The original Columbia neighborhood of Wheeler Hill is now just a memory for those who once called the historically African American community “home.” That includes former resident Crissandra Elliott, whose childhood home was located at 215 Bull Street.
Eminent domain demolished Elliott’s house, along with other homes and structures in Wheeler Hill, to make way for the expansion of the University of South Carolina’s growing footprint, causing most residents in its community to relocate.
Although the Wheeler Hill of old—with its shotgun homes, family ties, and everyday warmth—was largely displaced by urban renewal, it endures in the hearts of everyone who once lived there.
In 2024, Elliott sat down at StoryCorps with USC history professor Bobby Donaldson to share some of her fond memories of life on “The Hill.”
TRANSCRIPT:
Donaldson: Tell me, where is Wheeler Hill and what was so special about Wheeler Hill and the house on Bull Street?
Elliott: Wheeler Hill, of course, is bordered by Pickens Street. And also, it was like a square block because it was Catawba, it was Henderson, it was Rice Street. It was an African American neighborhood that was surrounded by the University of South Carolina, by the wealthy whites on Saluda. It was special because when I came to know who I was, it was at 215 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina, in a house with my great aunt and my parents. I had to live with my great aunt because when we had got quarters at Fort Jackson, there was no school out there for those persons who lived on the Fort. They were busing them somewhere. And so, my mother and father said, no, they weren't going to bus me anywhere. So, I stayed with my great aunt.
Donaldson: So, what ultimately happened to the house?
Elliott: Well, in 1967, it was taken by eminent domain for the city. And eventually, of course, you know, it's used for building dormitories for the University of South Carolina. So, my aunt and her husband, Frank Anderson, they had to move down to another part of town.
Donaldson: What was the reaction to the Wheeler Hill residents when that happened, when this place you knew and loved was almost suddenly…gone.
Elliott: That was a, hard pill to swallow, especially since we owned our property. We know a lot of people didn't own their property, and some of those people who did chose to move off Wheeler Hill. But that was not the case with my Aunt Louise, because she never would have left. She never would have. It was very sad for us to see that property go. And today, even if I drive by sometimes, you know, I'll, be in tears because I saw where they built. You know, the university has now built two other huge dormitories. Two or three. Now they're all brick right there, you know.
Donaldson: That was right where you lived?
Elliott: Yes, right across from Florence C. Benson Elementary, where I went to school.
Donaldson: Tell us what used to be on that Hill.
Elliott: All economic levels of African Americans. We had what we call “the alleys.” You had people who lived behind other houses. And there were different families, huge families, as a matter of fact, a lot of times. Of course, you had big houses that had big porches that I used to run around with some of my friends. We had the stores. There was Copeland store on Pickens street, and it was Mr. Harold and Ms. Mamie Higgins’ store, which was over there right up from Bull Street. And then there were liquor houses. You know, there were people who sold liquor. And we always used to joke, if you go over to my grandmother's house on the Henderson Street side, it was always something exciting going over there every weekend. And, you know, on our side, on “Wheezy's” side, on 215, it was a little calmer.
Donaldson: Were there any churches on the Hill?
Elliott: Oh, yeah, there was our church, Gilbert Memorial Baptist Church was up on Wheeler Hill, but it moved down to Edisto Court. My aunts and my grandmother, they went to St. James AME. We would go to all the churches for vacation Bible school. So those were the two main churches that we would go to.
Donaldson: And Antioch was there also?
Elliott: Oh, yes, now it was up. Yeah, it was like the bigger church. You're right. I forgot about Antioch. But they were close to St. James. Those two were right near each other on Rice and Henderson streets.
