The MillTown News, Fort Mill, SC (2026)

01/07/2026

Longtime police officer leave the force, landfill opponents dumped on and much news from yesteryear in 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:
2006
Walmart was progressing with plans to build a store on Highway 521 in Indian Land.
The company was expected to open its Tega Cay store later this year.
A Fort Mill woman accused her 37-year-old neighbor of fondling her 9-year-old daughter and making sexually inappropriate remarks to her 13-year-old daughter.
A Tega Cay couple accused of defrauding homeowners could face a Grand Jury in a week.
Pharmacist John Turner wanted everyone to welcome pharmacist Kendra Martin to Fort Mill Pharmacy.

1986
Elderly residents of the Fort Mill Housing Authority were treated to a Christmas dinner by members of the Tega Cay Rescue and Fire Support Team.
Ackerman’s Style Center, 212 Main Street, was having a store wide clearance sale with drastic reductions throughout the store.
The North Carolina Department of Human Services decided not to grant a hearing to the adversaries of the Highway 521 landfill site.
James B. Phillips, formerly of Fort Mill, was promoted to director of manufacturing at Clyde Fabrics in Newton N. C.

1966
Four Winthrop College sophomores, Terri Stroup, Betty Anglin, Lynn Pettus and Kathy Garrison, were chosen as hall counselors. A fifth, Becky Barnes, was a sophomore advisor. All were 1964 Fort Mill High School graduates.
In the last game before the Christmas break, the George Fish Dolphins defeated Benjamin E. Mays of Paxville 80-50. The Lady Dolphins won by a 41-27 score.

1946
L. F. Abernathy, county vice-chairman of the Victory Loan Drive, stated that Fort Mill had gone over the top by a good margin.
Fort Mill Police Officer Walter M. Epps laid down his billy stick and trusty.38 and retired from the police department after 20 years as a policeman.

1926
The Young Men’s Bible Class at Unity Presbyterian Church elected G. W. McKenzie as its president.
The new Graham-Dodge fire truck, bought by Fort Mill several weeks ago, reached the Dodge dealer in Rock Hill

12/31/2025

Before you ring in the new year, take a trip back in time with Chip Heemsoth’s 100 Years of Fort Mill History. Also, here’s wishing y’all a happy and healthy 2026:

2005
A Cecil Jones Road man was facing hit and run while driving impaired charges in the death of a Charlotte man.
The latest proposal to the Charlotte Knights from the City of Charlotte regarding a move from Fort Mill was like a knuckleball, you were not sure where it was going.
The Fort Mill Lady Jackets won the Lady Islander tournament in Charleston. They steamrolled Academic Magnet, Hanahan and St. John’s in route to the title.
For those who were skeptical, the much anticipated Northern Bypass was coming. It was taking a little longer than expected.

1985
New decorations and lights were installed on Main Street for the Christmas season.
The Fort Mill Rescue Squad received a new ambulance to replace the seven-year-old existing ambulance.
The 1985-86 edition of the Fort Mill High School Lady Jackets basketball team, under third year coach Pam Pittman, would be one of the youngest in school history.
Cook’s of Fort Mill, 116 Massey Street, was having a go-cart and moped Christmas sale.

1965
Recent movies at the Center included Harum Scarum, The Big T.N.T. Show, The Cincinnati Kid, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, When the Boys Meet the Girls, Marriage on the Rocks, Thunder Road, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, King of the Sun and Die, Monster, Die!.
Mrs. W. M. Epps received a life membership in the Fort Mill American Legion Auxiliary. She had three sons that served during World War II.

1945
Missing From Archives

1925
The whole power and lighting system of Fort Mill was put out of service for four hours when a motor truck struck the transformer house on White Street.
Only sixty citizens of Fort Mill had registered to vote in the municipal election to be held on January 12, 1926.

