of the Equitable Life Assurance Society for S.C. and western N.C. since 1888, announced the Edwin R. Jeter and John Roddey are now associated with him in the management of the agency.”
Mrs. E.R. Jeter hired local architect, Mr. A.D. Gilchrist in 1936 for potential remodeling work at her home on Oakland Avenue. – Courtesy of the WU Pettus Archives – 2024
City Directories and History: York Wilson (ca. 1925), 1936 – Archie O. Joslin, 1946 – Edwin R. Jeter, 1963 – David R. Baer
The Herald reported on Feb. 14, 1924 that “a stone house is being constructed next to Oakland Ave. Pres. Church and will be the home of York Wilson. The contractor is H.B. Pattillo and the architect is A.D. Gilchrist. (A photo accompanied the article in the Herald.)
The Rock Hill Hosiery Company and the Jac Feinberg Company was located at the corners of Hope and Willowbrook. RH City Directory of 1938 – Herald reported on March 15, 1941 – “The RH Hosiery Co., will build an annex of brick and steel with dimensions of 62-90 feet. The Rock Hill Lumber Co., has the contract with a bid of $8,389. The Pres. is Erwin Carothers and this is also known as the Jack Feinberg Hosiery Mill. The mill now employees 260 workers and will add 60 additional workman.” The Herald reported on Jan. 26, 1942 – “The Nocturne Co., a new company has leased the machinery and equipment of the former Jac Feinberg Hosiery Mill. D.R. Bear is the agent for the new company. The former Feinberg employees are largely staying with the new company.”
The Joslin – Jeter – Baer home is one of Rock Hill’s finest! It has been the home of several of Rock Hill’s leading citizens who brought employment to the area and make Rock Hill a true business hub. Foremost of these men was Archie O. Joslin who helped create the Bleachery for the Lowenstein Corporation. This business became Rock Hill’s largest single employer and operated well into the 1980s.
In Joslin’s words written around 1956: “My first Christmas party at Rock Hill. S.C., had grown to Include 20,000 children in Huntsville, Ala., Rock Hill, Anderson and Gaffney, S.C.. and Rockingham, N.C., Covington, Ga., and Wilmington, N.C., Lyman nd Columbia and Honea Path, S.C. “The Yule parties started in 1931 when Leon Lowenstein, son of the founder of the company) and I sat on my front porch in Rock Hill. S.C.. to plan a thrill for our employees’ children. Louise Pettus Article Dec. 18, 1987
“The building of the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Plant in 1929 moved M. Lowenstein halfway along the way to becoming a totally integrated producer of textiles. The Rock Hill plant bleached, dyed, printed and finished cloth purchased from a variety of sources, primarily in the South. The rapid expansion of Lowenstein through the acquisition of textile mills produced the raw material for the plant and resulted in its own expansion. By the early 1960s, it grew from a plant with 200,000 square feet to one with more than 2 million square feet, which bleached, dyed, and finished both cotton and synthetic fabrics. New processes such as Sanforizing and the use of Scotchgard TM finishing permitted it to create permanent press cloth during the 1970s. Acquired by Springs Industries in 1986, the plant included 23 roller print machines and 7 screen print machines.” Courtesy of the Lowenstein & Sons Company Website on Rock Hill’s History
Edwin R. Jeter was also instrumental in owning and operating the extensive Equitable Life Assurance Company of Rock Hill. He had acquired it through his connection with the Roddey family and operated it from downtown Rock Hill for decades as one of the largest Equitable agencies in the U.S. And later the Baer family called this house their home as he developed the hosiery factory bearing his name on South Cherry Road in the 1960s.
Click on the More Information > link found below the picture column for additional data or pictures.
Click HOME to be returned to the Oakland Tour.
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Share Your Comments & Feedback: