City Directories and History: The ad states the business was at the Overhead Bridge location. The Rock Hill City Directory lists it at #84 Oakland. He resided at 260 West Charlotte Avenue.
“Ken Large – does not have pictures of the station or family members there. He was born in 1938, and does not remember the station when his father ran it. He said his father later ran the Amoco behind the Andrew Jackson Hotel. He believes that Horace Leitzsey ran the station at the Overhead Bridge some time after his father left it.” Information contributed by Ken Large, the son of Junius Large.
JUNIUS KENNETH LARGE – Written and contributed to R&R by P.M. Gettys – 2015
Mr. Large operated a service station on Oakland Avenue at the Overhead Bridge in the late 1930s and later was manager for the Catawba Lumber Company. The Large family lived at 260 Charlotte Avenue.
Mr. Large was born in Darlington County, SC on June 7, 1904. His parents were James R. Large and Lula Fields Large. In the 1910 Census, the family was living in Society Hill and Junius was 6 and was one of nine children. In 1920, the family is located at Alligator in Chesterfield County and the 16-year old Junius is working as a farm laborer. By 1930, James Large had died, and the family was living in McBee, where Junius was living with his mother and was working as a salesman.
Around 1930, Junius moved to Rock Hill. In December 1932, he married Miss Rena Pursley (1906-1984) of Rock Hill. By 1935, the couple was living at 260 Charlotte Avenue, where they remained for the rest of his life. In the 1938 Bearcat, the Rock Hill High School annual, there is an ad for J. K. Large “Atlantic Gas and Oils” at 84 Oakland Avenue. In that same year, the couple’s only child was born, J. K. Large, Jr. The 1940 Census reports the couple as owning their home on Charlotte Avenue and describes Mr. Large as a “manager.” Also in the household is Alicia P. Wallace, age 11.
In 1947, Mr. Large became associated with Catawba Lumber Company, eventually becoming manager of the business. The Larges were members of First ARP Church of Rock Hill.
On March 18, 1957, Mr. Large died suddenly at home at the age of 52. The couple’s son Kenneth was a student at Wofford College at the time. The funeral was held at Bass Funeral Home chapel and was conducted by Rev. W. P. Grier of First ARP Church and Rev. F. T. Cunningham of St. John’s Methodist Church. Survivors included his widow, his son, his mother, who was living in Rock Hill, four sisters and two brothers. Three of the sisters were living in Rock Hill: Mrs. R. W. Galloway, Mrs. J. O. Simpson, and Mrs. E. L. Neely.
Rena Pursley Large died on November 8, 1984. At the time her residence was 1068 Woodland Drive. She was described as a retired bookkeeper at Catawba Lumber Company. The funeral service was conducted at the graveside at Laurelwood Cemetery by Rev. Robert J. Robinson.
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