Winona Mercantile History

History and pictures of Winona Mercantile

Winona Mercantile is thought to have been built in the mid 1800's by the Gibson family. The land was originally acquired through a land grant from England. There is a public record of a grant to Gideon Gibson for 550 acres of land as early as April 1736. Gibson is reported to have been one of the wealthiest men of his time.
At the time the railroad was being built, around 1855, it was policy to name each stop. The name given to this stop, Winona, is believed to have come from a tribe of Native Americans that lived in the area.
The mercantile serviced the tenant farmers working on Gibson's property. Originally, it was a general store, grocery, feed and seed store. Additionally, it was the Post Office and Train Station serving the community of Winona. It probably had a "captive clientele" since it was conveniently located. These stores were an important part of rural life throughout the south.
Except for some badly needed repairs, the store is in its original state. The front counters, showcase and shelves remain in their original positions. A few of the furnishings (safe, Royal Crown drink box, tobacco cutter) as well as some of the merchandise (shoes and boxes, Coke and Pepsi carrier, face powder, etc.) can be seen about the store. The hand hewn planks in the ceiling and some of the shelves, as well as the knob and tube method of electrical wiring attest to the stores age. The red brick pillars under the store are rumored to have been made by the slaves on the farm.
Winona Mercantile was last operated by McCall F. Hyman, until his death. In the later years after his retirement, it was mainly a stop for farmers and friends to sit and gossip while enjoying Pepsi and crackers. After his death it remained closed until the present owner (his granddaughter) reopened in September of 1994.
The store is mentioned in the National Registry of Historic Places, though it was not a registered historical landmark.

On October 23, 2002 tragedy struck in the form of fire. Winona Mercantile burned to the ground, taking with it, all the contents.
Many thanks to our friends and patrons who have enabled us to make the many repairs needed to keep this historic building open and operating in the past. We hope you enjoy your visit in Winona, South Carolina, and please come again ! ! !

This picture is taken standing in the front door, looking down the left side of the store. The higher priced glass wares are on this side, along with the showcases. The shelves on this side run the entire length of the store except for the door to the outside, and floor to almost ceiling. The floor is a little rough, because it is the original one, only having been patched in a few places here. In the rear half, the floor was replaced with planks rough-cut to the same style.

Showcases with some Fenton and other glass wares. Showcases were originally from Brooklyn, New York, and had iron ball and claw few. The iron feet were one of the few items, salvaged from the fire.

More Fenton pieces, in Hobnail, Fan, Slippers, etc. You can see some of the original paint color on the shelves. We redid the desk surfaces, but did not remove the original paint on the shelves themselves, for fear of damaging the strength of them with stripping or sanding.

Standing near the middle, looking back along the side shown in the previous pictures. The old store counters in the middle of the picture are original to the store. They have been restored, and now are covered with primitives and collectibles. The tops have been sanded and coated, the fronts are a project we have not completed yet.

Standing near the middle of the store, behind the employee counter, looking toward the back of the store. This is still the left side, coming in from the front door. Here are various collectibles, including old signs and trinkets of all kinds, bottles, advertising, gas station, etc.

Standing near the middle, looking along the middle in the same direction as the above picture. The back wall has some original items from the store up for display, along with some older items that are for sale, mostly old pans, tools, farm implements. The door on the back wall goes back to two smaller rooms that were originally used for storage, and sleeping space for the store owners. In the original store design, this area shown in the picture was storage space, with a wall about where this picture was taken from. It was too damaged to be restored to use.

Standing near the back right corner, looking towards the front of the store. The shelves on this side run only to the side door to the left, which was the old loading door for stock to be brought in from the loading dock out the side, where it was moved over from the train track that runs beside the store.

Standing at the back of the store, on the left side. This is at the door to the small storage rooms, which have had no restoration. This picture shows miscellaneous furniture, lamps, plates and pictures on the display wall. We have plenty of shelves, but not much wall space to hang things on. Building was 100' long and 40' wide.

Outside view of building from front.

Inside view of new building, Aug. 29, 2003

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	This picture is taken standing in the front door, looking down the left side of the store. The higher priced glass wares are on this side, along with the showcases. The shelves on this side run the entire length of the store except for the door to the outside, and floor to almost ceiling. The floor is a little rough, because it is the original one, only having been patched in a few places here. In the rear half, the floor was replaced with planks rough-cut to the same style.
	Showcases with some Fenton and other glass wares. Showcases were originally from Brooklyn, New York, and had iron ball and claw few. The iron feet were one of the few items, salvaged from the fire.
	More Fenton pieces, in Hobnail, Fan, Slippers, etc. You can see some of the original paint color on the shelves. We redid the desk surfaces, but did not remove the original paint on the shelves themselves, for fear of damaging the strength of them with stripping or sanding.
	Standing near the middle, looking back along the side shown in the previous pictures. The old store counters in the middle of the picture are original to the store. They have been restored, and now are covered with primitives and collectibles. The tops have been sanded and coated, the fronts are a project we have not completed yet.
	Standing near the middle of the store, behind the employee counter, looking toward the back of the store. This is still the left side, coming in from the front door. Here are various collectibles, including old signs and trinkets of all kinds, bottles, advertising, gas station, etc.
	Standing near the middle, looking along the middle in the same direction as the above picture. The back wall has some original items from the store up for display, along with some older items that are for sale, mostly old pans, tools, farm implements. The door on the back wall goes back to two smaller rooms that were originally used for storage, and sleeping space for the store owners. In the original store design, this area shown in the picture was storage space, with a wall about where this picture was taken from. It was too damaged to be restored to use.
	Standing near the back right corner, looking towards the front of the store. The shelves on this side run only to the side door to the left, which was the old loading door for stock to be brought in from the loading dock out the side, where it was moved over from the train track that runs beside the store.
	Standing at the back of the store, on the left side. This is at the door to the small storage rooms, which have had no restoration. This picture shows miscellaneous furniture, lamps, plates and pictures on the display wall. We have plenty of shelves, but not much wall space to hang things on. Building was 100' long and 40' wide.
	Outside view of building from front.
	Inside view of new building, Aug. 29, 2003