April 13
In 1871, John William “Will” Vawter, longtime illustrator for poet James Whitcomb Riley’s works, was born in Boone County, West Virginia.
April 14
In 1927, the Daily Reporter noted that the Indiana State Highway Commission had begun condemnation proceedings against three landowners for strips of land along Brookville Road (now also known as U.S. 52) for the purpose of reconstruction. The landowners and officials had been unable to agree upon purchase prices for the land, and the proceedings called for third-party appraisals to help settle the matter.
April 15
In 1850, Greenfield’s council met for the first time.
In 1957, court-appointed viewers filed a report with the Hancock County clerk stating that the cost estimate for a proposed drainage project to relieve flooding in Weston Village, on the southwest side of Greenfield, would be $79,148.
April 16
In 1974, construction began on the original Doe Creek Middle School at 2279 S. County Road 600W. The school later moved to 5613 W. County Road 200S, then returned to 2279 S. County Road 600W in 2018 and was renamed New Palestine Junior High School.
In 1987, city leaders began taking photos of Greenfield water and sewer employees for photo IDs, two days after three men in uniforms told an elderly woman they were there to check on a water problem. They were posing as city employees but appeared to be trying to burglarize the home. Similar incidents took place in Indianapolis.
April 17
In 1917, Brazilla Trail, a former slave in his eighties living near Shirley, died. Born in North Carolina, he had bought his freedom and come to the area. “He increased his holdings until at the time of his death he owned one of the best farms in his district,” according to the April 21, 1917, edition of the Daily Reporter.
In 1917, the Daily Reporter published a letter from Earl and Gertrude Davis, who had newly arrived in South Africa to work as missionaries. Gertrude Davis wrote the letter to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Oldham, noting she had so far learned about 115 words of the local language, was growing tomatoes and roasting ears and other produce in her garden, and had learned that in some seasons the local residents had to stay home from church services to shoo the monkeys from their crop fields.
April 18
In 1976, Riley Park was the site of an Easter sunrise service sponsored by Christian Youth Fellowship and Greenfield Parks and Recreation. Charles Wright directed the Greenfield Community Choir in song. Dr. Paul Kitley, pastor of Greenfield Christian Church, was the speaker for the service. These days First Presbyterian Church has its sunrise service at the park each year, weather permitting.
April 19
In 1964, Shirley Young’s husband found her semi-conscious on the ground after a bolt of lightning apparently struck close to her or the tip of her umbrella. She revived soon, however. Paul Young and his pregnant wife had returned to their home in Westland and were carrying their children into the house when the bolt struck.
