Welcome to the Historic East Town Neighborhood!

   We're so glad you've found us - we've got a great neighborhood and we're always happy to share it with others. So come take a tour of our web site and find out just what makes us such a great place! We'll fill you in on our history, events and happenings around the neighborhood, where we are in the world, and what types of businesses and other amenities you'll find both here and nearby.
   If you'd like, click on the Photos page and take a walking tour of East Town! Or check out Properties for Sale to see if you find something to your liking here - new neighbors are always welcome!
   We are a historic district in Rock Hill, SC, and as such are honored to carry on the history of our city. If you have an interest in historical preservation, there are items on this website that you'll want to take a look at. Our Historic Review Guidelines were prepared for the Rock Hill Historic Board of Review and define how to preserve our past while leaving room for growth in our future. The Historic White Home (pictured above) is currently undergoing restoration to preserve our city's first home for generations to come. And you can always check out what neighbors are doing as they restore and preserve their individual homes by checking out the Current Info page.
   So what are you waiting for? Come on in to our website and take a look around! Or better yet, take a trip to our neighborhood and find out why we call Historic East Town "Rock Hill's FIRST Neighborhood"!

ChristmasVille 2009 Historic Homes Tour in East Town

Back for our third year - the East Town Tour of Historic Homes is again part of ChristmasVille in Rock HIll! Join us on Saturday, Dec. 5th from 3 PM - 7 PM and Sunday, Dec. 6th from 2 PM - 5 PM as 4 homeowners open their historic era homes for viewing at Christmas time. Get into the Christmas spirit as you walk through each of theses exquisitely decorated houses and enjoy the hospitality of the owners as they share Christmas with their guests. This is a ticketed event - tickets are $10 and are available at each home or in advance at the Rock Hill Economic & Urban Development Office inside City Hall. To learn more about ChristmasVille, click here.   We ask that if you do join us for the tour, please refrain from wearing high-heeled or other shoes that could mark the hardwood floors. Smoking, food, and/or drinks are not allowed in any of the homes during the tour.   Below is a synopsis of each of the 4 homes. To see photos and video from the 2007 tour click here.

138 Reid Street (circa 1907-08) Current Owners: Dave & Stephanie Tursi Historic Name: Benjamin Franklin Massey House   This one-and-a-half story home, built circa 1907-08, was not included in Rock Hill’s 1905 Sanborn Insurance Company fire map, but this house does appear in the fire maps of 1910. The 1908-09 Rock Hill City Directory shows Benjamin F. & Maggie Massey as living at 142 Reid Street, but the address had changed to its current number of 138 Reid Street by 1913/14 directory.   In 1908 Mr. Massey was part owner in the firm Massey Bros. & Gordon, a heavy hauling company, but in the 1913/14 City Directory Mr. Massey’s means of employment had changed to that of a farmer, and by 1920 the Masseys moved to another part of town. In 1920-21 Mr. & Mrs. J. Boyce & Nan Talbert occupied the house while he was employed as a bookkeeper at the Highland Park Manufacturing Company. By 1925 the house was occupied by the Misses Gertrude and Ollie Branch, who were training nurses at the nearby Fennell Infirmary, and Mr. And Mrs. John T. & Maggie McCrorey.   The 1933/34 City Directory states that William W. & Gertrude B. Campbell lived at this address, and that Mr. Campbell was a York County Policeman whose duties included patrolling the rural areas of York County. This house stayed in the Campbell family until Mrs. Campbell passed away in the 1980s. Throughout that decade and the next, several families lived at this address but in 2004 Dave & Stephanie Tursi bought this historic home where they are now in the process of not only raising seven children, but also renovating a beautiful part of Historic East Town Neighborhood’s past.

