Renovation Rodeo | Millwood Avenue
Friday, March 22nd 2024
Palladium presented Renovation Rodeo | Millwood Avenue on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. About 40 guests toured the new mid-century home of Purnell Orthodontics while enjoying beer from Peak Drift Brewing Company, wine courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company, and delicious food from Something Small Catering. HC Palladium Board president Andrew Rogerson provided remarks, while the building's owners and members of the Palladium board discussed the renovation process and building history, respectively. This event was proudly sponsored by Courtney Miller with Coldwell Banker and Mark Tibshrany with Guild Mortgage.
Four times a year, Palladium features a property that has undergone—or is undergoing—an impressive renovation. From tiny 1940s bungalows to turn-of-the-century mansions, and everything in between, these events give you a chance to tour properties, learn about their renovation, and have a great time doing it. And they're FREE for our Palladium members!
Building History
2825-2827 Millwood Avenue is a 1960 duplex designed by Lyles Bissett Carlisle & Wolff.
2827 Millwood Avenue | Purnell Orthodontics
The earliest records we found show there was a house at 2827 Millwood Avenue with a store in April 1910. In 1917, records show John Woodward Durham living in the house.
In the 1920s it was Shandon Greenhouses, operated by Mitsuo Tokunaga. He immigrated from London to Columbia in 1910 and set up the establishment at 2827 Millwood Avenue in November 1920. Prior to setting up his own shop, Tokunaga was connected with the Rose Hill Greenhouses. The Tokunaga family lived at 3013 Millwood Avenue.
William E. DeLoache Jr. worked with Tokunaga as general manager of Shandon Greenhouses in the later 1920s, and later went on to open a flower shop of his own, DeLoache Florist, in 1938.
Shandon Greenhouses operated at the 2827 Millwood Avenue address until 1932, and moved to 3013 Millwood Avenue in 1933. Tokunaga had to fight to not be interned during World War 2, and took a job as a welder at Fort Jackson.
Between 1933 and the 1960s, there is little evidence for what occurred in the building. It appears as though the 2827 Millwood Avenue address dropped off Columbia maps and the property was only referred to as 2825 Millwood Avenue for a few decades. As best we can tell, its primary function during the war and through the 50s was as an apartment/rental. There were advertisements for upper room apartments. Commercial development began in earnest along Millwood Avenue after the war, and more permits for building non-residential properties were issued beginning in the 1950s. Orthodontist Dr. William J. Brockington started advertising from the address in 1962. It remained in use as an orthodontics office, by him and associate James/Jim Cook, until at least 1977. An obstetrics and gynecology practice run by Janice Coleman and Irving Smith took over by 1981. Another doctor took up residence by 1987, chiropractor Robin Shay for Willis Chiro Med. The address stayed Willis Chiro Med until at least 1993. Purnell Orthodontics opened in this space in 2023 following a complete renovation.
More about Dr. William J. Brockington: He was a native of Georgetown and a graduate of The Citadel and University of Penn School of Medicine, Department of Orthodontics. During WWII he served in the US Navy as lieutenant commander. Dr. Brockington's professional accomplishments include: President of The Central District of The Boys Scouts of America in the 1950s; A member of the Board of Trustees of The Columbia Museum of Art; President of the Richland County Dental Society in the 1950s/1960s; President of the Rotary Club in the early 1960s; Chairman of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce in 1962; Chairman of the Medical Affairs Committee in 1962; Division Chairman of the United Fund Torch Drive in 1962; Elected Vice President in 1962 of the Southern Orthodontic Society; elected to Richland County House of Representatives in 1964; elected to Richland County Senate in 1966.
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1919 Sanborn Fire Map
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1950 Sanborn Fire Map
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Mitsuo Tokunaga Newspaper Articles
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1960 New Building Announcement in The State Newspaper
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1960 Custom Office Interiors ad and 1975 Burger Kind manager ad
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1964 Article about G.E.M. Recording opening on Millwood Avenue
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1964 Article about G.E.M. Recording's 24-track console
2825 Millwood Ave. | Formerly G.E.M. Recordings
In the late 1920s, 2825 Millwood Avenue was an eight room bungalow, home to a large extended family.
