The purpose of this small volume is to perpetuate the memory of James Whitcomb Riley and to join with the community in commemoration of the life, writings, and most importantly the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Hoosier Poet.

Historians know that any new discovery about the "good old days" changes how we think about the present and our expectations of the future. In addition every change in the current affairs and in the expectations of the future revises our perception of the past. Thus history as modern society knows it is born.

History is a reflection on the past that can never be isolated from current happening and the future. One historian has said that history deals with human life as it flows through 

 James Whitcomb Riley in parade. Click to see full-size picture then strike your Web server's back button or arrow to return to this page.

time. In addition history is not only what happened in the past but it is also the act of selecting analyzing and writing about the past and its institutions.

Over the years historians have argued over the influence of one "great man" shaping a period of history. Nineteenth century romantic philosopher Thomas Carlyle wrote "The history of what man accomplished in this world is at bottom the history of the Great Men who worked here". Others believe leaders do not make history but are products of the times and a reflection of spiritual or material forces that call them forth during perilous times and evoke great leaders.

James Whitcomb Riley was a "great man". He was born on Sunday morning, Oct. 7, 1849 to Reuben A. and Elizabeth Marine Riley on a shady little street in the sleepy little town of Greenfield. Both parents rejoiced over the birth of their second son. According to the Complete Works Of James Whitcomb Riley published by Harper Brothers, "as a reader of his own poems, as a teller of humorous stories, as a mimic, indeed as a finished actor Riley's genius was rare and beyond question". During his lifetime Riley received many recognitions. In 1902 he received an Honorary Master of Arts from Yale University, The Academy of Arts and Letters elected him to membership in 1912 and he was awarded a Gold Medal for his poetry. On Oct. 7, 1911 school children in New York City and Indiana conducted programs in his honor. On his birthday in 1912 Greenfield welcomed him home through a host of children scattering flowers. In 1913 Anderson, Indiana State University, and Cincinnati conducted Riley Days. In 1915 Columbus, Indiana celebrated Riley Days.

The poet's last birthday was celebrated Oct. 7, 1915. The celebration included an afternoon festival of Riley poems set to music and danced in pantomime. The event took place in Indianapolis. In the evening a dinner was hosted by former Vice President Charles Wilson Fairbanks. Guest speakers included Gov. Ralston, Doctor John Finley, Col. George Harvey, Young E. Allison, Wm. Allen White, George Ade, former Senator Beveridge, and Senator Kern. In addition Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane suggested to various school superintendents that one of Riley's poems be read in each schoolhouse. Indiana Gov. George Ralston proclaimed Riley Days state-wide. Later that year Riley spent the winter and spring in Miami. Riley Days was celebrated in Miami during February.

In April, James Whitcomb Riley returned home from Florida. He attended the funeral of boyhood chum Almon Keefer in Greenfield. On July 22, 1916 Mr. Riley passed away.

Meredith Nicholson author and one time editor of the Indianapolis News wrote "by the time of his death James Whitcomb Riley folklore and poetry had come to personally represent America's vision of itself. .On a day in July 1916 thirty five thousand people passed under the dome of the Indiana Capitol to look for the last time at the face of James Whitcomb Riley. The best loved citizen of the Hoosier commonwealth was dead, and laborers and mechanics in their working clothes, professionals and business men, women and a host of children paid their tribute of respect to one who's sole claim upon their interest lay in his power to voice their feelings of happiness and grief in terms within the common understanding..."

Riley's funeral at Lockerbie Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

Joe Skvarenina

Larry Fox

Thomas E.Q. Williams

Greenfield, In.

Oct 7, 1999

The Riley Old Home Society memorializes the life and works of America's Children's Poet, James Whitcomb Riley by preserving and overseeing the legendary home where James Whitcomb Riley was born and reared. This task is undertaken for the benefit of the people of America who know the home from the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley. To many, Riley is America's Children's Poet. Riley's birthplace - its rooms and hallmarks - is the most vivid reminders of the poet. The home brings to life America's best-loved children's poems. In fact one of America's first "best-sellers," Child-World," describes the rooms of Riley's birthplace in great detail. It is unthinkable that America's children will ever forget "Little Orphant Annie," "The Raggedy Man" or the many other poems whose lives unfold in the setting of Greenfield's Riley Home.

And yet there is work to the fact of keeping alive such a memorial. In the case of the Riley legend in Greenfield that mostly has involved volunteers for a period from 1937 k until this date when the next century looms and the 150th birthday of James Whitcomb Riley presents itself. That Greenfield has "kept its purpose" of preserving the Riley Home for America's children is worthy of comment. I have noted from a writing of April 13, 1967 with what anxiety Dorothy June Williams, then hostess of the Riley Home, comments, "The Riley Home is now undergoing its usual rigorous spring cleaning in preparation for the opening date of May 1st. The task of keeping the home presentable is a Herculean one, as the crowds which throng in the rooms, and the dust which flies in from the Main Street traffic combine to present a problem. Ada Spencer and her helper, Florence Prange, have to mop, shake and dust regularly; and they achieve results which make people comment on "clean and homey atmosphere" of the shrine." The gardens outside as well as the other points of interest of the home require much attention. It is truly necessary to have the volunteer help in keeping alive the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley. This work has been a labor of love for so many citizens and even generations of citizens of Greenfield, Indiana.

Riley's boyhood home - birthplace site, Greenfield, Indiana  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

The birthplace of James Whitcomb Riley was in fact not only owned but also built by the poet's father. Reuben Riley had bought the property in 1846 for $274.75, the year after his marriage to Riley's mother, Elizabeth Marine Riley. Here James Whitcomb Riley was born in 1849 in a log cabin whose beams are a part of the current more spacious home. During years when the father was a prominent Greenfield lawyer, the present Italianate structure with its landmark green shutters was built. The property was sold in the aftermath of the Riley family's financial plight after the Civil War. The father sold the home on March 25, 1864 when his poor health made it impossible to practice law successfully any longer.

The poet's boyhood home was reacquired by James Whitcomb Riley himself in the Spring of 1893. Riley intended the property as a summer home for himself and what family he had.

The Riley Home was not simply an acquisition to Riley. He actually lived in his re-acquired Greenfield birthplace during the critical years in which much of his children's poetry was fashioned into the best selling literature of America. There are photos of him at work in the upper east bedroom of the Greenfield home and we are aware that he also wrote poetry in the library room downstairs. The memories and recollections must have flooded back to him of the cubbyhole and press and rafter room and so many other places associated with the property. Yes, we can truly say that James Whitcomb Riley needed his own adult contact with his boyhood home to get back in touch with those events in order to produce America's best loved children's poetry. It is simply not true that Riley's writing of his Child-World or the other famous children's poems can be separated from Riley's own occasional habitation of his boyhood home after he re-acquired it

Sun porch at Riley's Greenfield home, ca. 1910.  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

On one of the occasions while Riley was living at his Greenfield home he was visited by the most important American literary critic, William Dean Howells, who traveled to Greenfield from Boston for an interview. The visit is preserved for us in the pages of the chief Greenfield newspaper of the time, the Hancock Democrat of October 22, 1896. "Last week the writer (William Dean Howells) found the poet critically inspecting the first copy of the new volume (Child World), turning the pages and glancing at them in that peculiar way he has, as if he might expect the printed words to bid him some cheery goodbye before they went out to his innumerable friends over the country. His thumb rested over the frontispiece, the old Riley homestead on the National Road at Greenfield, just as it was in the Child-World - at its loveliest to him, when the caravans of canvas-topped wagons went past the house over the great national highway that led "Away out West."

"It was a great highway to me in those days, " says he, lifting up his eye-glasses for a moment and peering retrospectively out of the window. "To us children it was the highway that led to all the wonderful places on the inhabitable globe. Our childish imagination didn't carry us much further than the reaches of that old road; it was the main artery of the whole living world. Children nowadays - and even the grown folks - know but little of that part that the Old National Road played in making our mighty West. You know it was constructed by the government from Cumberland, Maryland, and in the early days the settlers traversed it overland to "The Illinoy," and the territories still beyond. As late as the days when I was a boy the wagon trains went by, and what wonderful sights they were to us! My father's house faced the road to the south. The artist has the house pictured as it was then."

