100 years for city of Johnson

Web posted May 23, 1997

By Pat Willis
South Carolina Bureau

JOHNSTON, S.C. - One hundred years ago, a small railroad village called Johnston Turn Out became a full-fledged town chartered by the state of South Carolina and renamed simply Johnston for the railroader who helped make it possible.

U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, who has his own reasons for celebrating, will help the town stage its Centennial Celebration on Sunday.

That same day, Mr. Thurmond, who entered the U.S. Senate in 1954, will break the record for congressional service. The senior senator is scheduled to be principal speaker in ceremonies that begin at 2 p.m.

In addition, state Sen. Tommy Moore, state Rep. William Clyburn, Johnston Mayor Dean Campbell and Edgefield County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece are also on the hour-long program.

According to Johnston historian, Owen Clark, the settlement itself dates back to the Colonial era, but it was not officially chartered until 1897 when it was named for William Johnston, president of the Charlotte-Columbia-Augusta Railroad.

Nearly 30 years earlier, the settlement consisted of the home of Dr. Edward Mims and a blacksmith shop.

When the Columbia to Augusta portion of the railroad route was being considered, Dr. Mims went to Mr. Johnston and persuaded him to bring the route through what is now Johnston. At about this time, Dr. Mims' son Hanford built a dry goods store in town and laid out the town.

The town was founded as Johnston's Station in 1868 as a stop on the railroad route. Also known as Johnston's Turn Out, it was first incorporated in 1875 and then re-chartered as Johnston on May 25, 1897.

Today, Johnston, located on the Ridge section of Edgefield County, has a population on 2,638 and is known by many as the ``Peach Capital of the World.''

Immediately after the program, a permanent historical marker will be unveiled to commemorate the town's 100th year of incorporation.