Col. Springs with South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Directors - 1958 - Lancaster SC Photos

Col. Elliott White Springs leads a group of statewide chamber of commerce directors on a tour of Springs Cotton Mills in April of 1958. 

Many locals referred to Springs as 'Colonel' because of his military rank as a WW1 fighter pilot. He trained with the Royal Air Force and flew with the U.S. Air Service. 

Third from the left is former Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Director Charlie Bundy. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

Robinson Cloud Department Store Grand Opening - 1958 - Lancaster SC Photos

The Lancaster High School majorettes and pep band perform as band director Ben Watkins looks on during the grand opening and ribbon cutting for Robinson Cloud department store on March 6, 1958. 

Balloons, children playing and the shop's storefront can also be seen in this classic image, which was made on Main St. 

Storefront displays were extremely competitive among the downtown shops. At one point, Robinson Cloud was awarded first place by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce for the best window display. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

SEE BELOW for cropped versions, making it easier to see more details. 

The Springs Clubhouse - 1953 - Lancaster SC Photos

A postman walks up the street in front of the Springs clubhouse at the intersection of Brooklyn Ave. and 11th St. in 1953. 

The building was used for dances, holiday parties, family gatherings, company celebrations and more. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

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Miss Lancaster Contestants at WLCM - 1954 - Lancaster SC Photos

Contestants pose for a group portrait in April 1954 after participating in a radio broadcast at WLCM about the upcoming Miss Lancaster pageant. (Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)

Downtown Kershaw - 1952 - Lancaster County Photos

Downtown Kershaw is seen in Sept. of 1952.

Some of the places that can be seen are Simpson's Drugs, Hayes Pharmacy, Magill's Refreshment Center, Belk and more. 

(Photo by Julian Starr/The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive) 

Skateboarding in Lancaster - 1980s - Lancaster SC Photos

Skateboarding exploded in the mid to late 1980s. Many Lancaster skaters put their wooden ramps on wheels so they could easily move them around.

One popular spot was the Rice School parking lot.

This collage shows teens launching off ramps at Rice School and other locations in '87 and '88.

(Photos by Travis Bell)

From top left to right:

1) Jay Cunningham at Jo Manley's quarter pipe

2) Jo Manley and Brian Twitty at Rice School

3) Chris Hance at Rice School

4) Richie Christoper

5) Jo Manley at Rice School

6) Richie Christopher on Starcliff Circle in the Pleasant Dale community

7) Daniel Hance at Rice School

8) Travis Bell at Rice School (Photo by Jo Manley)

9) The late Patrick Durant at Rice School

Arch Street View - 1950s - Lancaster SC Photos

Arch St., looking west, is seen in the 1950s in downtown Lancaster. Up ahead is Main St. and the back of the former U.S. Post Office is on the left. 

If you drove up to Main St. and turned right, you would be driving towards Charlotte. Also seen is the Chrysler-Plymouth dealership on the left and at right is The Springs Block. 

This classic photograph was made by the photographer, Julian Starr Jr., while he stood at the intersection of Arch and White streets. Starr, who was the editor and publisher of The Lancaster News from 1952 through 1971, also had a love for photography. 

(Photo by Julian Starr Jr./The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)

Springmaid Beach Aerial - 1960 - Myrtle Beach SC Photos

Springmaid Beach ,which provided recreation for Lancaster families for decades, is seen on March 29,1960 in this aerial photograph. 

Rooms were just $2.00 a night. Playground equipment can be seen in the top right of the image. 

(From The Lancaster Archive collection)  

North Elementary (Then North Junior High) - 1966 - Lancaster SC Photos

North Junior High, now North Elementary, is seen in the center of this 1966 aerial photograph. Also seen are the future locations of Lancaster Square, Lancaster Memorial Stadium and Dunkin. (Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

First United Methodist Church VBS - 1959 - Lancaster SC Photos

Children gather outside First Methodist Church on Gay St. during vacation bible school in the summer of 1959. Windows can be seen open as there was no air conditioning in the church at the time. 

See below for cropped versions, making it easier to see faces. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

Dobson Elementary - 1950 - Lancaster SC Photos

Students at Dobson Elementary School, located at 1636 Alpha Road, run towards Lavoy Bauknight's camera during recess in 1950. 

The Lancaster County Library bookmobile can be seen in the background. 

(Photo by Lavoy Bauknight via The Lancaster Archive)

LHS JV Cheerleaders - 1989 - Lancaster SC Photos

LHS JV cheerleaders pose for a group portrait in 1989. (Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive)

Catawba Fish Camp

 

Many thanks to Catawba Fish Camp for helping bring hundreds of celebrated images to life from Lancaster County's visual history!

LHS Cheerleaders - 1989 - Lancaster SC Photos

LHS cheerleaders pose for a group portrait in 1989. (Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive) 

Hot Air Balloon Celebrating Springs 100th Anniversary - 1987 - Lancaster SC Photos

A hot air balloon celebrates the 100th anniversary of Springs while sitting outside the Springs customer service building in Lancaster in 1987. (Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive) 

Lancaster Motor Speedway - 1989 - Lancaster Motor Speedway

Race cars and fans are seen near turn one at Lancaster Motor Speedway in March of 1989. The track has hosted thousands of races since it opened in 1954.

Did you know? In December of 2021, NASCAR used the speedway to test its Next Gen car for the dirt race at Bristol.

(Photo by The Lancaster News via The Lancaster Archive

Boy Scouts at Philmont Scout Ranch - 1976

Lancaster boy scouts pose for a group portrait at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico in 1976. 

The ranch opened in 1939 and is known as one of the top, high-adventure camps in the country. At 140,000 acres, it is the world's largest youth camp. 

(Photo from The Bob Hardin collection via The Lancaster Archive)

Buford Schools Aerial - 1951 - Lancaster SC Photos

Schools are seen in the Buford community on Rocky River Rd. in this 1951 aerial photograph. 

Bethlehem Baptist Church can be seen near the bottom. The Little General store building can be seen at left of center. 

(Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)

Red Rose Baseball Team - 1932 - Lancaster SC

The Lancaster (SC) Red Rose semi-pro baseball team poses for a group photo after defeating The Charlotte Firemen in the 1932 Carolinas Championship.

Included in this photo but not in order are bat boy Ray Wallace, M.I. Griffin, M.J. Wright, Therio Pittman, First name unknown for Knox, Ustis Myers, Will Smart, Roy Banks, Sam Pressley, Maxie Welks and Grady Boldin. (Photo via The Lancaster Archive)

Lancaster Feed and Farm Storefront - 1963 - Lancaster SC Photos

Lancaster Feed and Farm is seen on Market St. in 1963. The popular store sold plants, outdoor playground equipment, lawn mowers, sporting goods and more. This location is not far from the American Legion baseball field, which would be to the left of this building. (Photo by Lee Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

Lancaster Feed & Farm

The sales floor at Lancaster Feed and Farm is seen in 1963. The popular hardware store sold everything from tools to baseball gloves and more. 

The business, which was always busy on Saturday mornings, was located on Market St., not far from the Lancaster County Fairgrounds. 

(Photo by Lee Studio via The Lancaster Archive) 

 

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St Luke Methodist Junior Choir - 1962

Children in the St. Luke United Methodist junior choir pose for a group portrait at the church in April of 1962. In front is Dr. Marshall, who directed the choir. (Photo by Lavoy Studio via The Lancaster Archive)