The opening lines in the volume there describe the old homestead:

Set just one side the center of a small

But very hopeful Indiana town -

The upper-story looking squarely down

Upon the main street and the main highway

Front East to West - historic in its day,

Known as the National Road - old times, all

Who linger yet will happily recall

It was the scheme and the handiwork, as well

As property of "Uncle Sam," and tell

Of its importance, "long and long afore

Railroads wuz every dreamp' of!" Furthermore,

The reminiscent first inhabitants

Will make the old road blossom with romance

Of snowy caravans, in long parade,

Of covered vehicles, of every grade

From ox-cart to most primitive design,

To Conestoga wagons, with their fine

Deep-chested, six-horse teams, in heavy gear,

High hames and chiming bells - to childish ears

And eye entrancing as the glittering train

Of some sun smitten pageant of old Spain.

-----

Beside the wood-house, with broad branches free

Yet close above the roof, an apple- tree

Known as the "Princess Harvest" - Magic phrase!

That was a boy's own tree, in many ways!

Its girth and height went both for the caress

Of his bare legs and his ambitiousness;

And then its apples, humoring his whim,

Seemed just to fairly hurry ripe for him -

Even in June, impetuous as he,

They dropped to meet him, half way up the tree.

And O their bruised sweet faces where they fell! -

And ho! The lips that feigned to "kiss them well!"

This book written by Riley became an instant best seller in America and was the first volume to have Riley's "Bear Story" carried in print. First published for the Christmas season of Dec. 1896, the book sold its printing of 30,000 copies by the next June and later editions multiplied the pace. Riley's Greenfield home was, of course, the site for the book and much of it was written in the very home where its stories and memories were gleaned. Riley's reputation as America's Children's Poet rests upon many of the tales and stories contained in this American classic. Not only are events in the Riley birthplace described but also many details of the home as Riley himself remembered it.

For many years tourists passing through Greenfield remarked as they glanced back over their shoulders, "That must be James Whitcomb Riley's home." Many of them

Stopped to see the house in which the Hoosier poet spent his youth and wrote much of his first best seller before speeding on.

The property was occasionally used by the family and sometimes rented out until the poet's brother John died at which time Riley invited his brother's widow Julia Wilson Riley to live in the home. She did so. Along with her came her sister, the spinster lady known in Greenfield as "Miss Sue."

Riley's sister-in-law Julia or Miss Sue would permit the curious to enter and see the notable places within for a fee of ten cents. She also sold copies of memorable Riley poems, which she kept on a table by the door.

When James Whitcomb Riley died in 1916, visitors began trekking to the Riley birthplace and home in Greenfield. It was obvious that the memory of Riley and his children's poems would long outlive him.

There was talk of Greenfield taking over the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the home from time to time. The clubs and civic organizations of the city were formed into a Greenfield Civic League in the 1920's.. In one of their bulletins during the period is the quote, "Concord has its famous bridge, Boston its Old North Church, Philly its Independence Hall, and Greenfield has within its very limits the homestead of the Hoosier Poet whose verse has pleased and inspired the youth of every Nation"

We return to the events of the 1930's to trace how the Riley Old Home Society came to be.

First of all we remember that the memory of James Whitcomb Riley was still very strong at this time. His association with the Greenfield Riley Home was equally strong.

In 1934 Warner Brothers Studios included the Riley Old Home as well as the Riley statue at the courthouse and the Old Swimmin’ Hole in Riley Park in a film of historical landmarks. Rumors began floating about that Henry Ford was in contact with the heirs to dismantle the home and take it to Greenfield Village at Dearborn Michigan to be reconstructed there aside the home of Thomas A. Edison. Other marks of national attention came from the still strong throngs of people who stopped to look at the home as tourists and Riley admirers.

But of course the home was still occupied by Riley's sister-in-law Julia Wilson Riley as the 1930's began.

The fact was known to many in the town that this situation could not long continue. Julia’s niece Helen Brown Hayes and husband George were now helping care for the aging woman and home. Plans became known that Julia was soon to move to California and an auction sale of the Riley Home's furniture and objects was forthcoming.

It was in this context that the Riley Old Home Society began its existence. The society was the dream of the Greenfield mayor of that time, Arthur Downing, and the society would long continue to be his "brainchild." The Riley Old Home Society officially began with the passage of a resolution by the City of Greenfield dated Dec. 19, 1934. The society's announced purpose was to retain and preserve the James Whitcomb Riley home place for posterity. The first President of the Riley Old Home Society was appointed by Arthur Downing and his name was Z. N.. Smith, the Superintendent of the Greenfield Schools. Other officers were, Frank Gutheir, Vice President, Berna Fort, Secretary, Mrs. Helen Gemmill, Treasurer.

This Resolution was probably the last official act engineered by this remarkable man Arthur Downing. His term as mayor was from 1930 until 1934. The election in the prior month of November had proved to have a bitter result for him. He had lost the general election in a tight race to the Democrat candidate; James Allen. The Riley Old Home Society Resolution however would remain among the Greenfield ordinances governing the administration of the Riley Home to this date. It would also determine Arthur Downing's own personal agenda for the rest of his life.

Arthur Downing enlisted the aid of John Mitchell and the two of them carried out the negotiations whereby the Riley Home would be purchased.

When James ("Jimmy") Allen became mayor on Jan. 1 1935, the question of whether the home would be a museum or not became far more critical. Julia Wilson Riley, the poet's sister in law, who had taken such meticulous care of the home was now on her way to California. The long rumored auction of the Riley furniture and mementos took place later that year. The auction raised $600 for Julia Riley and helped support her in her later years. It appeared the Riley legend would soon end.

Now, the Riley heirs (of which Julia was not one since she was a sister-in-law only) were left with the disposal of the property

There arrived the critical moment when something had to be done. In October 1935, the Riley Old Home Society began a drive for funds to purchase the Riley Home. A membership drive to raise funds set $1.00 for adults and 50 cents for children. The object of the drive was to gain money to buy the home and restore it to its situation when Riley was a boy. Many in the community joined but the effort lagged. We remember that this was a time of depression in the country and many in Hancock County felt the brunt of poor economic conditions. Friends of Riley pitched in to try to raise more funds. In November, Barton Rees Pogue entertained at the Greenfield Lion's Club to spur the membership drive. This was the first year of the Lion's Club charter and members of the Lion's Club were thus among the first supporters of the Riley Home. The funds still lagged behind any possible sum that the heirs would take for the home.

Critical months passed by and still not enough funds could be accumulated by the Riley Old Home Society to purchase the home. The situation grew more dire with the passage of every day. Mary E. Bostwick of The Indianapolis Star, recounts its plight and what would come of its transformation by the Riley Old Home Society:

"The James Whitcomb Riley homestead on Main Street in Greenfield was going slowly to rack and ruin - the paint was peeling off, the plaster was cracking, the yard looked shabby and untended. The citizens of Greenfield decided something should be done about it and they've done plenty. Today the house stands immaculate in white paint and green shutters, each room containing a collection of Americana - none of it dating from later than 1870 - making the interior as nearly as possible the way it was when the Riley's lived there. It is an attraction to tourists, an ornament to the town, and a credit to the James Whitcomb Riley Old Home Society who have turned the home into a shrine.

There were difficulties in the negotiations with the various Riley heirs. If Henry Eitel, Riley's brother-in-law and business advisor had still been alive these negotiations would no doubt have gone much more smoothly. The Riley heirs listened to Henry Eitel who as a banker and financial advisor had firmly directed the matters of the poet's finances.

Unfortunately Henry Eitel died in 1935, and so each of the heirs of Riley had to be contacted and negotiations had to be held with each one. These heirs included the poet's sister Mary R. Payne then living in Chicago, Illinois, the poet's niece, Elizabeth Miesse, and nephew, Edmund H. Eitel.

