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Local figure

Samuel Jackson Brockwell

Samuel Jackson Brockwell was a Chapel Hill businessman who brought movies to the town. In 1902 he put up a three-story brick building at Franklin and Columbia streets, and in 1909 he opened the Pickwick, Chapel Hill's first movie theatre. He moved it in 1916 to a new building on the south side of Franklin and reopened it in May 1924 after a fire gutted it.

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1 work about Samuel Jackson Brockwell is indexed here.

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Storylines this person is part of, in date order. Each has its own page.

StorylineChapel Hill’s movie houses and the Pickwick fire, 1916–19241916–1924 · 11 events · In 1924 Chapel Hill lost its Pickwick theatre to fire and gained a theatre owned by and run for Black residents. Early in 1916 Lindsey and Strowd opened the Tar Heel Theatre on Franklin Street and S. J. Brockwell's Pickwick went up in the same row, and about 1918 Henry Guthrie opened a picture house on West Franklin Street, in the blocks where Black families were settling. On February 9, 1924 an early-morning fire burned the Pickwick. Brockwell rebuilt it, fireproof, on the same site, and it opened on May 31 with seats for 750. On July 4 the Standard opened on West Franklin Street, owned by tailor Durward O'Kelly, builder Charlie Brooks and brick mason Jesse Kirkland. StorylineOrange Methodist Church’s new building, 1923–19251923–1925 · 4 events · A homecoming on Orange Methodist Church's 109th birthday in July 1923 opened a campaign for a new building north of Chapel Hill. S. J. Brockwell gave the framing lumber, and the new church, with four Sunday school rooms, opened on June 1, 1924 before about a thousand people, when Charles E. Maddry raised about $2,000 toward its debt. At the homecoming of June 1925 Brockwell gave the last $500 of the $800 still owed. StorylineOrange Methodist Church, 1925–19401925–1940 · 4 events · At a homecoming in June 1925 Orange Church, about three miles north of Chapel Hill, took up a collection on its $800 building debt, and when pledges fell short S. J. Brockwell gave the last $500. In the spring of 1934 members built the Hut, a two-room log building at the edge of the church grove, under Brockwell's direction, for community events and church suppers. In April 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Brockwell, as a surprise gift through the church's two missionary societies, had the church painted inside and out, given electric light fixtures and its seats redone.

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 18 dated events in the chronology →

