{"id":1146,"date":"2012-11-26T15:27:20","date_gmt":"2012-11-26T15:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/?post_type=buildings&p=1146"},"modified":"2024-08-22T18:28:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T18:28:55","slug":"21-east-liberty-street","status":"publish","type":"buildings","link":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/buildings\/21-east-liberty-street\/","title":{"rendered":"21 East Liberty Street – Yorkville Railway Depots \/ Kings Mountain Railroad"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“The prospect of the completion of the Kings Mountain Rail Road has given our village quite a town-like appearance. The Depot Building is progressing rapidly to completion. We have been informed by the contractor, Mr.(T.H.) Smith, that the mason work will be finished by Saturday next.”<\/em><\/span>\u00a0THE VILLAGE OF YORKVILLE IN – 1852\u00a0(Information courtesy of and from: YCGHS – The Quarterly Magazine<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The first president (of the Kings Mt. Railroad), was Col. William Wright of Yorkville and the first directors were John H. Adams, W. C. Beatty, Dr. John B. Hunter, Dr. John F. Lindsay, Dr. J. M. Lowry, John McGill, Dr. W. J. T. Miller, J. S. Moore, Samuel Rainey, F. H. Simril, George Steele and Dr. Samuel Wright, all Yorkville citizens.<\/span><\/em> – L. Pettus<\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 10, 1870 – “The Kings Mountain Railroad has a new locomotive which arrived two weeks ago.\u00a0 It is called – The Joel Crawford, a Rogers Engine, previously in use by the Georgia State Railroad and named for a Gov. of Georgia.” Later an ad via the Yorkville Enquirer\u00a0of April 14, 1870 stated – “Providing the schedule for the Kings Mt., Railroad between Yorkville and Chester.” Signed by R.S. Moore, President.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer of April 28, 1870 reported – “On April 20th the home of the late George Steele was found to be on fire.\u00a0 The fire engine was brought but was found to be out of order by disuse.\u00a0 The house could not be saved, but citizens helped save the contents. A number of colored citizens helped in this effort.\u00a0 The fire was accidentally and started in the basement moving up to the third floor.\u00a0 The loss is between $6,000. and $8,000.\u00a0 Since the fire, the fire engine has been put into working condition.”<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 16, 1870 – “Plans are underway to extend the KM RR line to NC. Investors have chartered a company called the Shelby and NC railroad which will build the line from the state line to the town of Shelby.\u00a0 The KM RR will extend the line from York to the state line.” On Nov. 10, 1870 the paper further reported – “At a recent meeting of the stock holders of the KM RR Co., elected: Gen. E.M. Law<\/a> as Pres., and directors: J.H. Adams, W.B. Wilson, William Johnston, J.L. Clark, and John S. Ryan.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 24, 1873 – “Louis Wright, colored, for many years employed in the blacksmith shop of the KM Railroad has died.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

On March 19, 1874 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “Work has started on grading for the Chester and Lenoir narrow gauge railroad from Yorkville northward.\u00a0 Shanties to house the hands have been built two miles from Yorkville. The crew is under charge of Mr. Bonner.”<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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City Directories and History:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong> 1908 – Carolina & North Western RR “Old Depot” @S. Main and Tavora Mills, C&NW Passenger and Freight Depot@ E. Liberty near Main St., Elisha W. Long, Agt., w wife Eunice,<\/p>\n

Built in circa 1901, the York Railway Depot is one story high with a gable roof. Brackets can be seen under the roofing and around the windows and doors. The original doors were beaded clapboards. The exterior wall material was clapboard. The Kings Mountain Railroad, established in 1852, connected Yorkville with a main railroad line running from Charlotte to Gastonia, N.C. and then to Atlanta. The local line was eventually extended to Chester and made connection there with the Charlotte-to-Columbia main line. It ultimately became part of the Southern system. This was a passenger and freight depot. When the line was abandoned during the early 1980s, the Railroad Company leased the property to the City of York for a token sum. The building was recently renovated by the City of York and houses the Greater York Chamber of Commerce and other civic and service organizations. [Courtesy of the Yorkville Historical Society – 2002]<\/p>\n

