Reminiscing 2022

Reminiscing a History

Record

The Greenville Business Men’s Association began meeting in 1944. First on the agenda was to vote to take on the responsibilities of the 7-man post-war planning committee permanently, which eventually would lead them to purchase the Camp Reynolds site from the federal government.

Since they were going to take on the post-war planning, they voted to also take on the responsibilities of a Chamber of Commerce. Dues were set and committees established.

Among those committees was Industrial and Retail. The Camp Reynolds purchase, as well as other property purchases, was led by the Industrial Committee. It would take nearly three years for the committee to achieve their goal of purchasing Camp Reynolds from the War Assets Administration. As the purchase progressed, three individuals fronted no-interest loans to aid in the purchase. They were paid back a year later. In addition, the committee secured a pre-paid three year rental agreement from Westinghouse. A permanent GBMA committee was formed in 1950 to oversee and manage the assets of Camp Reynolds. To aid in this, a manager was hired in 1951.

The Retail Committee busied itself with cooperative promotions including advertising, Christmas decorations and shopping hours. In October 1946, the board voted to support a “Hallo’ween Celebration,” which included a parade.

While these were the main concerns of the directors, they also involved themselves with recreation, education, housing, transportation, and veteran’s affairs.

In 1945, several directors under the Aviation Committee were instrumental in seeking government funding for the Greenville airport. In 1946, the Recreation Committee was active in the repurposing of the USO Building as well as other initiatives in Riverside Park. Lastly in 1946, the chamber worked with council to “secure a community tree in Central Park.” Santa’s first “landing” in Greenville was in 1947 – he arrived via helicopter in Packard Park.

At the end of 1947, December 8 to be exact, the incorporators met. It was at this meeting, which followed the regular board meeting, that the details of incorporation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were read. While the group discussed changing the name to Chamber of Commerce in 1948, the name change would take another 26 years before becoming official in 1974.

Phil Godfrey Ford has sold cars in Greenville for more than half a century now, and here’s owner Phil Godfrey, in the early days.

Phil Godfrey Ford in Greenville celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Pictured here are some of the mechanics from the early years.

As Phil Godfrey Ford celebrates its 50th anniversary, members of the Greenville business gather for a photo in early 2022.

Reminiscing

Paying for parking is a thing of the past in Greenville. Here, officials from the Borough of Greenville install parking meters in 1938.

Large crowds gather at the Mercer County Courthouse, at the dedication of the current structure in 1911.

Mercer County’s courthouse is one of the finest in the state, but it’s also the county’s third courthouse. These portraits provided by Mercer County Historical Society show (from left) the first courthouse, which was finished in 1809 and was destroyed by fire in 1866; the second courthouse, which was finished in 1868 and destroyed by fire in 1907; and the current courthouse, which was finished in 1911 and continues to stand.

Crowds gather on the courthouse lawn in July 2022 as the Mercer Community Band celebrates its 45th anniversary.

Reminiscing

Greenville cheerleaders perform in 2017

Greenville High School Cheerleaders build a pyramid in 1988.

Reminiscing a History Project 2022

Record Argus

This photo from Greenville’s Centennial Celebration in 1938 shows a float from the Greenville Businessmen’s Association, while the other photo is of the community’s 175th anniversary parade in 2013.

Reminiscing

Members of Greenville Borough Council take part in a parade celebrating the community’s 175th anniversary in 2013.

Greenville officials hold up an American flag during the community’s centennial celebration in 1938.

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LOUTZENHISER

Three Generations Proud LOUTZENHISER

Three Generations Proud

As a family owned and operated business since 1930, we have a strong sense of who we are and our direction for the future. Founded by John R. Loutzenhiser, the first location was at 340 Main Street in Greenville (where Arby’s is currently located).

John’s son, Jack G. Loutzenhiser and Arthur J. Jordan formed a partnership and built a new funeral home at 366368 S. Main Street. The modern facility became the home of Loutzenhiser-Jordan Colonial Funeral Home and was operated by Jack and Art until the unfortunate passing of Art in 1992 and Jack in 1997.

