McPherson Park (Greenville, South Carolina) facts for kids
McPherson Park is a really old and important city park in Greenville, South Carolina. It's the oldest park there! Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it's recognized as a place with a lot of history.
Contents
The History of McPherson Park
How the Park Started
In June 1884, a kind lady named Caroline Cleveland Choice gave 2.6 acres of her land. She was the widow of William Choice, a well-known lawyer. The city of Greenville then bought 5.7 more acres of forest. This is how they created the park. At first, they only built a bandstand for music. Not much else was added until the early 1900s.
Growing and Changing Over Time
In 1911, William Choice Cleveland, a businessman and former mayor, gave even more land. This land included an old leather-making factory site. The park was first called "City Park." It grew to be 32 acres big! But later, when Academy Street was built, the park became smaller, about 12.5 acres.
For a short time in 1915, the park was used by the U.S. Army as Camp Blythe. During World War I, it even had an office for signing up new soldiers. There was also temporary housing for them.
A Hub for Community Fun
By the 1920s, McPherson Park was a very important place for people in Greenville. Many groups used it for fun events. There were Sunday school picnics and gatherings for people who worked in cotton mills. People also came for concerts, dances, and family reunions.
From 1935 to 1941, the park got a big makeover. This was done by the Works Progress Administration, a government program that created jobs. In 1941, a company called Sears, Roebuck and Company gave $7,500. This money helped build a stone shelter in the park.
That same year, the city council renamed the park. They named it after John Alexander McPherson. He was a city engineer who helped develop many parks in Greenville.
Modern Changes and Features
In the 1950s, a small train for children ran through the park. But in the 1970s, as the city grew, the train was removed. A pond and a baseball field were also taken out. The park lost about 20 acres because of new roads and other city uses.
From 1982 to 1985, the park was improved again. They added new plants and better lighting. The old bandstand from 1912 was also fixed up.
In 2016, McPherson Park had many things for people to enjoy. There were paths for walking and playgrounds for kids. You could find picnic tables and shelters. There was also a miniature golf course and lighted tennis courts. A small stream with bridges ran through the park. The Sears Shelter hosted dances and community events. There was even a log cabin that used to be a shop for handmade crafts.
