Mapping of Old Greenville’s future starts with residents

A meeting to discuss the preservation of Greenville’s historic town site was held this week in a church that was relocated piece-by-piece from that site.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will work through the end of July to compile a five-year master plan for the original settlement, which is used now for recreation and camping.

They met Wednesday with residents in Christian Church, now located on Oak Street in the current Greenville.

Russ More and Melvin Boyer review a map Wednesday of the Old Greenville town site. DAR/Donna Farley

“Whatever it is you think we can enhance or improve, now is the time to start voicing your opinions on it,” said park ranger Andrew Jefferson.

The original town was located two miles south of the current town.

Residents relocated in 1941, during the construction of Lake Wappapello.

Becky Hays, a park ranger with the Wappapello Lake project, speaks Wednesday during a public meeting concerning the future of Old Greenville. DAR/Donna Farley

The recreation area now includes more than 100 campsites and Memory Lane, a walking trail along the original sidewalks and streets. Historical markers include information on the original buildings and people of the old town.

Resident Melvin Boyer discussed a tavern that served as a stop-over for travelers heading south, which was located near a ferry station.

“That’s what started Greenville,” he said. “There weren’t any roads across the swamp for them to get Louisiana and Arkansas.”

Susan Elayer of Patterson speaks Wednesday about the future of the Old Greenville town site. DAR/Donna Farley

Those stories are important, said resident Karen Noble, adding, “People think it’s an old town that moved away because of a flood. They don’t realize the significance of it.”

Russ Moore of Piedmont asked for maps of the original road systems, which were built to support the timber industry.

Some, including David Bollinger of Greenville, said reopening the area should be the top priority, no matter what historical displays are planned.

The master plan will be completed with the help of a contractor, Stephen State of Formations, a Portland, Oregon company that works on projects like this.

State asked the residents who they want to target as visitors to the site.

Linda Lunyou of Piedmont suggested the descendents of those first residents would be the target.

Susan Elayer of Patterson said heritage tourism should also be considered.

A representative of Sen. Roy Blunt’s office asked if more input would be gathered as the plan is developed.

Wappapello Lake Project Manager Bart Dearborn explained the Corps will continue to take comments at the main office and through their Facebook page.

The Corps plans to bring proposals back to residents as the plan is developed, said Becky Hays, a park ranger who spoke during the meeting.

This effort will create a living document that will be updated and grow based on the needs of the area, Dearborn said after the meeting.

This process includes only completion of the master plan. It does not include funding at this time for items that may be in the plan.