Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Rock Bridge Presbyterian Has Two-Phase History BY THOMAS WIER DAVIS Thanks to Dr. Duley Jones, the early history of Rock Bridge Church has been fully recorded. I say the early his tory, because Rock Bridge has a two-phase history. The first phase beginning in the early 1880’s and lasting until the early 1920’s. About this time the first church, or the old church died out completely. What few mem bers were left moved their let ters to Clinton. The second fihase began about 1940. For at that time Rock Bridge was re organized and has been grow ing steadily since. Now for the history of the old church, or first phase. Turning to “The Presbyterian Church of South Carolina Since 1850,* by Dr. F. Dudley Jones and Dr. W. H. Mills, we find the following: As you all pro bably know, the name ‘Rock Bridge* is derived from a na tural rock bridge some five or six hundred yards back of the old church building. Rock Bridge inherited its first members from old Hunts ville Church which stood some three hundred yards from the present home of Jack H. Davis, Jr. This building was used by all the different denominations, one holding sway one Sunday, and another the next. William Dunlap gave the land on which Huntsville was built, and he was made president of this church society. Dr. John H. Davis, secretary; Mr. John Godfrey, treasurer; Newman Gary, William Simpson, John Godfrey,and Samuel Gary, were the ways and means committee. The Baptists seem to have been the strongest faction in Hunts ville and when they pulled out to form the First Baptist Church of Clinton, Huntsville came to an end. After the death of Hunts ville, Mrs. Agatha L. Davis, being too old to attend ser vices elsewhere, requested Dr. William Plumber Jacobs to hold services in her home. The neighbors were Invited to at tend these services and many of the old members of Hunts ville attended. The con gregation, becoming too large for the home, began using the school house. In 1882, with funds from Presbytery, and the aid of Mrs. Agatha L. Davis, Miss Sarah A. Davis, Miss CallieV. Davis, Mr. John C. Davis and Mr. Ro bert C. Davis, plus contribu tions from others in the com munity. Dr. Jacobs built the chapel which served during the first phase of the church’s history. In the year 1889, this chapel was organized into a church un der the Rev. N. J. Holmes of Enoree Presbytery. At this time Robert C. Davis was elect ed elder and John C. Davis was elected deacon. The char ter members were: Mrs. A- gatha L. Davis, Miss Sarah A. Davis, Miss Callie Davis, Mr. John C. Davis and Mrs. Emma Davis, and their older children, JackH. (/ W. Watts and Agatha L.; Mr/ Robert C. Davis and his older children, James W., John D., and George M.; Mrs. Elinor Simpson, Miss Dora Simpson, Mr. J. Spencer Simp son, Mrs. Dollie Chandler and Miss Carrie Workman. The ministers serving this church after Dr. Jacobs gave it up were as follows: Mr. Darby Fulton, Mr. Henderlite, Mr. Cuttino Smith, Mr. Boston, Mr. William Wyly, Mr. Kenneth Mc- Kaskill and Dr. William Bean. In 1900, Dr. J. W. Davis was selected elder and Jack H. and George M. Davis were elected deacons. In 1903, John C. Davis was elected elder. In 1914, Jack H. Davis was elect ed elder and W. Watts Davis and Carl Chandler were elect ed deacons. Sunday school was always held in connection with the church. It Qouished strongest under the leadership of Mr. Robert C. Davis and later under his son, George M. Davis. Soon after the first world war, due to better roads and automobiles, many of the con gregation began to seek church es of their own denomina tion, so Rock Bridge began to decay. In 1920, Dr. William Bean, one of Rock Bridge’s most able pastors, died and very soon thereafter Rock Bridge Church came to the end of its first historical phase. The few members left moved their memberships to the First Presbyterian Church of Clin ton, S. C. For about 29 years this com munity was without a place of Lydia Baptist Organized In 1908 Rock Bridge Church worship. By 1940 many families most of them new, had moved into this community. These people began to clamor for a place to worship. Mrs. Jack H. Davis, Sr., being the first to become actively interested in a Sunday School for the children of the community, be gan by teaching two little boys the Sunday School lessons in her home. It seems she men tioned the need for religious leadership in this community at the First Church one day. Recognizing the worthiness of the cause, they offered