The community of Dorchester has been around for a some time. The following historical marker was sponsored by the Upper Dorchester County Historical Society and the Norfolk Southern Corporation in 2012.
There is a great 4 volume book series about the Town of Dorchester written by by James A. Way, titled “Dorchester, Our Homes – Our people – Our Story.” This book set offers a rare and amazing snapshot view of the people and town of Dorchester around 2000. A copy of this book set is part of the South Carolina Digital Library, Dorchester County Library.
This historical marker is set along highway 78 near the site of the train station.
“This town, in Colleton County before Dorchester County was founded in 1897, dates to the early 19th century and the origins of railroading in S.C.
By 1843, only ten years after the S.C canal & Rail Road Company completed its first 133 miles of track from Charleston to Hamburg, the station, sometimes known as Ross, Ross’s Station, or Ross’s Turnout.
The post office established here in 1854 was called Elmville until Reconstruction.
The railroad, later the S.C. RR and by 1899 part of the Southern Railway, kept a station, a “turnout” or second set of tracks, and a water tower here for more than 100 years.
It carried wood, turpentine, pulpwood, and livestock, and was instrumental in the town’s development.
The post office here was renamed Ross Station by 1875, then renamed Dorchester in 1903.
The town, incorporated as Rosses in 1892, was incorporated again as Dorchester in 1912.“
