The Town of Estill is located in the southern half of Hampton County. It is the reincarnation of Lawtonville, SC which existed 1-mile to the West. Lawtonville was virtually destroyed during the Civil War as divisions of the Union Army’s 15 Corps travelled from Savannah to North Carolina. Lawtonville was destroyed the 2nd time not by war; but by the commercial vagaries of Capitalism.
The Town is named for Colonel John Holbrook Estill. Estill was formed in 1900 when the railroad; later Seaboard Air Lines Railroad, found the need to construct a rail line between Augusta, Georgia and Savannah, Georgia. Upon construction of the rail line, Lawtonville was finished and the new town of Estill was incorporated in 1905.
West Railroad Avenue looking North circa 1950
East Railroad Avenue looking North circa 1950
3rd Street looking East circa 1950
* Photos by Carl Norton courtesy of Shari Pevey.