City Directories and History:1922/23 – City Motor Co., Hughes Battery Co., Hill Vulcanizing Co. and Hudson Motor Co.,
Wm. B. White, Jr., recorded – “The McFadden Building on Main Street was sold in Dec. 1939 by the Bank of Greenwood, Trustee to Gilbert H. Greene, Trustee. It was built about 1917 and houses an auto agency and the U.S. Soil Conservation offices in Rock Hill.”
Lot 9 and 30’ of Lot 10 South—the January 21, 1859 issue of the Indian-Land Chronicle tells us that Dr. Robert C. Hanna, one of Rock Hill’s first physicians, purchased Lot 9 South from A. T. Black on January 15, 1859. (See note for his drug store in Rock Hill below). On February 25, 1860, Doctor Hanna sold the lot to Thomas E. Roddey, brother of Captain W. L. Roddey, for $400 ($269.44 paid on a note of Hanna held by Black and $130.56 accredited to Hanna’s account with D. C. Roddey & Brother) . At some time between the initial purchase of this lot in 1859 and its conveyance to Roddey, Doctor Hanna had acquired about thirty feet, more or less, of the adjoining Lot 10 South. And it was the entire lot, running back all the way to Church (or Black) Street, a depth of 345’, that Hanna conveyed to Roddey. On the same day that the transaction took place, A. T. Black signed a quit-claim deed to the premises, making good Roddey’s title to the lot (135’ x 345’). The deed stated that this was a one acre tract of land.
Thomas E. Roddey died on October 18, 1861, while in Confederate military service. The house and lot where T. E. Roddey and his wife had lived were sold on July 26, 1871, to W. W. Brice, who was nearly related to the widow, the conveyance being made by R. H. Glenn, sheriff of York County, S. C. Then, in that same year, Walter W. Brice sold the premises to Turner Barber, brother of Ferguson H. Barber, for $850.
We should note here that the modest frame structure on this lot, used as a residence from time to time, was also used as a schoolhouse during the years from 1868 to 1888. Two early teachers who taught there were Mrs. C. A. Neill and Mrs. Margaret (Button) Marks.
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 25, 1888 –“The ancient cottage on Main Street nearly opposite the residence of Capt. W.L. Roddey, owned by Mr. T.L. Johnston will soon be supplanted by a commodious dwelling being built by Mr. Johnston.”
The Turner Barber lot was sold on January 28, 1893, by Sheriff E. A. Crawford to Dr. Thomas Allison Crawford and his partner in the practice of medicine, Dr. W. Frank Strait, for $610.56. When Doctor Strait’s health began to fail in 1897, he sold his half interest to Doctor Crawford
for $850. From time to time after that, Doctor Crawford sold off portions of the lot. On December 4, 1918, he sold a lot 46’ x 102 ½ ‘to David Bee McFadden, for $9,000. On this lot D. B. McFadden built a large two-story brick home for an automobile agency. The structure, known as The McFadden Building, was used in later years by the Soil Conservation offices in Rock Hill. In December, 1939, the Bank of Greenwood, trustee, sold the building to Gilbert H. Greene of Rock Hill. Among the other businesses that were housed on the original Turner Barber lot were Bass Furniture Company and Funeral Directors, Huey Chevrolet Company, City Motor Company, Singer Sewing Machine Company, and the Hat and Bridal Shoppe.
[Information provided via Along the Land’s Ford Road – Vol. I, 2008 by William B. White, Jr.]
The Rock Hill Herald reported on July 15, 1899 – “A residence is being built for V. Goron McFadden in West Rock Hill at a cost of $1,500.”
The Record reported on Jan. 14, 1907 – “On the case of Dr. Stevens, Mr. McFadden, and Mr. Fewell of Rock Hill who were accused of violating the laws of speed of automobiles in York, S.C. The “autoist” gave several speed expositions on the streets of York and caused a team of mules belonging to Normal S. Black to run away. Mr. Black brought charges but the three were acquitted.”
The Record reported on Oct. 16, 1911 – “The Rock Hill Auto Company and the McFadden Auto Co. have consolidated and the change will take place at the end of October.”
The Herald reported on April 24, 1931 – “T.W. Huey has purchased the stock of his partner, D.B. McFadden in the local Chevrolet Agency, which operates as McFadden – Huey Chevrolet Company, Inc. The business will continue in its current location across from the Post Office. Mr. McFadden is proprietor of City Motor Company, next to the Chevrolet Agency, and will continue running it.”
The diary of Kate J. Hutchison states, Jan. 22, 1936 – “I have bought a Plymouth car from B. McFadden, swapped in my big Buick.”
On Jan 19, 1840 the Herald reported, “the McFadden Building recently changed hands. New businesses will locate in the building including Southway Stores an auto supply store, Hamilton’s Jewelry and another unnamed tenant. In the rear of the building will be the Orange Crush Bottling Company.”
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