Browse Items · Johnsonville SC History

Aerial Views of Johnsonville, Early 1950s

These aerial photos show Johnsonville in the early 1950s. The old train depot, high school auditorium, and other buildings are visible, as well as many former homes and businesses. The Johnsonville Elementary school, completed in 1954, is not yet constructed in these images.

Al and Hannah Altman Erwin - First wedding at Westside FWB - July 4 1957

Al and Hannah Altman Erwin - First wedding at Westside FWB - July 4 1957. Westside's sanctuary was completed in 1956.

Bartell's Crossroads

Bartell's Crossroads is located between Johnsonville and Indiantown. The two-story structure at the crossroads was built circa 1935. It was a country store operated by Vasker Calvineau Bartell and Elnora Cox Bartell. Elnora also worked at Wellman in the 1960s. Calvineau's father started operating a store at the crossroads around 1902 and a store operated there continuously through the 1970s. The original Bartell Brothers store at the crossroads burned in 1921 and was replaced by the 2-story building afterward. By the 1970s the second story porch had collapsed and the building was leaning about 10 degrees. Calvineau added a few telephone polls to brace the side of the building. "When the wind starts blowing, everybody starts leaving." one customer told the Florence Morning News in 1973.
One patron remembers that there was a small electric fence around the bread. Calvineau and Elnora's granddaughter Cindy Allen Joye has memories of the store: "I have memories of going there with granddad he would always lift me up so I could get a coke and then he would cut me a huge chunk of cheese and bologna. I loved him dearly."
The store closed after Calvineau passed away in 1976.

Black Mingo Church.

Also known as "Old Belin," the church was destroyed by an act of arson.

Broadway Street 1968 looking West

Broadway Street, 1968, during a snow. Photo shows Haselden's Grocery, Frederick's Studio, Post Office, Johnsonville Pharmacy, and Turner's IGA.

Broadway Street in Johnsonville looking East toward the railroad, early 1960s

This 1960s era photograph depicts several Broadway Street businesses of the time, including Prosser's Department Store and the old Gulf station. The blue pickup was a 1958 or 1959 Chevy that belonged to David Poston. It is parked in front of the hardware store. The car behind it was Mrs Doris Caraway's yellow and white 1958 Ford. The third car was Mr Moss Daniels Ford from the early 1950's. The convertible's owner is unknown.

Tags 1960s, Broadway, business, cars, downtown, Johnsonville

Broadway Street in Johnsonville looking East, circa 1954

Broadway looking East, circa 1954.
Pictured: Tomlinson's & Venters, P.D. Poston Grocery (later Turner's IGA). Not yet built are the Johnsonville Pharmacy or the old Johnsonville Post Office (which opened in 1958).

Broadway Street looking East circa 1954

Johnsonville, South Carolina - Broadway Street looking to the East.

Tags Broadway, business

Carolina Farm Store

Charlie Prosser, C.O. Powell, Pete Hanna, Delmus Abrams, log cabin 1934.jpg

Charlie Prosser, C.O. Powell, Pete Hanna, Delmus Abrams complete work on Agricultural Building

Cockfield Drug Store, 1920

Cory Booker visits St. Mark AME Oct 2019.jpg

Corey Booker Visits Saint Mark A.M.E. Church, 2019

During his 2019 bid to win the democratic nomination, Senator Corey Booker visited Saint Mark A.M.E. Church in Johnsonville.

Dairy King

Operated by husband and wife Lenora Venters and Hugh Hearn.

Dairy King Drivethru

Operated by husband and wife Lenora Venters and Hugh Hearn.

Dairy King sign Highway 41

Operated by husband and wife Lenora Venters and Hugh Hearn.

Dedication for New Hemingway Motel c. 1965

Dedication of the new Hemingway Motel, aka The Coachman Inn.
L to R: J. P. Askins, Jr., Merrett E. Morris, L. Durwood Lewis, Aubrey Lewis, Senator Strom Thurmond.

Downtown Hemingway with Oak Trees

Eaddy and Creel Bros Hemingway

An early Hemingway store.

Ebenezer Methodist Church congregation 1920.jpg

Ebenezer Methodist Church 1920

Ebenezer Methodist Church (AKA Muddy Creek Methodist Church), 1920. Includes identification of most of the members pictured

Ebenezer Methodist Church old sanctuary, from post card.jpg

Ebenezer United Methodist Church

Image shows the older sanctuary, destroyed by fire in 1969.

Ebenezer United Methodist Church engraving

This collectors plate engraving shows the original Ebenezer UMC building (1917-1958)

Evans Brothers and Sons

Evans Brothers and Sons was a business located on Broadway Street. It burned in 2007. The owners relocated the business to Railroad Avenue.

