Dr. W.W. and Mary Fennell House
National Register Listing
Street Address:
334 North Confederate Avenue, Rock Hill, SC (York County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817746060
Description and Narrative:
The Dr. W.W. and Mary Fennell House is a Colonial Revival-style home built in Rock Hill in 1910. It is listed in the National Register in the area of health and medicine for its local association with Dr. William Wallace (W.W.) Fennell, a prominent Rock Hill physician. Dr. Fennell was a skilled surgeon who helped establish the first hospital in Rock Hill and later the Fennell Infirmary, along with its nurse training school. The property’s period of significance coincides with the time Dr. Fennell lived in the house, from its construction in 1910 until his death in 1926. During this time, he operated the infirmary, sat on state, regional, and local professional associations, and had a significant impact on the city of Rock Hill due to his extensive work treating citizens from all walks of life, often pro bono. He trained with highly regarded doctors in New York City and Europe and made frequent trips to the Mayo Clinic to further his professional knowledge. Fennell Infirmary grew to be the largest healthcare facility in Rock Hill and was recognized regionally for its facilities and the expertise of its doctors. The hospital was expanded multiple times after its construction and remained the principal hospital in the city until 1940. The Fennell Infirmary closed in 1958 and was demolished soon after, making the doctor’s house the property most closely associated with his productive life. Measuring 6,600 square feet, it is of wood frame construction with a brick foundation. The house retains elements indicative of the Colonial Revival style, such as a symmetrical facade with an accentuated centered door, a full-width porch with Tuscan columns, and a hipped dormer. Despite several changes including an extensive reconstruction of the front porch, there have been few notable alterations to the Fennell House’s character-defining features, and it retains integrity of location, setting, design, workmanship, feeling, and association. Listed in the National Register October 11, 2022.
Period of Significance:
1910 – 1926
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Health/Medicine
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
October 11 2022
