Signing a contract in 1954 for the building of an education wing at Greenfield Christian Church are (front row, from left): Martin Hayes, co-chairman of the building committee; E.B. Johnson, contractor; trustee Lawrence Wickard. Second row: Trustee Horace Edwards, the Rev. C.T. Herod; trustees John McClain and Carl Bennett. Not pictured is trustee Homer H. Carr.
File photo
Oct. 18
In 1934, Greenfield City Council discussed the city buying poet James Whitcomb Riley’s boyhood home.
Oct. 19
In 1965, Greenfield-Central school trustees voted to appropriate $198,000 to buy 77 acres south of McKenzie Road and between Franklin and Broadway streets. They bought the land from Mary Moore for a new high school, with plans to remodel the previous high school on North Street for use as an elementary school. The target date for completion of both projects was Sept. 1, 1967.
Oct. 20
In 1917, two airplanes from a training field near Columbus, Ohio, passed over Greenfield around 12:30 p.m. en route to Indianapolis. They and other aircraft were being sent to drop literature about the Liberty Loan program. People were gathered in streets and alleys after 11 a.m., when word came the planes had passed over Knightstown.
Oct. 21
In 1974, Mt. Comfort United Methodist Church had its first service in a new building after a May 1972 tornado had shifted the frame of the previous church building off its foundation.
In 1985, Hancock County Council endorsed plans for a new 60-cell jail with basement. In 2022, the sheriff’s department and inmates moved into a new jail a few miles east of the city.
Oct. 22
In 1857, the Walpole Post Office was opened. In 1866, it would become Fortville Post Office.
Oct. 23
In 1997, Greenfield City Council voted to annex 160 acres at the northwest corner of New Road and Fortville Pike.
Oct. 24
In 1924, former Greenfield Mayor Frank Larrabee died. His many roles over the years included principal of Greenfield High School, county superintend of schools, and Greenfield mayor — but health concerns drove him to resign after serving one year.
In 1954, Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) broke ground for a new education unit. It was expected to cost $41,500.
In 1986, Greenfield City Council voted 4-3 against rezoning 12 acres near West McKenzie Road and North State Street from planned business to unit development. Proponents of McKenzie Plaza said they would regroup in the effort to build the McKenzie Plaza shopping center, which eventually did open with a Marsh supermarket as its major tenant. The Marsh closed in May 2017.
