Rock Hill Post Office Prepared by Wanda Fowler, Researcher

These images show the Rock Hill, South Carolina Post Office on 102 E. Main Street under construction during the years of 1931-1932 as documented by the Batson-Cook Company. From 1906 to 1931 the post office was located at 325 Oakland Avenue. Today there are five post offices located in Rock Hill, South Carolina.The construction company Batson-Cook Co. began in 1915 in West Point, Georgia.

Edmund Cook and W. C. Batson formed a partnership and incorporated in 1916. In the early years their focus was mill construction. As the company grew they diversified to include churches, academic buildings, and veteran’s hospitals. In the early 1930s they were awarded several post office projects including the one in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1931. The company is still in business today and one of their more recent projects include the Hearst Tower in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company headquarters is still located in West Point, Georgia.

1- This photo of August 1, 1931 shows the early stages of construction as seen from the North East.

2- A South East view of the building dated March 1, 1932.

3- This August 2, 1932 image shows a view from the South West.

4- The front of the building as viewed from the South on November 4, 1932.

Nancy Sambets, Archivist, Culture & Heritage Museums, August 2007

The Barnett Brothers Circus was created by Ray W. Rogers, a Vermont native living in Canada. He partnered with William Hamilton, a show businessman in 1926 and they organized a traveling circus in 1927. The first show debuted in Nova Scotia in January of 1928. This was one of the first motorized circus shows from Canada with a fleet of 35 Chevrolet trucks, 7 trailers, and 5 passenger cars. When the show went to the U.S. many of the Canadian performers returned to their homes and the show gained U.S. performers. The 1929 tour ended in Easley, SC and for reasons unknown, Rogers chose York as their winter quarters. At first, they rented and then purchased the lot and buildings for use as permanent winter quarters in October 1930. Rogers liked the site because it was downtown with water and lights available and very close to a railroad if he decided to put the show on rails. Initially the show occupied the 1 ½ stories high stone building near the corner of East Jefferson and Congress streets. A metal clad building was built in 1937 on the corner of East Jefferson and Roosevelt Streets, almost directly across the street from the stone building. That same year, Rogers joined with financiers George and Minter Wallace. The show was renamed Wallace Brothers Circus for the year 1937 and then again from 1941 to 1944. 

Many of the performers and show workers also stayed in York during the winter renting rooms from local residents. Some residents even joined the Barnett Brothers Circus as workers and traveled with the show. The show performed in 17 states in 1933 driving almost 14,000 miles that season. The show would leave York in late March and return in November to spend the winter. Every December, the circus animals and acts would be included in the Christmas parade with Santa arriving on an elephant. The Barnett Brothers Circus was located just down from the York Graded School on East Jefferson Street and the local residents recall seeing the elephants being walked along the street for exercise. The children of the performers and workers also attended the York Graded School during the winter. The circus merged with the Clyde Beatty Circus after the death of Ray Rogers in April of 1946. The lot once used by the Barnett Brothers Circus was sold in 1949 to a local business. In 1957, the show became Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus. Many of the Barnett Brothers Circus performers and workers remained in York when they retired from the circus.

While wintering in York, the Barnett Brothers Circus inspired the five sons of York Policeman C. P. Bennett and his wife Olive to put together their own circus in 1929. The Bennett family lived next door to the York Graded School, not far from the Barnett Brothers Circus winter quarters. The family later moved to Lincoln Street and the boys practiced and performed on a lot across from their home. The oldest son Joe was the manager and ringmaster with his brothers Charles, Bill, Stanley, and Douglas as performers. Their brother Orin, who joined in 1937 and their two sisters Vera and Bonnie were musicians for the Bennett Brothers Circus. Other local children also auditioned and joined the Bennett Brothers Circus, which totaled about 25 performers. Ray Rogers supported the Bennett Brothers Circus by allowing them to use the big tent and seats for their shows and even borrowing some of the animals such as horses, buffalo, and elephants for their acts. The show included trapeze work, tumbling, hand springs, wire walking, and clowns. The Bennett Brothers Circus performed in York, Rock Hill, Clover, and Sharon charging admission and selling peanuts and soft drinks. The show ran for 9 years ending in 1938. All of the Bennett boys enlisted in the military during World War II and all returned home when it ended. 

In 1974, shortly after moving to Rock Hill, my husband and I decided to attend the Rock Hill Artists Guild Art Auction. We found a small table and before long were joined by a charming couple. We had no idea at the time who Vernon and Libby Grant were other than very friendly folks and we struck up a conversation. 

During the evening‘s festivities, I was invited to join a small group of artists who gathered at Vernon Grant‘s studio for weekly lessons and critiques of their work. There was no way I was going to pass up that opportunity even though I would be out of my league with artists like Dina Mohler and Gatewood Roddy Kistler. 

The following week, off I went with a pathetic little drawing to set on Vernon‘s easel. It was a very intimidating moment. The easel was huge and the drawing was so small it barely showed up, which was a good thing. He studied it and tried to think of something kind to say. After a long pause, he said, ―Well – let‘s start with some basic drawing lessons. You can bring me what you have next week and we‘ll go from there.‖ And go from there we did. 

Each week as I walked in the door to his studio, the smell of pipe tobacco filled the room and he seemed larger than life sitting in his chair, paints and brushes lining the table by the window, his current artwork on the easel. He greeted us with his wonderful smile and great warm personality. The stories he shared revealed so much of his early years and his life as an artist in New York. 

After teaching me the basics of drawing, he suggested I try adding some watercolors. Each week, I would bring in a watercolor, set it on his easel and wait for his comments. Once I brought in a design I was excited about and he called his wife, Libby, to come see my work. That was my proudest moment and I felt like dancing out of the room. 

I cherish those years I spent as his student and will always remember how he embraced childhood and celebrated with his art the fanciful imaginations of the young. Opening the Main Street Children‘s Museum brought to life his wonderful world of fantasy. What better world for children to explore than the magical world of Vernon Grant!

- Barbara Davis, MSCM volunteer