Eventually there came an agreement whereby the City of Greenfield would take title to the property with the understanding that the Riley Old Home Society would conduct its day-to-day operations and keep the Riley Home open to the public. The deed was signed by the various heirs in July 1936 under the reservation that the City of Greenfield "hold said real estate and the structure thereon as a memorial to the late James Whitcomb Riley and for its historical and sentimental value only" and if this is ever not to be done then the property will revert to the heirs." . The purchase price was Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars. There were also however unpaid property taxes and other expenses of the purchase and the figure of $4,000 is often stated as being what the City paid for the Riley Home.

What was the original organization of the Riley Old Home Society? It was outlined in Arthur Downing's mayoralty resolution days before he left office as mayor. The formal resolution stated in part, "We suggest creation of a Riley Old Home Society as a non-profit organization to finance, own and maintain this beloved spot in a manner befitting the memory of our distinguished Citizen. The 2d section of Article 1, states: "The Society shall be non-political, non-partisan and non-profit." The Board was to include sixteen members elected for four-year terms. No director could be re-elected without a one-year lapse in membership. The sixteen members were to include the Mayor of the city, representatives of the various organizations and businesses of the city.

Riley Day 1967: Right to Left (Front), Edna Jacobs, Mildred Davis, Felicia Hogue, Mrs. Rutle, Mrs. Downing, Dorothy June Williams, Mayor Berry Hurley, Bess New. Right to Left (Rear), Rev. Wright, Walter Worland, and Catherine McCorkle. Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

With only these very nebulous sorts of provisions did the Riley Old Home Society operate and continue to operate until the term of office of Walter Worland as President in the 1960's. Arthur Downing was simply left to organize the Society as he felt appropriate with very few organizational restraints.

The members of the Society were presumed to include all those who made gifts of money for the upkeep of the Home and those who made gifts of furnishings in the period of the Home as well as those who gave of their personal labors and their lasting interest in perpetuating the Home.

The work of restoring the home was left to the Riley Old Home Society whose officers were Arthur C. Downing, President, Mrs. Joseph F. Fort, Secretary, Mrs. Dale B. Morton, and Frank A Guthier, vice-president. Mayor James A. Allen was always closely involved and supportive.

There was an "Interior Restoration Committee" appointed by Arthur Downing from within the Riley Old Home Society that collected the pieces for the museum and placed furniture and effects inside the home. This committee consisted of Mrs. John F. Mitchell, Jr., Mrs. Joseph W. Walker and Mrs. William A. Hough, Chairman. Another committee was the "Garden Landscaping Committee" which restored the Riley yard with Mrs. M.M. Dudding, Chairman, and members Mrs. Newton R. Spencer, Mrs. Helen Gemmill, Mrs. Jesse D. Hughes and Mrs. A.E. Woods.

Rocking chair built by Riley's father, Reuben. A gift to the Riley Old Home Society.  Now a part of the Society's collection in the home.  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

John F. Mitchell, the husband of one member of the Restoration Committee reported on what these ladies did. "The City of Greenfield and the Riley Old Home Society entrusted the difficult tasks of restoration of the interior of the home to a committee of ladies who thoroughly organized themselves for the task before them. Many had been neighbors of the Riley family, which old acquaintanceship materially lessened their problems in the proper restoration of the old home. These ladies spent weeks in research, interviewing old residents who knew the Riley family intimately, and the selection of period pieces, which would express the character of the early '50's…

In the rehabilitation of the Riley dwelling so painstaking has been this work that it is a real home, a livable dwelling as if the Riley family had just stepped out for a day's visit but would return shortly to take up living again. It is most attractive and possibly no other shrine in all of Indiana equals this old home of the beloved poet for old time Hoosier comfort and quaint atmosphere…. We doubt there is a better example in the Middle West than this restored old dwelling of Captain Reuben A. Riley."

The exterior of the Riley Home was also in need of great repair. John F. Mitchell commented on this, saying, "Where a piece of native timber seemed inadequate, new timbers were added. The old ornaments, shutters, gables and like which have been destroyed by time were replaced. In several instances these restored parts were made by hand. All of the old lumber taken from the house has been preserved and the children in the vocational department of the city schools have fashioned it into gavels, picture frames, paper knives, and other novelties to be sold to the visitors."

Officers of the Riley Old Home Society, 1937. From left to right: Former Mayor Arthur Downing, Ms. Joseph (Berna) Fort, Ms. Dale (Elizabeth Frost)  Morton, Mayor James Allen, and Frank Guthier.  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

The Riley Home actually opened to the public May 15, 1937 and was a central focal point of the year 1937 Riley birthday celebration. A great Parade of Flowers began the poet's birthday in that year but the main program occurred after the festivities at the Riley courthouse statue . The festivities continued on at the Riley Home itself. The key to the home was presented by Mayor James L. Allen to Arthur C. Downing. This symbolized the City's turning over the running of the Home to the Riley Old Home Society. Speeches were given by Dr. Herman B. Wells, acting president of Indiana University, Hugh McLandon, Indianapolis, President of the Riley Memorial Foundation and William Bosse of the Indiana State Department of Education. Mary Margaret Myers of Wilkinson recited " Little Orphant Annie." Introduced were Miss Lesley Payne, niece of the poet, Edmund Eitel, nephew, Elizabeth Miesse, niece of the poet. George C. Hitt, publisher of Riley's first book, Marcus Dickey, Riley's first biographer and secretary, William A. Hough, Greenfield relative, George Ade, the author, and Will Vawter, Riley's primary illustrator and Greenfield-born artist.

And still the support for the project grew. Citizens around the state and nation continued to encourage the restoration of the Riley Home. A national organization, the Parent-Teacher Association, promoted the project. Local clubs from all over the United States collected funds and sent them to the Riley Old Home Society to aid in the restoration. The local Kiwanis Club volunteered to erect and paint a board fence around the property. This project was completed in 1939 and remains to this day. Psi Iota Xi furnished one of the bedrooms and provided the solid butternut bed. The Garden Club furnished the kitchen. Tri Kappa furnished and curtained the dining room. Riley possessions began their return to the home.

Many more restoration projects were assumed. Riley's cousin William Hough and his wife Ella were given final say on the furnishing because they of course remembered the home and its contents from the early days of the first ownership of the home by Reuben Riley. William Hough in fact had at one time lived in the home with the Riley's during this early period. The Houghs were assisted by a band of stalwart women Madge Strickland, Hazel Rariden and Marjorie Walker who begged, borrowed and bought back original furnishings.

Among souvenirs of the Riley Home available for purchase in these first years were gavels made out of the old fence. These became great novelties. One of them was used in Washington D.C. in this first year of the operation of the home to gavel the United States Congress into session. Letter openers and picture frames were also sold.

Leah Early was the first hostess and we have a record of the points she emphasized about the home as remembered by an Indianapolis visitor, William Herschell. He reports,

"First to greet you on entering the Riley homestead will be Mrs. Leah Early, native of Greenfield and personable young woman who knows her stuff. Immediately she leads you into the realms of the past. One almost feels the immediate presence of the poet and his favorite heroine, Little Orphant Annie. Yes, and the Raggedy Man must be somewhere about. Of course the Riley homestead cannot possibly be restored, as it was when the family lived there. So many things have been taken away, never to return. Knowing this, the James Whitcomb Riley Old Home Society has successfully sought to make the house possess the atmosphere in which Riley lived as a boy. To this old friends of the poet have contributed many relics of the days following his birth, October 7, 1849. The achievement of this purpose can only be regarded as remarkable. Period furniture and other household equipment have been contributed or lent to make the picture complete.

Mrs. Early, hostess, reveals sentimental interest in it all, but to my mind her heart centers mostly in showing the cubby-hole and press, so graphically described in Riley's poem "Little Orphant Annie."...Mrs. Early shows the cubbyhole and press with such intense interest that I was glad to get away, having an inborn hatred for ghosts. She opens doors that made one feel a ghost might do a loop-the-loop out of them.

Who can forget Little Orphant Annie - her name was Smith - and she worked for the Rileys. According to Jim's poem she used to dust the hearth and sweep, then shoo the chickens off the porch and earn her board and keep.

