The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-25
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1901.
AbbeVille to the Front.

Abbeville to the Front.
All the stores in Abbeville are being filled
with the choicest and best Of everything in
their respective lines. The increase In the
number of our stores within the last ten
years, and the increasing trade that comes
from distant territory, all 90 to prove that
this is a most attractive business place. The
fame of the Abbeville merchants has gone
abroad, and their good name, their good
goods, their good bargains. and their polite
treatment of customers has revolutionized
the trade and business of the town that was
once very small when compared to the Abbe.
vile Of today.
Ten years ago the ground upon which the
Railroad Shops now stand was cotton field
and poor one at that
Ten years ago the great number of houses
that are to be seen in the neighborhood Of the
shops was wilderness OF pine trees and
chipquepin bushes.
The grounds upon which is situated the
Cotton Mill, and the cotton mill village, was,
ten years ago, place where rabbits were
annoy ed by sporty boys and yelping hounds.
Ten years ago all the land on which the
houses OF Mr.. Kirby, Mr.. Chapman. Mr..
Morrow. Mr.. Ellis. MIR. Coleman, and all of
that neighborhood, was in old field pines,
and place for the slaughter pen.
Ten years ago the land on which are 80
many nice houses near w. b. Psrker's home
was pasture for cattle or a cultivated field.
Ten years ago we had no school house.
Now we have the finest in the up-country.
Ten years ago we had no stores on Wash.
ington Street.
Ten years ago we had no stores on Main
Street.
Ten years ago HIPS fine stables were not
built.
Ten years ago we had but one bank.
Ten years ago we had no Photographic
gallery.
Ten years ago we had five or six barrooms,
where liquor was sold night and day. Now
we have the dispensary, where liquor is sold
in daylight only.
Ten years ago Wardlaw Street was uaim-
proved. Mr.. Blake, Mrs. Lee, Mr.. Hill, Mr..
Miller. Mr.. Bradley, Mr.. Brown, and perhaps
fifteen others have built nice houses.
Ten years ago we had no laundry.
Ten years ago We had no electric lights.
Ten years ago we had no water works.
Ten years ago we had no warehouse.
Ten years ago we had but little facilities for
ginning cotton.
Ten years ago We had no organized fire
company, and no fire alarm bell.
Ten years ago we had no Associate Reform.
ed Church building.
Ten years ago we bad but one high school
for colored children. Now we have two.
Ten years ago we had no regular beef mar
ket. We had to depend upon irregular sup
plies. Now we have two splendid markets
from which beef may be had every day in
the year.
Ten years ago we had no restaurant al
which man could get bite to eat.
Ten years ago we had no telegraph office
uptown.
Ten years ago we had no express Office in
town. We had no delivery OF express pack
ages to consignees. They could remain In
the depot at the pleasure Of the agent
Ten years ago we had no telephone.
Ten years ago we had no hacks to meet:the
passenger trains day or night.
Ten years ago we had not the present excel
lent system for the delivery OF freight from
the depots.
Ten years ago job printing in the city was
in its infancy. Now Abbeville is we'll prepar
ed for job printing.
Ten years ago We had no planning mill.
Ten years ago the printing presses were run
by men at the wheel. Now they are run by
steam.
Ten years ago we had no hardware store.
Ten years ago the old rookery belonging 10
the Dendy estate. stood where Rosenberg's
splendid block now stands.
Ten years ago, Abbevllle had only about
sixteen or eighteen stores. all told. Now we
have more than sixty business places.
Ten years ago We didn't have good hotel.
In the face Of all these facts, 1t may be pos.
sible TO fnd croaker who thinks the town
is asleep, or going to the bow-wows. When
the Almighty makes a mushroom, he does
1t in a night, but when he goes to make an
oak tree he takes hundred years 10 complete
the job. Abbeville, like the oak tree, grows
steadily and continually. 1t takes no step
backward, but moves on forever.