|
Streets, Roads, Streams, Businesses, and People: A word about the streets and roads might be helpful in understanding some of the references made at various locations. Highway # 85 is cited as one example. This was the Wadesboro, NC road that traversed what is called Mill Street today. It turned west at Main Street and traveled west up Main Street to Academy Street where it turned south and went across Indian Creek and up the hill behind Smiley Hancock’s house and on to McBee, SC. North Page Street was not cut until well into the 20th century, but once it became an active street, the through traffic gravitated from Mill Street to North Page Street and today a traffic light guides the traffic through the town. Main Street in the latter part of the 19th century was called Broad Street. The town only stretched to the site of United Methodist Church and homes beyond this point were considered out of town and the road narrowed considerably. At that time, Church Street was a divided street with trees down the center of the street. It is interesting to note that several references were made to wells and springs. The location of water was critical in determining where a person might build a house. It appears that the Main Street was on a slight ridge with water running off in different directions depending on which side of Main Street one lived. The runoff on the North side of the street went to Thompson Creek, which was originally called Green River, while the runoff from the south side of the street fed into Indian Creek. There were three wells located in the center of Main Street, one near where Highway 9 and 145 Cross, one near the center of town, and one located in front of the old jail. A number of families in Chesterfield contributed to the welfare of the community by providing employment, selling merchandise, building buildings, generating wealth, and by participating in local government or education. Where possible, I have tried to show the family connections so that the reader might have a better understanding of these families. No doubt a good case could be made for the inclusion of many other families, but contact limitations, time, and expenses made it impossible to consider all who deserve recognition. It is interesting to note that in many cases by the third, and certainly by the fourth generations, the family descendents have little or no connection to the original source of the family business. At the end of the 20th Century, only four businesses in Chesterfield, had carried on some resemblance of the same goods or services at the same location for the past fifty years. They include: Stephenson’s Hardware, a portion of Moores, a portion of Pusser’s dry goods, and DaMond Beauty Shop. As you will learn from a review of the businesses cited in this reminiscence about the town, most of the buildings and business have had a varied existence. Watson Brothers began as a clothing store in 1901 on Main Street, and with the coming of electricity they switched to appliances and have continued the business for more than 100 years. Clyde Watson, Jr. is the only fourth generation family member to operate the same family business in Chesterfield. The business was re-located to Page Street in 1960 and continues today. It is safe to say that the Watson’s have been in more kitchens than anyone in town. Chesterfield Drug Store has a long and varied history but the business has changed hands a number of times over the years although Chesterfield Drug Store has been in business since 1905. While it may be impossible to say with certainty, it appears from this review that the Pusser family operated the most businesses in Chesterfield during the 20th Century. Their businesses have included clothing stores, automobile dealer, service stations, general stores, a law office, a funeral home, and automobile parts. Several people have contributed to the growth of the town by the construction of buildings and facilities. While the government might lead this list by virtue of the Court house, the post office, the former health center, the Department of Social Service, the ASCD (Agriculture Stabilization Control Department), mental health, the library, and jail, several individuals have contributed to the growth as well. The J. T. Hurst and J. A. Streater families built the “Old Mall,” The Western Auto Store, and several homes. The I. Parks Mangum family built two stores on the north side of Main Street just beyond Carolina Bank and three additional stores near the center of town. The J. A. Welsh family constructed one of the first banks, the ice plant and several homes. |