The town of Klipplaat was once thriving with an important railway junction between Port Elizabeth and Graaff-Reinet; including a link to Oudtshoorn via Willowmore.
Charles Lee saw the opportunity and established a trading store on the road. This eventually developed into a small community that he named Leetown, which was the present Scheeper Street, with a number of stores, accommodation, and churches.
The establishment of Leetown was placed under jurisdiction of the local board in 1949. Up until then, it operated as a separate division of the village of Klipplaat.
The first 50 erven were measured and sold in 1906, leaving erven available for a Police Station, Post Office, and Churches.
Farming and the railways were the two most important functions of the continual existence of Klipplaat. Without these it would have disappeared long ago as Waterford has.
The first train to arrive at Klipplaat Station was on 3 February 1879. The construction of the railway line from Port Elizabeth commenced on 9 January 1872 - with completion to Graaff-Reinet on 26 August 1879.
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