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1541 Hernando De Soto of Spain discovers the Mississippi River and explores parts of what are now Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana. De Soto died of fever and was buried in the Mississippi River. 1682 De La Salle claims the Louisiana Territory for France, naming it for Louis XIV, King of France. 1763 As part of the Peace of Paris, France compensates Spain by giving up the Louisiana country west of the Mississippi. New Orleans is given by Louis XV to Charles III of Spain in a secret treaty. 1800 Napoleon Bonaparte persuades Spain to cede Louisiana back to France in the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso. 1803 The United States raises its flag over the City of New Orleans and begins taking control of the entire Louisiana territory, which it had recently purchased from France for less than 3 cents per acre. This bold expansionist move sets the newly independent U.S. on a course to becoming a major nation and a world superpower. 1812 Louisiana is admited into the United States as a slave state. Louisiana state law allows freedmen of color to serve in the state militia. The Louisiana Territory is renamed the Missouri Territory by U.S. Congress. Early pioneers and settlers1850's Robert W. Greenwell purchases the land on which Greenwell Springs is now located and soon begins developing it into a rural resort built around 10 medicinal springs on the property. Even though the springs were in close proximity, each was said to have quite different mineral properties, indicating the various springs came from different levels beneath the earth. 1861 February South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, which have all declared their withdrawal (secession) from the United States, organize a separate and independent government called the Confederate States of America (CSA). Jefferson Davis of Mississippi is elected president and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, vice president. 1862 Confederate general John Breckinridge, a former vice president of the United States, uses the Greenwell Springs Hotel and grounds as a military staging area prior to the Battle of Baton Rouge in August 1862. After the battle, wounded troops were brought to the hotel, which was converted into a hospital. Both Confederate and Union troops were buried on the grounds in unmarked graves. 1863 July 9 Port Hudson, Louisiana, the last Confederate fort on the Mississippi Rivers, surrenders to Union forces. During the Civil War, Captain Robert W. Greenwell served as commander of the East Baton Rouge Guards, Company F, 3rd Louisiana Cavalry C.S.A. (also known as the 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment, Partisan Rangers; 9th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion, Partisan Rangers or Wingfield's Cavalry). See: Roster History Captain Greenwell's grave is located today in a small cemetery just west of the intersection of Greenwell Springs Road and Denham Road. His son, private P.B. Greenwell, participated in the Battle of Port Hudson and was buried shortly after the battle at a cemetery on Greenwell Springs Road near its intersection with Stoney Point Burch Road. 1865 After the Civil War, the Greenwell Springs Hotel and most of the houses at the resort village of Greenwell Springs are torn down. During the war, most of Baton Rouge was destroyed by Union shelling and the residents reportedly used the lumber from their homes in Greenwell Springs to help rebuild their homes in Baton Rouge. 1868 June 25 The States of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are readmitted to the United States. The 20th Century1910 A new Greenwell Springs Hotel is built on the site of the former resort village at Greenwell Springs. A new, utilitarian springhouse was constructed at the same time. Not long afterward, the springs stopped flowing. It seems the mouths of the springs were opened too widely, causing the water pressure to drop. The hotel quickly lost its appeal and soon closed. 1920 After years sitting idle for almost a decade, the Greenwell Springs Hotel burns down. Later the property was acquired by the State of Louisiana to serve as a tuberculosis hospital and then as a mental institution. Untended during the ensuing years, the springs once again began to flow. 1938-39 J.A. Smith is brought in to serve as principal of Central High School. Housing was so scarce that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board operated a building called the "teachery," which was a sort of dormitory for teachers who had no other place to live. It was located where the Masonic Hall is today: across Sullivan Road for Central Middle School. The Smith family lived in the teachery for several years. Smith was principal of Central High well into the 1960s. The 21st Century2001 Legislation is passed granting BREC the use of the entire grounds where Greenwell Springs Hospital is located for use as a public park. While there are no plans to close the hospital, the grounds outside the existing fence of the hospital include the historic sites where the springs and old hotel were once located. BREC later drafted a plan for building a park on the site, but that plan has sat dormant for several years. Founding of the City of Central2005 April Despite opposition from the East Baton Rouge Parish government and a number of the community's own residents, supporters of Central's incorporation win an April 2005 vote establishing the City of Central. Former Central High School principal Shelton 'Mac' Watts becomes temporary mayor until formal elections are held in 2006. 2006 April Mac Watts is elected the first mayor of the City of Central with 86% of the vote. 2006 November The voters of Louisiana pass a new constitutional amendment authorizing the creation of the Central Community School District, which allows the people of Central to govern their own public school system. 2007 January 9 Governor of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco appointes interim members of the new Central Community School Board. Members are Morris L. Anderson, Sharon Watts Browning, Willard M. Easley, Ruby W. Foil, James W. "Jim" Gardner, Wilfred M. "Marty" Guilbeau Jr. and Russell M. Starns. 2007 July 1 The new Central school system begins operation under the leadership of superintendent Mike Faulk. Dilapidated school buildings and an increase in student registrations are major concerns. 2008 May 5 The Central Community School Board votes unanimously to call for a school tax and bond election on Saturday July 19 to build a new $98 million educational compex designed to replace all of the city's current aging schools. This move upsets some local residents who had been assured that no new taxes would be necessary to finance the new school system. 2008 July 19 Voters in Central vote no to two new taxes that would have been used to build a new 120-acre school complex. Both the sales tax and bond propositions were defeated by wide margins. Central school officials are forced to deal with the continuing problems of overcrowded schools and rapid population growth. Members, please feel free to add additional dates and information. |
My Great-great grandfather was Robert W. Greenwell and I have been searching for information on where he was buried for months now. My mother passed away in 1989 and unfortunately, I did not listen when she talked about family history and the details. Now, I am regretting this because I am trying to fill in the blanks on her side of the family tree. I know his wife's name was Margaret, but do not know her maiden name, their date of marriage and deaths and where she is buried. I also learned from your information that P. B. Greenwell was his son, so thank you for that information.