Yorkville Enquirer<\/em><\/strong>, April 6, 1864:\u00a0 Kings Mountain RR in bad shape, all RR too costly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Confederate officials examined the Kings Mountain RR with a view of taking it as part of the new track to Danville, VA.\u00a0 The board had not met in two years and the editor stated the RR had been mismanaged.\u00a0 He urged the board to meet and noted the huge amount of tithes waiting for transport, the need of soldiers and refugees to move about, and the needs of citizens.\u00a0 He complained of RR costs being a heavy burden on everyone and that York District had an especially hard time with RR costs.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Rock Hill Herald reported on Feb. 14, 1884 – “Since the beginning of the year three new stores have been opened in Yorkville.\u00a0 The town now has twenty three stores selling dry goods and groceries, two drug stores, two bakeries, two silver smiths, two tin shops, two machine shops, two furniture stores, two livery stables, two hotels, one billiard room and one carriage shop.”<\/p>\n

On Feb. 14, 1884 the RH Herald reported – “J.T. Lowry and Sons, a new mercantile business will open soon in Yorkville.”<\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Sept. 5, 1888 – “The Chester and Lenoir RR is making improvements to their depot.\u00a0 The land is being graded for a new side track and a new platform.”<\/p>\n

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 4, 1888 – “Mr. Walter B. Moore is the contractor for the 3 C’s railroad Depot at Yorkville.\u00a0 The depot and cotton platforms will be completed by next Saturday.\u00a0 The depot is 20 feet wide by 99 ft long. Mr. Moore also has the contact for a four room cottage for the station master.”<\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 31, 1888 – “Mr. J.W.P. Hope has remodeled his old store house near the Depot and has converted it into a warehouse.”<\/p>\n

The Herald reported on Dec. 10, 1890 – “The depot of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad in Yorkville, was destroyed by fire last night<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 10, 1892 – “Mrs. J. Alf. Carroll and family have moved from their home near Sharon to Yorkville and are occupying their residence near the Chester and Lenoir Depot.”<\/p>\n

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 8, 1892 – “Capt. J.T. Lowry and his grandson Johnny started our for the Captain’s plantation in a buggy last Wednesday.\u00a0 Just after leaving the R.B. Lowry Store, the horse ran wild.\u00a0 Captain Lowry was unable to control the horse and when it made a sudden turn into a side street, he was thrown out and dragged for a distance of 50 feet. Little Johnny was also thrown out.\u00a0 They were both unconscious for a while but no bones were broken and they are now recuperating.”<\/p>\n

The YV Enquirer reported on Nov. 28, 1894 – “The narrow gauge depot will be moved closer to town.\u00a0 A large cotton platform has been completed and a freight and passenger depot are nearly ready.\u00a0 The transfer to the Liberty Street crossing will take place next week. ”<\/p>\n

The RH Herald reported on Aug. 12, 1899 – “Yorkville will have a bonded warehouse ready for the fall cotton crop.\u00a0 Mr. Moore has a sight with access to the railroad.\u00a0 Followed by Mr. H.E. White went over to Yorkville to survey the sight of the proposed cotton warehouse in preparation for drawing the plans.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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An 1852 route map showing the site of the battle of “Huck’s Defeat” and the area removed from York County to help in creating the new Cherokee County. Courtesy of the AFLLC Collection<\/p><\/div>\n

Historically, the Town of York was cut off from the railroad when the Charlotte and Augusta railroad took a direct route from Chester, across the Nation Ford crossing on the Catawba River near present day Rock Hill, and on to Charlotte, N.C. Bypassing Yorkville was a major economic pitfall for the town and historic county seat. As cotton markets boomed in an emerging Rock Hill, York saw the decline of their influence and business. It was therefore imperative, to build a railroad linking York to Chester, via the communities of Guthriesville and Lowry’s. This rail-line was demolished in the 1980’s.<\/p>\n

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KINGS MOUNTAIN RAILROAD<\/strong>
\nFrom the Charleston Daily Courier, June 8, 1861: To such of our readers as are not entirely familiar with rail roads in the interior of the State, we take the liberty of giving a word of information in reference to one now in the process of survey and construction.<\/p>\n

The King’s Mountain Rail Road has its beginning at Yorkville, S. C., is 24 miles in length, and unites with the Charlotte Road at Chester, which forms one continuous line from Columbia to Charleston. From Yorkville to Dallas, in Gaston County, N. C., there is an area of the most productive land in the State. It is adapted to Cotton and all kinds of grain; also fine grazing lands, covered with herds of cattle and sheep, large streams of water, upon which flour and saw mills are erected.<\/p>\n

