Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Radical W< By MIKE HEMBREE There are many stories in the big city. And this is the story of a big old house and a little old lady who found the city not quite so big, after all. The major participants In what could loosely be described as a draeha are a creaky two-story house at 1215 Main St. in Columbia and the late Miss Nellie Anges Lynch, an apparent fireball of a woman who battled society's encroachment on her domain until her dying days. Others to appear in this play-like reality will be real estate agents, businessmen, and a somewhat nebulous qroup of cats. Although the house Is in the heart of the downtown business district, it is not immediately noticeable to the casual passer-by. It stands within shouting distance of the capitol building, holding forth like a modern Fort Sumter between Kimbrell's Furniture and the defunct Franklin Mint. The house itself does not front on Main, but stands about 10 yards from the street behind what should be, if it isn't, a spreading chestnut tree. The tree, with limbs protruding well above the surrounding buildings, is easily visible from the Main Street sidewalks. A fence and a locked gate parallel the sidewalk, and the neglected yard is covered with weeds and assorted trash. As for the lady, she was apparently as much of a fixture in the house as the ancient sink which remains as a reminder of fading days in the dusty kitchen. The house and the property surrounding it, which includes the land on which the Franklin Mint and the also defunct Crest Jewelers stand, were willed to Miss Lynch by her mother. But an over-protective mom added a small condition -- should Nellie marry, the property would be owned by Nellie's brother, the Rev. Charles Lynch of Dayton University in Dayton, Ohio. But Charles went to his reward before Nellie, who died April 20, 1968 at the bouncy old age of 98. And the property, Nellie's many cats and all, was willed to St. Peter's Catholic Church of Columbia and Dayton University. Attorney John Hydrick of West Columbia was appointed counsel for the estate. And that's about where this particular melodrama stood until late in May, when the property was finally purchased by a group of South Carolina businessmen who also recently bought the Hotel Wade Hampton. Why was this seemingly very usable property allowed to stand stagnant for so long? The price tag -- which has ranged from $180,000 to $250,000 -- was the apparent villian in the picture. A local real estate agent who became interested in the property and attempted to sell it for the estate had some interesting ob servations on the hardships of getting rid of such a high-priced commodity. "The cost was just too high," he said. "One lady called us about it and almost had a hernia on the spot when I told her the price was $250,000." The agent said he made a verbal deal to sell the place while attending a funeral, but the prospective buyer didn't come across with the money. "I told him to put it in writing, but I haven't heard from him since the funeral," he said. Now, after four years of loneliness as the only house in Columbia's downtown business district, the place has new owners and can look to drastic changes in its landscape in the W elcomes USC Summer Students With Some Very Special Prices! HALF POUND OF GROUND ROUND OR JUMBO SHRIMP FRY DINNER We've rolled back the prices to welcome you to Shoney's. A full half pound of the finest ground round, or a baker's dozen golden fried shrimp, all served with French fries, tossed salad, and dinner bread at prices too good to believe! You must present your student ID for these special prices. There's a Shoney's close to you - convenient to the campus in the Sheraton Hotel. Or ma'ybe you'll prefer one other location - Dentsville, West Columbia, or on Belt Line. south of D)evine. oman defeat Hydrick advertised for bids and River Highland Inc. submitted the highest offer. The executives of the estate accepted the bid May 30. The amount of the bid is unavailable. A spokesman for Dutch Boling Company, which handled the purchasing for River Highland Inc., said that the purchasers had no immediate plans for the property. The hotel, which is separated from the property by Kimbrell's, Is scheduled to un dergo a modernizing process soon. But the newly acquired property will probably not be involved directly with the hotel operations. As for venerable Nellie, she was supposedly bedridden In the house for much of her stay there. Johnny Slokos, owner and operator of the Capitol Cafe, the popular 24-hour restaurant directly across the street from the property, remembers Nellie. Rec r6 DUC OA E . Mo.St nn..-U a s city ha "She was supposed to be bedridden," Slokos said, "for tha the only way she could stay in the house after they rezon( block. But you could see her come out of the house every mc with that terrier of hers. "She would come to the gate, look up and down the block, i breath of fresh air and then shr'dA head on back In the house. Then there was the time the building beside the house c on fire. "She wasn't going to come o.ut of her house since shi supposed to be bedridden," Siokos said. "The firemen had in and get her. They brought her out on a stretcher." Nellie was apparently extremely fond of cats, despite her expeditions with her terrier. Hal Flinsch, a former employee of the Franklin MW r Nellie kept many of her feline friends in the house. Upc death, Flinsch said the cats continued to be fed, sometirr him and sometimes by a "mystery man" whom he never sa, Some of the cats are still there today, but they run i discovery of any unwelcome visitors. Three stand out ir ticular as a microcosm of "catdom" -- a large yellow-gra seemed to be the top cat, a sleek black tom and a spotted leopard." The cats seem to be waiting for something or someone, po Nellie's return from her morning stroll. Although the property covers the 1215, 1217 and 1219 addi dn Main Street, the house proudly displays "1215" In numerals over. the entrance. The screens are falling off the doors, and much of the board is rotting away. An old Admiral television rests ( living room floor, along with a phone which, for some reaq other, is off the hook. The kitchen Is fully equipped with stove, refrigerator wringer-type washing machine, along with the ancient si The weedy back yard is enclosed by a neglected fence has been trampled down in several places. But alas, Nellie is gone. And the evil city Is closing in. Thf and perhaps a mystery man who worries about them, ri connected with the property. And the final and concluding act of this play has yet written. River Highland Inc. holds the rest of the script, 1 little backstage help from Nellie's wild-eyed cats and unknown benefactor. Inner Peace lecture Tuesday An explanation of the development and practical application of S. P. areas of clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience and prc for a more rewarding life will be presented Tues., June 13. Sponsored by the Inner Peace Movement, the discussion will be 1 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Security Federal savings an Association, 1440 Broad River Rd. The lecture is open to all interested persons. A donation of I requested to cover expenses. Persons desiring additional inforl should contact Bill or Amy Branan at 788-2998 (evenings). Ba r ISTEREO S CLASSICS 0 , , The best steal potato or Frer DAY ONLY C'OME ASVO 548 K NO) BANKAMERICARO BUSH F 4510 DEVI