City Directories and History: Ann H. White purchases goods from all over the state during the 1862 period, including sugar from the Columbia merchants E. Hope and G.D. Hope. See receipt for payment this page.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 13, 1878 – “A major fire in downtown Rock Hill was destructive. The sky was lite so the fire could be seen in Chester. The following merchants were affected: J.M. Ivey and Co., Ivey and Fewell, J.R. London, Dr. T.C. Robertson, W.L. Roddey, J.C. Sharpe, H.V. Desportes, W.L. Roach, Hagins Brothers, J.P. Caston, J.M. Howe and Co., and William Mitchell and Company. Many of these merchants were able to save some of their goods and are offering them for sale in makeshift places. The safe of J.M. Ivey and Co., withstood the fire and the books, papers and money are in perfect preservation.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 17, 1878 – “Mr. J.M. Howe, who has been a tailor for many years, has begun a grocery business under the name of J.M. Howe and Co., in the Morrison Exchange Building on Depot Street.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 18, 1878 – “One of the newly finished storerooms of R. Morrison is now occupied by J.M. Howe and Co., with a full stock of liquors, wines and cigars.”
The Yorkville Enquire of July 18, 1878 – “Mr. Murray from Charlotte now has a brick yard near Rock Hill and is making 16,000 bricks daily. The bricks are made by new and modern machinery. They will be used to build the storehouses of; Ivey, London, Roach, and J.J. Hagins.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on an article in the Charlotte Observer describing the work of P.M. Murray building contractor of Charlotte was doing in Rock Hill destroyed by fire about three months ago. “He has over 100 hands at work at the brickwork now going on. The finishing touches will be made soon on the buildings of J.M. Ivy and Co. and Hagins and Company.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Jan. 29, 1885 – “Capt. J.C. Sharpe has moved his harness and shoe shop to the storehouse on Depot Street recently occupied by R.J. Hagins and Brother.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on May 19, 1887 – “W.S. Creighton and Co., have moved into their new building and are beginning to receive their stock which has been bought by Mr. W.G. Reid in the western markets.”
ROCK HILL FIRE OF 1887
The following is a summary of the article in the Rock Hill Herald of March 24, 1887:
A fire in Rock Hill has left one-half of the business section in ruins. The fire began on the west side of Main Street in a warehouse of the W. L. Roddey & Co. immediately behind the First National Bank and the Roddey Store. The wooden warehouse burned quickly and the fire soon spread to other wooden warehouses and the two-story frame store of Mrs. M. W. Russell facing Main Street. The fire then spread into the side windows of the Globe Hotel on the third story of the Roddey Building and the Frew Building on the right. The fire consumed the Roddey building, including the Globe Hotel, W. L. Roddey & Co. and the First National Bank. Other buildings destroyed were the Russell Building, the Frew Brothers Building (two-story brick), Steele Bros. & Co. (two-story brick), the two-story brick building of A. E. Hutchison and occupied by Fewell & Watson druggists, and the W. S. Creighton & Co. furniture store. Warehouses destroyed include those of the Steele Brothers and Creighton & Co. The livery stable owned by A. E. Hutchison and occupied by J. B. Heath was also lost. The fire destroyed the west side of Main Street from the Post Office to the Library, where a vacant lot stopped the eastward movement. It also threatened to spread across Main Street to the drug store of J. B. Johnson, but that blaze was soon extinguished. Several residences were threatened by roof fires from embers, but men climbed to the roofs to keep the residences safe. The vaults in the First National Bank and in the W. L. Roddey building survived, and papers and cash in these vaults survived with no damage. Several buildings were damaged but not destroyed, including J. R. Allen & Co., A. E. Smith, Mrs. J. D. Smith, Jones & Robertson, the Masonic Lodge, A. Friedheim & Bro., J. B. Johnson, R. T. Fewell, and several other buildings.
The total loss is estimated at $99,000.
The Rock Hill Herald announced on April 14, 1887 – “W.S. Creighton and Co., has established a planning mill to the rear of their old store and have constructed a sheet iron building which is being used as a blacksmith’s shop.”
The Herald reported on April 14, 1887 – “Work on the new store of W.S. Creighton and Co., is being pushed forward. Nearly half the brickwork has been completed. The contractor, W.G. Adams hopes to have the building ready by the first of May.”
The Herald reported on April 21, 1887 – “The Frew Brother’s Store and Steele Brothers Store which were recently burned stood on ground leased in 1880 from Mrs. M.W. Russell. It has been decided that she will erect two new buildings which will each be two stories and will each measure 30-100 feet. The Frew Brothers have purchased a lot on Main Street in the vacant space between J.R. Allen and Co., and A.E. Smith and Co., and will erect a new two story brick building which will measure 30-100.”
On May 5th, 1887 the Herald reported – “Frew Brothers have started construction of their new building. Work began last week on rebuilding the store recently occupied by Fewell and Watson as a drug store. About 75% of the brick work has been completed. And W.S. Creighton and Co., expects to move into their new building within a week. It is a fine building with a front of pressed brick.”
The Herald reported on June 14, 1888 – “Frew Brothers are considering the matter of erecting a three story brick building on the lot adjoining the store. It would be occupied by Mr. S.T. Frew, dealer in stoves and manufacture and dealer in tinware. If built it would be 25 ft – 100 ft., – later on June 21 the contract for the new Frew Building has been awarded to Mr. A.D. Holler.”
The Herald reported on June 22, 1887 – “Mr .Russell has commenced working on his new store house which will be of brick and two stores high and will measure 22 – 60 feet.” The building for the Savings Bank has also been commenced, it will adjoin Mr. Russell’s and will be of brick and two stories with a tin roof and will also be 22 – 60 feet.”
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