Selected
Article:
Small
town of Boyle moving forward
Town
often mixed in with Cleveland’s success, but stands
on its own
By Alisa Kirk
When
you ask people about Boyle, Mississippi, and what’s
going on in the community located just three miles south
of Cleveland, most people think that there’s just
not much happening. However, this small Bolivar County community
is having a major growth spurt. With new businesses popping
up along the highway and old businesses expanding, Boyle
is definitely defying the odds.
Like most towns, the coming of the railroad in 1884 marked
the beginning of the Boyle community. It all began with
a small hardwood sawmill that was established in 1872 by
L.V. Boyle & Co., in the wilderness of the Mississippi
Delta. As this business developed and the community grew,
Boyle was named for its founder, and established as a town
in 1905. This flourishing community of approximately a thousand
people is situated at the corner of the main line and Peavine
branch of the Y. & M. V. Railroad, and the intersection
of U.S. Highway 61 and Miss. Highway 446. Those who live
in Boyle today remember with gratitude the early pioneers
upon whose foundations they build, and appreciate their
neighbors and friends, who by their kindly deeds and spirits
make this town truly a “Home Sweet Home.”
“This town, from the mayor on down to the water works
guy, is made up of wholesome people who are easy to talk
to and willing to help,” says Dennis Barfield, part
owner of the new Boyle Lumber Company. “Boyle is growing
and expanding exceedingly fast, and the largest asset that
is attracting businesses is, first of all, the location,”
he says. Boyle has wide open real estate and having highway
frontage is another plus as far as location. Over the past
year this strip has seen a few new businesses, such as a
new Dollar General Store and Powell Golf store.
Boyle Lumber Company opened its doors eight and a half months
ago, and right now sales have exceeded the company’s
expectations. Also, Taylor Air-Conditioning will soon be
relocating from Cleveland to Boyle. The Needle Specialty
Corporation, which was started by Henry Myers in 1988, in
a shop behind his house, has now expanded another ten thousand
square feet into a new building which was built in 1994.
“We started with eight employees and now we’re
up to 130 as of today, and in the next couple of months
we will be adding more,” says Vicki Myers Griffith,
who is part owner of Needle Specialty Corporation, along
with her brothers Jeff and Mark Myers. The company has some
new product lines coming in and they have also added a warehouse
area. However, Gaines Oil is downsizing slightly by selling
their wholesale business to Scott Petroleum.
The businesses in Boyle are not the only thing expanding,
Mayor Joe Wayne Reed says. “We’re planning on
expanding and extending our city limits from the present
demarcation to the Cleveland city limits north along Highway
61 on either side of the road,” he says. Reed adds
that there is going to be a walking track built, similar
to the one in Cleveland, and they are very proud of their
new water system and sewer system. Last year Boyle received
a grant and the South Delta Company began rehabilitating
houses for local families. So far there have been four houses
completed and there are applications in for four to five
more houses this year.
Boyle natives are proud people who see a vision for a bigger
and better town. Thus, in this brief presentation, we see
in Boyle’s origin, growth and development a typical
picture emerging of the compelling influences that are growing
here in Bolivar County. This, coupled with its hospitable
people and hopeful spirits, are what make Boyle a blooming
community.
“Boyle is a thriving town,” says Bern Prewitt
a Bolivar County Supervisor and resident. “The future
looks very good in so many ways for our community and we
invite everyone to give us a visit and see for themselves
what’s taking place.” DBJ
