Follow the rails and roads
Military history Some of Hunt County’ s most compelling stories involve military figures. In Commerce, a marker at 1501 Monroe St. commemorates the birthplace of Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault. Chennault became the organizer and commander of the famed Flying Tigers, the American Volunteer Group that fought Japanese forces in China during World War II. Heading north, the Audie Murphy trail offers another series of stops. A marker recognizing Murphy’ s birthplace is located on U. S. 69 near Kingston, while another Audie Murphy marker is at U. S. 69 and Kingston Street in Celeste.
The people who built Greenville
8. Kavanaugh Methodist Church 2516 Park St. The marker highlights the church ' s brickwork, raised temple-front design and approximately 50 art-glass windows.
9. Germany House 3403 Lee St. Built in 1886 for Greenville merchant and civic leader Joseph P. Germany, the house is noted for its Second Empire architecture.
10. Douglass School 1301 Morse St. A Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, the former school represents an important chapter in Greenville ' s African American educational history.
11. Phillips Field / Majors Stadium 2010 Jordan St. The marker recalls the Greenville athletic facility and the Greenville Majors, who played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees.
12. Central National Road U. S. 69 at FM 2194, near Kellogg The road was surveyed and established by the Republic of Texas in 1844, connecting the Trinity River and Red River.
13. Claire L. Chennault Birthplace 1501 Monroe St., Commerce The marker commemorates the Commerce birthplace of Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault, organizer and commander of the Flying Tigers.
14. Audie Murphy Birthplace U. S. 69 near Kingston One of the Hunt County markers recognizing the birthplace of Audie Murphy, the county ' s most famous military figure.
15. Audie Murphy Marker U. S. 69 at Kingston Street, Celeste A second marker recognizing Murphy and his Hunt County connection.
16. Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum 600 Interstate 30 Frontage Road, Greenville The museum offers exhibits devoted to Murphy and the region ' s military and agricultural history. explains how Hunt County was created in 1846 and how Greenville became the county seat on land donated by Tennessee surveyor McQuinney Howell Wright.
The two markers offer a quick lesson in both the beginnings of the community and the changes that came as Greenville grew.
Follow the rails and roads
Transportation history is another recurring theme. At the old MKT“ Katy” Depot at 3102 Lee St., the Greenville’ s First Railroad marker recalls the arrival of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas train on Oct. 1, 1880. It marked the beginning of railroad service in Hunt County. For another transportation story, head north toward Kellogg. About six miles north of Greenville on U. S. 69 at FM 2194 is the Central National Road marker. The road was surveyed and established by the Republic of Texas in 1844 and ran from the Trinity River to the Red River.
Today’ s travelers are following a route that has been part of the region’ s transportation story for nearly two centuries.
Military history Some of Hunt County’ s most compelling stories involve military figures. In Commerce, a marker at 1501 Monroe St. commemorates the birthplace of Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault. Chennault became the organizer and commander of the famed Flying Tigers, the American Volunteer Group that fought Japanese forces in China during World War II. Heading north, the Audie Murphy trail offers another series of stops. A marker recognizing Murphy’ s birthplace is located on U. S. 69 near Kingston, while another Audie Murphy marker is at U. S. 69 and Kingston Street in Celeste.
The former Greenville Post Office adds another local connection because Murphy enlisted there.
For a deeper look, the Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum at 600 Interstate 30 Frontage Road includes exhibits devoted to Murphy and the region’ s military and agricultural history.
The markers don’ t tell the whole Murphy story, but they connect several places across the county and give visitors a reason to follow the trail.
The people who built Greenville
Not every marker is about a famous military figure or major event. Some tell the stories of the people and institutions that helped build the community. The Germany House at 3403 Lee St. was built in 1886 for Greenville merchant and civic leader Joseph P. Germany. The house features a distinctive Second Empire design, including a mansard roof and tower.
Germany also helped establish Burleson College, served on the city council and worked with the city’ s electric plant.
The Douglass School at 1301 Morse St., recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, represents an important chapter in Greenville’ s African American educational history.
Other markers, including those associated with the Law Enforcement Memorial and Texas Divided project, show that Greenville’ s historical landscape extends beyond the official state-marker program.
Together, they offer a broader picture of the people who lived, worked, worshipped and raised families here.
26 GREENVILLE LIFE