Well, as Mrs. Early reveals the cubbyhole and press, she seems to enjoy repeating Little Orphant Annie's lines:

Wunst they wuz a little boy would't say his prayers -

An' when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,

His mammy heerd him holler an' his

Daddy heerd him bawl,

An' when they turned th' kivvers down he wuzn't there at all!

An' they seeked him in th' rafter room, th' cubby-hole an' press,

They seeked him in th' chimbly flue an' ever'wheres, I guess,

But all they ever found was thiss his pants an' roundabout -

An' th' Gobble uns'll git you

Ef you don't watch out!

Well, here is Mrs. Early happily displaying all these spooky places so dear to Riley in his old Greenfield home. If you are a skeerdy-cat don't let Mrs. Early pull her Little Orphant Annie stories. You won't sleep that night. Still, you mustn't miss 'em -they're good for a Riley thrill."

In a short time, more hostesses were recruited. These included Flora Grisell, Ada McAdams, Elizabeth Morton, Madge Strickland and Lucille Thomas. All of these ladies considered their work at the Riley Home to be a matter of civic duty.

Leah Early eventually married Arthur Downing and stepped down from her post as the Official Hostess of the Riley Home. She had been a widow many years after her husband, a governor of the Kiwanis Clubs, had died suddenly in 1934. Bess New became the Official Hostess thereafter.

We should not forget that the Riley Home spawned a wonderful book of the youth of James Whitcomb Riley. In 1942, Minnie Belle Mitchell's book, Hoosier Boy, was first published. The boy was of course James Whitcomb Riley, as Ms. Mitchell knew him. Riley's years of boyhood in the Riley Home were recounted very imaginatively and warmly. Generations of Hoosier schoolchildren have read and loved this book. Mrs. Mitchell's book was such a success in the schools of Indiana that she felt compelled to complete another book, James Whitcomb Riley As I Knew Him to be issued for the 1949 Centennial celebration of the poet's birthday.

. World War II caused the Riley Home to be closed between October 1944 to July 1946.

The undaunted citizens of Greenfield reopened the Riley Home following the great national war effort of World War II.The spirit of America needed restoration from this conflict and the Riley legend was again called to mind.

In an article in the Greenfield Daily Reporter in 1947, the following persons were credited for their efforts in keeping the Riley Home going during its first ten years. Arthur Downing and Kiwanis Club especially recognized "for their services to the promotion and development of the Riley Home project during the ten years of its existence" and Mrs. Bess New, Mrs. Berna Fort, Mrs. Ada P. McAdams, Mrs. Dessa Lanning, Mrs. Flora Hughes, Mrs. Marjorie Walker, Mrs Madge Strickland, Mrs. Helen B. Gemmell, Mrs. Mildred Davis, Mrs. Leah K. Downing, Marshall Winslow, Percy M. Ellis, Frank A Gutheir, Mayor L.W. Eikenberry, Mr. Hough and Mrs. Ella M. Hough (William A. Hough had been on the program this article reports on), Richard Strickland, John F. Mitchell and Dale Spencer, G. Beamer Davis, Joseph Walker, Mrs. Elizabeth Morton, Mrs. Hazel Rariden, Mrs. Flora Grisell, Miss Laura Lee Thomas, James L. Allen, Z.N. Smith, Mrs. Minnie Belle Mitchell and Mrs. John F. Mitchell, Jr."

Soon began the planning and execution of events of the great 100th birthday celebration of the birth of James Whitcomb Riley. The Riley Old Home Society coordinated each event to include the promotion of a 70 foot steel tower on the Greenfield Courthouse lawn with flowers from several hundred schoolchildren. Riley's draped portrait adorned each business place and large pictures of Riley's characters were illuminated and placed around the Courthouse Square.

Arthur Downing, President of the Riley Old Home Society, has to be credited with all of the great achievements of the 1949 Riley Birthday Centennial Celebration.

But of course it was James Whitcomb Riley who was honored on this occasion.

At the 1949 Centennial, Journalist Ted Malone posed with the grandchildren of Mary Alice Gray, ("Little Orphant Annie").  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

Here is how Hoosiers continued to feel about him as indicated in the Indiana

Governor's Proclamation of Oct. 7, 1949:

"WHEREAS, all who live in Indiana or who have their ancestral roots in Hoosier soil have a special appreciation of the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley, because it is the poetry of home, of fields and woodlands, and of the people who made our great state; and

WHEREAS, in the minds and hearts of Hoosiers there has been no other like Mr. Riley who has known so well their native land, their philosophy of life, and their common sense and heritage, or who has possessed the down-to-earth wisdom of the country store, the warmth and humanity of good talk among friends, and the gift of humor and storytelling, or who so greatly found in the daily things of life the elements of goodness and beauty, and

, WHEREAS, to all within the state and to millions beyond its borders James Whitcomb Riley is known as "The Children's Poet" because he was one who could look on life with the freshness that makes the world to a child a place of wonder and delight, and because he lives forever in his poetry and in a great memorial hospital that has saved or bettered the lives of many of the countless little ones for whom he wrote, and

Whereas, in the eventful year, the centennial of his birth, when the children of our state have walked in the ominous shadow of a dread disease (Editor's note: polio), Indiana knows how much it owes to him whose warm heart inspired others to make living brighter for childhood; now

Therefore, as Governor of the State of Indiana and in accordance with a resolution of the General Assembly of Indiana, I proclaim October 7, 1949, the 100th anniversary of the birth of the poet, as RILEY DAY throughout the length and breadth of the state." Henry Schrieker, Governor.

The 1950’s found the home operating increasing by Bess New It came to be that Bess New pretty much operated the home by herself. This was because age had caught up with the long-time President of Society, Arthur Downing. Bess New called the home "her baby" and treated it with all the affection and care that a parent would treat a child.

Running the home was a great burden because to keep it open Bess New was under compulsion to find tour guides. The fee paid was a mere sixty cents an hour and so the remuneration would never be a draw. It was during one of these periods that Bess New resorted to finding high school literature students to take tourists through the home as recalled by Thomas E.Q. Williams who was one such recruit. Others included Rebecca Strickland, Margaret New and Laura Lea Thomas. Bess New would of course carefully rehearse with all of such students the details to be given on the tours.

The Riley Home has always had tour guides who could tell a good tale. Bess New loved to tell of the little old side porch of the Riley Home where she proclaimed "Orphant Annie "shooed the chickens off the porch and brushed the crumbs away" and a place similar to where Riley said, "When I went to Auntie's house we et out on the porch." The porch was a summer eating place with drop leaf table covered with a red tablecloth and set for dinner. A white mosquito bar netting was carefully spread over the table during Bess New's tenure as hostess and the window ledges were filled with pots of old fashioned rose geraniums, red geraniums, fuchsias, wandering jew, ivy and begonias. Two benches made from logs were drawn up to the table. Bess New could bring the Riley family to life again for visitors as they entered this quaint room of the frontier days of Greenfield where summer meals were consumed.

Former Mayor, Keith McClarnon remembered what a wonderful Hoosier character Bess New was. He recalls "Bess New always loved to play a fortune teller. She was a big lady and would put on a fortune teller outfit to entertain the kids of the neighborhood. She would have kids' party once a year at her home. Some of the kids attending would be the Wilson's, her own family, and the McClarnon kids. Bess would thrive in telling stories. She would give them all a half-dollar after the party. A half-dollars was rarer then. She was also a Psi Ote, very active and was their leader. Eventually Bess New had to step down as Official Hostess due to the need to care for her husband Frank in 1965. She died in July, 1968.

It should not be forgotten that there were others who assisted Bess New in keeping the Riley Home operating during the 1950's. These hostesses included Beulah Garriott, Gladys Teel, Felicia Hogue, Jeanette Pasco, Dorothy June Williams, Louis Lantz, Margaret Gibbs, Lena Snodgrass, Eva Weber, Gladys Antle, Mary Keller, and Mildred Davis. Mildred Davis also produced fine miniature handmade dolls of the Riley genre and sold them at the Riley Home. They became very "collectable" as the years went along. A long time housekeeper of the home was Ada Spencer who was hired to clean and dust and sweep the home. The grounds were the province of city workers.

