“Yorkville’s influential newspaper editor – L. M. Grist.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – L.M. Grist and Sons: Wood D. Grist, Oliver E. Grist, Albert M. Grist, printers and publishers,
A pivotal building, The Yorkville Enquirer brought out its first issue January 4, 1855, in a seven – column folio published by L. M. Grist
Son’s and friends. By the time the War Between the States broke out, L. M. Grist and family were the sole owners and lived in a home next door to the building. They had subscribers in nearly every Southern state. In 1861, L. M. Grist left to serve the Confederacy, and his father John C. Grist took over the paper until the close of the war. Only twice did the publication fail to come out semi-weekly during these years, and that was due to the lack of paper.

Image from the 1908 Rock Hill City Directory
From 1866 the paper grew until fire destroyed the original building in 1890. The Grist family built the present structure in 1891 and continued to publish the paper. It is a fine example of 1890 architecture that displays “Folk” Victorian symmetry. The cornice features foliage design, leaf work, a motif and dental molding. False windows are also located on the building. The building has a hurricane support system with star designs visible on the sides of the building. These “earthquake rods” are visible on a number of buildings in the business area, many being installed after the Charleston earthquake of 1896. [Courtesy of the Yorkville Historical Society]
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 27, 1882 – “Mr. T.B. McClain’s new home, on Congress Street, opposite the Enquirer office, is going up rapidly.”
On Nov. 30, 1882 the Enquirer reported – “The Enquirer Office now has a portrait of the late John E. Grist by the artist, Mr. David L. Clark of High Point, N.C. It was made from the image on an old daguerreotype and is respected as a truthful likeness.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Feb. 22, 1883 reported – “Mr. T.B. McClain is finishing his new residence opposite the Enquirer office building.”
On May 26, 1887 the Herald reported – “Mr. L. George Grist has just occupied his new home on Main Street in Yorkville.” (Congress Street)
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 7, 1891 on the fire on the Enquirer property which occurred on Nov. 23, 1890. “Mrs. T.B. McClain heard the flames and her husband investigated and found that the cellar was in flames. A large crowd assembles, but the fire was too far advanced to control. The residences of T.B. McClain and S.L. Davidson, just across the street, were seriously scorched. The residence of the proprotor of the Enquirer was saved by citizens who went on the roof with wet blankets. The residence of J.W. Dobson was burned but his furniture was saved. The Enquirer Company lost about $10,000. in the fire.” *** In the fire back issues of the paper were lost for a number of years. Several friends has provided copies of those issues: Capt. W.L. Roddey has provided copies of papers for the years 1887 and 1888.
The YV Enquirer on Sept. 9, 1891 reported – “Mr. W.G. Adams has a contract to build a storeroom and dwelling house for Mr. J.W. Dobson on the corner of Congress and Madison streets.”
The YV Enquirer of Jan. 11, 1893 reported, “Mr. J.W. Dobson and family are now occupying their handsome new house on the corner of West Madison and Congress.”
Two York County supporters of Blease, W.H. Windle (200 pounds) and Thompson Jackson (350 pounds) attacked the 160-pound Grist with walking sticks in 1908. Pettus
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 14, 1891 – “For the present the Enquirer office is located in the Kennedy Brother and Barron Building. Patrons are requested to come in by way of the alley between this store and the Allison Building.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Jan. 11, 1893 – “Mr. Lewis G. Grist has moved into a house on Cleveland Avenue….”
Albert Mason Grist (15 Feb 1874 – 9 Mar 1941)
(We have so frequently copied columns in the Yorkville Enquirer written by A. M. Grist, editor, that we thought our readers might like to know a bit more about him.) Albert M. Grist was a son of Capt. Lewis M. Grist, publisher and editor of the Yorkville Enquirer from January 1855 to Jan 15, 1903. His father was a third-generation newspaper man who began working on a printing press at age nine. In 1851 Lewis Grist purchased The Farmer’s Miscellany from his father and four years later changed the name of the paper to Yorkville Enquirer. By the outbreak of the Civil War the Yorkville Enquirer had subscribers in every South Carolina county and in every Southern state. When the Civil War came along Lewis Grist enlisted and handed the paper over to his father who managed to get out the paper all but two weeks when he could not secure paper. Lewis Grist rose to rank of Captain and was wounded at Second Manassas. Lewis Grist came back in 1865 and, in spite of hard times, managed to continue the paper and grow. He had five sons and when each reached the age of 13 he took them out of school and put them to work on the paper. Albert M. was the fourth son. His second-oldest brother Wood Davidson Grist was editor for 35 years until his death in 1825. Older brothers, George and Oliver E., had gone into other lines of work. It was time for Albert to take over. Albert was a history buff. He wanted to know the history of York County and he wanted his readers to know it. Several years after taking over the newspaper he began spending two days of the week roaming over the area collecting material for a twice-a- week column he called “Just A-Rolling Along the Way—In my Green Chevrolet.” The 1935 edition of Who’s Who in South Carolina reveals that Grist was a deacon, Sunday school superintendent, and teacher in the Yorkville Baptist church. He was also an active Mason. His wife, Bettie Blair, died in 1929. They had two daughters. (Information courtesy of and from: YCGHS – The Quarterly Magazine)
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Payment for subscription by Ann H. White of Rock Hill in 1859. Courtesy of the White Family Collection – 2008
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