12/24/2025

A Christmas gift for all local kids, snarled traffic and more nostalgic news from 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:

2005
Four men from Fort Mill were sentenced to between seventeen and twenty-three years in prison for their involvement in the killing of a Rock Hill man.
Indian Land’s Kamal Mcilwain and Jonathan Metzelaars were named to the Class A All-State Football team.
Founders Federal Credit Union was selling Teddy bears to raise money for the National Child Identification Program.
VFW Post 9138 of Fort Mill donated $400 to the Fort Mill Care Center. The money was raised by selling handmade paper poppies.

1985
George Ackerman, local merchant, talked to a class of Fort Mill High School students about the Jewish holiday, Chanukah.
When Tom Hall Street was widened between Main Street and Banks Street in 1984, it worsened a traffic bottleneck at the Tom Hall,Steele and Banks Streets intersection.
Many letters to Santa were published weekly in the Times.

1965
York County ambulance operators, mostly funeral homes, were in an uproar over York County paying a private ambulance service a subsidy of $400 a month. Robert Wolfe announced that Wolfe Funeral Home would continue its ambulance service.
Army PFC Douglas W. Munn, 19, was participating in Exercise Victory Express in Germany.

1945
The Fort Mill Merchants Association decided that local stores would be closed on December 25 and 26.
The Rev. G. C. Epps, supply pastor of the Second Baptist Church, announced that there would be a mortgage burning at the Sunday service.

1925
B. W. Bradford, proprietor of the Majestic Theatre, planned to show “Oliver Twist” on Christmas day with free admission for children 12 years and under.
The Fort Mill public schools closed for the Christmas Holidays and would resume classes on January 4, 1926.

12/18/2025

A Bronze Star honoree, accuser flees and more in Chip Heemsoth’s 100 Years of Fort Mill History:

2005
Shortly after filing r**e charges against her employer, an Indian Land woman left her husband and fled the country.
The Fort Mill wrestling team lost a close match to Eastside, the number ten ranked team in the southeast and three-time defending state 3A champions.
Mary Kay consultant Cassandra Hartke had a ribbon cutting for her business.
Three men posing as Duke Power employees stole $30,000 from a Fort Mill township man and his wife.

1985
A plaque dedicated to the memory of Jerry M. Sorrow was unveiled at the Fort Mill High School gymnasium. Sorrow coached and taught at Fort Mill Middle School.
With school out for the holidays, the recreation complex extended its swimming pool hours.
Kenny Griffin received the MVP award in varsity football at the Fort Mill High School fall sports banquet.
Fort Mill swimmers Dwayne Lundy, Linda Gaede and Mike Cartner won honors at the All-State awards banquet.

1965
Fort Mill scored a double win over Indian Land with The Yellow Jackettes defeating the Maidens 36-32 and the Yellow Jackets dropping the Warriors 65-39.
SSgt. Robert M. Cunnup of Fort Mill was awarded the Bronze Star medal for meritorious service in Vietnam.

1945
Marshall Edwards, athletic director at Fort Mill High School, asked local citizens to carry a load of boys basketball players to Tech High in Charlotte for their first game of the season.
Recent movies at the Majestic included Sunset in El Dorado, The Fatal Witness, Penthouse Rhythm, Navajo Trails, Pillow to Post, Christmas in Connecticut, Along Came Jones, Trigger Law, Anchors Aweigh, Prison Ship, Blood on the Sun and The Crime Doctor’s Warning.

1925
Osborne Richardson, a 12-year-old school boy, was bitten by a vicious dog which had recently bitten two other children. In less than an hour, the dog was found and shot by Officer Potts.
O. T. Culp, B. D. Culp and T. B. Spratt intended to apply for a charter for the firm of Culp Brothers.