Other than Arthur Downing the record is very unclear as to whether there were ever

any officers selected for the Riley Old Home Society after its initial organization. The Riley Old Home Society was simply the person of Arthur Downing himself for many, many years. Nor was it ever clear who were the members of the Riley Old Home Society. Presumably the members were those "recruited from the ranks of subscribers to the fund to purchase the house, and representatives of lodges, luncheon clubs and civic clubs." These categories are referred to in the Hancock Democrat article describing the Riley Old Home Society of June 24, 1937.

In fact the Riley Old Home Society simply was Arthur C. Downing for the many years after the original officers had simply not been summoned to meetings. This fact was explained by Dorothy June Williams as follows: "The wisdom of Mr. Arthur Downing who guided the policies of the Home for many years undoubtedly led to the decision to keep the society a nebulous organization so that the people involved would not have to pay yearly dues, or be liable for assessments, or other drives when money was needed for the Home. The Home has made its way, slowly but surely, upward to the point where admissions paid by visitors and the sale of a few souvenirs have provided funds which sometimes bolstered by the City's Park's Funds, have been sufficient for its maintenance."

There was never kept any list of members of the Riley Old Home Society during its many years of existence under Arthur Downing.

In 1956, at the suggestion of Frances Eagleston, Jeanette Pasco and Margaret Bosley, Dorothy June Williams began writing a weekly column about the Riley Home. The articles were variously entitled "'Round About the Riley Home," "Halcyon Hancock," and eventually "Greenfield Glimpses." All of these columns over a period of more than thirty years reflect the doings of the Riley Home. There is probably no "home museum" around the country that has a more complete account of its activities than the Rile Home due to the many historical columns of Dorothy June Williams.

Walter Worland had a very distinct memory from the ending of the Arthur Downing era of the Riley Home. He received a call from Arthur Downing, then President of the Riley Old Home Society. Walter Worland recalled Arthur mentioning his age and asking him to be his handpicked successor to keep the Riley Old Home Society going. Walter Worland could not turn him down and thereafter became the third President of the Riley Old Home Society. He was officially appointed President by then Mayor Berryman Hurley.

Arthur C. Downing died at 87 years of age, March 21, 1968 The headline of the Greenfield Daily Reporter of March 22, 1968 read, "Arthur C. Downing, "Mr. Greenfield," Is Dead." Arthur C. Downing, age 87 years a native and prominent civil leader of Greenfield died at 7:30 P.M. Thursday at Twinbrook East, where he had been a resident most of the time for the last two years. Mr. Downing had often been referred to by his friends and acquaintances both locally and away as "Mr. Greenfield" because of his dedication to the civic growth of the city, county and area. He had served from 1924 until his retirement a few years ago as Secretary of the Greenfield Building and Loan Association. He was Cashier of the Citizens Bank of Greenfield from the mid-thirties until 1946. He had served Greenfield as Mayor (1930-34) Among the organizations he had headed as President were Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, Greenfield Kiwanis Club, Hancock County Tuberculosis Society, James Whitcomb Riley Old Home Society.

"The project nearest to his heart was the founding and promoting of the Riley Old Home Society which was dedicated to the community ownership of the poet’s boyhood home on West Main St., the making of it into a national shrine and publicizing of the poet’s works on a nationwide basis.

The Riley Home remains to a great extent the product of Arthur Downing's civic spirit and indefatigable effort.

There is another version of the circumstances whereby Arthur Downing was replaced as head of the Riley Old Home Society. Under this version, Arthur Downing's wife , Leah, who had actually been the first hostess of the Riley Home as Leah Early, decided it was time for Arthur to step down. She went to see Mayor Berry Hurley and the two of them arranged a Reorganization Meeting of the Riley Old Home Society. At this meeting Leah Early resigned Arthur on his behalf and thereafter Walter Worland was elected President. At the same meeting the hostesses of the time were asked to select a Chairman, later called a "Curator," who would assist Walter Worland. Dorothy June Williams was elected this Chairman and served as Curator.

Walter Worland served as President of the Riley Old Home Society for two terms, 1965 to 1969. During his first term the society felt the need to complete organizational requirements. Arthur Downing had pretty much run the Society "out of his hat" especially during has latter years. There were really no bylaws for the Society other than the ones which Arthur Downing had engineered through the City Council in 1935 which were really not by-laws at all. The task of organizing the Riley Old Home Society was placed in the hands of Marjorie Walker, a long-time friend of the Society and one of the original Interior Restoration Committee members who had collected the furniture and appointments for the home. When Marjorie Walker got interested in something, she devoted every ounce of her energy and wit to it until it got done. So it was with the bylaws of the Society. Marjorie Walker obtained the services of lawyer Maxine Arnett, and consulted all of the parliamentary background she had acquired over the years as President of the Parent Teachers Association and leadership of Tri Kappa. Soon the bylaws were ready and were adopted wholesale not only at this point but also at the later time with only minor adjustments as the corporate bylaws when the society was incorporated under Harold Sample's presidency. Article I, Section l: The name of this organization shall be the Riley Old Home Society. Section 2: The Society shall be non-political, non-partisan, and not-for-profit." The question about membership was also addressed in Article III:. "Members shall be those persons who make gifts of money for the upkeep of the Home, and those persons who make gifts of furnishings in the period of the Home, as well as those who giver of their personal labors and their lasting interest in perpetuating the Home. Membership may be conferred upon the above individuals at any meeting upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, or any of the officers."

The Riley Old Home Society kept the home operating between the months of May and November and reported that approximately 10,000 persons each year visited. Dorothy June Williams said in 1966, "I am sure that I speak for all the hostesses when I say that we find our work very enjoyable. It is quite a privilege to represent your home town in a welcoming way, and to see a child's face light up when he hears the story of "Little Orphant Annie" for perhaps the first time. We always keep in mind the problems of the traveler, how bored, disgruntled, or tired he may be: and count it an achievement when he leaves, refreshed and interested, taking a little bit of Hoosierland home in his memory. Although the teaching of poetry and sentimental poetry at that is no longer emphasized in the schools, it is amazing to us at the Home to learn that the poetry of Riley is actually revered from coast to coast. People of the older generation pounce upon the little volumes sold in the Home entitled, The Best Loved Poems of James Whitcomb Riley, and take them home to share with their grandchildren, so that the popularity of "The Bear Story" and the "Nine Little Goblins" is sure to be carried on. Another volume which is sold in the Home is "Hoosier Boy" by Minnie Belle Mitchell. Once a child has read this book, he will ask for it over and over, for it ranks with "The Bears of Blue River"" by Charles Major as a classic of early day life in Indiana. Since human nature does not seem to change much, the pranks of James Whitcomb Riley and his friends as recounted in "Hoosier Boy" stay as fresh and vital as ever."````````````````````````````

Walter Worland was not able to complete his second term. Walter Worland became a state officer of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Indiana, and would go on to become the 116th Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery. Due to the press of Masonic activities, Walter Worland resigned and Richard Goble , a nephew of Arthur C. Downing and a Greenfield businessman, took over the reigns.

Richard Goble is remembered for two great services to the Riley Home. The first was he ordered a complete inventory of the Riley Old Home Society's Riley memorabilia, furniture, and other furnishings. This inventory of Irene Williams then of the Lonesome Pines Antiques remains the most complete list of Riley Old Home Society property extent. The second was one of safety. He remembers having restored a black German walnut clock and attaching it to the wall in the living room. Then shortly afterwards, the Riley Home was robbed and this clock was stolen along with two original rifles of Reuben Riley taken out of a closet in the hallway. After this robbery,. the Riley Home was provided with an alarm system that sounded directly at the City Police Station.

In describing his tenure as President of the Riley Old Home Society, Richard Goble said he did not direct that there be a single meeting of the Riley Old Home Society and in fact he considered his role toward the home to be "to look after it."

