Effort to Save Greenville’s World War I History Seeks 9-Month Development Halt
Greenville, South Carolina
There are few places in Greenville County that have played a more significant role in world history than the Mountain Creek area at the foot of Paris Mountain. Camp Sevier played a crucial role in training soldiers who went on to help win World War I. But time and rapid development in the area are threatening that legacy. A group of local residents are advocating for a development moratorium likely to be considered by Greenville County Council in the coming months.
The Historical Significance of Camp Sevier
The former U.S. Army training camp, covering about 1,900 acres, was built in 1917. Young men from the Carolinas and Tennessee formed the 30th “Old Hickory” Division, which subsequently gained widespread recognition for its success in combat in Europe. The camp’s historical significance and the need to preserve its legacy were the subject of a presentation at Greenville County Council’s monthly public comment forum.
Local historian and author, Don Koonce, emphasized the importance of Camp Sevier, stating, “Camp Sevier is so incredibly important to the Greenville story. The memories are all still there. We need to all be proud of that.”
Threats to Camp Sevier’s Legacy
Only a handful of the camp’s original structures remain, and much of the land has been developed over the years, including the property that became the Pebble Creek community. Ongoing development pressures are now threatening efforts to preserve the camp’s story, according to Brenda Buchik, a member of the Camp Sevier Legacy Park Committee.
Buchik expressed concerns about the prime development property in Taylors that falls on Camp Sevier property. She stated, “Identifying a park site is going to take a while, and hopefully there will be some land left when we’re done.”
Call for Development Moratorium
The Camp Sevier Legacy Park Committee is backing a proposal for a development moratorium in the Mountain Creek area to secure time needed to identify a park site. The committee argued that a moratorium will provide the necessary time to develop an overlay district for the area, which could provide safeguards for the types of development in the region.
A nine-month moratorium measure was introduced to County Council by Steve Shaw, whose District 20 includes the Mountain Creek area. The plan was referred to the council’s planning and development committee for refinement. The matter is expected to be taken up by the full council in the coming months.
Camp Sevier Fast Facts
- Construction of Camp Sevier began in July 1917.
- The camp trained soldiers from the Carolinas and Tennessee to form the U.S. Army’s 30th “Old Hickory” Division.
- Eugenia Duke, the inventor and founder of Duke’s Mayonnaise, got her entrepreneurial start serving the camp’s soldiers.
As efforts to preserve Camp Sevier’s legacy continue, the development moratorium proposal stands as a crucial step in protecting this significant piece of Greenville’s history for future generations.