Donnis Lentz rides his bike in front of The Cottage Lunch and Gulf, Highway 41 at Broadway. The original Johnsonville United Methodist Church is in the background. This is currently the city park where the Johnsonville Christmas Tree is located. The new Methodist Church was completed in 1965 and the old church was sold and moved from the corner.
Edith Perry Nettles (1900-1966) poses here on a porch with son Thurston Carey Nettles (1925-1988). Edith was a daughter of Elizabeth Hortensia Baxley and Llewellyn Perry. She married Howard Elijah Nettles (1891-1944). Edith was raised in Johnsonville but moved to Lake City after marriage.
Edna and Esther Carter sit on the porch with their mother Octavia "Sissy" Carter (center). The home was located in Vox at the intersection of Vox Highway and Rena Atkinson Road.
Elizabeth "Lizzie Beth" Session Scott (1888-1979) was a daughter of March and Anzie Session. Born in Williamsburg County, SC, she married Willie Scott. She cooked for the Julius Spiers and Lillie Belle Prosser Altman and their family for nearly 70 years.
Elizabeth Timmons Huggins (1839-1883) was the daughter of William James Timmons II (1802-1846) and Elizabeth Eaddy (1808-1898). She married George S. B. Huggins (1831-1915). After her death, Huggins married her younger sister, Emily Timmons
Erskine Shaw Stoddard (1900-1947) in 1920. He was a native of Laurens County but moved to Johnsonville in 1924, shortly after marrying Kathleen Thompson (Stoddard Venters). E. S. Stoddard was in the farm supply business and also operated a cotton gin. He also served on the Florence County Board of Education and was a superintendent of Johnsonville school. He died unexpectedly in 1947.
This photo is believed to show the Farmers and Merchants Bank, corner of Broadway and Railroad Avenue, circa early 1920s.
Many businesses occupied this corner over the years, but this bank may have been the first tenant after construction was completed by S.B. Poston.
In February of 1913, the Georgetown Times said this:
"The corner of the block is occupied by the Farmers and Merchants (branch) Bank, the parent of which is at Lake City. The officers of the bank are J. S. McClam, president; S. B. Poston, vice-President; and C. J. Rollins, cashier of the Johnsonville Branch. The branch is two years old, and has prospered every day of its life. Its equipment is modern and complete."
If you can identify the 3 men pictured, please post in the comments. S. B. Poston is not one of the men pictured.
Article details the fire that destroyed the inside of the Prosser Theater building and the tear-down of the remaining structure a short time later. 5 May 1977
