Here we Grow Again – in Rock Hill, SC

In 2022, we welcome Dr. Will Cranford to Rock Hill and Cranford Dental.

I couldn’t help but think back to 1983 and moving back to my hometown. After all, this was only “a few years ago.”

Rock Hill has changed dramatically in the past 40 years. In fact, it is a totally different place than the little mill town that I grew up in.

But always, Rock Hill has been a great place to grow up—-and work—-and raise a family. And I have loved practicing dentistry here. Many thanks to my old and new friends who have supported me as I grew Cranford Dental.

Of course, I know that Will and Elizabeth and the many other young people moving back will enjoy living here. And I trust that Rock Hill will keep growing and improving for them.

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to practice in Rock Hill. Cranford Dental will continue to grow and develop as we serve our friends and neighbors here. I am committed to that.

Dr. Will Cranford

Growing up in Rock Hill 1954-1976

I grew up here in Rock Hill on the southeast side of town on Christopher Circle in Spencer Estates. My first school was Belleview Elementary School.

My parents knew that Rock Hill was a special place, and we kids agreed. How great to grow up three hours from the mountains and three hours from the beach. And we had great people all around us in our neighborhood and church.

Rock Hill was different then. It was a small town with only three telephone interchanges which were 327, 328, and then later 366. Our residential numbers were 30,000 or 35,000 during the time I was in school.

Returning Home to Rock Hill  1983

When I returned in 1983 after dental school, Rock Hill was the same small town I had grown up in. Rock Hill’s economy was still based on textiles, as it was since the early 1900s. Textiles drove our economy for 50, 60, or 70 years—through the 1900s.

My Clemson professor told me that York County had been the poorest county in the state up until the depression. Rock Hill Printing and Finishing came here in the mid-1920s and brought jobs with it. Thus Rock Hill did not suffer nearly as much as the rest of the country during the Great Depression.

I moved back to Rock Hill with Martha and our one-year-old daughter Laura Anne in 1983.  We all enjoyed living in a small town, where we could easily meet people and get involved. The hospital had just moved out to Herlong Avenue. There were very few restaurants and large shopping areas.

The downtown area still struggled, even after the city removed the roof in the late 1980s. Does anyone else remember when Rock Hill’s downtown was a shopping mall?

But Rock Hill was a friendly and welcoming place for us. And we have loved living and practicing dentistry here for the last 40 years.

Rock Hill Grows

Growth and development of our city since our return in 1983 has been astounding. Our county has grown exponentially. There is talk that Rock Hill could become the biggest city in the state in the next two or three decades. Honestly, I would not be surprised at this.

The growth has been helpful for Cranford Dental and for many other businesses. For one thing, new residents have teeth and need dentists. Also, positive growth encourages us to keep improving our level of care.

When we first arrived, new people from up the East Coast were moving to York County, many coming to Heritage USA near Fort Mill. They were from all over, particularly New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania— and a lot from West Virginia.

More recently we’re not only seeing people from the East Coast, but from all over the country, and even from all over the planet. They have all heard what we all know: This is a good place to live.

Cranford Dental’s First Location

Martha and I first set up our office in a little cottage on Ebenezer Rd. We were about two blocks from Camden Avenue, across from the old York General Hospital, close to the medical community and to other dentists.

Ebenezer Rd was different then. It was transitioning from a quiet two lane road with a lot of residences to a thoroughfare connecting old Rock Hill with the new hospital area. Herlong Avenue and Celanese Road were only two lanes wide. There was a stop sign where India Hook crossed Celanese Road.

Can you imagine that now?

We practiced at that location for five years. Then, in 1989, I joined a group of other health care providers and moved up the street to Village Oaks Professional Park. This location is still great for us in 2022.

Cranford Dental is at the corner of Ebenezer and Herlong, near the water tower and behind the Hardees and Starbucks. Most people in York County can find us without even looking at Google Maps.

And of course, in 2022 you can email our office or text 803-324-7670. We would love to show you what modern dentistry looks and feels like in Rock Hill, SC.

Cranford Dental Grows

Moving to a new office building gave us a fresh start, including all new equipment. We have updated the office several times over the past 30 years, adding more space in 2009.

Now in 2022, we are upgrading again. Yes, we are excited about the new look at Cranford Dental. Our plan is for fresh and modern look, which is also welcoming and comforting to our guests.

 I like going to work at Cranford Dental every day and I think the same holds true for our dental team and for the patients that come see us for help with their oral health care.

Our Patients Change as Rock Hill Changes

During our early years we counted on friends and word of mouth to grow the practice. In fact, marketing was frowned on for a true professional. Many of my early patients were associated with the textile industry and the growing medical community.

Now we see many patients who have just moved to our area. Of course, we enjoy meeting and welcoming them to Rock Hill. This includes finding out what they want or need and how we can help them get to know our community.

We like to connect and find out what we have in common. Lastly, we discuss their dental needs and what we can do to help,

Truthfully, we’re glad we are here and certainly look forward to the future. And we’re happy to have good new people join us.

Growth is Good for Rock Hill

A growing city keeps changing. I share memories that tie us to our past:

• Lloyd Shaw, from a well-known grocery family, told me about a childhood memory. He and a friend would put their ears against the ground at the corner of Ebenezer Road and Oakland Avenue and listen for the mule wagons coming into town hauling cotton to the gins.
• Merrick Garland talked about moving here as a child in the late 1920s on a wagon moving from Lincolnton, North Carolina.
• As a boy, I rode my bike all over Rock Hill delivering newspapers and knocking on doors collecting payment.

What a change from the memories of my children growing up here!

I see this growth as a very positive thing for all of us.

I would far rather live in a city that people are moving to than a town people are fleeing from. Aren’t you glad you live here too?“

Dr. Bill Cranford

Growth is Good for Cranford Dental

The healthy growth of our city makes us determined to keep providing superior dental care. Thus, we want to offer the best possible services to our community. In a healthy city, people should not have to drive far for dental care.

Here are ways that we plan to continue to help our growing community and our growing dental practice:

• Hire staff members from this community and train them to become top notch dental professionals.
• Encourage our staff members to give to and participate in all that Rock Hill offers.
• Invest in training and technology to prepare for the future.
• Continue to treat patients and staff with honesty and respect.

Our Future in Rock Hill

I am very happy with the two new dentists who joined us in recent years. Dr. Elizabeth Cranford Robinson came ten years ago, then Dr. Will Cranford in 2022.

Both dentists share my love of this community and my commitment to positive, ethical dentistry.

Rock Hill is a great place to live and work. I love raising my children here. And I enjoy working in a family dental practice with dentists I respect and trust.

Dr. Elizabeth Cranford Robinson

In my opinion, we make a great team. Dr. Robinson and I gain Will’s knowledge of the latest dental materials and technology. And he benefits from our instinct and experience from years of practicing dentistry in Rock Hill.

We Welcome New Patients

We love to welcome new patients at Cranford Dental. If you are new to town, or if you have grown up here or lived here many years, please stop by for a visit.

Our plans are to keep growing as Rock Hill grows. We would love for you to join us.

Make an appointment online, call 803-324-7670, or stop by Cranford Dental at 1721 Ebenezer Road, at the corner of Ebenezer and Herlong.