If you have anymore information that you can share with me, it would be very much appreciated.
Dear Veronica:
I accidentally stumbled upon the grave of Robert W. Greenwell several years ago.
It is located today in a small cemetery on the north side of Denham Road just before its intersection with Greenwell Springs Road. The best way to get there is to travel north on Greenwell Springs Road and take a left on Denham Road. The cemetery will be about 200 yards on your right-hand side.
Captain Greenwell's son, private P.B. Greenwell, participated in the Battle of Port Hudson and was buried shortly after the battle at another small cemetery on the east side of Greenwell Springs Road, just north of its intersection with Stoney Point Burch Road.
Good Luck. Hope you are able to find them.
Your great, great grandmother is Margaret P. Smith, born 25 November 1822 in Louisiana; died 4 October 1897 in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana and buried in Odom Cemetery, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.
We have genealogy on the Greenwells dating back to Thomas Greenwell 1455 from Lanchester, England if you are interested.
Hi Doris. My 85 year old father has been working on the family tree for the last 20 years or so. I know our line landed in Maryland and worked their way through Kentucky - from there some went west, my side went from southern Indiana to Michigan. Knew of Greenwell Springs, but did not know if it was same or splinter from central US.
Is there a way my Dad can compare notes? Thanks.
1764 - Great Britain took control of British West Florida — an area north of the Isle of Orleans between the Mississippi River on the west and the Appalachicola River on the east. The British crown appointed a Governor, and the people, including those in present-day Central, elected an Assembly. It was the first democratically-elected government in what is now the State of Louisiana. British West Florida included the area we now call the Florida Parishes of Louisiana. Meanwhile, Spain took control of Louisiana. The boundaries between Spanish Louisiana and British West Florida were the Mississippi River, Bayou Manchac, the Amite River, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Ponchartrain.
1776- At the time of the American Revolution, there were actually 15 British colonies in what we now call the United States. The 14th and 15th colonies were British West Florida and British East Florida. However, these two colonies were too far removed from the original 13 colonies and too sparsely populated to participate in the early days of the Revolution.
1779 - Americans living in West Florida and Spanish forces in New Orleans attacked British Fort Richmond in Baton Rouge. 300 Hessian mercenary soldiers were killed. British West Florida became Spanish West Florida. Two separate Spanish colonies, each with their own governor and civil administration existed in what is now Louisiana — Louisiana and West Florida.
1803 - When Louisiana was transferred from Spain to France to the United States, Spanish West Florida was unaffected. The people of West Florida, including the few people living in Central, were subjects of the Spanish crown. At least one structure from those days, a log cabin currently owned by Dr. Nunnally, survives. It is located on Greenwell Springs Road just south of Wanetiri Lakes.
1810 - The people of Spanish West Florida were dissatisfied with Spanish rule. They petitioned the governor for greater liberties. Representatives of the people met for 59 days in a oak grove at the northwest corner of what is now Hwy. 64 and Hwy. 964 in Zachary. They deliberated on what to do. The governor made it appear that he was willing to negotiate with the people for greater liberty. However, the people learned that he had secretly requested more Spanish troops. They decided to rebel. A large group of patriots met near St. Francisville and rode to Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge on the site of the previous British fort. They infiltrated the fort and attacked early in the morning. There was only one casualty, a popular young Spanish officer. The patriots raised the Bonnie Blue flag over the fort — a blue flag with a single white star.
1810 - In September, the people of West Florida established on independent republic, the Republic of West Florida with its capital at St. Francisville. The people adopted a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution. Fulwar Skipwith was elected governor, and a Congress was elected. Philemon Thomas was commander in chief. The government petitioned President Madison to be admitted as a state or annexed to Mississippi or Louisiana. In December, Madison ignored their petition and sent in U.S. troops. They lowered the Bonnie Blue flag and raised the Stars and Strips in ceremonies in front of The Cabildo, the capital building in St. Francisville. The flag was buried in that spot.
1812 - Louisiana was admitted as a state. The legislature adopted a state constitution. Shortly thereafter, the legislature annexed West Florida, as provided in the act of admission. However, the people of West Florida were not allowed to have representation in the adoption of the constitution and were highly under represented in the legislature after being annexed. This led to continuing friction between the people of the Florida Parishes and the rest of the state.
1861 - When Louisiana seceded and joined the Confederacy, the people of Central supported the Southern cause. Central had no plantations because the soil was not capable of supporting high yields of cotton. There were apparently no slaves in Central and only a handful of free people of color.
This is incredible! You all have put in a great deal of time and effort on all of this Rich history of Central. This should be taught in Central schools. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Great article on Louisiana. Thanks for sharing.
What do you know, not one single
Mention of woody Jenkins being a founding father of central. Thanks woody for publishing distorted truths in your tabloid!
"guest" , Get a life that does not revolve around Woody!!
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