Ever wondered where some of Greenville’s street names originate? Laurens Road, Perry Avenue + Markley Street, are all named after some pretty historical figures.
To make sure your knowledge of these Upstate street names isn’t as jumbled as your GPS device’s pronunciation of them (Oh really, Siri? You’re leading me to Petite-grow Street?), we’ve put together a quick guide to what’s in a street name.
Pettigru St., Broadus Ave., Manly St., and Whitsett St. are all named after professors who taught at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (which began in 1858 under the leadership of James Petigru Boyce).
One reader told us: “Manly... after my great-great-grandfather, who was president of Furman University. Most of the streets were named for professors or presidents of Furman University because Furman University used to be where University Square is now so most of them lived nearby.”
Townes St. was named after Alexander Sloan Townes (the president of Greenville’s Woman’s College from 1878 to 1894).
Wade Hampton Boulevard was named after Wade Hampton III, a confederate military officer during the Civil War. Hampton was also elected as the 77th Governor of South Carolina (from 1876 to 1879), and later served as a U.S. Senator. He was born in Charleston and died in Columbia.
Perry Avenue was named after Benjamin Franklin Perry (born in the Upstate) who was the 72nd Governor of South Carolina, and was the editor of the Greenville Mountaineer in 1832. Perry died in Greenville in 1886, and is buried at the cemetery at Christ Church. Gov. Perry also had a pretty baller house in Sans Souci. It eventually became GVL’s first country club.
Poinsett Highway: Poinsett is a pretty common name around here, and that’s because Joel Roberts Poinsett once called Greenville home (hence why we have bridges, streets, and statues named after him). Poinsett was a member of the S.C. legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, was the first United States Minister to Mexico, the Secretary of War, and a co-founder for what would eventually become the Smithsonian Institution. You can also thank him for your Christmas poinsettias (he brought them back from his time in Mexico).
Markley St., Gower, Sirrine St. + Sirrine Stadium were all named after some prominent GVL manufacturers. In 1835, Ebenezer Gower (whom Gower Estates is named after), owned a carriage + wagon manufacturing biz on the Reedy River just above the falls. Eventually, Gower sold his share to his partner, Henry C. Markley, who realized the need for automobiles. Markley hired J.E. Sirrine (for whom Greenville High’s stadium is named after) to sell the business + buildings in 1914.
Cleveland Street + Cleveland Park: The Cleveland family donated 122 acres of land along the Reedy River, creating Cleveland Park in 1928.
Beattie Place: Named after the Beattie family who built the Beattie House (now on Bennett Street, once stood on East North St.). Fountain Fox Beattie (whose father was John Edgeworth Beattie, the former president of the First National Bank of Greenville) was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 1905.
McDaniel Avenue: James McDaniel served under his father-in-law, Col. William Austin, during the War of 1812. He was elected sheriff of Greenville County in 1830 + later served as Clerk of Court. He acquired about 3,000 acres of land between Mauldin and Greenville during his lifetime.
Stone Avenue was named after Dr. Charles Benjamin Stone and his wife, Eugenia Ann Earle, who lived in Greenville from 1840 to 1886. Their property covered much of the land from Main Street to East North Street, Rutherford Road + Wade Hampton Blvd.
McAlister Square was named after Charles Stuart McAlister who owned farmland on both sides of Highway 291 (Pleasantburg Drive). Thanks to a reader for letting us know.
The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, oil on canvas by John Trumbull, completed in 1820; in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C. Col. John Laurens is depicted among the American officers on the right (second from right, standing), and Col. Alexander Hamilton is depicted to his right (third from right, standing). | Photo from Britannica.com
Laurens Road: Many believe Laurens Road was named after John Laurens, a lieutenant colonel under General George Washington during the American Revolution. Laurens was an abolitionist and suffered four different wounds in battle. He was just 27 when he died.
Batesville Road was named after William Bates, who moved to Greenville from Rhode Island and founded the Batesville Mill in 1833. You’ve probably seen the William Bates House on Highway 14.
Alston Street is believed to have been named after Lemuel Alston, a U.S. Representative. After the Revolutionary War, Alston moved to a town that eventually became known as the city of Greenville.
Quiz
Find the answer to the quiz in the Wrap section of today’s newsletter.