Richard Goble was succeeded as President by Harold Sample who became the fifth President of the Riley Old Home Society. during the mayoral term of William R. Blue (1972-75). At the same meeting Harold Sample was elected President, Marjorie Walker was elected Vice-President and Dorothy June Williams was elected Secretary..

It was during this period that the Riley Museum was established. The Riley Old Home Society was given this new challenge in 1973. It was then that the City of Greenfield purchased the former residence of John Mitchell next door to the Riley Home for the purpose of a Riley Museum. The reason for the purchase was that the Riley Home simply had no place to display many of the Riley memorabilia that continued to be collected following the opening of the Riley Home for visitors in 1937.

After a period of over a year, the Riley Museum opened its doors for visitors in 1975. Service organizations around Greenfield decorated the various rooms in the museum. One of its great attractions was Reuben Riley's law desk at which James Whitcomb Riley wrote some of his poems. One of them "An Old Sweetheart of Mine" became the most popular poem of the American "Victorian" Epoch. One of the rooms of the new museum was given over to the collected poems of the poet's brother John. This room contained the voluminous and formerly largely forgotten poetry written by the poet's brother John.

Harold Sample was a vigorous President and came to the office with substantial credentials. He was a retired Eli Lilly employee and city councilman. During his tenure the "Riley violin" was returned to the home. This violin was played by the poet during his Greenfield days and had been in the Davis Brothers family over the generations. The donor was the descendant of this family named Charlie Davis of Oswego, New York.

It was also during the tenure of Harold Sample that it was decided to incorporate

The Riley Old Home Society as a not-for profit corporation. This was done and the Certificate of Incorporation of the Society was dated March 12, 1974. The Directors of the Riley Old Home Society are listed as being Paul Easton, Raymond Bartnick, Walter Worland, Richard Stephens, Edna Jacobs, Mrs. McCorkle, Mrs. Herbert Cramer, Marjorie Walker, Thomas E.Q. Williams, Virginia Hasler, Fred Gorman, Carci Bloodgood, Cliff Fields, Evelyn Fletcher, James Carrier, Dale Heckman, and others. The incorporators were Harold Sample, Marjorie Walker and Dorothy June Williams.` These bylaws are a matter of record in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana and contain provisions for the conduct of the affairs of the Society and dissolution procedures should the Society ever cease to exist.

In 1976, Thomas E.Q. Williams became the sixth president of the Riley Old Home Society, Edna Jacobs became Vice-President and Elizabeth Gappen became Secretary..

During this tenure and with the assistance of the Congressman from this district at the time named Phil Sharp the Riley Home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The date of this was September 28, 1977 and a beautiful plaque on a base of granite provided by the Greenfield Granite Co. now occupies a prominent place in the front yard of the Riley Home. The Directors of the Riley Old Home Society Inc. during this period were Paul Easton, Raymond Barnick, Walter Worland, Edna Jacobs, Joyce Smedley, Mrs. McCorkle, Cliff Fields, Evelyn Fletcher, James Carrier, Dave Heckman, June Williams and Burk Friedorsdorf.

In the late 1970's began the work of transforming a garage at the back of the Riley Museum, formerly the John Mitchell residence. With the assistance of a grant of $5,000 from Center Township through James Davis, then Center Township Trustee, this garage was turned into Elizabeth Ann's Kitchen. It has since provided a shelter for receptions out of the rain and a screened in site for cooking and also some storage capacity. During Riley Days celebrations of the era Elizabeth Ann's Kitchen was opened up to the public and food was served consisting of bean soup, cornbread and ham sandwiches.

Much of the work of the Riley home has been to maintain the home. One great improvement during this time was extensive front porch repairs to the Riley Museum assisted by a grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation.. During all of this period the Riley Old Home Society kept the home intact as it had been appointed by those who knew the Riley's and how things were kept in their home.

It might be well to refresh our recollection of the Riley Home itself, or rather its second floor, as recounted by John F. Mitchell and as it was during this decade since the home's appointments have now been somewhat modified. "On the second floor, two large bedrooms are on either side of the long hall. These bedrooms with their handsome old four poster cord beds, valance and canopies and their high feather beds, quilts and tufted bed spreads are indeed very quaint. The bedrooms are complete with their rag and hooked rugs, candle tables, bureaus, chests of drawers, draperies, pictures, a Seth Thomas clock and blanket chest. Under one bed is a trundle-bed and hanging on a bedpost is a night cap. Splendid examples of the clothing of the period are in the closets and in the bureau drawers are lace mits, scarves, heirlooms and other finery so dear to the heart of ladies of yore.

Leading from the west bedroom, one enters the boys' room. The room occupied by the poet and his brothers, John and Alexander Humboldt. The boys as a playroom also used this long room with its dormer window when the weather was inclement for winter sports.

Immediately back of the boys room was a little play room for the girls and it, too, has been carefully restored with china dolls, doll furniture, clothing, all of which has been thoughtfully selected."

And so we end this pre-modern epoch of the history of the Riley Old Home Society.

By this point in its history it is estimated that there had been over half a million visitors tour the Riley Home.

The Riley Old Home Society has continued to fill its responsibilities in providing support for Riley programs throughout the 1980's and 1990's. During the 1980's the City and the Society faced a major structural renovation of the Home. Todd Mozingo was chosen as architect for the project. There had been foundation problems at the Home for years along with some rot in the structural timbers of the rear wing. The solutions tried over the years did not solve the problem so the City set aside funds and the Riley Old Home Society set about raising funds to help promote the restoration. Thanks to contributors like the Eli Lilly Foundation and many others the project was completed. The Home was closed for a time and the furnishings moved out. When the structural work was finished the Riley Home Society through associated clubs and organizations did much of the work on the interior or paid for many of the jobs in question. For the life of the Home the service clubs of Greenfield gave much of the work and money for interior decor. The City of Greenfield had always thought decor and collections to be the Riley Old Home Society's area.

Through the years service clubs had rooms which were their responsibility to maintain. Much of the money for these jobs was paid directly from their treasury rather than going as a grant to the Society. It is true that the organizations did at times give direct grants to the Society for important projects. In 1990 the Riley Festival gave $2000 to put lights in the Home's backyard. There was a purchase of four standing "park" lights for the project. As of the summer of 1999 those lights were still used and working. The work was done through a grant to the Riley Old Home Society during the term of President William Spicer Projects to clean, repair, and improve the interiors of the Home and Museum during the term of President Ann Dutcher were carried out.

Generally the Society tried to identify problems in the physical plant at the Riley Old Home and Museum and if they were concerns that fell within the items that the City of Greenfield handled they were brought to the attention of the current Mayor. The items the Mayor felt could be accomplished were brought before the City Board of Works for action. When the sums of money for a project made it necessary bids were accepted. In cases when it was deemed appropriate more important matters went before the City Council for action. The problem of getting bids was time consuming so an officer or committee chairman of the Society often met with the contractors to show them the job and outline any special circumstances. The contractors were told to submit the bids to the city and the details were worked out by the Board of Works. The problems were usually handled well because the city had a budget set for the Home and Museum properties. In most years the budget was not spent. Usually the city spent the budget in its totality for the docents which guided the tours through the home; however, the amounts set for maintenance were often much greater than the amounts spent.

Larry L. Fox became President of the Society in 1993 with his term to begin Jan. 1, 1994. During this time the Society worked to complete a number of projects that were a result of considerable work in the Society's committees. Needs were considered and priorities were established according to plan. In 1994 and 1995 after studies by committees that dated back to 1993 work began on restoration and repair of furnishings and general collections. The first steps were to identify specific items with their special needs. The next move was to find a company that could do the work. The collections in both buildings were with rare exception donated to the Riley Old Home Society. They were and are the property of that organization. The expense at the time was thought to be the Society's problem. The Riley Old Home Society began to raise the money for the projects. Funding was approved through the Riley Festival people to repair and restore furnishings in the Home. The Society hoped to accomplish the task without damage to historic items. After much discussion the Riley Old Home Society hired a Fort Wayne area firm to do the work on the furniture. The results were wonderful and the furnishings took on a new glow with a final hand polishing. The grant which included no City money was handled through the Riley Old Home Society. Another project was to provide historic conservation of wall hangings including family or other pictures, needlework, wreaths, and many other items. The removal of materials which had high acid content which were used in framing would be necessary if these historic items were to survive many more years. These funds came from several outside sources including Riley Festival.

The repair and restoration of the furniture was completed in the summer of 1995 and the first set of wall hangings were sent out for repair and restoration. In the fall of 1995 Mr. Fox and the Society continued the projects already started and enlarged upon them as the funds were raised to provide for the work on these collections. The need for work on the Museum roof was obvious and that was brought to the attention of the city in early 1995. Those funds were approved from money already budgeted and the work was done with the approval by the Board of Works.

Hiring and work requirements for the docents was considered a City matter since the City paid their wages. The ladies were employed under municipal standards and their work situation was under the control of the City. In 1993 and 1994 the need for a more concerted effort in cleaning the Home and the Museum became obvious. Doing a major clean up a couple of times a year became the rule of thumb. It is hard to imagine but a building with as much traffic as the Riley Old Home with thousands of children going through every year picks up a great deal of dirt and dust. Another major problem is deciding when something can be thrown out. Items which are not historic sometimes end up a part of the collection. Some person brings a saucer from home and no one knows where it came from three years later. Sadly enough five years later it may be on display until somebody notices there is a problem.

The Museum was open as the ladies were able to open it or when volunteers were available. It was not unusual to find the ladies after they ended their duties in the Home volunteering to take people through the Museum. When the home was reconstructed in the late 1980's the architects responsible for the design made a strong suggestion the gift shop and the ladies be moved to the Museum. The architects and others working on the project knew that it would keep down the dust, dirt, and other problems in the home so it could be better maintained. The move was finally accomplished with good results in 1999.

As work was completed on some of the projects in conservation of collection the Riley Old Home Society knew the next big task would be the re-working of the Museum displays. The Society thought several projects had to be completed in the Home before the Museum could be re-done. During the years 1994 and 1995 the Society began to work toward concerns in the Museum. While Mr. Fox was President the appropriate Society committees began to consider how the Museum displays could be re-worked to better show Riley related items which had for several years taken a "back seat" to other

materials.

In the spring of 1996 some work was about to begin when the city began to look at the idea of the Society sharing the Museum building with another group perhaps the Chamber of Commerce or someone else. The Chamber needed to leave its office in City Hall and they were giving the Museum building consideration. When the Chamber's plans were made apparent they believed they needed the entire building. This would have been a major loss for Greenfield because their was no one able to take the large amount of historical material collected in the Museum. It was suggested the Hancock County Historical Society would take the collection but that was not possible because they did not have the room. Truly that would have been a poor arrangement because much of the material was related to Riley and it needed to be at the Riley Old Home site.

A task force was organized by the Mayor to decide what to do with the Riley Museum Building. Various plans were brought before the group as they considered their task while people took sides on the issue. Mayor Patricia Elmore thought the committee could consider the options and then give her the results of their study. After much consideration of the plans presented the committee suggested that if the Riley Old Home Society wanted to be properly considered they should take part in a "Strategic Planning Session". The Society felt this was a worthwhile suggestion and that in spite of the work which would be necessary it would not be difficult to accomplish. During the previous

two years the organization had updated its not-for-profit status with the State of Indiana and the U.S. Government. With that work out of the way a committee was appointed consisting of Joe Skvarenina, Chairman, (he was also Vice President of the Society and President of the Hancock County Historical Society) Dave Barrett, City Council, Larry Fox, President of the Riley Old Home Society, LaQuaeti M. Wright, Ann Osborne, and Camilla Miller. They were to take the Society through the development of a "Strategic Plan" set purposes, establish goals, develop guidelines for fund raising and many other things necessary to this process. The project was time consuming and worthwhile as it added to the process the Society had already begun over the last several years. When the Society presented the results of the work to the task force, which was to prepare its recommendation for the future of the Museums building, the committee found in the Society's favor. As it has turned out the City now runs the Riley Gift Shop in the former kitchen of the Museum. While there are important displays in the two front rooms and entry hall of the Museum, the building's back porch is now the office of the Gift Shop. It also functions as a break room for the docents. The upstairs rear room is a research library on Riley. The other two main rooms upstairs serve as a workroom and storage for collections and archival space. A small room serves as an office for the Riley Old Home Society volunteers who manage the collections for the Society. The Home tells the story of the poet's childhood which profoundly influenced his great body of work. Between 1996 through 1998 after renovation of exhibits the Museum after was opened by Riley Old Home Society volunteers for four days a week. During those years more than 2500 people visited the Museum and commented on its unique presentation of Riley material. Many of these visitors were children who were told of the poet's work and adult accomplishments in addition to the presentation in the home on his childhood.

In January of 1997 Lee Ann Petropolis had become the President of the Riley Old Home Society. She carried on the work of upgrading the Museum, its gardens, the collections, and new By-laws were approved with a more adequate representation of the community being included on the board. The new By-laws called for 20 appointments including seven by the Mayor, seven from designated local organizations such as the Library Board, Greenfield-Central School Board, and the Hancock County Historical Society. The remaining board members were appointed by the Riley Old Home Society. Lee Ann had originally come to the Society as a representative of the volunteers that plant and maintain the gardens on the grounds. These people are yet another group that sees things get done and create a beautiful setting for Greenfield's main attraction. These volunteers as is the case with the Society volunteers work tirelessly with no intent of accepting pay.

In January of 1998 Camilla Miller became President of the Society. This year the group hired a paid part time intern to start detailed documentation on collections and also see to proper preservation and storage. The Vawter painting "Man With A Hoe" a gift of the Strickland family had long been considered in need of conservation. With work begun during 1997, and a grant by Riley Festival, the Indianapolis Museum of Art won the approval of the Riley Old Home Society Board for the necessary work on the painting. The expenditure in the neighborhood of $3000 brought the prized work back to its full glory.

The month of January of 1999 brought John Fleming to the Society's Presidency. He along with Larry Fox, who was appointed Society Archivist in 1997, and Rosalie Richardson oversaw a Community Foundation Grant program to hire a part time individual to continue the work on collections. This particular year the clothing collection was to be organized and more properly stored. Fleming shouldered the extra responsibility of added activities to celebrate the 150 th anniversary of the poet's birth. The City having spent two previous years working on repairs of the Riley Home this year managed the move of the Gift Shop and the guides to the Museum. The Society totally changed the displays and continued its support with programs like an open house and an old-fashioned lawn party complete with croquet and refreshments sponsored by the Clio Club. This club was formed in the 1890's in the time of Riley's greatest popularity.

. The Society and the City of Greenfield will be ready Oct. 7,1999, for the 150th year and a celebration of James Whitcomb Riley's birth with a large number of volunteers.

The honoring of a great man is common in this nation. It is no surprise that the honoring of James Whitcomb Riley a man of great importance in the early 1900's, grew special significance after his near brush with death suffering from a stroke in 1910. According to Hancock County Highlights by Dorothy June Williams, the idea to honor his birthday "popped" into Minnie Bell Mitchell's head one day while she attended a national meeting of the Federation of Clubs. Minnie Belle's idea was to celebrate the poet's birthday with school children. She introduced a resolution to that effect and the idea became a reality. Mr. Riley's health was improved enough to make some celebration possible in 1911.

The momentum reached its peak in 1912 when he was honored by 2000 children at Lockerbie St. and then came to Greenfield where his car was parked at the Courthouse and passing children threw flowers. Riley was presented with a silver loving cup purchased by Prof. Frank Larabee and presented by Jessie Millikan's grandson George Walton. It is said that more than 1,000,000 children joined in from sea to sea.

Many years have passed since Riley's death. So it is difficult for us to visualize Riley's fame and its source. Some have said his poetry enjoyed limited appeal in our day and age. One might doubt their knowledge of the full realm of his works. Riley was both a writer and a performer who worked on the road staying in hotels traveling in trains most of his adult life. As with many people who live that life today it is difficult to maintain normal relationships. His draw was so great, the demand for his appearance all over the country so major, that Mr. Riley's life style had more in common with that of the great music idols of our day and age. Like Frank Sinatra his appeal far exceeded his original fame.

