local history
Greenville ’ s oldest house has
a Christmas tale to tell
WORDS BY TRAVIS HAIRGROVE
For those who enjoy history , hearing relatable stories about people who lived long ago can serve as a gateway to connect with the past on an emotional level . Christmas stories , in particular , can be good for this because of the timeless appeal of the holiday .
An example of this sort of story relates to the oldest still-standing house in Greenville , the Ende- Gaillard House , which was originally built in the 2300 block of Stonewall Street but now sits on the grounds of Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum .
The house was built in 1859 by German immigrant Fred Ende who owned a successful mercantile business in downtown Greenville and was an active civic leader . He lived there with his wife , Emilie Amilia Reinecker , and his daughter , Louise .
GREENVILLE LIFE 28 HOLIDAY 2024