The Lancaster Rotary All Star little league baseball team poses for a group portrait in July of 1958.
(Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
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.
(Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce float heads north on Main Street during the 1955 Christmas Parade.
This image was created by Lavoy Bauknight, whose photography studio can be seen across the street.
At right is City Drug, a pharmacy that attracted many customers who craved a grilled sandwich and fountain drink.
The intersection of Main and Arch streets is just out of the picture to the right, past the B.C. Moore sign.
We're not sure what's going on at the bottom of the photograph. Maybe the boy is getting fussed at for running out into the street too much to get candy!
See below for a cropped version, making it easier to see more details.
Parr Theater was owned by George Parr and entertained movie goers with news clips, full-feature films and serials.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
This image was made possible by:
The tropical cyclone reached Category 5 status, striking the South Carolina coast and moving inland towards Charlotte.
Thousands of Lancaster County residents went without power for days and some for weeks. (Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
Legendary recording artist, tv personality and cowboy Fred Kirby enjoys a baseball game in Washington D.C. with Lancaster native and Major League baseball player Aaron Robinson in June of 1958 at Griffith Stadium. The two were taking in a Washington Senators baseball game.
Kirby, born in Charlotte, was known for his songs that he recorded for RCA in the 1930s and 40s. 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.
Robinson played for the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers and White Sox from 1943 - 1951. He batted .297 and hit 16 home runs in 1946. His batting average that year was higher than teammate Joe DiMaggio's. He left the Yankees in 1943 to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard during WW2 and returned to the Yankees after war ended in 1945.
In 1947 he helped the Yankees win The World Series.
Fireball Roberts took the checkered flag that day with Buck Baker, who visited Lancaster in 1957, finishing second. Roberts' name can be seen on his car at right.
See below for cropped versions.
Across the street where a car is seen in an open garage is where the Lancaster County building sits today.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
The Ellen Dean, located at 137 N White St., was constructed in 1941 and in addition to its hotel rooms, had retail stores on the ground level and an event space in the basement.
Many Lancaster servicemen who married before departing to fight in WW2 spent their honeymoon night at The Ellen Dean.
(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
This historic image was made possible by:
(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
The group was known as United Youth Ministries and would gather for devotion time, volleyball and basketball games.
(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
Here's the full view.
The park first opened in March of '73.
Several rides that were part of opening day still operate today, including the skytower, which can be seen at left.
(Photo by Bobby Bell/Bell Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
The popular lunch spot was also a catering business.
The house still stands today, located near Discovery School, formerly known as Central School.
(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)
(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)
This classic photograph was made possible by: