Greentrees in the Past
Brochure cover used to sell greentrees CIRCA 1970.
Greentrees History
EARLY gREENTREES MARKETING
The most distinguished address in all of Shelby County! Where dreams can be lived for years to come! Close in but far removed from the din of urban Memphis.
Do you long for a home against a background of truly natural beauty? Where you can enjoy the relaxing luxury of spacious quietude? Where gently rolling land stretches invitingly under stately trees?
And while you breathe the clean, sweet air of a well-kept countryside, wouldn’t you like to know that your home is only minutes away from your work in the city?
Wouldn’t you like to know that your pride of ownership is secured for life because you built your home in a neighborhood that will remain exclusively residential through the years ahead?
If these are the things you want for your dream home, then bring your dream with you to Greentrees, the most distinguished fine home setting in all of Shelby County.
There’s little doubt that as you drive through Greentrees, you’ll discover the one spot in this world that nature created to be the perfect site for your home.
Greentrees Photos
Explore our Google Photo Albums! You may find a picture of yourself! Contribute photos at greentreescivicassn@gmail.com! We especially welcome photos from Greentrees' early days.
- Annual Meeting 2022 https://photos.app.goo.gl/fBJvyBhTLfHLH3pNA
- National Night Out 2022 https://photos.app.goo.gl/MtFGStAkFJcbhfh4A
- 2022 Mount Moriah Precinct School Supply Drive https://photos.app.goo.gl/8KqzSW4hP6d6YMV18
- July 4, 2022, Celebration: https://photos.app.goo.gl/veyNjj4cEqP7TtsZ9
- Holmes Park Cleanup 2022: https://photos.app.goo.gl/byByRUFJGmjqXEqp7
- Snowmaggedon 2021; https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ukzi7KvfbEZxVPam8
- 2021 Paving: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3eMagEtcKkByFUBy5
- 2017 Visit from Santa: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oDB3XtYfRg9QW1F02
- 2016 Visit from Santa: https://goo.gl/photos/oJtPqKLWoBbcMRtS9
- July 4, 2016, Celebration: https://goo.gl/photos/XU3wiSJcVNnrkzzY8
- Labor Day 2015 Celebration: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LXWzDivHgsAjM27n7
- 2014 Historic House Move: https://goo.gl/photos/gFC2QGYUrMjv7KZ29
- 2009 Fall Fest: https://photos.app.goo.gl/G6H3apkq8beiZ5LJ6
- 2007 Greentrees Garden Tour: https://goo.gl/photos/4wnS91ENrfa1FSYN7
- Home sale ads from the 1970s: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WqWCgYjMXfCekFQv8
- Visit by Muddy's Treat Truck: https://photos.app.goo.gl/aMzZmi7k2h3g4d89A
- July 4, 2023 Celebration: https://photos.app.goo.gl/u6evenWGUSBZ2oDt5
- National Night Out, 2023: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jHJvb795hLUtHkv38
- 2024 Annual Meeting: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YxK53iUWysBrqgED7
- July 4, 2024, Celebration: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qZg1sJHo9xNbcRgeA
- National Night Out, 2024: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ku4NAt3JxNenMuhx6
Greentrees Milestones
1827
Frances Wright built Nashoba Plantation as an experiment intended to prepare slaves for freedom. The 2,000-acre site included what are now Shelby Farms and Germantown and Kirby roads.
1930s
The Poplar Pike Improvement Association was begun by civic leaders from White Station through Collierville who were concerned about future development on Poplar Pike and Poplar and any negative effect on the character of the area.
1941
Elizabeth Messick Houk and Nancy Messick sold the tract to George Ryland Scott.
1966
George R. Scott and wife Cleo M. Scott sold the 146.5-acre tract to Tanglewood, Inc. (Hall Jones Development company and Kemmons Wilson).
1972
On June 17, 1972, Tanglewood Inc.. adopted a plan of development for Greentrees. According to an interview with Hall Jones Jr., the goal was to develop a high-class, premier development on the property since the company always tried to build exceptional properties. "We named it Greentrees because it had lots of trees, which we intended to keep as we built.” Greentrees, at its completion, comprised 559 homes.
Mid 1970s
The Greentrees Civic Association was formed in the mid 1970s to represent the newly developed subdivision. One of its early presidents was Juvenile Court Judge Kenneth Turner, one of the "pioneer" homeowners in the neighborhood. In its early days, the Association had only five officers.
Greentrees Facts
- In the early years, a Greentrees Ball was held at what was then the Adams Mark Hotel.
- Jerry Lee Lewis (or one of his ex-wives) lived off Old Lake Pike.
- Jim Barksdale (founder of Netscape/now AOL) lived on Hickory Crest.
- Developer Hall Jones Jr. lived on Paper Birch.
- Country singers, Blackwood Brothers & Charley McClain parked their tour buses behind their Kirby Parkway houses.
- Kirby Parkway was first a two-lane road that ended at Messick on south and at Poplar Pike on north.
- An aerial view of the neighborhood will reveal a guitar-shaped pool in the backyard!