12/10/2025

Do you remember? Check out 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:
2005
Funding issues could possibly block the widening of Highway 160 in Lancaster County. Founders Federal Credit Union merged with Charlotte based Arrowood Association Credit
Union.
The York County Council voted 5-2 to suspend the state's blue laws for one year, effective
immediately.
The annual Fort Mill Christmas Parade wound its way through Fort Mill to the delight of all in
attendance.
1985
Nearly 200 members of the Fort Mill Senior Citizen's Club were treated to a Christmas party by
the Woman's Club of Fort Mill. On a perfect afternoon for a parade, several thousand people lined Tom Hall, Main and White
Streets to watch 100 units pass by.
Joy Parks, Fort Mill High School senior, was selected as the Daughters of the American
Revolution Good Citizen for 1985-86. Jason Ford won the Voice of Democracy Scholarship contest sponsored by the Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
1965 Four members of the 1965 Fort Mill football team, Donnie Shaw, Clifford Boyd, Danny Dye and
Kennith McKinney, were named to the all-conference team. Ackerman's, The Men's Shop, Belk-Brown and Kimbrells, all on Main Street, were holding big
Christmas sales.
1945 The Celanese plant to be built three miles from Fort Mill, would employ 2,500 workers
immediately. An acute housing shortage would get worse.
Miss Righton Richards entertained the high school senior class with a dinner and square dance.
1925 Welcoming services for the Rev. O. L. Orr filled the pews at Fort Mill Baptist Church. The
congregations of the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches were in attendance.
Young and Wolfe Furniture store was selling a three piece living room suite for $165.

12/03/2025

It’s a Way Back Wednesday with Chip Heemsoth’s 100 Years of Fort Mill History:
2005 Springs Industries vacant White Plant was sold to an internet based Oriental and Persian nug
distributor.
The Fort Mill School Board named Martha Kinard as its chainwoman and Jan Smiley as vice chairwoman.
Former University of Central Florida and Fort Mill High School softball standout, Stephanie Best, received recognition as a candidate for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Incumbent Waddell Gibson defeated Louie Smith in a town council runoff election. Michael
Johnson defeated incumbent Chantay Bouler in a school board runoff.
1985
New Christmas decorations and lights were installed on Main Street for the Christmas season. The Indian Land Rescue Squad received a new ambulance to replace the seven-year-old
ambulance that was in use. The 1985-1986 edition of the Fort Mill High School Lady Jackets basketball team, under third
year coach Pam Pittman, would be the youngest in school history.
Cook's of Fort Mill, 116 Massey Street, was having a go-cart and moped Christmas sale.
1965 A head-on crash on White Street, in front of the Fort Mill Plant of Springs Cotton Mills, took the life of a Fort Mill man. The wreck ended Fort Mill's traffic safety record of 6,356 days (17 /
years) without a fatality. The Fort Mill Christmas Parade, featuring 20 professional floats, seven bands, an abundance of beauty queens and WSOC's Joey the Clown kicked off the 1965 Christmas Season. An
estimated 5,000 people watched the parade.
1945 It was reported that the Celanese Corporation of America would build a huge plant on the Rock
Hill side of the Catawba River.
Major George W. Potts attended a three-day reunion of the Clemson College Class of 1920.
1925 A large number of people were expected to fill the school auditorium for the Christmas Cantata
performed by the Fort Mill Choral Society, led by George Fish.
The shooting of fireworks in Fort Mill would not be permitted by town authorities.

11/28/2025

Have another helping of Thanksgiving dessert with a look back at 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:

2005
Indian Land's most productive season in history came to an end, the Warriors lost their third round playoff game, 0-20, to Ware Shoals.
Downtown Fort Mill was astir as a 1950s stainless steel Pullman car, belonging to Bayles Mack, was delivered and set up on Confederate street.
A chase through town—by car and on foot—led to the arrest of a Lancaster man driving a stolen car.
Founders Federal Credit Union was awarded the South Carolina Excellence in Workplace
Diversity Award.
1985
Construction was underway in Indian Land to widen U.S. 521 between S.C. Highway 160 ano the state line.
The old Riverview Elementary school on Sutton road, abandoned in 1973, was being torn down.
Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church started planning for a building fund drive to erect a social hall.
The Junior-Senior Players at Fort Mill High School would present Thonton Wilder's "Our Town" on December 5th and sixth.
1965
Fort Mill's football season, probably the best in school history, came to an end in the upper state championship game, falling to are Shoals 6-25.
Recent movies at the Center included Bikini Beach, Bunny Lake is Missing, Git!, Seaside Swingers, That Funny Feeling, Help!, The Sand Piper, Red Line 7000, Sands of Kalahari, Fort Courageous and Crack in the World.
1945
Orion H. (Curly) Sain purchased L. A. Graham's interest in the City Service Station and would continue its operation under the same name.
Announcements were made that a $100,000 war memorial, honoring Fort Mill war dead, would be built in Fort Mill.
1925
83.
George W. McKinzie was elected Mayor of Fort Mill. He garnered 238 votes to James T. Young's
Harris Motor Company of Fort Mill was selling the new Chevrolet Coach for $695 F.O.B.

