Alice Graham (1857-1930) came to Chester from Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina in 1882 when she wed Capt James Harvey Smith. Capt Smith purchased the wedding home at 108 York Street, an 1819 14 room Colonial Mansion where they had two children, Mary Graham Smith (1883-1970) and Louis Harvey Smith (1885-1942). Following the death of her husband in the home on her birthday in 1900, and the death of her daughters only child, Mary Gaston Gage (1907-1908), Mary Graham Smith had the mansion rolled off it's foundation to a location at the rear of her property and built the current residence for herself, her daughter, and her son in law. Construction was completed in 1913 on the Transitional Style 3900 square foot home. The original 1819 Mammy Shack remained in tact on the property and was converted into a Carriage House.

Alice Graham Smith died in 1930 while visiting her son in Los Angeles, California. Her remains were flown to Charlotte, North Carolina and brought to Chester for a funeral service at 108 York Street with interment at Evergreen Cemetery. Mrs Smith left her home to her daughter, Mary Graham Smith Gage who was residing with her husband Robert Gage, also of Chester, in the home at the time. Mary Gage, having traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia, had a certain affinity for the Colonial Style of architecture. Around 1940, Mary Gage transformed the facade of the home from Transitional to Colonial. Updates were made to the interior bathrooms, a large lady's closet was added at the front of the large upper hall, and part of a rear porch was enclosed to make additional storage available.

In the 1980's the Carriage House was converted into a more modern apartment and also used as a home shop but has remained unoccupied from that time forward.

The Alice Graham Smith House was purchased in 2013 by the author Jim Turner of Shelby, North Carolina. It has undergone careful restoration as well as updating plumbing, electric, and a new HVAC system. It is the first time in the home's history it has had air conditioning, probably due to its high ceilings, large windows, hundred year old Magnolias in the front, and the Pecan Grove in the back garden. The Carriage House has also undergone restoration and is now a rented, permanent residence. It is still known locally as the "Mammy Shack."

When visiting the area, please remember these are private residences and stay on the sidewalk or curb. No private or commercial tours are given, however; these homes may be available for touring during the Christmas Walking Tour of Chester. Please contact the Chester Historical Society for further information.

Chester Historical Society 107 McAliley St, Chester, SC 29706