Claremont HOTEL

• Name	Claremont HOTEL  [1]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	Prominent buildings served city's needs well Posted: Sunday, July 11, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 11:54 am, Sun Jul 11, 2010. By SAMMY WAY Part three of our historical preservation series involves buildings that once played a prominent role in the Sumter community. Most have been torn down or altered and remodeled, making them indistinguishable to many residents. The City National Bank, more commonly known as The Dixie Life Building, was perhaps Sumter's most famous landmark. This seven-story structure created quite a sensation in the community when it opened in 1912-13, as it was equipped with one of the first elevators in the state. The building played an important part in city activities. The late Heyward Crowson, photographer for The Sumter Daily Item, remembered that "a man rode a bicycle around the rim built right above the seventh floor." Former tenant Mrs. R. D. Graham stated that "Sumter residents were delighted to have such a modern building. They were proud of their 'skyscraper.'" Lack of parking spaces was the primary reason the building was unable to retain its tenants. The building fell into disrepair as paint and plaster began to peel from the walls. In order to meet fire standards it would have been necessary to enclose the open stairwells, and the famous elevator was due to be replaced. Estimates were placed at between $150,000-200,000 to repair the facility, as opposed to approximately $16,000 to tear it down. Demolition was completed by the Jet Wrecking Co. in 1974. Most residents who remembered this building shared the opinion expressed by the late mayor W.W. Bynum: "Main Street had been paved a year or so before the building opened; of course, back then there weren't many cars - I'd say maybe 20 in the whole town. I'd hate to see the building torn down." Sumter Town Mall The Sumter Town Mall was opened on Nov. 13, 1975, transforming what had been Main Street into a pedestrian mall. Many of Sumter's leaders thought the mall would save the heart of the city's shopping area. This proved not to be the answer, with some adding that this move probably put the final "nail in the coffin for the burial of Main Street and downtown." The mall comprised expansive boardwalks and an extensive planting of trees and shrubs. New lighting, benches and floral landscaping were added to beautify the main shopping area. A large gazebo was placed in front of the Cut Rate Drug Store, designed to be a rest stop for downtown shoppers. This structure now stands on the north side of Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. The mall remained in existence until 1982, when Main Street was reopened to downtown traffic. The once expansive boardwalks and pedestrian walking areas were removed and the sidewalks were put back in place. The Imperial Hotel This beautiful three-story brick structure built on South Harvin Street became one of Sumter's most prominent hotel landmarks. The structure was built across from the railroad passenger station and opened in 1913. Because of its location near the train depot, business was excellent until the automobile became the primary mode of transportation. The Imperial was constructed in the shape of the letter "H" and had 55 guest rooms. It was primarily constructed of tapestry brick on a base of granite. This design extended to the second floor, where gray brick was used to complete the structure. The trimmings of the building were of terra cotta, and the entire structure was considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Sumter. The hotel was later sold to the Fladger family from Florida, and the name was changed to the Fladger. Following World War II, the Imperial Hotel began to lose its clientele and soon fell into disrepair. The building later burned and was eventually torn down with only a small portion of the front entrance still visible. The Claremont Hotel The Claremont Hotel was built in 1914. This four-story brick structure originally had 80 guest rooms. They were well lighted, heated by steam, had both hot and cold running water and provided maid and bellhop service for its customers.. Each room had an electric fan, and the building was serviced by an elevator. The hotel was ideally located on the corner of Main and Bartlette streets. This central location placed it close to the post office, movie theaters and numerous stores and shops. The hotel played an important role in Sumter's history until it was heavily damaged in an early morning fire in 1965 and torn down that same year. The Jackson Hotel The modern and ornate Jackson Hotel opened in 1904 on South Main Street near the present day McDuffie Furniture Company building. This massive structure was one of the finest of its kind to open in Sumter. Its proprietor was A.J. Moses, a longtime resident. The building had an "imposing appearance" featuring 85 feet of frontage on Main Street. It was three stories in height and had a mansard roof. The building had a wide balcony which extended across the pavement at the front entrance to the lobby of the hotel. There was an open balcony on the second floor, with a smaller balcony located on the third floor, which added to the appearance of the building and allowing residents to venture out into the fresh air. The main lobby extended completely across the width of the building and ended at the door of the main office. The lobby was well lighted, and the floor was covered in roman mosaic tiles. The lobby and all of the hallways were described in The Watchman & Southron newspaper as being "papered with a handsome deep red and gold paper, while the embossed steel ceiling was painted in various shades