NA Homes: Bush Houes

Family business took over North Augusta block
By Lisa Kaylor Staff Writer
Posted March 31, 2009 3:57 PM

James and Lena Bush bought the Bush house in 1920. They built Bush's Flower Shop next door in 1921.
BeBe Holeman fondly remembers when the street in front of her childhood home was dirt and full of potholes.
"It rained and we'd play in the water," she said.
The yellow house at 109 Pine Grove Ave. was surrounded by trees that have long been cut to make room for pavement and power lines.
"My daddy put the sidewalk down, mainly so we could skate," she said.
Holeman's parents, James and Lena Bush, bought the house in 1920 for $3,000. They also bought the parcel next to it, on the corner of Pine Grove and West avenues, which is known for Bush's Flower Shop.
Bush's Flower Shop is touted as the oldest continuously-operated business in North Augusta.
James got the idea for the shop shortly after he bought the properties. As a postal worker he noticed residents ordered pansies from companies in the north, Holeman said.
There were no florists in the area at the time, so in 1921 he built a one-room building in the empty lot next to the house and began selling mail-order flowers.
"It went so well he decided to open as a greenhouse," Holeman said. "The shop really started as a greenhouse."
James, who knew very little about gardening, bought a book and learned how to grow roses. The property was previously a cow pasture, which left the soil rich enough to produce a beautiful rose garden. James also ordered flowers that couldn't be grown locally.
"I think most of our carnations came from Denver," Holeman said. "I remember many a time getting in the car and going to the post office to pick up the shipment of things from Denver."
The house across Pine Grove Avenue belonged to the O'Keefes, who were kind enough to allow James to plant sweet peas, dahlias and other flowers in their back yard.
The area is now a parking lot behind Ming Yat Restaurant.
Lena ran the flower shop and lived in the home after her husband's death in 1966.
After Lena died in 1996, daughter Jeanette Bush lived in the house and ran the business until her own death in October.
"Jeanette left me the shop," Holeman said. "I didn't intend to go back to work at 76 years old," she added with a laugh.
Holeman said the shop will remain in the family.
Reach Lisa Kaylor at lisa.kaylor@northaugustatoday.com.

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