JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY.COM

The 150th birthday celebration of James Whitcomb Riley was held in 1999.  It was held on the 2d weekend in October at Greenfield, Indiana.  Except for lots of rain, folks had a wonderful time.

 This is always Central Indiana's biggest weekend extravaganza and attracts several thousands of people to the poet's hometown every year with many activities. 

The picture at left is from one event. The children of the schools annually parade to the statue of Riley on the Hancock County Courthouse square and place bouquets of homegrown flowers there in commemoration of America's "Children's Poet."

 For details of events or to get a booth for next year, find out about the entertainment, enter a poem in the poetry contest, put a craft into the competition, enter a high school band in the parade, etc .  contact the Riley Festival Committee.  Click here for Riley Fest. Info

Holly Beth Stanley's "Candids" from a wet Riley Days 1999: Street scene on Main Street Greenfield, Indiana where Riley banners fly, elephant ear wagons such as the white one abound and the streets are filled with the festival-goers. From Hoosier poetry reading to almost round the clock gospel and other singing entertainments, Greenfield celebrates its poet and itself on this occasion. Greenfield's historic "gas boom" Masonic Building is at upper right.The Riley queen and Greenfield's illustrious mayor, Patricia Elmore (in the white collared blue dress),  place flowers on the Riley statue.  The Hoosier State is noted among the states of the union in honoring a poet as its "great one" rather than a president or great military commander or industrialist.Children arrive with white bag fulls of flowers to be placed on Riley statue.  This year the "Riley children" were transported from the schools on school buses since a great storm gave only a brief respite for the Riley statue flower ceremony.---------Thanks Holly Beth for the photos.  By the way, you can guess can't you the season in which Holly Beth Stanley was born?  (Clue: the Beth stands for Bethlehem.) 

QUEEN AND COURT

1999 Riley Festival Queen Jordan Ray

Left to Right: Miss Congeniality - Kara Hufferd;  Court: Megan Wilson; Princess - Christa Scott;  Queen - Jordan Ray;  Court - Kimberly Chisler;  Court - Michelle Weirich.

The women at the above right invite you to tour the James Whitcomb Riley birthplace in Greenfield, Indiana.  They will show you where Riley lived as a child. The Riley birthplace will however close for the season on Nov. 14th. Until then the hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. except on Sunday when the hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Hostesses for 1999 are (right to left) Lois Rentsch, Frieda Pettijohn, Pat Miller, Rose Huffman, Trese Fargo, LuJean Arthur, Joan Ream, and Irene Shireman.  (Phyllis Arthur was not present when this photo was taken.)

RILEY CHILDREN'S THEATER KIDS

                   SOuth Bend, Indiana's James Whitcomb Riley High School nears completion.

The beautiful new high school
pictured at left is nearing the
end of construction.  The brick
is pretty much on, the 4th 
floor is painted, and the greenhouse of the science dept. and atrium are taking shape between the academic and athletic areas.  Wow! I hope someone sends us a pic from South Bend IN when this great monument to the "Hoosier Poet" is completed.

MUSICAL CONCERTS AT RILEY'S TOMB 
AT CROWN HILL CEMETERY, INDIANAPOLIS

RILEY OLD HOME SOCIETY RELEASES PHOTOS OF FIRST VISITORS TO THE JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY BIRTHPLACE IN GREENFIELD, INDIANA.  Any relatives out there who knew these people?

Upper left is Ms. Vera Ginn the 10,000th visitor who was also the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of of Indiana, Order of the Eastern Star who visited on Feb. 12, 1939.  Right photo is of Mr. and Mrs. Guy M. Hochenhull of Clovis, New Mexico who were the first persons to visit the Riley Birthplace home when it opened as a National Shrine on May 18, 1937.  On the lower left is Miss Janet Grove receiving an honorary membership in the Riley Old Home Society.  She was the 7,000th visitor.  If you are still living please let us know here at jameswhitcombriley.com.  We would like to see what you look like now.

RILEY HOME GARDENS "MANICURED"

     The herb garden has recently been retouched by the Hancock County Herb Society and is now adorned with many old fashioned herbs from he middle 1800's.  Each herb is individually labeled. The garden has been whimsically titled as "The Best of Thyme."  

Recently the Society was featured in the Greenfield (IN) Daily Reporter with the following article: