Albert P. Greensfelder Papers
Finding Aid by Tyler Nowell
July 2005
INTRODUCTION TO THE COLLECTION
Albert Preston Greensfelder was born on July 6, 1879 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Washington University and graduated in 1901. He was married to Blanche Younker. After completing his schooling he was employed as a construction engineer by the Kansas Interburban Railway. He moved back to St. Louis about a year later to take a job with the Terminal Railroad Association. Greensfelder then moved on and worked for the Fruin-Colnon Company starting in 1906. The contracting company employed him from then on. He worked as a secretary at the beginning and in 1927 he was promoted to President. Albert Greensfelder would later act as board chairman in 1940 and he retired in 1949. He still consulted with the company until his death.
While working Albert Greensfelder was also involved in many organizations. He was a major developer of parks and playgrounds here in St. Louis and around the country. He helped setup and was active in groups such as the Creve Coeur Memorial Park Board of Trustees, St. Louis County Planning Commission, and the University City Planning Commission. Greensfelder also helped build up the state forest system and areas such as the Rockwoods Reservation and the Washington State Park. Many other projects had a helping hand from Albert Greensfelder such as the Daniel Boone Memorial Forest, Meramec Watershed Association, and the Conservation Center in Allenton, Missouri.
Albert Greensfelder was always giving back to the community. He helped setup a group called Experience, Inc., which helped up and coming businessmen plan and achieve what their goals in the professional world. He was also a member and held important positions in many groups. Greensfelder was named a honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a one time President of the Associated General Contractors of America, the Vice-Chairman of the Missouri Conservation Commission, director of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company, director of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Society of Engineering Contractors, and headed a committee for the Metropolitan Plan Commission of St. Louis.
While doing all this he still had a pet project that took precedence later in his life. The project was called the Mississippi River Parkway or the Great River Road. It was envisioned by Greensfelder and encompassed a road which was to span the entire Mississippi River, from the beginning drops of water at Lake Itasca to the mouth of the mighty river at the Gulf of Mexico. To achieve this goal of his the Mississippi River Parkway Planning Commission was formed. The mission of the commission was to develop plans for the Great River Road. Developing, constructing, and promoting the road is still the main focus of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission today. The first meeting about the Great River Road was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 29, 1937.
The meeting consisted of representatives from all the states bordering the Mississippi River. Albert Greensfelder was elected Pilot, or leader, of the commission and held the position until his death. All of the states were heavily involved with the parkway. Many passed acts dealing with the Mississippi River Parkway. Just as the commission was gaining steam World War II broke out and Congress put the idea on the back burner. After war ended pressure again was on Congress to appropriate money for the Great River Road.
In 1949, $250,000 was provided to survey a possible route for the road. By late 1951 there was a plan for the highway and it was well received. This led to more money being set aside for the parkway when the 1954 Federal Highway Act was passed. Eventually, the plans were extended to include Canada in the road’s route. Greensfelder continually kept the project afloat with his hard work. Then on April 17, 1955 at the age of 75 Albert Greensfelder died of a heart ailment at the local Barnes Hospital. Albert Greensfelder was active until his death by being a member of the St. Louis County Park Board, County Park and Recreation Advisory Committee, and still working on the parkway. When he passed away H.W. Trevillion took over as Pilot for a short time and then Charles H. Young took over until 1960. His successor was J. Lester White. Now the members elect the Pilot each year.
People can now travel through the United States using the 3,000 miles of the Great River Road, which runs on both sides of the Mississippi River from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The road runs through Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Parts of the road have been designated National Scenic Byway status. These areas include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Arkansas with the goal of the commission being that every state receives this status. The Mississippi River Parkway Commission’s headquarters is now located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They also have a website at http://www.mississippiriverinfo.com.
Albert Greensfelder was great for the community of St. Louis and the rest of the United States. His tireless work, on the Mississippi River Parkway and other projects and effort throughout his life can be seen here in his papers. He was involved in so much and truly did his best to make the world a better place.
Information obtained from this collection must be properly cited, whether used in publication or in other formats. A citation suggested for this collection is:
National Park Service
Gateway Arch National Park Archives
Albert P. Greensfelder Collection
Box __, Folder __
Researchers are advised that before records, photographs, and any other unpublished materials from this collection can be published or exhibited, permission from the National Park Service must be obtained in writing.