her aid with the suggestion that the old Rock Bridge school building be used as a place of worship. In this work Mrs. Davis was given much aid by Miss Viola Chandler as well as the of ficial officers and teachers mentioned below. Thus tegan the reorganization of Rock Bridge Church. On December, 194 2, Rock Bridge Church was reorganized as an Outpost of the First Presbyterian Church of Clin ton, S. C. At that time, the late Dr. J. Lee Young, elder of the FirstChurch, was super intendent; Mr. Alex O’Daniel, elder, was teacher; Mrs. Geo rge Taylor, Mrs. Frank Young, and Miss Lula Young were teachers. The next difficulty was the pr ivlsion of a suitable place in which to worship The old abandoned school house in which they had started soon prooved to be too small as well as being in a poor state of repair. It was here that Mr. O'Daniel assisted by the above menti^xied helpers, prov ed equal to the task facing them. It was in 194 5 that a SEARS HAS BEEN IN SOUTH CAROLINA 84 YEARS AND HAS BEEN SERVING CLINTON 14 YEARS. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE SERVING YOU FOR MANY YEARS TO COME- building fund was started. Con tributions were received from members of the Clinton church as well as from members of old Rock Bridge scattered over the South. Then in 1946, Hugh Jacobs, a great-grand-son of Dr. William Jacobs, was ap pointed superintendent, with Mr. O’Daniel, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Young, and Miss Lula Young as teacher s. It was under these leaders that the building fund was completed and con struction begun. By December of 1948 the building was com pleted and dedication services were held. These services were conducted by Dr. Thornwell Jacobs, a son of Dr. William Jacobs, the founder of the first Rock Bridge Church. At this time there were 40 members. Since 1952, R->ck Bridge has been supplied mostly by stu dent supplies, with the follow ing exceptions: Rev. Homer C. Holt-1951- 1953. Rev. Kenneth Pollock - 1957. Rev. J.R. Morrow-1962-1964. Rev. Gaynor Phillips - 1964- 1967. These ministers served in the Rock Bridge Church as well as other church fields. On August 2, 1970, the first ordiantion and installation ser vice ever to take place in the Rock Bridge Church was held. Mr. Jerrold C. Bur iside, who had been serving the church as student supply for over three years, was ordained and in stalled as the pastor of the church, after his graduation from Columbia TheologicalSe- minary, Decatur, Georgia. The Rock Bridge Presby terian Church has been grow ing steadily, especially over the past several years. Today there are seventy-five mem bers. The most recent landmark in the Rock Bridge Presby terian Church occurred on Aug ust 20, 1967, when the Budding Program <t the church was officially launched under the able leadership J Mr. S. M. Bell, elder and chairman of the Building Committee. (Other members of the committee in cluded Miss Patricia Bolt, Mrs. L. C. Baughn, Secretary, Mr. Fred Cunningham, Treasurer, Mrs. Sarah Cannon, Mrs. S.M. Bell, Mr. and Mrs. G, C. Mc- Invaille, Mr. L. C. Baughn and Mr. Jessie Bolt.) Suffi cient funds have now been rais ed with the help of many friends throughout the Clinton area; as well as South Carolina Pres bytery, in order to build a new sanctuary with educational facilities. Ground breaking was held on November 8, 1970. The congregation of Rock Bridge is thankful and proud for the fine history of the Rock Bridge Presbyterian Church. We are especially It Has Been A Pleasure For us To Provide The People Of This Community With Good Old Fashion Service For The Past 32 Years. Prior to the organization of the Lydia Baptist Church in September of 1908 there was no organized Baptist work in the community. From the start of the operation of the Lydia Cot ton Mills in 1903 a frame church building was erected as a mis sion church of the Clinton First Presbyterian Church. This building was down across the railroad tracks at the end of what is now Pine Street. A union Sunday School was organized in 1904 and continued until the organization of this church. Preaching services were held at irregular times by various ministers of dif ferent denominations. Among the Baptist ministers conduct ing services during this time were an aged minister by the name of Reverend Fowler and The Reverend J. A. Brock. Realizing the need of an or ganized Baptist work in the community, much discussion was held among the Baptist and as a result, the Lydia Baptist Church was organized in September of 1908 with 28 