Brownie Girl Scouts, leaders and other children pose for a group photo before going on a ride on The Lancaster & Chester Railway in May of 1955.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Welcome to The Lancaster Archive, a preservation website featuring historic Lancaster SC photos from 5 photographers spanning 7 decades. Scroll down to begin viewing the latest photos, click on the keywords to view by subject or use the search box below to find images. The Lancaster Archive is a division of Columbia SC Photographer Travis Bell / Creative, LLC.
Brownie Girl Scouts, leaders and other children pose for a group photo before going on a ride on The Lancaster & Chester Railway in May of 1955.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Many thanks to Matt Buys Classic Cars for being one of the sponsors that makes The Lancaster Archive possible!
See anyone you know? Children show off their artwork during a day camp at Buckelew Park in June of 1966.
(Photo by Lee Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Bobby Bell, seen at bottom holding ball, and his friends pose during his 5th birthday party on Oct. 18, 1947 at 408 Chesterfield Ave. in Lancaster, S.C.
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Children and adults pose for a group picture in front of The American Legion building on the Lancaster County Fairgrounds during an Easter egg hunt in April of 1962.
See below for cropped versions.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
WLCM Radio is seen in 1953 at 103 Catawba St. The call letters were a tribute to Springs Cotton Mills, which at the time, was the world's largest cotton mill.
The station went on the air on November 26, 1951 and featured local hosts, shows, music and breaking news.
For decades, listeners tuned in on icy or snowy winter days when school principals would drive the roads early in the morning to make sure they were safe to drive on. The principals would then call the station to let the host know to announce regular school start times or a delay.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
First Baptist Church is seen under construction in January of 1954 on Market St. A closer look shows men working at the bottom of the steeple and up inside of it. The new building opened its doors with a dedication service on Sept. 9, 1954.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Some images have an amazing story.
This one has many.
Vintage roller skates are seen on the wooden floor of The Springs Park skating rink in 1996. The rink had been closed for years by the time this photograph was created.
It was just one of many activities and rides that entertained children and adults at the park for decades.
Did you skate at the rink?
What are your stories?
What do you remember?
(The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Maybe that's your car down there.
Brooklyn Springs Elementary is seen in April of 1969. The future property of Second Baptist Church can be seen at top left.
See below for cropped version of this image that shows SC 200 and more.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Thanks to Builders Supply for being one of the sponsors that makes The Lancaster Archive possible.
Builders Supply. A Great Place to Work!
Lancaster, England mayor William Mashiter, at right, presents his city's flag to Lancaster mayor Joe Shaw, at left, in March of 1985 during an opening ceremony in front of the Lancaster County courthouse.
Mashiter traveled to South Carolina to help Lancaster celebrate its 200th anniversary. Original Lancaster settlers can be traced back to Lancaster, England.
Mashiter stayed in Lancaster for days to participate in multiple events and take in our way of life and culture. He was seen in the St. Patrick's Day parade on Main St. and also taken to Columbia to meet then, Gov. Dick Riley.(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
Workers tear down a wall in preparation for the construction of JCPenney as the Williams Drug building is seen above on July 15, 1954.
At top left is the former U.S. Post office on Main St.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)
The Lancaster Archive welcomes Lancaster Funeral Home as a sponsor on our site.
Many thanks to all the sponsors who make sharing our hometown's visual history possible!
We thought it would interesting to compare the 1969 Rice School image published earlier to how it looks today.
The 1969 image is on the left. The image on the right is from a screenshot taken from Google Earth today.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive/Image on File with Travis Bell Photography)