11/19/2025

Christmas fundraiser, a teacher is honored and more nostalgic news from 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:
2005
The Fort Mill School Board unanimously chose new attendance zones for Springfield Middle and Nation Ford High schools.
York County Council took preliminary steps to suspend, for a year, the state blue laws.
Backwoods Cookers won first place in the Anne Springs Close Greenway Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival.
Indian Land stopped the Landrum Cardinals 40-7 in the second round of the State Class 1A playoffs. The Warriors moved on to the third round for the first time in school history.

1985
Dr. George R. Dye, pastor of the First Baptist Church, was the new president of the S.C. Baptist Convention.
Ground was broken for a $5 million hotel at Carowinds. It would be a Comfort Inn.
The Fort Ministerial Association was sponsoring a Community Thanksgiving service at Unity Presbyterian Church.
The Fort Mill Moose Lodge held a benefit barbeque. All money raised would help needy families at Christmas.

1965
The undefeated Fort Mill Yellow Jackets download Boiling Springs, 26-7, in the York High School stadium. The Jackets would face Ware Shoals, the defending state champions, for the upper state championship.
H.M. McCallum, agriculture teacher at Fort Mill High School, was named Teacher of the Year by the Fort Mill Woman’s Club. He was the first male teacher to win the award. His wife, Phoebe, had previously won the award.

1945
Recent movies at the Majestic included Summer Storm, The Corn is Green, River Gang, Ghost Guns, Murder, She Says, The Great Stagecoach Robbery, Thrill of a Romance, The Scarlet Clue, The Valley of Decision, That Night with You, Santa Fe Saddlemates, Sensations of 1945, Molly and Me and The Return of Dorian Grey.
The Second Baptist Church was raising funds in order to buy a lot on Massey Street to build a church.

1925
The new Victor Orthophonic Victrola was being demonstrated daily at Young and Wolfe furniture store, the largest in York County.
Dr. E. W. Long, who came to Fort Mill from Prosperity three months ago, decided to move to Barnwell.

11/15/2025

Remember this public work of art downtown? Anyone miss it?

11/11/2025

A mayoral change, an inaugural festival and more from Chip Heemsoth’s 100 Years of Fort Mill History:
2005
L. A. Graham, Jr., defeated Ken Beam 519-291 for the Ward 3 seat on town council.
The Anne Springs Close Greenway was preparing to host the first ever Greenway Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival.
Indian Land beat Wagner-Salley 45-6 in the first round of the State Class A playoffs. The win marked the Warrior's first 10-win season in school history.
A Charlotte man, Ben Hovis, 27, won the 26*h Annual Springmaid Road Race.
1985
The Fort Mill High School Marching Band won the Class 3-A State Championship at Spring Valley High School.
The Fort Mill High School Jayvee football team won the Conference 2 championship. They were treated to a steak dinner.
Mrs. Anne Springs Close was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Recreation and Park Association.
Springs Foundation, Inc., made 128 interest free loans this year to college students who lived in Lancaster County, Chester and Fort Mill.
1965
Diane Hill was crowned 1965 Homecoming Queen at Fort Mill High School at halftime of the Yellow Jackets win over Great Falls, which gave them the conference title.
Cleve Lytle defeated long-time incumbent Luke Patterson in the race for Mayor of Fort Mill.
1945
Marshall Edwards of Leaksville-Spray, N.C. was secured as athletic director as well as head football, basketball and baseball coach.
The Fort Mill Chapter of American War Dads was founded with W. R. Bradford as president.
1925
Hundreds of automobiles, nearly all bound for the speedway at Pineville, passed through Fort Mill.
Death claimed the four-year-old son of Mr. And Mrs. A.C. Sutton.

