Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-26
OVER IN ROCK HILL.


The history of South Carolina, es-
pecially the Piedmont section, during
the past fifteen years has been
story of progress. Numerous small
towns have grown up in unexpected
places, and most of the towns already
founded have grown larger and larger;
but when 1t comes to sizing up the
whole situation and picking the town
which, all things considered, has ac-
complished more than any Of the rest
1t Is likely that there will not be a
great deal of division in the selection
Of the town Of Rock Hill.
This writer had the pleasure last
Saturday of drive over the city with
Capt. w. L. Roddey, who Is probably
the oldest resident, and who has un-
doubtedly had more to do with the de-
velopment Of the village into a town
and the town into a hustling city,
than any other one man who has ever
claimed Rock Hill as his home. The
incident was more particularly inter-
esting because Of the opportunity 1t
furnished for contrast with similar
drive taken with the same gentleman
over what then existed Of the same
route about eighteen years ago.
On the occasion referred to the to-
tai population Of Rock Hill was hardly
as much as 2,000 There were dozen
or more stores huddled along Main
street, with a few shacks on what Is
now Railroad street There were gran
ite sidewalks before some Of the
stores; but generally earth paving pre-
vailed Main street was frequently
from to inches deep in mud, and
nobody seemed to realize the incon-
venience. The old Rock Hill mill had
been in operation for some years; but
was not prosperous and the Standard
mill building, now enlarged into
what Is known as the Highland Park,
was only fairly under way. The
graded school building had been COM
menced but was not yet in use, and
the Carolina hotel, though In use, was
only the nucleus to what 1t has since
become. All Of the church buildings
were small, unpretentious affairs. There
were some pretty handsome resi-
dences but as general thing but
few of them were of especially strik-
ing appearance. In no direction from
the then little engine house, the CEN
tire Of town, was 1t more than half
mile to original forest or scrubby
black jack underbrush.
But behold the marvellous changes
since 1888. Where then there was one
little cotton mill completed and an
other building. now there are In ad-
dition the Victoria, the Manchester, the
Arcade, all with capital and assets
ranging into the hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars, and the new Aragon
nearing completion, and to be In
class all alone. Winthrop college was
erected during the first years or the
period under consideration, and the
manner in which the town strained It
self in the requirement of this tre-
mendous acquisition is still fresh IN the
minds Of all who are familiar with the
subject This splendid institution with
it's hundreds Of students would add 10
the greatness of any city in the south.
The little postofflce that was formerly
managed by two ladies has given way
to a handsome government building,
in and from which dozen or more
employees are kept busy. There has
just been finished a city hall that
would be a credit to a town OF twice
the size and for several years the city
has boasted a hospital that has ac-
quired the reputation Of being one
of the best in the state. All the
little churches Of the old days
have given way to handsome
structures that are credit to the zeal
and wealth of the respective congre-
cations, and proud ornaments to the
city. Now there are blocks upon docks
Of handsome residences stetching out
in every direction from the business
centre, and in addition to the larger
institutions and industries already
mentioned in general way, numerous
smaller industries that give profitable
employment to hundreds Of people; but
which are not even taken into consid-
Grafton until investigation begins to go
down to details. The population or
the town Is now estimated at 5000
within the corporate limits and there
are 1000 in a belt of another half mile
outside.
But what Rock Hill was and is, Is not
all. The town Is still growing at
faster rate than ever. There are prob
ably as many as one hundred houses
going up in different parts Of the city
at the present time, and different in.
dividuals are developing various real
estate propositions on the outskirts.
Recently the Catawba Real Estate
company. ]. NJ. Cherry president, and
]. s. White. secretary. has gotten busy
to the northwes. IF town and Is spend
ing lots of money laying out and grading
streets. They are understood to have
in view the creation of a handsome
park and 1t Is probable that they Will
eventually connect their development
with the city by means of trolley
line. Extensive operations of some
what similar nature are also going on
under the supervision Of Mr.. White: to
the south of the city in a locality that
was formerly used as dumping
ground for the carcasses of horses and
other dead animals.