Recently I was fortunate enough to be given a photograph by Mr. B.P. Gordon. The photograph is a spring time aerial perspective of the Main Street in Dillon as is appeared in September 1953. The primary view was above the United Methodist Church looking down west past the Main Street (tobacco) warehouse to the Seaboard Railroad whose depot was then standing on or about five city north/south blocks plus perimeter structures along adjoining streets such as Harrison. The old Dillon High School is even included plus the just visible tower of the White Building (Corridor of Shame notoriety). Barely seen is the roofline of the Dillon County Courthouse.
But I would guess that if this photograph were shown to 100 people and each asked to cite a building that was recalled from that era, most likely the one I would point out would not be on the list. Immediately behind the McIntyre Drug Store on Main Street and facing US 301, one can see a seemingly out-of-place building, a residence. It was right across the street from the back of the First Presbyterian Church and adjacent to what once was service station, Bill’s Corner. So what was the significance of this house?
My brother Sikes a year younger than me and I used to “thumb” a ride from Hamer in past days of innocence to watch movies at the Anderson or Broadway Theaters. After the show was over, we would stand on the corner of Harrison Street and US 301, at the stoplight, a hope for a driver heading north to give us a ride home. At times, we were not too fortunate, and the wait lasted too long for impatient boys. It was then that we thought about the house mentioned.
We used to fantasize how lucky we would be if we indeed lived in that particular hose since it was the best location possible.
It was on the same block as the Anderson Theater and if we lived there, we would avoid our after the movie challenge of catching a ride.
Back then many of us living in the country thought the really lucky people were those who lived in town anyhow.
But then we were children and thought like children. -I Corinthian 13:11
How things change when one grows up.
Thanks to Mr. Gordon for the memory.

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Bill Lee
P.O. Box 128
Hamer, SC 29547