Fred Kirby at WLCM - 1952 - Lancaster SC Photos

Country & Western recording artist and Charlotte personality Fred Kirby, left, and his horse Calico, do an interview with WLCM AM radio in May of 1952. WLCM had only been on the air 6 months at that time and was located at 103 S. Catawba St. 

Kirby was known for his songs that he recorded for RCA in the 1930s and 40s. He was the first recording artist to release a song about the atomic bomb. 

He was popular in The Carolinas with his show that aired on WBTV Charlotte for years. He was also seen often at Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock. 

Many Carolinians may have seen him in their hometown parade.  (Photo by Lavoy Bauknight/Image on file with Travis Bell Photography) ©Copyright. All Rights Reserved.

NASCAR Legend Buck Baker - 1957 - Lancaster SC Photos

NASCAR legend and Hall of Fame member Buck Baker, father of driver, Buddy Baker, poses for a promotional photo at Lancaster Motor Company on June 1, 1957. Buck, a Richburg native, won two cup series championships and 46 races. (Photo by Lavoy Bauknight/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

USC Lancaster - 1959 - Lancaster SC Photos

The future home of USC Lancaster is seen on June 30, 1959 as renovations continue on the front of the building. The school offered six courses by four commuting professors and had 50 students in its first year. 

The 16-room home, known as The Williams House, was once owned by Springs Vice President T.Y. Williams. 

It was located near the present day Lancaster County Library. 



(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on file with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Copyright Travis Bell Photography. 

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Charlton Heston on The Set of Chiefs - 1983 - Chester SC

Oscar-winning actor Charlton Heston is seen on the set of Chiefs in Chester in the summer of 1983. Many Lancaster residents drove to Chester in hopes of seeing Heston and other actors like Billy Dee Williams and Wayne Rogers. Downtown Chester became a huge set for filming interior and exterior scenes for the movie. 

The three-part miniseries aired that November on CBS. 

The miniseries, based on a novel by Stuart Woods, was nominated for three Emmy Awards. 

(Photo byJeff Zehr/ The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 
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SC 5 Bridge Construction - 1959 - Lancaster SC Photos

The S.C. 5 bridge is seen under construction on May 12, 1959 on The Catawba River at the Lancaster-York county line. With the construction of the bridge, Lancaster drivers no longer had to use the ferry (located nearby) or drive to Fort Lawn to get to Rock Hill. 


(Photo by Lavoy Bauknight/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

Postman and His Dog on Main Street - 1955 - Lancaster SC Photos

A postman begins his walk up Main Street from the U.S. Post Office near the intersection of Main and Arch streets on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1955. In this photograph, the postman is starting to cross Main St. Behind him is south Main going towards Columbia.

J.C. Penney's department store and Williams Drug can be seen at right.

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

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Courthouse Renovations - 1963 - Lancaster SC Photos

Roof repair, modern lighting and heat installation were a part of the $30,000 restoration of the Lancaster County Courthouse in 1963. Designed by Robert Mills, the building cost $13,000 to build in 1828. In 1978, the U.S. Dept. of the Interior declared the courthouse a national landmark.

(Photo by Lee Studio/Image on file with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

Postman and Main Street - 1955 - Lancaster SC Photos

A postman begins his walk up Main Street from the U.S. Post Office near the intersection of Main and Arch streets on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1955. 

The Parr Theater, which is advertising the movie "Davy Crockett" can be seen near the center of the photograph. 

B.C. Moore and Sons department store can be seen as well. At left is a Navy Recruiting poster. 

The water tower just over the shoulder of the postman sat beside the former police station, to the right of the Lancaster county courthouse. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Copyright. All Rights Reserved

Shell Service Station on Main Street - 1954 - Lancaster SC Photos

The Shell service station, located at 310 N Main St. is seen on April 24, 1954. The station sold auto supplies, tires and gasoline for just 34 cents per gallon. 

Customers remained in their car while an attendant filled up their tank, checked the oil and cleaned their front windshield. Today, this location is the home of Fox's Pizza Den. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography) 

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. 

Wylie Street Pool Construction - 1971 - Lancaster SC

Construction continues at The Wylie Street pool on Thursday, April 15, 1971. The high dive can be seen at left. The pool would open that summer for swim meets, free swim and lessons. (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on file with Travis Bell Photography)

Lancaster Ambulance Service - Sept. 27, 1966 - Lancaster SC

Wow. This one takes us back.

Members of the Lancaster Ambulance Service pose on Sept. 27, 1966 near the water tower that used to be on Main St. near the courthouse.

We can't see all the last names but based on the ones we can see on some of the team's shirts, from left, bottom row are:

Knight, Bennett, Ferguson, ___________, __________

Top row from left are:

Carnes, Baker, Richardson and Young.

If you have more information about the names, please use the contact form at the top right of the home page to send us a message. Thanks!


 (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

New Vehicle - 1971 - Lancaster SC

An officer checks a meter on White St. while using a new vehicle designed to help him easily travel around downtown Lancaster on June 26, 1971.  (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

 ©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

WBT Radio Broadcast - Lancaster SC - 1961

WBT Radio from Charlotte, N.C. broadcasts from downtown Lancaster in August of 1961 at the intersection of Main and Gay. (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

Post Office - Lancaster SC - 1971

A 1971 look at the former Lancaster Post Office, located at 327 South Main Street. (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

U.S. 21 Bridge Construction - Fort Lawn SC - 1961

The construction of the U.S. 21 bridge that crosses S.C. 9 near The Wagon Wheel is seen in May of 1961 looking west in Fort Lawn. (Photo by Lee Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

 ©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

Sidewalk Sale on Main Street - Lancaster SC - 1985

The 100 block of South Main St. is seen during a sidewalk sale in September of 1985.  (Photo by Bell Studio/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)

©Travis Bell Photography. All Rights Reserved. Free Download is for Personal Use Only.

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