The City of West Columbia, on its Facebook page has been posting historical, and other, information about the City of West Columbia, along with photos from past years. The idea behind the posts is: “Understanding the past of your home strengthens  your connection to it.”

The New Brookland Mill Village is one of the most significant sections of West Columbia. Today, it is a family-oriented River District hub characterized by local restaurants, antique shops, and proximity to the West Columbia Riverwalk.  It’s also a Registered National Historic District undergoing a massive $15 million infrastructure and walkability overhaul spearheaded by the City  of West Columbia.

Below is some historical information related to the rich history of West Columbia’s New Brookland Mill Village. 

Before it was West Columbia, the settlement beside the Congaree River was called Brookland. That was later changed to New Brookland so there would be no confusion related to the other Brooklyn, in New York.
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Brookland was incorporated in 1894. The New Brookland Mill Village, which is still intact, was built as a planned residential community for employees of the Columbia Duck Mill Textile Plant across the Congaree River. The Duck Mill was one of the first hydroelectric textile mills in the nation. It’s now the SC State Museum.

Families could occupy the mill village houses, paying no rent, if a certain number of family members worked in the mill.

Three of the houses on Court Avenue, were known as “overseers'” houses of the mill village. From the second floor of the house, the overseer could see the Duck Mill lights at night, which ensured it was still operating, if it was not, the supervisor would have to leave home to find out what was wrong. Tim and Karen now lease a house in the mill village that was built as an overseer’s house.

“The home is totally renovated, but the heart-of-pine floors are original, so are many of the interior features including the doors and the molding,” said Karen. “We love the history of the house as much as we love the location. It’s great to be so close to the river and the West Columbia Riverwalk. The mill village is rich and it’s a place I don’t want to ever leave.”

“Duck Mill employees from Brookland walked over the Congaree River bridge that had been built in 1872. It was the only bridge over the Congaree River in those days. A new bridge, the Gervais Street Bridge, that is there now, was built in 1927. From 1928 until 1953, the Gervais Street Bridge was the only bridge connecting Columbia to Lexington County across the Congaree River. Today, the bridge is an iconic landmark across the state of South Carolina.

The homes in the New Brookland Mill Village today were built after 1905 because a fire that started on the evening of March 4, 1905. It destroyed close to 50 buildings, including the Post Office, Brookland Baptist Church, more than 30 homes, a dozen  businesses, and other structures.

But the people of the community were resilient and Brookland rebuilt itself. West Columbia has grown from a settlement that changed its name from New Brookland to West Columbia in 1938. 

Since, West Columbia has continued to grow and present-day it is a highly-desirable location. The city, which has not lost its charm, is a thriving business district, as well as being a center for restaurants and hospitality venues.

In West Columbia, you can hear live music, nightly, and dine at restaurants offering all types of foods, and enjoy the best that microbrews have to offer.