that afforded residents a pleasing contrast between the walls and the woodwork. The main stairwell ascended from the lobby to the second floor. There was a hallway connected to the main second floor hallway leading to the dining room, writing room, and sample rooms. The parlor was located on the second floor above the lobby, and it was separated from the main hallway by a series of arches, grillwork, and heavy portieres. The parlor had a very high ceiling which was lighted by a skylight." This provided supplementary light for the lobby. The dining room occupied almost the entire first floor and could comfortably seat more than 100 people. It had a polished, waxed floor of selected yellow pine and an embossed steel ceiling. The walls were papered in a soft shade of green. The general effect was found by residents to be both pleasing and striking. the Hotel Marion In 1901, Professor Owens, director of the Sumter Military Academy and the Female Seminary, signed a contract to lease the residence of R.P. Monaghan on Main Street. This building, then occupied by Capt. W.E. Zeigler and known as the Hotel Marion, came into Owens' possession on Sept. 1. This house, one of the handsomest and most costly personal residences in the city, became dormitories for young students at the Sumter Female Seminary. The art and elocution departments were located in this new structure. The bulk of the classrooms remain at the institute buildings on Washington Street, where the male pupils were housed. This new school (formerly the Hotel Marion) opened on Sept. 12, 1901. The purchase of the Monaghan residence solved many of the housing problems the girls' school had experienced. A.C.L. Train Depot In 1901, a lot was purchased near Harvin Street in order to build the Atlantic Coast Line train depot. Located on this property was the Brand House which was removed to provide adequate space for the new railroad facility. The Atlantic Coast Line Construction Company rushed to complete the new depot before cotton season opened, according to general manager Kenly, who was in charge of the construction project. The A.C.L. remained in operation in Sumter until 1972 when it was removed to make room for a warehouse. B & H service stations The B & H service stations of Sumter were among the largest and best equipped gas stations anywhere in S.C. The B&H Company, as it became commonly known, was organized in 1932 by M.S. Boykin and B.L. Hook. The company came under the control of M.S. and W.D. Boykin when Hook decided to move away from the Sumter community. B&H Station number one, as the original station was known, the remnants of which can still be seen at the corner of Main and Bartlette Streets, was located directly across from where the Claremont Hotel once stood. B&H number two, completed in 1935, this unique building stood at the corner of Main and Calhoun streets where The BB&T Bank now sits. The station operated by Bert J. Traver and constructed by R.A. Porter was one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings constructed in the Sumter community. The organization later constructed B&H station number three at the corner of Washington and Liberty streets. This station was originally managed by F.K. Bull. The B H organization at its height employed approximately 27 people, each one having years of experience in how to operate a gas station. The Lyric Theatre The Lyric Theatre was once located on West Liberty Street and patronized predominately by the African-Americans residents of Sumter. The original operator of this enterprise was Sam Riven. He later sold the theater to Isadore Denemark and J. Lawrence Goldsmith. Goldsmith also had his law offices in the building. The Lyric Theatre suffered a massive fire but was later rebuilt. Because of integration during the 1970s, business lagged and the theater eventually closed. The John Mills-Inspired Court House The first court session held in Sumter was in the farmhouse of John Gayle, near the corner of Main and Canal streets. Early historical documents state that a commission was established for the specific purpose of having a permanent courthouse facility constructed at or near Gayle's plantation. The first courthouse built in Sumter was a wooden structure that was eventually removed from the courthouse square and eventually used as a hotel. The first brick courthouse was probably completed about 1820 and was built using plans probably drawn by Robert Mills. South Carolina records indicate that during the 1820s there was almost "an epidemic of new courthouses being constructed in the state." The bricks used in the construction of the new Sumter facility were probably locally made. On the first floor of the 1820 facility were the offices of the clerk of court, the sheriff, the judge of probate (then called an "ordinary"). On the second floor were the jury rooms and a large courtroom opening onto a classic portico which overlooked Main Street and could be reached by a double flight of curving stone steps with iron banisters. This building later served as the National Bank of South Carolina, offices for South Carolina Power and Light and as a meeting space for a Moose Lodge. The authors of Reflections used information obtained from the following sources to complete this article: Cassie Nicholes, Anne King Gregorie, the Item Archives and the Porter family. Reach Item archivist Sammy Way at (803) 774-1294. Posted in Looking back, Reflections on Sunday, July 11, 2010  [1]
