This Building Has History ™
Name: Rock Hill Lot#11 – South
Architect: NA
Builder: NA
Constructed: Ca. 1854 – M.W. Russell House (Merchant)
The Rock Hill Herald on June 16, 1887 reported – “M.W. Russell has contracted with A.D. Holler for the erection of a two story brick store on the site recently occupied by Steele Brother and Co., he will also erect a residence on his lot near the Pres. Church.” Later on Aug. 18th the paper further reported – “The foundation has been laid for the home of Mr. M.W. Russell on Main Street. Workmen are ready to raise the frame.”
A small house was located on lot #11 South, one of Rock Hill original lots, as early as 1854. It was sold to Mary A. Sneed later in 1864, for $134. In 1865 Mary Sneed, then Mrs. Mary Maxwell, sold the lot to Makemie Wilson Russell, who acted as depot agent for the new Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad Company in Rock Hill.
In 1873, M.W. Wilson sold a 100-foot section from the western side of the lot to Captain A.D. Holler. Holler built a six room cottage there, which he subsequently sold to Dr. Thomas L. Johnston, and early Rock Hill physician. Dr. Johnston’s widow sold the property in 1894 to Jonathan M. McElwee, who later operated a grocery store, restaurant, and reportedly Rock Hill’s first movie theatre. M.W. Russell lived on the remaining property until his death around 1887, after which Mrs. Russell built a new and larger residence on the lot.
The Herald reported on Aug. 8, 1889 – “Dr. T.L. Johnston is building a “new” six room dwelling on the lot on Main Street, between the premises of S.G. Keesler and Mrs. Russell.” (The area where Oakland Ave., was extended.)
In the 1920’s furniture dealers and funeral directors W.G. Reid and Son bought the McElwee house and lot, razing the home with the intention of building a brick commercial structure. The Rock Hill City Council was planning, however, to extend Oakland Avenue, and the Reid’s planned building location was moved 10 feet to the east and built in 1929. This building was later the home of the Maxwell and Mayfield Brothers, furniture dealers. The old Russell house was torn down in the 1950’s to create new parking space for downtown Rock Hill. Presently, First Citizens Bank stands on the remaining portions of the old Russell and McElwee lots.
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Roots and Recall LLC, The City of Rock Hill, The York County Arts Council, & The S.C. Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and by a generous award from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
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