The Civil War and poverty brought the town of Lawtonville to its knees. But everything changed when the Seaboard Air Lines Railroad constructed a rail line through the town. Lawtonville became Estill in the early 1900s in honor of Colonel James Estill, who was the editor of the Savannah Morning News.

Many thanks to Steven Faucette of Williamston for these pictures taken in 2012.

This picture was taken by Thomas T. Faucette in the 1940s. SCIWAY thanks his son (and frequent contributor!) Steven Faucette of Williamston for submitting this photo.

This picture was taken by Thomas T. Faucette around 1950. SCIWAY thanks his son (and frequent contributor!) Steven Faucette of Williamston for submitting this photo.

The Hampton and Branchville Railroad was chartered in 1891 to accommodate the region’s thriving logging industry. The line originally ran from the town of Hamburg and continued through Hampton into Colleton County and Orangeburg County. It’s currently being used by CSX to transport coal and kraft paper to facilities in Canadys.

The Hampton County Courthouse was constructed a year later, with General Hampton himself laying the cornerstone on October 12, 1878. The courthouse was built in the Victorian Italianate style, which was widely popular in the late 19th century. It was added to South Carolina‘s National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Extensive renovations and additions to the courthouse began in January of 2007. The new additions were constructed from older, softer bricks which match the original bricks in both texture and appearance. A dedication ceremony was held on February 13, 2009 to celebrate the reopening of this landmark.

Lake Warren State Park is a great place to spend the day and has something for everyone. Within the park, there are also two nature trails, a two-acre fishing pond, a playground, and picnic shelters. Jon boat rentals are available as well, so everyone is able to enjoy a day on the water!

SCIWAY thanks Lisa Mixson of Grays for submitting this picture of Lake Warren that she took in the summer of 2007.

When the railroad came 10 years later, its tracks ran along the northern side of the community. James Varn and his brother, Reverend Berry Varn, owned a sawmill north of the tracks. They sold their right of way to the railroad, and the town soon expanded across the tracks. A post office was established in 1872 and the town took the Varn brothers’ name.

The Port Royal & Augusta Railroad connected Port Royal to Augusta, Georgia in the 1870s. Depot stops along the way often generated enough shipping and commerce for nearby towns to flourish. The railroad later changed hands, and the Charleston & Western Carolina Railroad built the depot station pictured here.

Special thanks to Ann Helms of Spartanburg for sharing this photo she took in 2009.

The county today, as you can see in this picture, remains largely rural. Its close proximity to the ocean, and popular cities like Beaufort and Hilton Head, has made it a desirable place to live for many South Carolinians.

Special thanks to Mills Morrison of Savannah, GA who took this picture in April 2008.