May 23
In 1952, Hancock Circuit Court Judge Samuel J. Offutt heard arguments in the State of Indiana vs. 11,000 cases of tomatoes. The tomatoes belonged to Virgil Etchison, owner of a canning factory in New Palestine. A federal court had declared them unsanitary, and Etchison had been ordered not to ship them out of state. The state later seized them and sought to have them destroyed.
May 24
In 1932, “the greatest crowd ever before assembled in Riley Park” watched Greenfield High School’s baseball team defeat Morton High School, 7-6. The win in this last game of the season prompted speculation, driven by the Tigers’ undefeated record and their wins over prominent teams, that Greenfield was the state baseball champion.
May 25
In 1956, the Presbyterian Men initiated a new stove at First Presbyterian Church by preparing a pancake breakfast. The meal raised money to help a refugee family travel from New York to Greenfield after arriving in the United States from Europe. The family was one of more than 50 brought to Indiana by Church World Service.
May 26
In 1877, Hancock County’s first Women’s Temperance Society formed at Westland Friends Church. At one point it had 400 members. It dissolved in 1914.
In 1929, a Mr. Cummings of Fortville recorded the first hole-in-one at the new Greenfield Country Club, sinking it on the fourth hole. His partner in the game, two caddies and other players were there. His score over nine holes was a 38.
In 1969, the final commencement for Hancock Central High School took place in the gymnasium of the school in Maxwell. Sue Marsh was valedictorian of the 63-member class.
In 1996, racecar driver and Greenfield native Mark Dismore started his first Indianapolis 500 in the middle of the fifth row. He finished 19th.
May 27
In 1956, First Baptist Church of Greenfield dedicated a new building on West Street.
May 28
In 1969, the final commencement for Greenfield High School took place at the school on North Street. Vicki Addison was the last to receive her diploma in the 127-member graduating class. Greenfield and Hancock Central high schools would join at 801 N. Broadway in the fall as Greenfield-Central High School.
May 29
In 1979, Hancock County Commissioners opened bids for a mini-computer to help county employees more quickly complete taxing procedures, bookkeeping and payroll processing. IBM submitted the low bid of $30,950. County Auditor Irene Kramer said the machine would replace a 12-year-old model that had “served its purpose.”
