City Directories and History: The Cowpens Depot, built in 1896 by the Southern Railway, is significant both
Sloan – Epton’s Spartanburg Co Map ca. 1869. Courtesy of the Cobb Collection – Other Side of the River Museum, 2016
as an excellent example of a late nineteenth century Southern passenger and freight depot and for its association with the significance of the Southern Railway in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century growth and development of the town of Cowpens. The Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway built the first depot here along its line in 1873, and by 1880 the town was incorporated. In May 1896, the
Cowpens Manufacturing Company ca, 1905. Courtesy of the Meek Collection.
Southern Railway contracted with Joseph D. Elliott to build a new depot alongside its tracks at the corner of Brown and Church streets. Passenger rail service to Cowpens ceased in the 1950s and freight service ceased in 1967 when the depot closed its doors to all rail service. Southern Railway decided to demolish the depot in 1980, but the Cowpens Bicentennial Committee negotiated to preserve the building. The railroad agreed to donate the depot to the town on the condition that it be moved from railway property. In 1982 the Town of Cowpens moved the depot one block from its original site to its present location. Listed in the National Register September 4, 1997.
Brown, Ben Hill, lawyer; born at Cowpens, S. C., 1882; son of Randolph R. and Louise (Wood) Brown; graduate of Wofford College, 1902, graduate of Uni- versity of Virginia Law School, with Degree of L.L. B., 1906; began private practice in Spartanburg, S. C., 1906; president of (1916-17), and at present chairman of the legal department of the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce, member of Board of Directors of the Spartanburg Y. M. C. A. and Country Club, director of the American National Bank and the Cowpens Mfg. Co.; member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 1908-12 ; during World War, chairman of the Spartanburg County Council of Defense, chairman of the County War Savings Committee, member of the District Legal Advisory Board, War Camp Community Service Board, Girls’ Protective Bureau, Spartanburg National Travelers’ Aid; married Clara Twitty Colcock. Home, Spartanburg, S. C. Courtesy of Who’s Who in S.C. – 1921
1920s view of the Cowpens Depot – Sanborn Map
(Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History)
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TEXT – NR NOMINATION
NATIONAL REGISTER – IMAGE(S)
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