The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 10, 1876 – “W.B. Wilson, Jr., of the firm of Wilson and Wilson of Yorkville has located in Rock Hill, where he will conduct a branch office of the legal firm.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 13, 1879 – “W.B. Wilson, Jr., and A.E. Smith have each recently purchased a site for a residence.”
City Directories and History: 1906 RH PO Ledger: W.B. Wilson Jr., Mrs. Willie Wilson, 1908 – William B. Wilson, Jr., Willie B. Wilson, (Attorney with Wilson and Wilson) listed as a new house. 1922/23 – W.B. Wilson, Jr.,
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Sept. 11, 1889 – “Last Monday John L. Black, representing the Magnetic Iron and Steel Ore Mining Co., paid W.B. Wilson, Jr., of Rock Hill, $12,000. for a tract of mineral land owned by him contiguous to the lands owned by the company.”
The Herald reported on April 29, 1903 – “Mr. S.A. Clark has the contract to erect a seven room cottage for W.B. Wilson, Jr., work on which will begin as soon as the materials are on hand. The cottage will be located in Oakland opposite the residence now occupied by Mr. Wilson’s father.” (Oratory) *** It appears this was the house that burned, being replace in ca. 1916 by the current stone house.
R&R HISTORY LINK: AIKEN AVE NATIONAL REGISTER IMAGE(S)
W.B. Wilson’s fine home constructed after a fire destroyed an earlier house here in 1916. W.B. Wilson was one of the prime moves in not only the development of Oakland Avenue but attracting Winthrop College to make Rock Hill its’ home.
The Herald reported on June 18, 1895 – That W.G. Adams will build a house for W.B. Wilson. It will be a twelve room dwelling on the premises in Oakland known as the Simon Mills place, about three hundred yard in front of the home of W.H. Stewart. It is of modern design and two stories in height. (The location of this home is approximately in this vicinity and may have been the Wilson’s home that burned.) Furthermore, the Herald reported on Oct. 12, 1895 – “That George B. Anderson and family moved yesterday into the house recently occupied by Honorable W.B. Wilson and Family and the Wilson’s have now moved to their own elegant new home.”
W.B. Wilson, Sr. of York, S.C. Image courtesy of the YC Library Collection
The Herald reported on Sept. 27, 1899 – “Mr. W.B. Wilson, Jr. of Rock Hill has a reputation as a football player. He is now attending college at Sewanee College and a correspondent from that place says that Wilson is easily the best QB in the south.”
The Herald reported on July 18, 1903 – “That contractor S.A. Clark is erecting a nine room house for the Messes Roach on Caldwell Street for $2,000. and a five room cottage on Academy for Mr. John A. Steele for $1,400; a six room cottage for Mrs. L. A. Barron on Park Avenue for $1,147.00; an eight room cottage for W.B. Wilson, Jr., at the corner of Aiken and Charlotte for $1,500; a nine room dwelling for Mr. J. Lon Moore on Oakland Avenue $1,900. Also Mr. M.B. Massey is to erect an eight room house on East Wilson for about $1,750. and plans are being drawn for an eight room dwelling for Dr. W.A. Presley on South Johnston to cost about $1,800.”
A.D. Gilchrist is credited with the 1923 design of the York Wilson home at a cost of $20,000. SC Architects: 1885-1935, Wells and Dalton, 1992
Alfred D. Gilchrist was born and educated in Manchester, England and came to America in 1900. In 1912 he arrived in Rock Hill and began practicing architecture. Several building can be attributed to him; Ebenezer School – 1921, Stevenson Theater, Oakland Avenue Pres. Church, and several buildings at Winthrop University. His son, William P. Gilchrist worked as a designer and draftsman with the firm. Following WWII, Gilchrist associated with W. Lewis Cook in the firm Gilchrist and Cook. That firm had buildings including: Woodland Un. Methodist Church, Park Baptist Church and homes and schools. Ms. Bessie L. Garrison, Rock Hill Historical Research Papers #10 – 1952.
The Rock Hill Record reported on May 16, 1907 – “J.M. Cherry has had work done on the road adjoining his farm back of the CMA Ground (Catawba Mil. Academy), he has had the street running between his farm and that place layed off and graded from the corner where the road enters his plantation down towards the home of W.B. Wilson, Esq. He is also putting in drains, the work is being done under the supervision of Frank Adams who is in charge of the Cherry farm.”
The Rock Hill Record reported Jan. 13, 1927 – “Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Wilson have closed their home on Aiken Ave., and have taken an apartment at the Andrew Jackson Hotel for the winter.”
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R&R HISTORY LINK: THE CATAWBA ALLIANCE GRANGE
R&R HISTORY LINK: BAYS & BLACKMAN HOUSE
R&R HISTORY LINK: OAKLAND DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
R&R HISTORY LINK: the WILSONS MOVE FROM YORK TO ROCK HILL
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