I have searched for this good man's grave before with no luck. The man was Robert Washington Greenwell, Captain of the East Baton Rouge Militia, was a Partisan Ranger for Louisiana, namesake of Greenwell Springs Louisiana and Greenwell Springs Road and owner of the property that contained ten spring heads. The springs became the site of a mineral spring water resort in the mid 1800s.
The water from each spring head had different mineral properties due to the different depth.
People from Baton Rouge and other places would come to the site, behind the later 1920s Tuberculosis Hospital, for their health.
The resort offered a hotel, cabins, and a dance pavilion.
Brigadier General John Caleb Breckinridge rested up in the hotel from there March from camp Moore. The hotel was destroyed by fire during the Civil War. Eventually the spring head was widened too much and the springs lost there siphon power.
I respect Mr. Greenwell for his service to his community (parish & state).
There needs to be a historical plaque at the cemetery where he is buried - 'Odom Cemetery' Wax Road near Greenwell Spring Road.
[After reading viewer comment I now believe that I must have found RW Greenwell Jr. and not the father who is renown man.]
1 comment:
Robert (RW) Greenwell is buried in a small (Old) cemetery on Denham Rd at Greenwell Springs Rd (near the Old Greenwell Springs Hospital). His wife is buried next to him, and his son is buried in a small cemetery just across Greenwell Springs Rd on the opposite side of Denham Rd.
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