Overbrook's History
The neighborhood of Overbrook began with the expansion of the Greenville trolley line. The
trolley line was extended in 1910 to its new terminus on the outskirts of the city, an area that
became known as Overbrook. In 1913, a group of businessmen responded to the expansion
of the city by recognizing a need for middle class housing. These businessmen, known as
the Overbrook Land Company, were organized by the Woodside brothers of Greenville. The
Woodsides gained their fortune from the Woodside Cotton Mill, at one point the largest textile
plant in the world. John T. Woodside, the oldest of the brothers, was the most involved with
the development of the area. In 1913, the brothers purchased land on the eastern edge of
Greenville from Asa A. Green for $7,500. In September of that year, the area was surveyed
and subdivided by architect H. Olin Jones. Two years later, a portion of the land was sold to
R.J. Rowley, a farmer. Rowley is believed to be the developer of the first section of Overbrook;
this area is dominated by Craftsman Bungalow homes, a popular style during that era.
Rowley sold land to the Workman and Leigh real estate firm which then sold to individual
purchasers. Homeowners where predominately white collar professionals.
R.E. Dalton surveyed another portion of Overbrook in 1917, and by 1922, Overbrook Circle
had been subdivided. By 1924, the neighborhood was fully developed by Franklin Smith for
"well-off" businessmen and professionals; therefore both lots and homes were larger.
The neighborhood of Overbrook was one of the first suburbs of Greenville and attracted many
people with its easy access by trolley. The popularity of the "Toonerville Trolley", as it was
called, continued despite the switch to bus transportation around 1928.
trolley line was extended in 1910 to its new terminus on the outskirts of the city, an area that
became known as Overbrook. In 1913, a group of businessmen responded to the expansion
of the city by recognizing a need for middle class housing. These businessmen, known as
the Overbrook Land Company, were organized by the Woodside brothers of Greenville. The
Woodsides gained their fortune from the Woodside Cotton Mill, at one point the largest textile
plant in the world. John T. Woodside, the oldest of the brothers, was the most involved with
the development of the area. In 1913, the brothers purchased land on the eastern edge of
Greenville from Asa A. Green for $7,500. In September of that year, the area was surveyed
and subdivided by architect H. Olin Jones. Two years later, a portion of the land was sold to
R.J. Rowley, a farmer. Rowley is believed to be the developer of the first section of Overbrook;
this area is dominated by Craftsman Bungalow homes, a popular style during that era.
Rowley sold land to the Workman and Leigh real estate firm which then sold to individual
purchasers. Homeowners where predominately white collar professionals.
R.E. Dalton surveyed another portion of Overbrook in 1917, and by 1922, Overbrook Circle
had been subdivided. By 1924, the neighborhood was fully developed by Franklin Smith for
"well-off" businessmen and professionals; therefore both lots and homes were larger.
The neighborhood of Overbrook was one of the first suburbs of Greenville and attracted many
people with its easy access by trolley. The popularity of the "Toonerville Trolley", as it was
called, continued despite the switch to bus transportation around 1928.
| Connecting Neighbors ~ Strengthening Community ~ Protecting Families |
This website is managed by Strategic Web Concepts, LLC.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |