GREENVILLE – It was an historic day in Greenville on Aug. 3, 1795 in the area about a block west of the Traffic Circle. History buffs already know what that day signifies, but for many of us the relevance of that day has been lost. That day would forever link General Anthony Wayne and the Native American tribes present that day to our community. That day is why Greenville is now known as the Treaty City.
The Treaty put an end to the Northwest Ohio Indian War and more or less made Greenville the Gateway to the West long before St. Louis grabbed that title.
In recognition of the 225th anniversary of the signing, the Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and the City of Greenville restored the stockades at the Greenville City Park. The stockades gave a nod to this area’s history and the location Fort GreeneVille. Due to COVID and a demand for construction materials, the project took longer than anticipated and was completed this past summer – a year after the 225th anniversary.
The stockades were built in the early 1940s around the same time the lagoon, small arch foot bridge, Girl Scout lodge and the swinging bridge were built. All evidence indicates the stockades were part of the generosity of Fred Coppock, founder of American Aggregates.
Many years ago, the area of the stockades and the fort walls were used as program areas during the Greenville Treaty City Camporee. Boy Scouts from Ohio and other parts of the Midwest met on a weekend in May during odd numbered years at Greenville City Park to commemorate the Treaty. The Miami Valley Council sponsored the weekend, which attracted more than 1,000 Scouts.
The restoration was a group effort from the following – Coppock Hole Foundation, Harry D. Stephens Memorial Trust, City of Greenville and the Greenville Street Department, Fort GreeneVille Daughters of the American Revolution, Friends of the Greenville City Parks and Project Manager Tom Lucas, Dan Myers from Myers Excavating and Construction, and Mike Wise from Lasting Legacy Memorials.
Pictures of the renovation are currently available to view in the window of the Welcome Center, 421 S. Broadway, Greenville, Ohio 45331.