  HIST	Prominent buildings served city's needs well Posted: Sunday, July 11, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 11:54 am, Sun Jul 11, 2010. By SAMMY WAY Part three of our historical preservation series involves buildings that once played a prominent role in the Sumter community. Most have been torn down or altered and remodeled, making them indistinguishable to many residents. The City National Bank, more commonly known as The Dixie Life Building, was perhaps Sumter's most famous landmark. This seven-story structure created quite a sensation in the community when it opened in 1912-13, as it was equipped with one of the first elevators in the state. The building played an important part in city activities. The late Heyward Crowson, photographer for The Sumter Daily Item, remembered that "a man rode a bicycle around the rim built right above the seventh floor." Former tenant Mrs. R. D. Graham stated that "Sumter residents were delighted to have such a modern building. They were proud of their 'skyscraper.'" Lack of parking spaces was the primary reason the building was unable to retain its tenants. The building fell into disrepair as paint and plaster began to peel from the walls. In order to meet fire standards it would have been necessary to enclose the open stairwells, and the famous elevator was due to be replaced. Estimates were placed at between $150,000-200,000 to repair the facility, as opposed to approximately $16,000 to tear it down. Demolition was completed by the Jet Wrecking Co. in 1974. Most residents who remembered this building shared the opinion expressed by the late mayor W.W. Bynum: "Main Street had been paved a year or so before the building opened; of course, back then there weren't many cars - I'd say maybe 20 in the whole town. I'd hate to see the building torn down." Sumter Town Mall The Sumter Town Mall was opened on Nov. 13, 1975, transforming what had been Main Street into a pedestrian mall. Many of Sumter's leaders thought the mall would save the heart of the city's shopping area. This proved not to be the answer, with some adding that this move probably put the final "nail in the coffin for the burial of Main Street and downtown." The mall comprised expansive boardwalks and an extensive planting of trees and shrubs. New lighting, benches and floral landscaping were added to beautify the main shopping area. A large gazebo was placed in front of the Cut Rate Drug Store, designed to be a rest stop for downtown shoppers. This structure now stands on the north side of Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. The mall remained in existence until 1982, when Main Street was reopened to downtown traffic. The once expansive boardwalks and pedestrian walking areas were removed and the sidewalks were put back in place. The Imperial Hotel This beautiful three-story brick structure built on South Harvin Street became one of Sumter's most prominent hotel landmarks. The structure was built across from the railroad passenger station and opened in 1913. Because of its location near the train depot, business was excellent until the automobile became the primary mode of transportation. The Imperial was constructed in the shape of the letter "H" and had 55 guest rooms. It was primarily constructed of tapestry brick on a base of granite. This design extended to the second floor, where gray brick was used to complete the structure. The trimmings of the building were of terra cotta, and the entire structure was considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Sumter. The hotel was later sold to the Fladger family from Florida, and the name was changed to the Fladger. Following World War II, the Imperial Hotel began to lose its clientele and soon fell into disrepair. The building later burned and was eventually torn down with only a small portion of the front entrance still visible. The Claremont Hotel The Claremont Hotel was built in 1914. This four-story brick structure originally had 80 guest rooms. They were well lighted, heated by steam, had both hot and cold running water and provided maid and bellhop service for its customers.. Each room had an electric fan, and the building was serviced by an elevator. The hotel was ideally located on the corner of Main and Bartlette streets. This central location placed it close to the post office, movie theaters and numerous stores and shops. The hotel played an important role in Sumter's history until it was heavily damaged in an early morning fire in 1965 and torn down that same year. The Jackson Hotel The modern and ornate Jackson Hotel opened in 1904 on South Main Street near the present day McDuffie Furniture Company building. This massive structure was one of the finest of its kind to open in Sumter. Its proprietor was A.J. Moses, a longtime resident. The building had an "imposing appearance" featuring 85 feet of frontage on Main Street. It was three stories in height and had a mansard roof. The building had a wide balcony which extended across the pavement at the front entrance to the lobby of the hotel. There was an open balcony on the second floor, with a smaller balcony located on the third floor, which added to the appearance of the building and allowing residents to venture out into the fresh air. The main lobby extended completely across the width of the building and ended at the door of the main office. The lobby was well lighted, and the floor was covered in roman mosaic tiles. The lobby and all of the hallways were described in The Watchman & Southron newspaper as being "papered with a handsome deep red and gold paper, while the embossed steel ceiling was painted in various shades that afforded residents a pleasing contrast between the walls and the woodwork. The main stairwell ascended from the lobby to the second floor. There was a hallway connected to the main second floor hallway leading to the dining room, writing room, and sample rooms. The parlor was located on the second floor above the lobby, and it was separated from the main hallway by a