This building was built in 1899 by Pickens Columbus Price (1861-1947) for his high-end men's clothing and retail store, P. C. Price & Co. It was an important part of Columbia's Vista District from 1900 until a year after his death, in 1948. The building became a historic landmark in 1985. Pickens C. Price's daughter, Frances Lenora (1898-1998), worked in the store and later married the store's vice-president, Benjamin Tillman Bodie (1890-1982). B. T. Bodie had been a paint brush salesman who boarded with the Price family before becoming their clerk and later vice-president. He was a WWI veteran and was the last mayor of Eau Claire before it was annexed with the city of Columbia. In 1913, Pickens C. Price sold 1,007 acres to the State of South Carolina for Camp Styx, which later became the town of South Congaree.
Frances and B.T.’s love still shines brightly even though they are long gone and the key to their love can be found 75 steps down from Park Street, smell the waffles cones through the grate, listen for the ticking of the beating hearts as you pass.
Be careful as this is a very urban cache location and there are often lots of people around. Bring your own pen and please place back exactly as you found it.