By SAMMY WAY
Sumter Item archivist and historian
Reflections remembers the Atlantic Coast Line freight and passenger depot and its effect on the economy and residents of the Sumter community. The author used articles and photos from The Sumter Item archives and photos provided by the late Bubba McElveen in preparing this research. Articles from The Herald newspaper were also used with a degree of editing. In addition, information from Dr. Anne King Gregorie’s The History of Sumter County was used.
In the 1934 Herald newspaper, an article noted that “the Atlantic Coast Line was the more important of the two systems entering the city of Sumter. The line controlled by far the larger number of miles and was the older of the rail systems.” Research notes that “the construction of the South Carolina group of railroads, which later became part of the Coast Line system, commenced in 1849. It built a very attractive passenger depot and freight warehouse, in addition to other buildings which were used for different purposes and required the employment of a large number of officials and clerks.”
According to Dr. Anne King Gregorie’s A History of Sumter County, “In 1852, the railroad entered Sumterville and so stimulated the boom that a lady who made a visit there was so struck with the size and imposing aspect of our churches, hotels and numerous stores, she thought she had missed her road and had got into Camden. The passengers who arrived on the cars of the ‘iron horse’ were later met at the depot and carried to their homes by an omnibus operated by Robert W. Andrews, who had traded some horses for it in Charleston.”
“Two years later (1859), a large brick freight depot was being built, and the town council agreed that thereafter the railroad, which had brought so much good to Sumter, should have no taxes levied on its property within the town limits.”
“In those days, the Sumter passenger station was later located to Dingle Street above the present freight depot, and freight was then being handled at the old location between South Main and Manning Avenue, at the end of South Main.”
“The Manchester and Augusta branch was in the process of being completed to Denmark, South Carolina, where it would connect with the South Carolina and Southbound railroads, thereby giving Sumter the benefit of business from two entirely different regions.” These events helped to increase the amount of rail traffic to Sumter, thus providing local merchants with more business opportunities.
The business interests of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad were well taken care of in Sumter. A corps of efficient officers were ever watchful and quick to take advantage of anything that would increase business for the rail line or increase the city’s prosperity. Mr. R. A. Brand held the position of soliciting agent, for the city as well as the line. He started work with the Atlantic Coast Line as a depot hand and worked himself up to that position. He had experience in all of the many departments associated with the Atlantic Coast Line rail system. The people of Sumter appreciated the interest he took in the business matters of their community. Evidence of their appreciation was shown when they elected him a member of the first board of aldermen in 1888. The other rail officials included C.G. Rowland, freight agent; C. Brand, ticket agent; and A. N. Freeland, road master.
It was expected that the train dispatcher’s office would be located in Sumter with the completion of the Denmark extension. It became evident that the city of Sumter was growing and becoming increasingly important in the eyes of the railroad officials. In November of 1886, a letter written by Mr. Walters, general manager of the Atlantic Coast Line, to Intendant Moise appeared in an article in The Watchman and Southron announcing the intention of the Atlantic Coast Railroad to build a new depot in Sumter. The depot was to be an expanded and upscale facility, thus making Sumter one of the leading rail centers in the South. Mr. Walters notified the company architect to complete working drawings for the station.
The new depot which was on the corner of Telephone and Harvin streets was torn down in 1971-72 to make room for a warehouse.
