Aug. 1
In 1917, high temperatures from the day before continued — and were believed responsible for bulging and rising in patches of the brick pavement on North State Street. Near the curb, some bricks were 12 to 18 inches above grade.
Aug. 2
In 2002, J.B. Stephens was honored at the dedication ceremony for the new J.B. Stephens Elementary School named in his honor. The longtime educator and retired local school superintendent visited the school for special occasions in the years that followed, presenting character awards named for him and attending belated celebrations of his birthday (Dec. 24) there. The last one he attended was for his 99th. A celebration of his 100th birthday was videotaped and sent to him as a get-well greeting. Stephens died in May 2008 at the age of 100.
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Aug. 3
In 1987, a bricklayer working on a new Hancock County Jail was shocked when a piece of metal reinforcement came into contact with an electrical line. He survived. The explosion left some East Main Street businesses without power.
Aug. 4
In 1985, ground was broken to expand the former Ecoff Trucking building to become the new site for Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library. It moved from 115 N. Main St. to 625 E. Broadway St. eight months later.
Aug. 5
In 2016, former Hancock County resident Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell signed with the National Basketball Association’s Brooklyn Nets.
Aug. 6
In 1958, Buck Creek Township’s Delores Sparks was chosen as the first Hancock County 4-H Fair Queen. The 16-year-old was a junior at Mt. Comfort High School.
In 2008, Covance and Eli Lilly and Co. announced Covance was buying the 94-year-old Lilly plant in Greenfield with an up-front payment of $50 million.
Aug. 7
During a storm, lightning struck the steeple of a United Brethren church at Swope and Lincoln streets in Greenfield, destroying the steeple and bringing water damage to the church. Lightning also struck a barn in Philadelphia and started a fire that consumed it.