series of arches, grillwork, and heavy portieres. The parlor had a very high ceiling which was lighted by a skylight." This provided supplementary light for the lobby. The dining room occupied almost the entire first floor and could comfortably seat more than 100 people. It had a polished, waxed floor of selected yellow pine and an embossed steel ceiling. The walls were papered in a soft shade of green. The general effect was found by residents to be both pleasing and striking. the Hotel Marion In 1901, Professor Owens, director of the Sumter Military Academy and the Female Seminary, signed a contract to lease the residence of R.P. Monaghan on Main Street. This building, then occupied by Capt. W.E. Zeigler and known as the Hotel Marion, came into Owens' possession on Sept. 1. This house, one of the handsomest and most costly personal residences in the city, became dormitories for young students at the Sumter Female Seminary. The art and elocution departments were located in this new structure. The bulk of the classrooms remain at the institute buildings on Washington Street, where the male pupils were housed. This new school (formerly the Hotel Marion) opened on Sept. 12, 1901. The purchase of the Monaghan residence solved many of the housing problems the girls' school had experienced. A.C.L. Train Depot In 1901, a lot was purchased near Harvin Street in order to build the Atlantic Coast Line train depot. Located on this property was the Brand House which was removed to provide adequate space for the new railroad facility. The Atlantic Coast Line Construction Company rushed to complete the new depot before cotton season opened, according to general manager Kenly, who was in charge of the construction project. The A.C.L. remained in operation in Sumter until 1972 when it was removed to make room for a warehouse. B & H service stations The B & H service stations of Sumter were among the largest and best equipped gas stations anywhere in S.C. The B&H Company, as it became commonly known, was organized in 1932 by M.S. Boykin and B.L. Hook. The company came under the control of M.S. and W.D. Boykin when Hook decided to move away from the Sumter community. B&H Station number one, as the original station was known, the remnants of which can still be seen at the corner of Main and Bartlette Streets, was located directly across from where the Claremont Hotel once stood. B&H number two, completed in 1935, this unique building stood at the corner of Main and Calhoun streets where The BB&T Bank now sits. The station operated by Bert J. Traver and constructed by R.A. Porter was one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings constructed in the Sumter community. The organization later constructed B&H station number three at the corner of Washington and Liberty streets. This station was originally managed by F.K. Bull. The B H organization at its height employed approximately 27 people, each one having years of experience in how to operate a gas station. The Lyric Theatre The Lyric Theatre was once located on West Liberty Street and patronized predominately by the African-Americans residents of Sumter. The original operator of this enterprise was Sam Riven. He later sold the theater to Isadore Denemark and J. Lawrence Goldsmith. Goldsmith also had his law offices in the building. The Lyric Theatre suffered a massive fire but was later rebuilt. Because of integration during the 1970s, business lagged and the theater eventually closed. The John Mills-Inspired Court House The first court session held in Sumter was in the farmhouse of John Gayle, near the corner of Main and Canal streets. Early historical documents state that a commission was established for the specific purpose of having a permanent courthouse facility constructed at or near Gayle's plantation. The first courthouse built in Sumter was a wooden structure that was eventually removed from the courthouse square and eventually used as a hotel. The first brick courthouse was probably completed about 1820 and was built using plans probably drawn by Robert Mills. South Carolina records indicate that during the 1820s there was almost "an epidemic of new courthouses being constructed in the state." The bricks used in the construction of the new Sumter facility were probably locally made. On the first floor of the 1820 facility were the offices of the clerk of court, the sheriff, the judge of probate (then called an "ordinary"). On the second floor were the jury rooms and a large courtroom opening onto a classic portico which overlooked Main Street and could be reached by a double flight of curving stone steps with iron banisters. This building later served as the National Bank of South Carolina, offices for South Carolina Power and Light and as a meeting space for a Moose Lodge. The authors of Reflections used information obtained from the following sources to complete this article: Cassie Nicholes, Anne King Gregorie, the Item Archives and the Porter family. Reach Item archivist Sammy Way at (803) 774-1294. Posted in Looking back, Reflections on Sunday, July 11, 2010
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  _UID	82617C95F3264C36B8171A3833448864132D
  Person ID	I260614	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	9 Nov 2010

  
  

  Father	CLAREMONT HOTEL
  _UID	640C3CC733E14685A40469CFF982F8872C6D
  _UID	640C3CC733E14685A40469CFF982F8872C6D
  Family ID	F175642	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	CLAREMONT HOTEL
  _UID	EC64BCE9DEE34A8680FFAF15D7A2D46A804C
  _UID	EC64BCE9DEE34A8680FFAF15D7A2D46A804C
  Family ID	F175641	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

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  [S15099] Prominent buildings served city’s needs well .