From 1934-58, residents of 2825 Millwood Avenue included:
- Anna E. Childers, matriarch | 1934 to 1950
- Husband: Wilson Childers
- Sons: W. C. Childers, William Parrott Childers, Michael Barton (first marriage)
- Relative: Margaret Hammond Childers
- Jeanette W. Gantt (nee Parrott) - Anna’s sister | 1942-1956
- Mrs. Agnes McLaurin | 1943
- Mrs. Lillian Dunnaway - Anna’s sister | 1943-1958
- Mrs. Willie Livingston - Anna’s sister | 1953-1954
- Mrs. Ada Scott - Anna’s sister | 1953-1957
Advertisements for “large furnished room” ran during the war up until 1953. In 1954 it was listed for sale as an ideal business location, but members of Anna Childers’ extended family stayed in residence until the last sister died in 1958.
In 1959, A. Z. Wilson and Dr. William J. Brockington owned 2825 Millwood Avenue, and they were given a demolition permit of the home. The notice of construction was posted February 1960, and the building was completed by June that year. The first business advertising at the address was Custom Office Interiors in June 1960.
Since the current building's construction in 1960, it the 2825 side has housed only four businesses. In 1962, the building was either sold or leased to an interior design company, Pulliam-Morris Decorating Company, Inc. From 1967-74, it was the South Carolina Democratic Headquarters, and then in 1975-1983 it was a Burger King Office used to recruit managers. In 1984 it became the headquarters of Commercial Music Productions and G.E.M Recordings. CMP focused on writing and copywriting songs, and G.E.M Recordings focused on the recording studio side with the first 24-track recording studio in Columbia. G.E.M Recordings operated at 2825 Millwood Avenue until 2021 when the building was sold to the Purnells.
As you can see in the images, little has been done to the space since G.E.M. recordings closed. The building's owners hope a new tenant will continue to use it as a recording studio, whether for musicians and voiceover work—as it was primarily used during G.E.M. Recordings' tenure—or as a space for podcast recording.
Neighborhood History | Melrose Heights
From the Melrose Heights NRHP application:
“The character of the neighborhood is largely residential, with virtually all commercial development occurring on Millwood Avenue and Gervais Street. It was not until the midtwentieth century that commercial interests on Millwood Avenue led to the demolition of some residences and the repurposing of others for non-residential use. One exception to this commercial shift was the construction in 1949 of the Christine building, an apartment building located at 3135 Millwood Avenue and designed by the architecture firm of Stork & Lyles. By 1950, only five commercial businesses appeared along Millwood Avenue between King Street and Adger Road: a filling station on the northwest corner of Maple Street and Millwood Avenue, two stores between Shirley and Butler streets, a filling station at the intersection of Carlisle Street and Millwood Avenue, and a store between Butler and Daly streets. Also, while some sections of Gervais Street were improved with houses, other portions, such as those at the intersections of Kirby and Woodrow streets, came to feature businesses. By 1956, it appears commercial interests sharply increased along Millwood Avenue and several new businesses replaced former houses. This trend continued over the years, and today, Millwood Avenue’s four remaining residential buildings have all been repurposed.”
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Side view of 2825-2827 Millwood Ave.
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Pre-renovation office in 2827 Millwood Ave.
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Pre-renovation break room in 2827 Millwood Ave.
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Renovation of in 2827 Millwood Ave.
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Renovation of in 2827 Millwood Ave.
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Sitting room in G.E.M.Recordings
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Booth looking into studio at G.E.M. Recordings
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Reception Area at Purnell Orthodontics
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Storage Area at Purnell Orthodontics
The above research was compiled by members of the Palladium Education Committee. Event images courtesy of Historic Columbia. Renovation images courtesy of Purnell Orthodontics. Historic images cited where possible.
Enhance Our City
Palladium
Palladium members don't just learn about Columbia's past - they have a say in its future. Our fundraising events support Historic Columbia's important preservation and advocacy work, which in turn helps preserve the charm and vitality of the city we call home.