Taken in 1913, this photograph captures Lake City at a time when the railroad was at the heart of the town’s growth and commerce. On the left stands the old City Hall, which was later demolished and replaced by a mural. City Hall eventually moved to North Acline Avenue.

Beyond the railroad depot stands the W. Lee Flowers Building, home to a wholesale business that supplied goods to grocery stores throughout the region. Two railroad tracks connected Lake City to communities and markets beyond South Carolina.

The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) Railroad played an important role in moving Lake City’s agricultural products to larger markets. Tobacco grown and processed locally was packed into large hogshead barrels and shipped by rail to tobacco companies in North Carolina and Virginia. For Lake City, the railroad was more than a means of transportation—it connected local businesses, farmers, and workers to a much larger economy.

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