The Anderson County town of Starr may be small now with a population of fewer than 200 residents, but at one point it was a bustling hub of activity as a stop along the Charleston and Western Carolina Railway. The community was established during the late 1830s and originally called Twiggs. When the town was officially chartered in 1888, its name was changed to Starr in honor of railroad official Captain W.W. Starr.
Starr also flourished as an agricultural community, and stately homes built in the Starr countryside during the early twentieth century, such as Evergreen Plantation, reflect the success of local farmers. Farms such as Milky Way Farm continue find success in the Upstate community.
However, when South Carolina Highway 81 was developed in the mid-to-late the twentieth century, Starr saw the demise of its train depot and the commercial street now called Old Highway 81, where the former town hall and post office, seen at the top of this page, once greeted residents. Above and below, abandoned stores line the empty road. The building above served as a store established by Stephen E. Strickland. Strickland’s children acquired the business in 1894, and the mercantile was reborn as a grocery store. The building below was a service station owned by Mr. McDougald. (Many thanks to Kay Arnold Kirk for helping us identify this structure.)
One of the most beloved landmarks in Starr is the Old Shiloh School, a rapidly disintegrating one-room schoolhouse located in a cow field. Another image of Strickland Grocery Store can be seen below, the store opened in 1894 and closed its doors in 1947.
Mr. McDougald did indeed walk with a limp courtesy of World War One. Used to buy Pure Oil gas for 17 cents a gallon in 1955.
Can you locate the Old Orr-Jackson homeplace? I stayed there as child as Orr and Ida were my grandparents! Remember the railroad across from the homeplace and the how that ran adjacent to the railroad. Also recall the general store. My grandparents raised 11 children in Starr. My grandmother was Mary Ida Pettigrew before her marriage to Orr.
The store in this photo was run bye William H. Strickland, Sr. and Alma Majeski Strickland and William H. Strickland, Jr. This store was built in 1947. It was started by Steven Strickland at another location farther down 187. The store closed in the 1980s after the death of William H. Strickland, Sr.
Can someone explain the numbers on the the store sign? Also, I can’t make out the numbers on the right. Please help me if you can.
Far right is 1947. Store started 1897. At one time was in between Harry Earle and Hammond Earle’s homes. Then moved up to Cindy and Easten Glenn’s old home place, no longer there. Burned! Then to intersection of 187 and 412 on left side of road. Then built present store in 1947.
The mystery building was a bank. I think maybe People’s Bank. I know the person who got the safe out and where it is.
I remember in the late summer and early fall, wagons lined up at the cotton gin.
The little brick building above was a service station. It was owned & run by a Mr. McDougald. He walked with a limp.
Kay, thank you so much for providing us this info! We have added it with a credit to you. If you have any other info about the old service station, please send it our way. We’d really appreciate it and would love to add it. Thanks!
I remember walking to these stores when I was young, maybe eight or nine. We’d go to these stores to get candy and Cokes. The tall building was a broom shop where they made brooms. We’d sit out on the fire escape and eat ice cream we had bought at “Shores Store” that was next door.
I believe the "mystery building" was a gas station.