Communities and Towns

Edmond

SC Hwy 215 SW of Cayce
Before the 20th century Edmond was called Owsa or Ossa (possibly from the mountains of Greek mythology)
1909 - Post Office established where railroad went through
           Officially called Edmond
Named by William H Sharpe an attorney for the railroad for his first-born son Julius Edmond Sharpe
William H Sharpe - also member of school board and later state senator from Lexington County

Swansea

Means "20" in German

In 1886 A W Martin built a house at the site across from the railroad. It was the first house built in what was later to be known as Swansea.

In 1890 the railroad was built and also a depot. At that time the railroad was known as the South Bound Railroad. Later the name was changed to Seaboard Railroad. The depot was named Swansea. The land in Swansea was owned by Hilliard Goodwin who built the next home. Mr Goodwin had lots surveyed and W H F Rast bought a lot and built the first merchandise store which stood for years on the corner of W Third St and S Cardiff Ave. facing the railroad. The next store was built by Dr J L Johnson; John Craft built the next home and store. Mr & Mrs L V Gant had the first hotel boarding house. M W Williams built the first stables for selling and trading horses. Dr John L Langford was the first MD. The first school house was a small 2 room school. Among the first teachers were Jim Smith and B E Craft. The telephone came in 1911 and then an electric plant in approximately 1925.

The first bank was the Bank of Swansea organized by W B Rast, Boynton E Craft, R L Lybrand and W J Watt, and began in 1907. The bank opened in a little wooden building owned by J H Culler and was across from the telephone office.

Stinking Creek

Old timers report that the early frugal German settlers in the area made their own leather shoes. Freshly skinned cowhides were soaked in the stream for a long period of time to remove the hair; the hides stink and so did the stream.