The Alice Graham Smith House is a historical residence built in 1913 by the widow of one of the towns forefathers, Capt James Harvey Smith (1882-1900). Capt Smith also owned Mount Holly Plantation at Landsford in Chester County along with numerous other land holdings. He was a Captain in the Civil War and a major contributor to South Carolina's cotton industry which gave rise to the regions thriving economy prior to the war. Capt Smith also owned Smith Melton Merchantile "on the hill" in Chester and was one of the first businessmen to create Chester Mills, the first cotton and spinning mill of its kind in Chester. Smith was also instrumental in bringing the railroad to Chester and was owner of the Chester Lenior Railroad Line as well as serving on the Board of several other Railroad companies, including serving as a member on the North Carolina Railway Board.