charter members. The Rev erend Brock was called as the first pastor and Mr. F. J. Wood was elected as clerk. Among those still members of this church since their entrance and dates of entering are: Mrs. Jessie Emory (1921), Mrs. Viola Helams (1922), Mrs. Henry Ab ercrombie (1926), and Mrs. Alma Harvey (1926). Accord ing to the 1908 minutes of the Laurens Baptist Association, the church made application for membership in the Associa tion on September 28, 1908, and on the following day was ad mitted into membership of the Association. According to the financial table for Laurens Baptist Association, 1908, this church spent a sum of $25.13 for all causpc For the next several years following its organization, wor ship services were conducted on a part time basis, but Sun day School was held each Sun day morning. After about 1918, the church has been served by resident pastors on a full time basis. The roster of pastors lia Baptist Church include: Rev. D. B. Gaines, Rev. R. W. Justice, Rev. J. C. Thomas, Rev. B. L. Wood, Rev. M. F. Moorehead, Rev. Algey Lawson, Rev. W. A. Tinsley, Rev. J. H. Walker. Rev. R. D. Gregg, Rev. F. Stanley Hardee, Jr. and Rev. Milford J. Sanders. Even through the Pres byterians were very generous with their church building, in 1925 the Baptist began discuss ing the erection of their own building. The members were greatly encouraged by the late Mr. C. M. Bailey, who set aside a very suitable building lot on the corner of Popular and Palmetto Streets to be used for the erection of the church building. Rev. B. L. Wood, who was called as church pastor on October 26, 1931 deserves much credit for getting the church building program started. Funds were very low, but faith was high and vision keen. Re lying on a lot of volunteer labor the building program was begun. For three years, ser vices were held in the skelton building of the sanctuary. The basement and classrooms were completed later, and the pews and heaters were installed much later. On September 13, 1953 ground breaking services were held for the new educational building. This modern building consists of a nursery, full basement, social hall and fully equipped kitchen, thirty six classrooms, four assembly rooms, church office and pas tor’s study. In December of the same year, opening exer cises were held. Rev. F. Stan ley Hardee, Jr., (deceased) was pastor during this project. The church purchased the pas tor ium from Lydia Cotton Mills on May 3, 1959, and on Octo ber 7,1961, the pastorium mort gage was burned with ap propriate ceremonies. During a called conference on Octo ber 18, 1959, the church voted to install a modern heat ing system in the sanctuary and the basement under the sanctuary, and the heating sys tem in the educational building Sketch of Proposed Rock Bridge Church grateful for the many friends throughout the Clinton area who have shown interest and sup port of the church throughout the history of the church. We are very thankful and proud that our church will have a part in the future life of the Rock Bridge Community and surrounding area. Our goal is to be a community church. It is our desire to be a living church in our community and not just a proud relic of the past. Joanna Presbyterian Church 41 Years Old WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS SERVICE IN THE FUTURE YEARS IT’S GOOD TO BE A PART OF THIS MEMORABLE CELEBRATION Johnson Brothers SUPERMARKET ROBERT AND ALBERT JOHNSON, Ouwers 800 South Broad Street 833-2422 (Courtesy of M. Waits) The Presbyterian Church at Joanna was organized November 17, 1929. The Com mission, appointed by South Carolina Presbytery to organize a Presbyterian Church at Goldville, melon that day in the Goldville Union Church, with Dr. C. E Sullivan presiding. . ; . Other members of the Conv mission were: Doctors D. J. Bnmm, M. G. Woodworth, and Ruling Elder W W. Harris. Charter members received y. into the church by statement of faith on organization day were: Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Bozard, Mr •i; and Mrs. E. G. Kay, Mrs. Annie X Laura Simpson, Mrs. Mary Fuller and Mrs. Mary Golden. J. M. Bozard and E. G Kay were elected elders, and upon + signifying their acceptance of ij: the office, were duly ordained by the laying on of hands by the Commission and were installed X in office. The election of a diaconate and the naming of the •l; church were deferred until a later date. X Later, the church adopted the official name of Goldville •I* Presbyterian Church, and it X remained thus until