Yet the product of all these natural advantages is in a measure stripped of its real value for want of convenience to convey it to a proper market In view of all this, a few public spirited citizens of the Old North State, among the most prominent of which was the Hon. James H. White, not only obtained a favorable charter, but secured the same by a liberal subscription of $50,000, a portion of which was paid in cash, and buy uniting themselves under their charter with the King’s Mountain Company, extend their entire road in such a manner as will not only greatly enhance the value of their property, but furnishes a prospect at an early day of tapping the Wilmington and Rutherford Road, and diverting a large portion of the produce from Tennessee and Virginia to Charleston, as the shortest route and the best market.<\/p>\n

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RAILROAD ACCIDENTS IN YORK COUNTY<\/strong>\u00a0– Keisha Vanlue and M. C. Scoggins
\nThe railroad system in South Carolina can trace its origins to the 1830s, when John C. Calhoun proposed the construction of a railway from Charleston, SC to Cincinnati, Ohio. The first railroad to reach the town of York was the Kings Mountain Railroad, which extended from Chester to York in 1852. After the Civil War the Kings Mountain Railroad lay abandoned for seven years and fell into disrepair. In the early 1870s, two different railroad companies expressed an interest in acquiring the old railroad. On February 8, 1872 the Carolina Railroad, based in North Carolina, placed a bid for the Kings Mountain Railroad. A year later, on February 26, 1873, the Chester & Lenoir Railroad in South Carolina also placed a bid. The two competing companies eventually merged and began operation as the Chester & Lenoir Narrow-gauge (C&L NG) Railroad. On April 3, 1874, the Chester & Lenoir Railroad purchased the King Mountain Railroad and soon thereafter began rebuilding the line, converting the tracks from standard gauge to narrow gauge in the process.<\/p>\n

With the help of convict labor the new railroad was completed from Chester to York in March 1875. However, due to financial constraints the line did not reach its final destination, Lenoir, North Carolina, until June, 2, 1884. When the railroad was<\/p>\n

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Sanborn Map of York’s C & NW Railroad Depot – 1910<\/p><\/div>\n

complete it spanned 110 miles from Lenoir to Chester. After the Chester & Lenoir Railroad fell into foreclosure it was reorganized as the Carolina & North-Western (C&N-W) Railroad in February of 1897. John C. Calhoun\u2019s idea of having a railroad that ran from Charleston, SC to Ohio was finally realized in September 1886 when John Wilder received a charter for the Charleston, Cincinnati, & Chicago Railroad, popularly known as the \u201c3-Cs.\u201d The 3-Cs Railroad cost $40 million to build; spanned 625 miles from Ironton, Ohio to Charleston, SC; and passed through five southern states: Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. *** The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Sept. 26, 1888 – “Mr. W.D. Gaillard arrived yesterday in Rock Hill to act as the first express messenger on the regular passenger train which will reach Yorkville today on the 3C’s railroad.\u00a0 The first freight was delivered to Yorkville on last Wednesday, the 19th. Captain Taylor, the contractor for laying the tracts, has moved his construction camp to Yorkville, about one-half mile west of the crossing of the Chester and Lenior railroad.\u00a0 He hopes to reach Hickory Grove by Wednesday or Thursday of next week.”<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 In 1893, Charles E. Hellier purchased the 3-Cs Railroad and renamed it the Ohio River & Charleston Railroad (OR&C). The OR&C Railroad was the only railroad that ran from east to west across York County. Both the Carolina & North-Western and the Ohio River & Charleston railroads were acquired by Southern Railway in the 1890s and were operated by Southern until the lines closed in the 1970s. (Information courtesy of and from: YCGHS – The Quarterly Magazine, Dec. 09<\/em>)<\/p>\n

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R&R HISTORY LINK: See Kings Mt RR in Chester, S.C.<\/p><\/div>\n

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Documents on the history of Yorkville, S.C.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Thanks!<\/em><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

…to reach the town of York was the Kings Mountain Railroad<\/strong>, which extended from Chester to York in 1852. After the Civil War the Kings Mountain Railroad<\/strong> lay abandoned for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1146","1":"buildings","2":"type-buildings","3":"status-publish","5":"entry","6":"has-post-thumbnail"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/buildings\/1146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/buildings"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/buildings"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/buildings\/1146\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/york-county-sc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}