Mt. Vernon’s head coach Tom Kirby, Greenfield-Central’s Russell Wiley, Eastern Hancock’s Cody Hibbert and New Palestine’s Chris Story gather before the May 5 county boys golf meet at Hawk’s Tail. The land to create the course, previously known as Greenfield Country Club, was bought in July 1927.
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.
July 28
In 1927, readers learned that Greenfield native Edwin Pope Thayer was listed in the 1926-27 edition of “Who’s Who in the Nation’s Capital.” Thayer had been chosen secretary of the U.S. Senate in December 1925.
July 29
In 1927, directors of Greenfield Country Club completed the deal to buy 77 acres east of the city from Mrs. Porter Wiggins for $15,000. Today the course is known as Hawk’s Tail.
In 1997, Regreening Greenfield dedicated a red maple tree and stone marker at Harris Elementary in honor of former Harris student Jaycie Phelps, a member of the women’s gymnastics team that won gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
July 30
In 1855, First Presbyterian Church was organized in Greenfield. The church started the annual Strawberry Festival in downtown Greenfield; proceeds from that and its winter Chili Days went to local charities. The church had its last service July 12, 2020.
July 31
In 1997, the local firefighters association deposited $1,676 into a fund to care for Sparky, the Dalmatian living at Greenfield Fire Department. The money was part of more than $2,200 that poured in over several days, after Sparky’s bout with kidney stones racked up $883 in vet bills and started a discussion at a Greenfield Board of Works meeting. After a story about Sparky ran, the department was flooded with calls and donations. The donations made it possible to pay Sparky’s bills and set up a fund for his care. Sparky, Happy and Pepper, the department’s “fire dogs” over the years, are all buried by the fire station on South Street. These days, firefighters say the growth of the city over the years keeps them too busy to care for a station dog.
Aug. 1
In 1917, high temperatures from the day before continued – and were believed responsible for bulging and raising in patches of the brick pavement on North State Street. Near the curb, some bricks were 12 to 18 inches above grade.
