July 21
In 1989, Greenfield officials announced Greenfield Senior Center would merge into the Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department. Parks superintendent Clark Ketchum, part of the announcement in the center at 19 W. North St., said it was possible a combination senior center-community building would someday take shape near the Riley Park shelter house.
July 22
In 1916, “Hoosier Poet” and Greenfield native James Whitcomb Riley suffered a stroke, his second in a month, and died.
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In 1970, Hancock County’s Mark Draper died in Vietnam.
July 23
In 1927, fire destroyed Shirley Christian Church and a nearby home where the fire began. A new brick church building was dedicated in March 1928.
In 1996, Greenfield’s Jaycie Phelps and other members of the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. women’s gymnastics team won the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta.
July 24
In 1916, James Whitcomb Riley’s body lay in state at the Indiana Statehouse; during those 10 hours, more than 35,000 filed past.
July 25
In 1966, Green Meadows Shopping Plaza won zoning approval from the Greenfield Board of Zoning Appeals.
July 26
In 1963, former missionary Helen Hammer showed movies from Haiti to the Missionary Society of Brown’s Chapel Church. Hammer, of Greenfield, had returned home after many years of missionary work in Haiti.
July 27
In 1899, Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan spoke in Greenfield. He later lost to William McKinley. Twenty years later, his visit was remembered as one of the largest gatherings in Greenfield up to that time.
