This shuttered store in a rural corner of Sumter was likely established in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century by local farmer and merchant James Thomas “J.T.” Brogdon. A 1914 copy of the Insurance Press mentions the store under its “What is Burning” section, stating that the store suffered a loss of $8,000, presumably in a fire.
The store was rebuilt and likely operated by J.T. Brogdon’s son, J.T. Brogdon, Jr., following Brogdon, Sr.’s death in 1945. At some point a gas pump, complete with an awning for cars, was added to the store as a modern convenience. In recent years, the store has been renovated with signs retouched and the exterior repainted. The store sits on property still belonging to the Brogdon family which operates as Brogdon Farms.
Note: We have researched Brogdon’s Store extensively and are actively seeking more information or personal accounts. If you can add to this entry in the South Carolina Picture Project, please let us know. Thank you!
More Pictures of J.T. Brogdon’s Store
J.T. Brogdon Store: Help Us Learn More
Please fill in one or more fields based on your knowledge. We really appreciate your help, and we will credit you for your contribution. Learn more about our Adopt A Landmark program. Thank you!
Jack (above) is my cousin; Pappy was also my grandfather. When we would visit as children in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Pappy would take us over to get candy. My sister and I would race each other down the parallel aisles to turn on the lights with string pulls every few feet. My mother grew up there.
LOVE back roads.
Visited the store in 1966, I believe I spoke with J.T. or J.R., have been doing genealogy on family since the trip to Sumter that year. I am very interested in hearing from members.
My Pappy’s store, I used to go treasure hunting in here as a kid. I found so much cool old stuff. Old coins and old records in the juke box and so much more. I’d spend hours listening to my grandfather’s stories about when this was the place to be. The grandkids called him Pappy but everyone else called him Big Jack (I was lil’ Jack), he ran the store until he passed in 1981. I have images of newspaper advertisements for the store from 1919 and 1920. As well as images of my grandfather from his early days of running the store if you are interested.
Hey, those sound wonderful! We are absolutely interested. Thanks so much for the offer, my email address is brandon@sciway.net. Hope to talk with you more soon!