With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in December, 2020.
The Walker Local and Family History Center maintains a healthy collection of historic photographs, postcards and other local memorabilia. A selection of these are online in the Local History Digital Collections, with new additions each week. Each month I’ll share the most popular images from the previous month. Below are the top 5 images from December, 2020.
5) Santa Claus arrives at Sears in a helicopter, 1955.
Santa has flown in on a helicopter to help kick off the holiday shopping season at the new Sears store in Five Points. An eager crowd waits below to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
4) Curb hops at Hite's Drive-In Restaurant, 1960.
Curb hops bring out a Coke and fountain drink to a car parked at Hite's Drive-In and Dairy Bar in Lexington. Hite's is still in operation and is well known for its barbecue.
3) Hanukkah celebration at Crayton Junior High School, 1964.
Students at Crayton Junior High School celebrate Hanukkah. The Junior High was completed in 1957 and served students in seventh and eighth grade living in east Columbia and Forest Acres. Today it is Crayton Middle School and is part of Richland County School District 1.
2) Main Street north from the State House at Christmas, 1974.
A Christmas tree stands at the intersection of Main Street and Gervais Street behind the Confederate Soldiers Monument on the State House grounds. The Wade Hampton Hotel is on the left, and the Columbia Building with blue glass panels is on the right. Beyond are commercial buildings reflecting a range of architectural styles from the past 100 years.
1) Dwelling of John C. B. Smith, built by his grandfather c. 1860, 1979.
The John C. B. Smith house still stands near the intersection of Colonial Drive and Harden Street Extension. The information in the title was provided by the photographer, Russell Maxey. At the time of this photograph it was the home of real estate agent John C. B. Smith (1903-1988), son of John C. B. and Lila Smith, grandson of John C. B. and Jane E. Smith. The eldest John C. B. Smith (1839-1900) was listed as treasurer of the Charlotte, Augusta, and Columbia Railroad Co. on the 1880 US census. He married Jane in 1874 so perhaps this home was built around that time. In 1860 John C.B. Smith was only 21 and still living with his father, John Alexander Smith, a farmer. I can only speculate on the true date of construction of this home. If you know, please fill me in!
Want to see more? Click to see the top 5 from November 2020.
