Miss Lancaster contestants pose for a promotional photograph at a dress shop in Lancaster on April 10, 1965. (Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
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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.
Miss Lancaster contestants pose for a promotional photograph at a dress shop in Lancaster on April 10, 1965. (Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
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Miss Lancaster contestants pose for a group portrait before their pageant in 1962.
Top left is Cecelia Yoder McCall, who won Miss Lancaster that year and was later crowned Miss SC USA. Next to her is Linda Threatt Sapp.
At top right is Sandra Hegler.
Bottom center is Diane Love Bruner.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
It looks like a scene out of a movie.
The 100 and 200 blocks of Main St. are seen, looking south, in June of 1954.
"Mr. Sandman" was one of the top songs that year. The Lancaster Cafe location is across the street from the former Kimbrell's Furniture location.
What else do you see when you zoom in and look around?
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(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
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Belk's storefront is seen on the south 100 block of Main St. in March of 1955. This location would be on your left if you were traveling north on Main St.
Today, it's a city park.
Did you know?
The founder of Belk's, William Henry Belk, was born in Lancaster.
He opened the first store in Monroe in 1888.
Belk's was one of the first stores in the country to offer returns if a customer didn't like their item after taking it home.
What's your favorite memory from shopping downtown?
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
Since launching The Lancaster Archive in 2015, the most requested picture from our viewers is Howards Grill.
We were overjoyed last week to finally come across a beautiful picture of this iconic grill that so many people enjoyed over the years.
What are your memories about some of the classic grills in Lancaster? What was your favorite item from the menu?
Many thanks to the late Lavoy Bauknight, who not only had a good eye for images like this one but also worked tirelessly in camera and in the darkroom to produce high-quality photographs like this one.
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(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
Fresh baked bread and rolls can also be seen in the image. The bakery was later moved to 222 S. Main St.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
Back then, this corner was home to Stewman's B.F. Goodrich Tires and Batteries.
Today, Cooper Furniture is across the street from this location on Main St.
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(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
Back in 1954, this location was a Goodyear Tire store and also sold appliances.
Located at the intersection of Main and Gay streets, it's also home to Downtown Craze Salon, located at the front.
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(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm has come a long way since 1985.
The federal-style home was built by dentist Joseph Lee between 1826 and 1834.
For decades, it sat empty with little hope for a future.
On Feb. 6, 1999, the house was moved from this 204 N. White St. location to its new home on Craig Farm Rd.
Kilburnie, which officially opened as a bed and breakfast on May 21, 2000, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
In the 1950s, Lancaster Motor Speedway hosted four NASCAR Cup series events. Over the years, drivers like Ernie Irvan and Dale Earnhardt Sr. ran at the 1/2 mile track.
In December of 2021, NASCAR used the speedway to test its Next Gen car for the dirt race at Bristol.
Here, in Sept. of 1954, turn four is seen in the foreground as workers level out the hill that will become the stands on the front stretch.
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(Photo by Lavoy Studio/The Lancaster Archive)
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Girl Scouts meet with a law enforcement officer to go over safety tips on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1954.
See below for cropped versions of this image, making it easier to see faces.
The 1950s saw a huge leap in the mass production of bikes for children.
Before the 50s bikes were mostly for adults but some adults lost interest in riding bikes with the development and affordability of the modern automobile.
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(Photo by Lavoy Bauknight/The Lancaster Archive)
WIS-TV's Rick Henry interviews Lancaster High School head football coach Johnny Roscoe before the Bruins' game against Spring Valley in Nov. of 1989. LHS would play in the state championship game in Columbia in December. (Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
Cruising Main St. was popular in Lancaster from the 1950s through the 1990s.
Here, traffic is seen on the 100 and 200 blocks of Main St., looking south in 1982.
Drivers would circle the blocks to see who was downtown and catch up with friends in the parking lots.
Lancaster
became well known for its weekend, downtown scene. Teens from Rock Hill,
Chester, Monroe and other towns in the region would drive to Lancaster
to cruise Main.
(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
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