Evans Brothers building burns

Evans Brothers and Sons was a business located on Broadway Street. It burned in 2007. The owners relocated the business to Railroad Avenue.

Fabric Fair 1973

1954 First Grade, Muddy Creek School.jpg

First Graders, Muddy Creek School 1954

In 1954 there were too many 1st grade students for all to attend Hemingway Grammar School, so some of the students were located at the Muddy Creek School. There was also one 2nd grade class that attended at this time

Friendly Dry Goods

Tags Broadway, business, Johnsonville, store

Grave of John Witherspoon

Grave of John Witherspoon (1742-1802), located at the old Aimwell Presbyterian Church burial grounds, Old River Road at McWhite Road.

John took control of Witherspoon's Ferry (now Venters Landing at Johnsonville) after his older brother Robert Witherspoon died with no issue in 1787. Witherspoon's Ferry had already been in use during the Revolution, and this spot served as the backdrop for General Francis Marion's commission to lead the militia.

John and Robert were both sons of Gavin Witherspoon and Jane James, who came from Knockbracken, Ireland to Williamsburg. John was a patriot during the American Revolution, serving as a private with Marion's Brigade in the Britton's Neck Regiment for 244 days in 1780 and 1781.

In 1801 it was ordered that a Ferry should be re-established and vested in John's care. John married Mary Conn and had one child, Elizabeth, who later married David Rogerson Williams, Governor of South Carolina from 1814-1816.

John Witherspoon died in 1802, and according to the terms of his will, the ferry was re-established and vested in John D. Witherspoon, executor and friend, for a term of 14 years beginning in 1815, “in trust for and having the sole benefit of the incorporated Presbyterian Church at Aimwell on the Pee Dee River." John's will also stipulated that William J. Johnson be given rights to the Ferry site under condition:

"It is my will and desire that the trustees aforesaid or their successors shall give William Johnson the present use of the lands aforesaid the exclusive privilege of leasing the lands aforesaid for a term of 12 years provided the said William Johnson on the wisdom of the said trustees aforesaid shall conduct himself with propriety."

It was John Witherspoon who vested the ferry lands in William Johnson, who later established the post office at Johnsonville which became the town we know today.

Hanna's Chapel, Vox, 1954

These photos show members of Hanna's Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church on Vox Highway in 1954. This sanctuary was in place before the current bricked sanctuary that still stands.

Hemingway High School

Becky Lewis, Sarah Galloway Miss Beth Eaddy.jpg

Hemingway High School Library

Heminway SC Depot station, May 8 1956.jpg

Hemingway South Carolina Train Depot, 1956

Hemingway Tractor - 1962

Highway 41 leaving Johnsonville, 1954

Highway 41 leaving Johnsonville, 1954. Near the horizon Railroad Ave and the railroad track intersects 41. The road hooks right at the horizon toward Lynches River. The farm to the left is the R. W. Turner farm. The building in the foreground was a corn barn with a shed on the rear. The Gaster farm bordered the Turner farm closer to town, passed down from the Johnson family. To the right was the James Graham farm, which was sold to Wellman Combing Company. Wellman was constructed behind the Wellman Texaco Gas Station (center left).
Wellman would allow their employees to have a charge account there that was deducted from their weekly checks, A sheep pasture was conducted across the road.
Wellman was a full service gas station. Gene Dennis and Robert Hooks were the cheerful attendants; they pumped the gas, cleaned windshields, checked the oil and also serviced cars and sold & mounted tires.

Huggins Brothers Lumber Company

Huggins Brothers Lumber Company was by Ottis "Sawman" Huggins Jr. (1922-1985). It was located at Ards Crossroads by the railroad track. Huggins established the lumber company in November, 1919 when he returned from WWI.

Indiantown Presbyterian Church, 1900

Indiantown Presbyterian Church, circa 1900.
The church was organized in 1757. During the American Revolution, the church was burned by the British Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton. His act resulted in the citizens giving greater support to his opponent, the Continental General Francis Marion.
The rebuilt (and current) church building remained virtually unchanged from its erection in 1830 until the front porch was added in 1910.

Indiantown Presbyterian Church, 1910-1919

Indiantown Presbyterian Church, after the front portch was added (sometime between 1910-1919). This was before the church was raised and a basement added (before 1927).

Jackson and Pine Streets

Johnson Memorial Hospital

Johnson Memorial Hospital was located in Hemingway, SC.and opened in April of 1940. it was owned and operated by chief surgeon Dr. Allen Huggins Johnson, who also owned the Pee Dee Telephone Company.

The vacant building was listed for sale in 1981. A notorious last note in the history of the building occurred when Patches Kalb was arrested in 1983 for impersonating a doctor and running an illegal clinic out of the old hospital building.

The building was torn down to make way for a new Food Lion grocery store which opened its doors on May 4, 1986.

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