April 3
In 1974, a tornado ripped open Stringtown Church of the Nazarene. Members met at the Seventh Day Adventist church in Greenfield while rebuilding their house of worship.
April 4
In 1913, the Milner’s Corner Citizens Band was organized in Green Township by more than a dozen young men in Green Township.
In 1997, Cynthia’s Hallmark began a grand opening celebration for its new site in the former Kroger building at 1584 N. State St. The move made the store, which had moved to the site in February, one of the larger Hallmark stores in the country.
April 5
In 1910, a Big Four passenger train killed a freight brakeman waiting to flag it down.
April 6
In 1971, the Greenfield plan commission approved a request to build 34 two-family dwellings north of McKenzie Road. At an earlier meeting area residents had presented a petition urging plan commission members to deny the request.
In 1994, New Palestine Town Council approved on first reading annexation requests for acreage on both sides of Gem Road (County Road 500W), north of the railroad tracks. Plans for 257 houses there would nearly double the number of homes within town limits.
April 7
In 1915, Richard Black of Greenfield died of tuberculosis. The artist, 26, had sold a couple of pictures to the French government and had two on exhibit in the Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis.
In 1957, the first service of Faith Lutheran Church drew 125 people to space rented from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Greenfield.
In 1977, Hancock County Auditor Maynard Brown confirmed he had been contacted by representatives of a corporation seeking permission to build a horse track. Several counties were approached about such projects under Indiana’s new pari-mutuel betting law.
April 8
In 1909, one Greenfield mail carrier chose to make his runs along muddy roads by motorcycle. It seemed to work well and was noted that on the ride back, it reached a speed of 45 miles per hour. Several other carriers considered buying motorcycles to use on their routes.
In 1978, organizers of an Elvis memorabilia sale at New Palestine Lions Club sought to raise money for an Elvis Memorial Concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, site of the singer’s last concert in June 1977.
April 9
In 1879, the first Greenfield High School commencement took place at the Masonic Hall.
In 1889, Lodge 215 of the Fraternal Order of Knights of Pythias was established in New Palestine with 25 charter members.