  1. S. J. Brockwell builds a three-story brick building at Franklin and Columbia streets Samuel Jackson Brockwell put up a three-story brick building on the northeast corner of Franklin and Columbia streets. Its first tenant, Samuel Weldon Andrews, took both ground-floor storefronts, with groceries on the Columbia Street side and dry goods on the other. People: Samuel Weldon Andrews, Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Brockwell building, northeast corner of Franklin and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Franklin and Columbia streets, Columbia StreetSearch the index · Bernard Lee Bryant Jr., Occupants and Structures of Franklin Street, Chapel Hill (1998; Chapel Hill Historical Society, 1999), scan p. 179
  2. Brockwell turns his building's ground floor into a skating rink When Samuel Weldon Andrews was elected sheriff and closed his store, Brockwell remodeled the first floor of his building at Franklin and Columbia streets as a skating rink. People: Samuel Weldon Andrews, Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Brockwell building, northeast corner of Franklin and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Franklin and Columbia streetsSearch the index · Bernard Lee Bryant Jr., Occupants and Structures of Franklin Street, Chapel Hill (1998; Chapel Hill Historical Society, 1999), scan p. 189
  3. Ground is broken for S. J. Brockwell's brick building beside the new garage and Tar Heel Theatre Work began on another brick building for S. J. Brockwell next to the new garage and Tar Heel Theatre building on Franklin Street, and The News reported that 'the building fever has struck Chapel Hill'. Place: Franklin Street, Chapel HillSearch the index · The News (Chapel Hill), October 14, 1915, p. 1
  4. The Tar Heel Theatre opens on Franklin Street beside Strowd's garage A new movie house run by Lindsey and Strowd opened in one of the new buildings on Franklin Street, with a balcony and modern fittings. S. J. Brockwell's new Pickwick went up in the same row. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Franklin StreetSearch the index · The Tar Heel, January 15, 1916, p. 1 · Also: The Tar Heel, February 19, 1916, p. 4; The News (Chapel Hill), October 14, 1915, p. 1
  5. Fire destroys the Pickwick Theatre on Franklin Street An early-morning fire burned the Pickwick movie theatre and the O'Kelly pressing club next door, and sparks threatened the fraternity houses nearby. Until it was rebuilt, films were shown in Gerrard Hall. People: W. S. Roberson, Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Gerrard HallSearch the index · The Tar Heel, February 12, 1924, p. 1 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, February 14, 1924, p. 1; The News (Chapel Hill), February 21, 1924, p. 1; The News (Chapel Hill), February 28, 1924, p. 5
  6. S. J. Brockwell begins rebuilding the Pickwick as a fireproof theatre Weeks after the fire, owner S. J. Brockwell began rebuilding the Pickwick on Franklin Street as a fireproof theatre seating 725, 50 by 90 feet, with two stores flanking an entrance corridor, under builder Brodie Thompson, and hoped to open about May 1. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell, Brodie Thompson Place: Pickwick Theatre site, Franklin Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Franklin StreetThe Chapel Hill Weekly, February 28, 1924, p. 1
  7. The rebuilt Pickwick Theatre opens on Franklin Street S. J. Brockwell's new fireproof Pickwick, built on the site of the burned one, opened with seats for 750, and crowds were turned away from the first show. W. S. Roberson ran it under lease. People: W. S. Roberson, Brodie Thompson, Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: East Franklin Street, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, June 5, 1924, p. 1 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, February 28, 1924, p. 1
  8. Orange Methodist Church opens its new building before a crowd of about a thousand Between 900 and 1,000 people attended the formal opening of the new church at Orange, two and a half miles north of Chapel Hill, on Sunday, June 1, 1924. Baptist leader Charles E. Maddry, who had grown up near the church, preached and raised about $2,000 toward a debt of some $4,400, and the paper credited S. J. Brockwell of Chapel Hill with starting the building movement by giving the framing lumber. People: Charles Edward Maddry, Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Orange Methodist Church, north of Chapel HillSearch the index · The News (Chapel Hill), June 5, 1924, p. 1
  9. Orange Methodist Church tears down its frame church and builds the present sanctuary The new church, which added four Sunday school rooms to what had been a single-room church, was formally opened on Sunday, June 1, 1924, before a crowd The News put at 900 to 1,000. S. J. Brockwell of Chapel Hill had started the building movement by offering the framing lumber, and Charles E. Maddry, who grew up near the church, preached and raised about $2,000 toward a debt of some $4,400. The booklet says the building was still the place of Sunday worship in 1989. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell, Charles Edward Maddry Place: Orange United Methodist Church, near Chapel HillSearch the index · A Brief History, Orange United Methodist Church, 1832-1989 (1989), scan p. 4 · Also: The News (Chapel Hill), June 5, 1924, p. 1; Chapel Hill Weekly, June 5, 1924, p. 1
  10. S. J. Brockwell hires Brodie Thompson to build a Dutch Colonial house on Henderson Street S. J. Brockwell and his wife let Thompson the contract for a two-story Dutch Colonial house on the west side of Henderson Street next to the W. P. Jordan home. The house at 211 Henderson Street was much enlarged in 1968. People: Brodie Thompson, Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Chapel Hill · Also named: W. P. Jordan · Also mentions: Henderson StreetSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 28, 1925, p. 3 (Brockwells' New Home)
  11. Orange Church homecoming wipes out the debt on its building At a homecoming with preaching and a dinner in the grove, Orange Church north of Chapel Hill took up a collection on its $800 building debt; when pledges left $575 owing and $75 more was raised, S. J. Brockwell gave the last $500, clearing the debt. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell, Charles Edward Maddry Place: Orange Church, north of Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, June 19, 1925, p. 1
  12. Publix-Saenger takes over the Pickwick Theatre on a long-term lease The Publix-Saenger company, which ran the Carolina Theatre, leased the older Pickwick Theatre building and equipment from S. J. Brockwell, putting both of Chapel Hill's movie houses under its local manager, E. Carrington Smith. The company promised better pictures at the Pickwick and planned a student orchestra for the Carolina. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell, E. Carrington Smith Place: Pickwick Theatre, East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Carolina TheatreSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, September 7, 1928, p. 1
Show all 18 dated events
  1. University Lodge No. 408 dedicates its new hall in the old Baptist church The Masons of University Lodge No. 408 held their first meeting and dedication in the former Baptist church at Franklin and Church streets, renovated inside under P. L. Burch, with more than 100 present and visiting Masons from Raleigh, Durham, Hillsboro, Sanford and Burlington. The lodge left the rooms it had used for 30 years in S. J. Brockwell's building at Columbia and Franklin streets. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell, Peter L. Burch Place: Former Baptist church, Franklin and Church streets, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, February 6, 1931, p. 1
  2. Fire damages the M System store on Franklin Street Fire broke out in the stockroom of the M System store at about 10 o'clock on the night of March 18 and closed the store for a week, damaging most of a stock valued at about $7,600 and doing an estimated $2,000 damage to S. J. Brockwell's building. Firemen fought it for an hour or more in darkness and smoke and kept it from spreading through the building. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Brockwell building, Franklin and Columbia streets, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, March 23, 1934, p. 1
  3. Orange Methodist Church builds the Hut for its social and community use Members of the congregation built the Hut, a log building at the edge of the church grove, in the spring of 1934 under the direction of S. J. Brockwell, and it was first seen by many at the homecoming on Sunday, June 10. Its two rooms, a social hall of about 24 by 30 feet and a kitchen, were used for community events, church suppers, business meetings and Sunday school. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Orange United Methodist Church, near Chapel HillSearch the index · A Brief History, Orange United Methodist Church, 1832-1989 (1989), scan p. 4 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, March 23, 1934, p. 1; Chapel Hill Weekly, May 18, 1934, p. 2; Chapel Hill Weekly, June 15, 1934, p. 3
  4. S. J. Brockwell takes the top story off the oldest brick building on Franklin Street's business block After the M System fire, S. J. Brockwell had contractor Brodie S. Thompson take the third story off his building at Franklin and Columbia streets, built about 1900 of brick made on his own farm, and give it a new roof, front, steel beams and wiring as a two-story building with offices upstairs. The Weekly called it the oldest, and the first, brick building on the business block. People: Brodie Thompson Place: Brockwell building, Franklin and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Franklin and Columbia streetsSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, March 30, 1934, p. 1
  5. Orange Methodist Church north of Chapel Hill is repainted and wired for electric lights Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Brockwell had Orange church, the Methodist church about three miles north of Chapel Hill, painted inside and out, given electric light fixtures and its seats redone, a surprise gift made through the church's two missionary societies. The congregation first saw the work at a Sunday morning service. People: Samuel Jackson Brockwell Place: Orange Methodist Church, north of Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, April 26, 1940, p. 1
  6. Samuel J. Brockwell, Chapel Hill builder and businessman, dies Samuel J. Brockwell died at his Henderson Street home at 70, 42 years after moving to the village from the Orange Church neighborhood. The Weekly credited him with Chapel Hill's first brick business building, its first moving picture theatre and the first regular bus service to Durham, and said he had rebuilt and repainted Orange Church and built it a community hut. Place: Henderson Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Orange ChurchSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, November 8, 1940, p. 3

People named in the same events

People named in the same dated entries as Samuel Jackson Brockwell, those sharing the most entries first. Each line links one of the shared entries in the chronology, where its source is cited. A shared entry shows these people in the same event, not how well they knew each other.

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Works about or by Samuel Jackson Brockwell. Each links to the institution that holds or provides it. Background reading appears below.

The Gamma Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity 50th anniversary celebration : November 14-16, 2014.

Pickrel, Debra · 2014 · Gamma Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity

Debra Pickrel's history of the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, produced for the chapter's fiftieth anniversary celebration of November 14 to 16, 2014. One hundred forty four pages with portraits and illustrations, some in color. Samuel J. Brockwell is discussed in the text.

Included because: Their name appears in the record.

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