the name of X the town of Goldville was changed to Joanna. The congregation then took the £ present name — First Presbyterian Church of J oanna. The pulpit of the church was filled by students from X Presbyterian College and stated supplies until June 1936, when S the Rev David E. Boozer was installed as the first ordained pastor. He was also the first pastor to live on the field. At this tune the Goldville Church became a part of a four- church field along with the Shady Grove, Duncan’s Creek, and Ora Churches, and until 1957 shared a pastor with all or part of these churches. From the time the church was organized until October 1940, it shared a church building with the Baptist and Methodist Churches and took part in a Union Sunday School composed of all three churches. When the Baptist and Methodist Churches moved into their new buildings, the old frame church (built in 1912» was donated to the Presbyterians by the Joanna Cotton Mills Company. The building fund for the present buiiumg was begun in 1942. during the ministry of Rev. C Fred Allen, with Mrs. J. M Bozard as treasurer. The amassing of sufficient money to begin construction was a slow, tedious i and at times seemingly impossible) task, but in 1956 ground was broken for the new sanctuary and it was completed the following year. Serving on the building committee were: Dr. D H. McFadden, W. R. Senn, J. B Hart, Mrs. J. M. Bozard and Mrs. F. H. Simpson, Jr. The present manse was completed in 1939 and the Rev. Leonard O. Elmore was the first pastor to occupy it Land for the be changed from bottled gas to manufactured gas. Also that the two basements be water proofed at a cost of $7,030.07. Early in 1965, the church voted to completely renovate the auditorium which included refinishing the pews, installing air conditioning, wall to wall carpet, a foyer, a light dim ing system, a three story stair way behind the baptistry, the purchase of choir robes, and the complete remodeling of the pastorium. The cost of this project was $48,567.12. The erecting of the educational building and the remodeling of the sanctuary were both substantially assisted by The Bailey Foundation. Clinton Phone Service Started 1896 Clinton residents have had telephone service almost since it was invented. On the evening of March 19, 1876 a 29 year old school teacher by the name of Alexander Graham Bell suc cessfully sent the first sound of the human voice over a wire. The telephone was readily ac cepted and its use spread very rapidly. The first telephone ex change in the state was in Charleston in 1880. The telephone was introduced to the Clinton residents in 1896 when an unidentified Indepen dent Company opened an ex change. At the turn of the century the telephone exchange was owned and operated by the L.W. Floyd Consolidated Telephone Company. On October 24, 1902, Southern Bell bought the Clin ton exchange along with a number of other exchanges in upper South Carolina. At that time there were 56 telephones in the Clinton area. The tele phones at that time were the type where all calls, even the calls within the city, had to go through the operator. This type of service continued until February 5, 1961 when the ser vice was changed to the dial system which we presently use. Incidentally the residents of Clinton now have the touch tone service, one of the most recent innovations. The next significent advance was in 1964 when it was made possible to dial long distance calls direct. The number of telephones has grown rather remarkably since the 56 stations in 1902. By 1910 there were 215 tele phones; 1920, 373; 1930, 460;' 1940, 581; 1945, 723; 1950, 1524; 1960, 3318 and in 1970 the num ber has increased to 6,264. A new exchange was built by Southern Bell in Joanna and put in service on June 21, 1950 with 335 telephones. The num ber in operation today is 1,048. manse was donated to the church by Mr. Lumas Blalock. The communion table and pulpit stand for the new church were built bv Carl KesseL while serving as student supply pastor. For many years the church was served by full-time pastors who lived in the church owned manse. In 1967 the First Presbyterian Church, Joanna, teamed with the Little River Dominick Church and called the Rev. Leon Jeffords to be pastor of both churches. The church had been without a pastor since June 1969, but July 1, 1970 the Rev. James Bankhead began his work as pastor for both churches. The minister now lives in the Little River Dominick manse and the Joanna mum is being used as rental property.