Columbian Paul Redfern and his plane, the Port of Brunswick, left Sea Island, Georgia, to fly nonstop to Brazil 82 years ago. The plane and Redfern disappeared somewhere in South America and were never heard from again. The Redfern story has been well documented in many publications, including The Columbia Star, but a new exhibit at the Richland County Public […]

Boykin, South Carolina, formerly a small farming community at the northeastern end of the COWASEE Basin, a few miles south of Camden, has “reinvented itself” as they say. Starting in the early 1980s the “broom lady,” Susan Simpson, moved her enterprise from Hagood to an old restored settler’s house, now listed on the National Register, in Boykin right off Highway […]

A long lost Civil War bridge has been discovered. While clearing some newly purchased property along the Broad River in Columbia, David Brinkman, the owner, discovered evidence of an old bridge abutment. He searched the river for clues and thinks he may have pinpointed the location where Confederates burned the bridge to thwart General Sherman’s attempt to cross into Columbia […]

Editor’s Note: The Columbia Star published this book promotion November 11, 2005. The movie “Public Enemies” about Melvin Purvis search for John Dillinger is currently playing. The Vendetta is available on Amazon.com. In 1934, SC native Melvin Purvis was the most famous man in America, second only to FDR. Although only 31 years old, he had just completed a remarkable […]

Roll call Columbia City Council convened around 9 am Wednesday, July 15, on the third floor of City Hall for its regular meeting. Mayor Bob Coble and Councilman E.W. Cromartie were absent. Council members present were Tameika Isaac Devine, Kirkman Finlay III (acting as mayor), Sam Davis, Daniel Rickenmann, and Belinda Gergel. City favorite The city’s July 2009 Employee of […]