Neighbors who once called Little Texas home gathered at Bon Secours Wellness Arena earlier Saturday for their annual reunion. Families and friends, both new and old, gathered to recall old stories, share a meal, and honor the neighborhood’s historical marker outside the arena. “A lot of family blood run through Little Texas,” said Phillip Chapman, who was involved in the reunion’s planning. Little Texas was an African American community, located just a few blocks from Downtown Greenville. The neighborhood started as a few dozen families in the early 1870s, but quickly grew not only in number, but in the overall impact on those who lived in the community. In the late 1960s, homes in the neighborhood were bought and razed to then build the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The arena erected a historical marker for Little Texas in front of the Furman entrance back in 2017. “We may not have the land, we may not have established ground rights, but they could not break up our community, and every year we pay heritage to our community,” said Tony Mims, one of the reunion’s organizers.Members of the community said they are thankful for Bon Secours Wellness Arena’s contributions to the reunion, and it is evident that their neighborhood is truly made up of people and not houses.“Little Texas is no longer a community, but our people haven’t found that out yet,” said Mims.
Neighbors who once called Little Texas home gathered at Bon Secours Wellness Arena earlier Saturday for their annual reunion.
Families and friends, both new and old, gathered to recall old stories, share a meal, and honor the neighborhood’s historical marker outside the arena.
“A lot of family blood run through Little Texas,” said Phillip Chapman, who was involved in the reunion’s planning.
Little Texas was an African American community, located just a few blocks from Downtown Greenville. The neighborhood started as a few dozen families in the early 1870s, but quickly grew not only in number, but in the overall impact on those who lived in the community.
In the late 1960s, homes in the neighborhood were bought and razed to then build the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The arena erected a historical marker for Little Texas in front of the Furman entrance back in 2017.
“We may not have the land, we may not have established ground rights, but they could not break up our community, and every year we pay heritage to our community,” said Tony Mims, one of the reunion’s organizers.
Members of the community said they are thankful for Bon Secours Wellness Arena’s contributions to the reunion, and it is evident that their neighborhood is truly made up of people and not houses.
“Little Texas is no longer a community, but our people haven’t found that out yet,” said Mims.
