09/22/2026
History was made in St. Matthews!
On Monday, September 21, the community gathered at St. Matthews Pocket Park for the dedication of the St. Matthews Railroad Cut South Carolina Historical Marker.
Built in 1841, the Railroad Cut was part of the early railroad line connecting Branchville to Columbia and became a defining feature in the development of St. Matthews. Tradition holds that the half-mile section through St. Matthews was constructed by enslaved African Americans hired out to the railroad company by Jacob M. Dantzler and John J. Wannamaker. These workers undertook the difficult task of digging and hauling away tons of earth by hand to create a level route through the area's hilly terrain.
We were honored to have Mayor Helen Carson, Senator Russell Ott, Senator Jeff Zell, Representative Jerry Jovan, Calhoun County Administrator Richard Hall, Calhoun County Museum & Cultural Center Director Jeremy Stoudenmire, and Jacob Hair participate as speakers during the dedication.
A special thank-you goes to the Town of St. Matthews for its hard work in hosting the dedication and helping make the event such a success. We greatly appreciate the time, effort, and support of the Town and everyone who worked behind the scenes to prepare for this special occasion.
The historical marker was sponsored by the Calhoun County Museum & Cultural Center and the Calhoun County Historical Commission.
Thank you to everyone who joined us as we celebrated and preserved another important chapter in the history of St. Matthews and Calhoun County. By preserving our history, we ensure that the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped our community will continue to be shared for generations to come.
