Anderson in Anderson County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Building History
⎯⎯⎯
Major Frank R Thompson (1903-1977)

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

1. Building History / Major Frank R Thompson (1903-1977) Marker

Inscription. Building History Built in the 1930s by Frank R. Thompson, this building was the main street depot for the Anderson Petroleum Company and Dixie Distributors, Inc., both successful petroleum distributors in Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Greenwood, Abbeville, and McCormick counties. Thompson's companies imported petroleum products from the adjacent P&N rail depot. This building's distinctive "stone and red mortar" facade was the architectural signature of Thompson's Dixie Petroleum Stations.

Major Frank R. Thompson (1903-1977) Frank R. Thompson's lifelong career in the oil business began in 1915, in the office of Standard Oil of New Jersey, in his hometown of Concord, N.C. He moved his family to Anderson in the 1920s, when he became Standard Oil's North-Western South Carolina Sales Manager. His wife, Mary Francis Swittenberg, was a native Andersonian. In 1930, Thompson resigned from Standard Oil and formed the Anderson Petroleum Company to distribute Shell Petroleum products. In 1937, Thompson severed his connection with Shell and assumed presidency of Dixie Distributors, Inc. -- a position he held until his retirement in

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1975. An active business, political and military leader, with a love for all sports, Thompson was described as a "quiet philanthropist...who never turned down a charitable institution." Thompson was a proponent for the construction of Hartwell Dam. He was also benefactor to hundreds of charitable institutions , including the Anderson Kiwanis Club, the American Legion, Crippled Children of S.C., Inc., Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hiriam Masonic Lodge No. 68, Anderson TB Association, the Anderson Flying Club, and the Anderson Chamber of Commerce.
In 1945, Thompson also received the Bronze Star Medal for services in Africa and Europe and achieved the rank of Major in the United States Corps of Engineers. Thompson's close friends included President Lyndon B. Johnson, Sen. Strom Thurmond, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Gen. George Patton and boxer Jack Dempsey.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 34° 30.383′ N, 82° 39.067′ W. Marker is in Anderson, South Carolina, in Anderson County. It can

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

2. Building History / Major Frank R Thompson (1903-1977) Marker

be reached from North Main Street (State Highway 28). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 North Main Street, Anderson SC 29625, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate

and in the Greater Greenville-Spartanburg Area. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion (here, next to this marker); Anderson County Library (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blue Ridge Railroad Passenger Station -- c. 1913 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fant's Book Store -- 1851 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Anderson: "The Electric City" (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Church Whitner (approx. ¼ mile away); Anderson County Court House -- 1898

Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

3. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion Sign

(approx. ¼ mile away); Anderson County Confederate Monument (approx. ¼ mile away); Portman Shoals (approx. ¼ mile away); Portman Dam and Power Plant (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Anderson.

Also see . . .
1. Standard Oil. Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. (Submitted on May 28, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

2. Standard Oil of New Jersey (ESSO). Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. (Submitted on May 28, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -<br>Southeast Corner image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

4. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -
Southeast Corner

Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -<br>East (Front) Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

5. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -
East (Front) Entrance

Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -<br>Southwest Corner image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

6. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -
Southwest Corner

Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -<br>West (Rear) Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

7. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -
West (Rear) Entrance

Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -<br>Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

8. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -
Interior

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 2, 2011

9. Anderson County Farmers Market Pavilion -
West (Rear) Entrance

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,149 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 28, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 8, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Building History⎯⎯⎯Major Frank R Thompson (1903-1977)

Building History
⎯⎯⎯
Major Frank R Thompson (1903-1977)