Also known as the “Capital of Lake Murray,” Chapin is filled with history from decades past.  With its growing popularity and development, many are attracted to Chapin because of its beautiful lake front views and convenient access to waterfront activities. Chapin, however, is also home to many structures that were essential to the town’s early development.   

Chapin was officially established in 1889 as a railway town. With the railroad drawing crowds to the town, the first businesses began to slowly emerge within its streets. Chapin’s development was then disrupted by the Great Depression and construction of Lake Murray. After the lake construction was completed, the demand for a commercial town was renewed and Chapin’s growth was revived. The National Registry states that “tourism traffic to the lake renewed the district and created demand for new town services and more centralized local government. As a result, the period from 1940 through 1969 saw Chapin’s downtown revitalized through new, affordable, and mostly functional commercial architecture.”  

Trusted with preserving the towns vast history, the Chapin Historical Association was formed by J.J. Casey and John Thomason. This group, led by volunteers, achieved its 501 (c)3 non-profit organization status in 2016. Since then, the association has been working to uncover stories and artifacts of the Town of Chapin from times past.  

Most recently, the Chapin Historical Association has been working on the designation of a Historical District within the town. The Chapin Commercial Historic District features 12 structures along Lexington Avenue, Beaufort and Clark streets. These incorporated structures on the designated streets have played a major role in the town’s early commercial development between the years of 1901 and 1969. Among the featured structures, The Chapin Commercial Historic District includes the town’s first Town Hall that was constructed in 1948. Built by Addison Bostain Sr., this structure is unique in form due to the two jail cells located on the backside of the building.  

In addition to the former Town Hall, Bostain also built and owned the first grocery store of Chapin on the 100th block of Beaufort Street. Bostain’s granddaughter, Pat Lewandoski, who currently serves as the secretary for the Chapin Historical Association, recalls her grandfather’s grocery store being called “Bostain Mercantile.” While Bostain Mercantile is no longer in business, the structure is currently occupied by a beauty salon. The Chapin Commercial Historical District was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on Oct. 7, 2019. 

Along with the designation of the Chapin Commercial Historic District, the Historical Association is currently working on producing a film about the town’s establishment and history. In the future, they also hope to construct a town museum near the newly designated business district.