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The original structure on this site was known as the Palmetto House and was long one of Spartanburg's leading hotels. Built by Junius Thomson, the hotel hosted parties, dinners, and political meetings. The building played a role in the beginnings of the Civil War, for in November 1860, the Palmetto House hosted the meeting which sent county delegates to South Carolina's secession convention. Once known as one of the finest hotels in the state, it declined in the 1870's, although continuing to be popular as the home of Becker's Oyster Saloon and Ice Cream Parlor. A part of the building was torn down in the 1890's to make room for the Palmetto Building. The 1898 Sanborne Map shows this building as being under construction. By 1904, the Palmetto Building was occupied by the Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company, one of the world's largest and best producers of fertilizers. Another occupant was J. B. Ramsay & Co., dealers in stocks, bonds, cotton, grain, and provisions.In 1904, the brokerage firm maintained private wires to New York, Chicago, and New Orleans. A later occupant was Becker's, a dealer in "confectioneries, fruits, carbonated drinks, fancy and family groceries, cigars, and tobacco." Some fifty years ago Stein Brotlhers Men's Clothing occupied the corner site. Other nearby tenants included York's Drugs, Ornduff's General Merchandise, Kinney's Shoes, and Belk Hudson Company. In more recent years, Ligon's Drug Store, which included a U. S. Post Office Substation, occupied 106. Price's Store for Men was in the Church Street side of this building for many years. Belk Hudson first occupied 112- 116, gradually expanding into the second and third floors of the entire building. In 1998, extensive renovations were begun, and the entire building was renumbered 100 East Main Street. The 1950's modern facade was removed, revealing the original brickwork, including arches, corbelling and pilasters. The second and third floors were made into upscale apartments, and small shops were renovated from the corner to the site of the Belk's Store. The Regional Museum of Spartanburg County now occupies the Main Street frontage that was formerly Belk-Hudson The Museum contains photographs and artifacts of all periods of history of the county, as well as a gift shop and the office of the executive director of the Spartanburg County.
The
Spartanburg County Historical
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