The funeral home today, Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral

Home and Cremation Services, Inc. continues to grow under the direction of Jack’s son, third generation funeral director and President, Cris H. Loutzenhiser. As the business has grown, that same quality of service has been extended to the nearby Jamestown community and surrounding areas with the purchase of the former Randall Funeral Home in 2016.

Families who are grieving a loss continue to call upon Loutzenhiser Funeral Homes as they have for decades because they know they will be treated as family. Our professional and caring staff will continue to be committed to providing the highest level of service to our families and the communities we serve for many years to come.

Loutzenhiser-Randall Funeral Home

416 Liberty St, Jamestown, PA 16134 Phone: (724) 932-5335

1930-1977 Loutsenhiser Funeral Home

Main Street Greenville (Arby’s current location)

Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.

366 S Main St, Greenville, PA 16125 Phone: (724) 588-5800

Then state Sen. Bob Robbins (center) meets with Greenville area students after they served as pages in Harrisburg in 2013.

Pictured are Kyle O’Malley, Kiernan Coburn, Elise Rickert and Michael Eppley, all eighthgraders, accompanied by chaperone parents John O’Malley and Jane Coburn

Greenville students take a photo with then state Rep. Bob Robbins (far right) after serving in Harrisburg as pages in 1988.

Pictured (from left) are advisor Jane Gilson, Ruby Beil, Brenda Hoffman and Eve Crognale.

Reminiscing a History Project 2022

Local workers through the Works Progress Administration build the original amphitheater in Greenville’s Riverside Park in the 1930s.

Jamie Scott, Cheryl Fleet and Loretta Arnold work to fill cracks in the mortar of the Plimpton Graul Amphitheater in Riverside Park, as part of Revamp the Amp in 2019.

Crews work to build an enclosure over the stage at the Plimpton Graul Amphitheater in Greenville’s Riverside Park in 2020.

Juvenile Characteristics plays the revamped Plimtpon Graul Amphitheater in 2019, before the stage got an enclosure the following year.

Reminiscing a History Project 2022

The cars may not look that different, but one photo is of the Greenville Heritage Days Super Cruise on Greenville’s Main Street in 2015, while the other is of Greenville’s Main Street about three-quarters of a century earlier.

Reminiscing

Greenville’s Central Park FOUNTAIN

Pieces of the original fountain in Greenville’s Central Park are lifted into place during construction in the 1960s.

Greenville’s Central Park fountain, replaced earlier this year through the Pennies For Our Fountain project through the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce’s marketing committee, displays patriotic colors shortly after Patriot’s Day 2022.

Community members gather around the new fountain in Greenville’s Central Park following a ribbon cutting Aug. 29, 2022.

After the first fountain was removed, and before the new one was installed in 2022, local kids play in 2011 in the water of what was in place in between. Pictured are Liam Richardson, Jazmyne Richardson and Trista Verhagen.

This illustration from Greenville Area Historical Society shows the fountain.

Crews work on the new fountain in Greenville’s Central Park in April 2022.

Graduates of the former Hempfield Consolidated School take the stage in 1938, while graduates of Greenville High School celebrate 75 years later in 2013. (pictured right)

Reminiscing a History Project 2022

Record

Reminiscing a History Project 2022 ISSUE I A Record Argus Publication

Greenville’s post office and Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ are such timeless buildings, without the motor vehicles in the photos, it might be hard to tell they were taken in 1938 and not 2022.

Construction takes place on Greenville High School in 1957 in one photo, while crews work on the expansion of what was Hempfield Elementary and became Greenville Elementary School in 2017.

Reminiscing

Pictured are Greenville police officers from the community’s centennial year in 1938, while in the other photo current Lt. Jim Hellman and former Lt. Paul Molton help a local youngster try on their gear at the Heritage Days Super Cruise in 2017.

Reminiscing a History

This postcard, dated 1909, is Louisa Avenue in Greenville looking north towards Shenango Street. While the trees no longer line the street, two of the main structures remain. The former Baird Funeral Home on the left and the current Hamilton Insurance Agency in the iconic stone structure on the right.

Reminiscing a History Project

Reminiscing

MAKING

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