11/05/2025

A bountiful harvest, fatal accident and more news from 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:

2005
A group of hunters found a human skull in a gully near Vista Road, between I-77 and Vista Roa.
Fort Mill High School's Marching Band won its 21st state championship in 4-A competition at Batesburg-Leesville High School.
The Indian Land Warriors defeated Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 27-7. Fort Mill fell to Gaffney 27-42.
Fort Mill American Legion Eli Bailes Post 43 sponsored a poker fun run which raised $4,386.00 to benefit the Steven Millwood family.
1985
Morrie Mable, executive director of Piedmont Medical Center, was leaving. Mike Reed would serve as interim executive director.
Fort Mill High School's band win streak was broken by a band recognized as the best in the U.S., Rocky Mount, N.C.
The Fort Mill Christmas Parade was set for Thursday, December 5 at 4:00.
Shelly Mullis, junior offensive tackle from Indian Land, earned All District 6 honors at Wofford College.
1965
Kevin Dunlap, 4, died in York General Hospital after being hit by a car in front of his Doby's Bridge Road home.
Indian Land Warriors ended their season with an 8-1 record. A 13-14 regular season loss to Heath Springs kept the Warriors out of the playoffs.
1945
The eleventh grade, the highest grade level at Fort Mill High School, elected Sam Bowles as president, the 10th grade elected Jimmie Gregg as their president.
B. M. Lee said he harvested 23,000 pounds of pecans from his eight hundred tree orchard.
1925
Alexander Barber of Fort Mil completed 20 years as a letter carrier on R.F.D.3, Fort Mill, without as much as an hour lost to sickness or any other cause.
The York County Fair Association announced that the 1925 York County Fair lost $700.

10/29/2025

A star Is born, the Best Band in the Land and more nostalgia in 100 Years of Fort Mill History by Chip Heemsoth:
2005
A Fort Mill Township man was arrested and charged with his sixth offense of driving under suspension.
The Fort Mill High School Marching Band won its second consecutive 4A Upper State Championship in competition held at Boiling Springs High School
Chauncey Beaver was crowned Indian Land Homecoming Queen at halftime of the Warriors 41-25 win over
Buford. Fort Mill was shutout 0-28 by Rock Hill.
Tommy Schmolze and Tommy Johnston were selected as principles of Fort Mill Middle School and Gold Hill Middle School schools respectively.

1985
In the last football game to be played in Fort Mill Memorial Stadium, the Yellow Jackets were shut out by Clinton, the number one team in the state, 0-9.
Fort Mill resident Jamie Tollison earned a spot on the Nashville Network show, "You Can Be a Star." The Fort Mill Marching Band was the Grand Champion at the Forbush Festival of Marching Bands in Yadkin County, NC. There were twenty-seven bands participating in the festival.
Fort Mill City Council and Fort Mill School Board elections were to be held in five days.

1965
Donnie Grant, a student at the University of South Carolina, was slightly injured when his automobile hit a mule on Hwy. 160 West. The car was a total loss, the mule died.
Recent movies at the Center included The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, Love and Kisses, Old Yeller, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Having a Wild Weekend, The Train, Harlow, Sergeant Dead Head, The Girls on the Beach, Shenandoah. Also, live and performing on stage, Bill Price and His Country Pardners.

1945
E. L. Bayne and Cecil Jones opened a grocery store and meat market on Academy Street.
Twenty Boy Scouts of Methodist Troop 108 enjoyed an oyster supper as a reward for winning a blue ribbon at a camporee in Rock Hill.

1925
The Eli Bailes Post 43 American Legion Auxiliary held its organizational meeting. Mrs. Brice D. Culp was president.
The worst draught on record for Fort Mill was broken when an inch of rain fell here.

The MillTown News

01/07/2026

12/31/2025

12/24/2025

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12/10/2025

12/03/2025

11/28/2025

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