As I was saying before I was interrupted last year ... the Irmo-Chapin neighborhood column is back.

I have missed reporting the news around my familiar stomping grounds. Since there has been an influx of people moving into the area, let me chit-chat with you about some Irmo and Chapin history. These towns were railroad stops on the Columbia, Newberry, and Laurens railroad. The residents renamed the CN&L the “Crooked, Noisy, and Late Railroad.”

Irmo and Chapin in the Dutch Fork were settled by German immigrants in the 1750s. The Dutch Fork is the area between the fork of the Broad and Saluda rivers. This where the “Deutsch Folk” lived. Deutsch meant German, not Dutch.

Chapin was named after Martin Chapin who lived behind where the Publix is now. Irmo was named for CJ Iredell and HC Mosley who worked for the railroad - “Irmo.”

NOT MANY old houses are left in Chapin or Irmo. The Lorick Plantation is the oldest house in Irmo, built in 1840 and now the Lake Murray Country Visitors Center. The oldest house in Chapin was a 208-year-old house on Amicks Ferry Road. It was recently demolished for a future gas station.

The Robison-Hiller house, currently Aquarius Salon, was built in the late 1800s. The names of roads tell of destinations before Lake Murray. Old Lexington in Chapin, went to Lexington. Wessinger Road in Chapin was originally Gilbert Holler road and went to Gilbert. Old Chapin road in Lexington led to Chapin. Construction of I-26 was started in 1957 in Columbia and the 1st 6 miles opened in 1962. Before that, US 76 and 176 were the northwest routes to Irmo and Chapin.

FOR MORE on the history of the Dutch Fork, drive down US 76 to the “Hauntings and Homicides of the Dutch fork” Friday, Oct 15, at 749 Mill St., Little Mountain at 7,8 and 9 pm. For details, check the Dutch Fork Historical FaceBook page, email pss_ nyz@yahoo.com or call 803-394-9487.

CONGRATULATIONS to Chapin Rotary Club students of the Month, Sarah Takach, Allandis, Mathias, Kyleigh Bougoyne.

CAN YOU believe it is growing cooler? Fall weather means the State Fair Oct. 13-24. Save your money for tasty fair food.

THE GOOD Samaritan Clinic provides free health care at 1810 Chapin Rd. and needs volunteer nurses, scribes, interpreters, administrative help, doctors, APRNS and PAs. Contact Susan Boland at susan.goodsamaritansc.com or call 803-528-6365.