History of the Greenley Memorial Research Center

Ms. Hortense Greenley

The Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Center, Novelty, MO has had a long history of agriculture production that dates back to the late 1830's prior to its dedication to research and extension outreach. The greater part of the land was entered and settled by David W. Major and Peter Testman in 1838. They accumulated more than twelve hundred acres which was sold to Lewis Wright in 1864. He owned, developed, and operated the farm until 1892 when he sold it to his son-in-law and daughter, William L. Caldwell and Addie (Wright) Caldwell. The farm was the home of the Caldwells from 1892 to 1901 when it was sold to a Chicago investor, I. H. Norris. In 1909, Lee Greenley Sr. bought 926 acres from I. H. Norris and 240 acres were sold to neighbors to the west by Mr. Greenley.

The ownership and development was attributed to Lewis Wright and Lee Greenley, Jr. as the primary developers of the land during their lifetimes. Little is known of Lewis Wright. Lewis Wright moved to Novelty from Maryland in 1851. The renovated foursquare house that was a local landmark then as it is today was built about 1870. Old newspaper sections have reported that Lewis Wright had five-foot bluestem and over 2,000 head of cattle in 1890. From 1909 to 1918, Lee Greenley, Sr. operated the farm and employed several tenants. Lee Greenley, Jr. and Grace L (Caldwell) Greenley came to the farm in 1918 as a newly married couple. They lived on the farm for the remainder of their lives. During the Great Depression, the farm was foreclosed in two different parcels by loan companies. However, the Lee, Jr. family never moved from the farm. Lee Jr. purchased 187 acres in 1936 and the remaining 500 acres in 1943. An additional small acreage was added from a neighbor making the farm a total of 700 acres.

Personal ownership of the farm created added incentives to Lee Jr., Grace, and Hortense Greenley. In addition to row crop production and forages, new projects were initiated with the construction of fences, outbuildings, and the rebuilding of the soil using conservation practices. Several ponds were dug, wells drilled, and a private road built from the south highway. Lee Jr. became known for the quality of cattle he produced and marketed as a result of good feeding practices. Lee Jr. invested in additional lands in the vicinity and bought out heirs in his father's estate. Because of the inability to find satisfactory renters, the shortage of laborers, and his failing health–Lee Jr. began selling land. The "home place", the current site of the Greenley Research Center, was never considered to go up for sale. As the sole owner of the farm with the deaths of Lee, Jr. and Grace in 1965 and 1968, Hortense Greenley dedicated this land to her parents' memories. The Greenley Research Center became part of Missouri's comprehensive out-state research program in 1969, and was dedicated on October 6, 1974. Since then the center has been devoted to the mission of practical agriculture research.

In addition to agriculture research, there are several sites available at the center to walk through time and for extension/outreach programs. The house that was built around 1870 was restored by Miss Greenley between 1992-97. The house contains a room dedicated to the history of the Greenley farm and the Research Center, offices for the faculty at the center, and overnight rooms for visitors or researchers. The barn on site was rebuilt by Miss Greenley in 2000 as a lasting reminder of rural America and houses a corn crib and horse stall that was preserved from the original barn. One of the major highlights is the annual field day that highlights current research at the center. The center also has a meeting facility for over 20 years that serves as a site for several outreach/education programs and planning meetings.