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SWANSEA HISTORY 1907-1950
1907: The Bank of Swansea was organized with directors W.B.
Rast, B.E. Craft, R.L. Lybrand, and W. H. Witt. Cashiers were Mr. and Mrs.
Craft. Mr. Lybrand was president. The bank opened in a wooden building that
faced northward on Third Street between Monmouth and Brecon Avenues, about where
Clark's Building is today. In 1924, the bank transferred to its brick home on
the site of the present Municipal Building. The depression brought the closing
of the bank.
1910: Mr. Pete Redmond was, according,1910 Census, town marshal. Names of
police officers prior to this are not known.
1911: About this time the Pond Branch Telephone Company brought telephone
service to the community. They operated for a number of years and then withdrew,
returning at a later time.
1912: The cornerstone was laid for the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
located on the northeast corner of Monmouth Avenue and Lady Street.
1913: By this time a large hotel was in operation facing Cardiff Avenue
between Second and Third Streets. The building faced the railroad. On the second
floor were a long porch extending the length of the building, a dining area, a
long hall, and private rooms. The lower floor consisted of stores which were
recessed so that the brick walk from which they were entered was overhung by the
porch upstairs.
1914: Mr. W. Bartowe Rast erected a veneer mill and a basket factory
which produced banana drums and later baskets for the shipment of other fruits
and vegetables. A grist mill and cotton gins become a part of this enterprise.
Mr. L. O. Rast joined his father in the business and continued operation of the
basket factory until 1964. For many years this was Swansea's only industry.
Elite Paint Body Shop currently occupies this old basket factory building.
1917: Swansea's public school, consisting of grades 1-10, was built. It
was a large two story brick building where the old gymnasium on the corner of
North Lawrence and State Highway 6 stands. It was previously housed in a wooden
building at the same location.
1920: This was a period of road building. State Highways 3, 6, and 5 to
North (now U.S. 312) were build. A number of workers, including engineers and
workmen with their families boarded in Swansea and completed the highway. These
first roads were of clay and mules provided the power for the machinery. One
night about twenty mules escaped their encampment just below the bridge near the
forks of U.S. 321 and S.C. 3. These mules were trapped in a road-bed cut by the
railroad trestle and an oncoming southbound train. Most of the mules were killed
and the train was delayed for hours. Around 1928, S.C. #3 was the first of these
roads to be paved.
1921: August 8- The Town Council passed an ordinance which provided for
power plant and three commissioners of public works. In 1924 J.L. Haigler, Dr.
L. C. Brooker, and W.H. Witt assumed duties as Commissioners of Public Works. It
is supposed the plant was built shortly thereafter. Mr. Gus Sturkie became the
operator and the plant supplied Swansea's electrical needs until the Broad River
Power Company and later South Carolina Electric and Gas Company assumed the
responsibility.
1922: About this time, Mr. S. J. Jowers operated a bottling plant
making and distributing a soft drink "Smile" in a variety of flavors.
The first known Board of Health was composed of Dr J. R. Langford, P.M. Oliver,
A.D. Dowling, C. B. Dowling, and W. J. Wise.
1923: Two great fires began on (Main) Monmount Street and threatened all
the businesses. An automobile dealership located on the west side of the street
in a two story structure was destroyed. That structure was located about where
Roberts Grocery is now..
1925: Swansea High Alma Mater was written by teacher, Mary Fishburne
Davis (Taylor)
Mr. L.O. Rast, put in Operation an ice plant which supplied residents with block
ice.
Swansea High School became an accredited high school. Mr. Robert Lee Riser was
superintendent at this time.
1926: High School districts were consolidated and a new building was
erected at the intersection of Lady Street and Lawrence Avenue. Buses brought in
high school students from the outlying areas, Gaston, Athens, Sharpe's Hill,
Cross Roads, Dixie, Calvary, Macks, and North Edisto. By this time, the eleventh
grade had been added.
1927: Swansea High School was completed and students moved into it in
Jan. 1927. the first graduating class from this school was in May 1927. The old
high school facing Hwy.#6 become the grammar school. Until then several wooden
building on the grounds took care of the grammar school students.
1930: The Bank of Swansea, after operating for 25+ years, closed because
of the depression.
1939: Work was stared on a park and a log cabin known as the Swansea
Community House. The park and cabin are located on Hwy. 312 south of Swansea, on
a 3.2 acre site donated by Mr. Clayde Varn. This project was built with Town of
Swansea matching funds by the Work Progress Administration (W.P.A.) In the early
40's the school, through the efforts of Mr. David Bryan, received its first
lunchroom program. The building still stands in the Hooves' backyard.
1942: World War II hit already depressed Swansea with an even harder
punch. She sent her young men and women off to the wars in Europe and the
Pacific. Several lost their lives fighting for their country.
The Depression years and World War II brought a lull in growth and in expansion
of services.
1945: The Swansea Waterworks Commission was formed to provide a water
system for the town. Years later the system was updated with a new tank on a
higher elevation and other improvements. At present the system is under the
town's jurisdiction.
1947: The Swansea Milling Company began operation. It has expanded and
now does custom grinding, mixes and markets "Veribest Foods," and
sells farm and garden supplies.
1948: The Swansea Fire Department began serving the town. This service
was staffed by volunteers and operated two pumpers, a tanker, and a squad car
owned by the town, and one pumper provided by Lexington County. For many of the
years of its operation Mr. Lucius Martin has served as chief of the department
and directed its services.
1949: The Twelfth grade was added to Swansea High School.
1950: A health Center was erected and is maintained by the County to
provide certain health care for the people of Swansea and the surrounding areas.
About the same time or a little later a town hall and jail were build on
Monmouth Avenue between Third and Fifth Street.