343 East White Street(circa 1908) Current Owners: Nate & Sonia Robinson Historic Name: Duncan Albert House    The Rock Hill City Directory states that Mr. & Mrs. Duncan Albert owned and lived in this home from 1908 until at least the mid 1920s. Mr. Albert was an engineer for the Southern Railroad, whose tracks still run right behind the house. It is unknown when Duncan and Mattie Albert left but by 1926 Dr. & Mrs. David E. Walker were living in the home, which was just around the corner from the Fennell Infirmary on North Confederate Avenue.   This home eventually became a boarding house and remained in that capacity for many years. The front porch was fully enclosed to create more rental space and many people lived in this old home for several decades.   In 1998 an electrical fire nearly consumed this historic house. But thanks to the quick response of the Rock Hill Fire Department the building, although severally damaged, was saved. It was later purchased by a local preservation group, who sold it to a young couple from North Carolina. The couple cleaned the interior of all the plaster and debris from the fire, had a new roof installed, and began the huge task of re-building this grand old home. They remained committed to this home, but slowly became aware that they had tackled too big of a project. Soon ownership of the house reverted back to Historic Rock Hill.   After some time on the market, Historic Rock Hill sold the house on Feb. 11, 2004 to Nathaniel Robinson, a Rock Hill firefighter, who was determined to finish the restoration on the home. For several years Mr. Robinson, his family, and many friends all contributed to saving this house. Finally in 2007 he was awarded his certificate of occupancy. Today the Albert/Robinson Home stands as a contributing historic house in the Historic East Town Neighborhood and with newlyweds Nate & Sonia Robinson living there new history will surely happen at this home.

403 E. White Street (circa 1908-09) Current Owners: Tim & Ashley Porter Historic Name: The Rev. Arthur S. Rogers House    This home was not listed in the 1908/09 directories but it is listed in the 1913/14 directories as the home of Arthur S. Rogers, although no numerical address is given. This beautiful two-story home located on the corner of North Confederate Avenue and East White Street was built for the Reverend Arthur S. Rogers and his wife.   The Rev. & Mrs. Rogers appear to have raised two daughters in this home, and Misses Mary and Rebecca Rogers went on to become schoolteachers in Rock Hill. The Rev. Rogers was pastor of the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church from 1895 until 1948, and both of the couple lived out their retirements in the home. The Roger’s tenure at 403 E. White Street ended in the early 1980s when Mrs. Rogers died. Greene Funeral Home used this house as a flower shop starting in 1983-84 and stayed in this location until 1988. After the flower shop, several families lived in this house and in 2007 an out-of-town couple purchased it with plans to completely renovate this lovely historic home, then sell it as a turn-key ready home. Well versed in flipping houses, this couple completely and elegantly repaired every aspect of this beautiful home and in 2008 a young couple, Tim & Ashley Porter, acquired the Roger’s historic home. Today it is not uncommon to see the Porters hard at work in the yard of this wonderful home where they are committed to the resurgence of the Historic East Town Neighborhood.

131 North Confederate Avenue (circa 1880s) Current Owner: John T. Misskelley Historic Name: D. D. Moore / J. Chauncey Poag House    This house was once the home of Mr. D. D. Moore, Rock Hill’s first librarian, and was constructed in the early 1880s. After the death of Mr. Moore the house was sold to the Reid family. The family wanted to build a larger house on the lot and in turn sold the house to Mr. & Mrs. James Chauncey Poag, who then had the house moved from its original lot (now occupied by the Elks Club on Main Street) to a new street called North College Avenue (now called North Confederate Avenue) in 1896.   This home features a large central hall with the parlor, dining, and bedroom doors opening into the hall. At the rear are a kitchen, original pantry, and servant’s quarters. A full façade front porch with a hipped roof protects turned decorative porch posts with sawn brackets and original balustrade and historic double front doors in an entablature surround.   Extensive landscaping has been done to the back yard while still maintaining the feel of a home of this period. There is also a seasonal vegetable garden now producing items like tomatoes, squash, and even muscadines for homemade jam. The current owner, John T. Misskelley, is responsible for restoring and maintaining this wonderful home.

Click here for a Historic Homes Tour Brochure - (514K PDF)

Click here to check out the ChristmasVille website!

2008 Come-See-Me Parade in East Town

Be Seen Green! Check out the video of the parade as seen from the sidewalks of East Town! You'll feel like you were right there with us! Hear the sounds of chirping birds mixed with the voices of neighbors and the music of the Come-See-Me Parade entries.    See the videos by navigating to our Photos page, or just click here.