To the end of Riley's life our people loved, applauded, and cared for him in a very public manner. One who doubts his appeal to children should look at a famous picture of him in his car talking to a boy. Notice his attentiveness as he spoke to the boy standing on his rear wheel talking to James as if he were his best buddy. Stop and look at the picture at Lockerbie Street taken as the poet's body was carried out of the mansion to be placed in the hearse. There are children standing around with very concerned looks on their faces and they look as if they have lost their best friend. He used to carry them and Hoagy Carmichael on his shoulders for ice cream at the local store. Yes, he drank and yes he had many lady friends with relationships that lasted for years but we all loved him for what he said and how he said it in a way we could relate to in our hearts and in our minds. No, he wasn't perfect - we aren't perfect either.

The event in Greenfield in 1912 was the chance we had waited for to really say we cared with a wonderful outpouring of warmth and community. He said Greenfield was "the best home this side of heaven" and he believed that was the case. We paid him back by honoring him on his birthday. The years passed and in 1915 another major "birthday party" was held in Greenfield. The Governor Samuel Ralston had proclaimed his birthday a day of celebration and Riley sat on the porch of his old home with his family sisters, brother, and nephew Ed Eitel along with his mother's cousin William R. Hough and his family. Children marched by with flowers and some threw blossoms at the poet. This would be his last birthday for he died July 22, 1916.

The idea of celebrating his birthday did not die and it continues to this day through the Riley Festival in Greenfield, Indiana. Here the City, the Riley Old Home Society, and our Riley Festival organization lead off the events. In Indianapolis the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association which built and supports one of the most outstanding children's hospitals in this nation leads as it has through the generations a group of Riley supporters to the poet's tomb on the highest point in Indianapolis to place a wreath. The President of the Riley Memorial Association and others including some

Hancock County individuals to pay their respects. Riley loved Indianapolis as he loved his own community of his youth and said he expected to find things in heaven in much the same fashion.

After the 1915 celebration the event was held with different methods of marking its passing as the years proceeded one following another. In 1916 Harper Brothers of New York brought out a complete set of Riley works. The release was the day before the anniversary of his death. Riley was also given a tribute by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Then in 1918 the Riley Statue was unveiled on the Court House walk. The event was held November 26 and George Beamer Davis of Greenfield did the honors. The school children of the nation had made the statue possible with their donations. Schools

which gave full support could order a bust of Riley or a painting of the "Old Swimming Hole" by W. A. Bixler a local artist from the Anderson area. The statue's sculptor Myra Richards was from Indianapolis. The granite base was provided by Mrs. J. H. Brooks of Greenfield. Following the dedication of the statue Julia Riley hosted a reception at the poet's home.

The 1921 Riley events were centered on a premier of the film "The Old Swimming Hole," the film starred Charles Ray. This particular year the events were mostly held March 7th and 8th. The Brandywine Creek area was also surveyed with creation of a park honoring Riley in mind. On Oct. 7th, the poet's birthday, the Cosmos Society of Bradley Methodist Church honored the poet's memory with a Riley Day dinner. As the 1920's dawned the Riley Statue had become a focal point of celebration. It is no great surprise that as the community grew the image of Riley loomed large in the scheme of things.

Float from Riley celebration of Riley Park dedication, Oct. 7, 1925.  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

The work began toward the construction of a park to be dedicated to James Whitcomb Riley's memory. The obvious place would be along Brandywine near if not at the "Old Swimmin Hole" and thus began the discussion that has continued ever since. Just where was the swimming hole? It was likely several spots from the railroad trestle north and we know Riley himself as an adult was pictured at a site with friends somewhere north of the trestle. Whatever the case the park was built and dedicated at a lavish ceremony as a part of the Riley celebration in 1925. The parade included children marching with flowers, floats, and a reproduction of the Adelphian Band wagon made famous by Riley. The year 1930 brought another large celebration for the dedication of the Riley Park Pool.

"Modern swimming pool," James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Park, Greenfield, Indiana.  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

A birthday tea was held in honor of Riley in 1933 at the Greenfield Christian Church. People began to think the statue at the Courthouse was not enough and the Riley Home was to become the next major center of Riley celebrations. The poet's sister-in-law announced her impending move to California. In 1935 a drive was started to purchase and furnish the Home. A membership drive for the Riley Old Home Society spearheaded the celebration in October. The 1937 events centered on the dedication of the Riley Home and opening of the Riley Park Shelter House. Parades, speeches, and Riley's surviving friends and family filled the day. October of 1939 brought three of Little Orphant Annie's grand children to the Home. During the World War II the Home was closed and events curtailed. In 1947 Kiwanis Club was the leader of the programs for Riley's birthday. Then in 1949 the 100th anniversary programs were probably the largest of the celebrations to date. Entertainment took place hourly in front of the Court House, a well marked for donations to conquer Infantile Paralysis got a lot of attention, and there was a "Tower of Flowers" on the Courthouse lawn and children continued the long standing tradition of bringing flowers to Mr. Riley. School children from around the country mailed flowers to be placed on the tower. Since the statue was placed at the Courthouse it had gradually become the focal point of that tradition.

As the years passed sidewalk events became more common coupled with sales by the downtown merchants. By 1957 they were held Oct. 10th through the 17th and were called "Frontier Days". In 1959 100 school children brought flowers to the statue and the parade was led by the Greenfield High School band and the local fire department. This was the beginning of the children's flower parade as it has been done to the present. The activities grew to include a large antique show held at the fair grounds the sponsor was Puff"s Antiques.

In time "Frontier Days", became "Sidewalk Days", and then "Riley Days". In 1965 booths were downtown and things took on a party atmosphere. Amusements included Poor Jack's Rides for the Children. Windows were decorated as events became more organized and the "Flower Parade" took on more importance. According to J.B. Stephens who was a long time participant and leader in the activities "Riley Days" were to become "Riley Festival Incorporated" in 1971. The events became larger and more organized as larger crowds were attracted. Contests and shows in art, and car shows were organized, churches held lunches or dinners, Carnivals were brought into the downtown, bands were invited from various schools, and some events have generally continued at the fair grounds.

The "Riley Festival" has become one of the largest such events in Indiana. Large crowds enter the downtown and for four of the major days Thursday through Monday you almost can't get through Greenfield. Highways such as U. S. 40 and State Highway 9 are directed around the center of town and life centers around Mr. Riley and his works in a manner that is almost surprising. Like the mythical Brigadoon rising out of the mists of time Mr. Riley and his boyhood chums take their city by storm once again. In 1999 the 150th anniversary of the poet's birth celebration will take greater significance with events through the year sponsored by the Riley Old Home Society and other organizations.

Riley Lore

The intent of the last chapter of this small book is to tell about the lore that surrounds James Whitcomb Riley and the Riley Old Home Society. Hopefully some fond memories will return while strengthening the "institutional lore" for the future.

James Whitcomb Riley’s first public appearance, according to some, was in Charlottesville, In. He collected sixty-seven cents for his efforts. The "Bear Story" was one of Riley’s favorites for the Lyceum circuit. At one performance at the Indianapolis Press Club he shared the stage with notables Lew Wallace and Meredith Nicholson. Riley also shared a keen friendship with Booth Tarkington. In 1915 he returned to Greenfield with Canadian poet Bliss Carmen to watch the parade of flowers from the front porch of the home.

Cartoonist John Gruelle, Indianapolis Star, capitalized on Riley’s poems " Little Orphant Annie" and " The Raggedy Man" when he invented the adventures of Raggedy Ann for his daughter Marcella. He wrote 16 stories with his son contributing another thirty other stories. Another cartoonist took the idea of the little orphan girl Annie one step farther creating the comic strip Little Orphan Annie starting one of the longest running cartoon strips of all time. It eventually became the basis for the Broadway play and movie titled "Annie."

In 1917 James Whitcomb Riley’s nephew from Fargo North Dakota was elected to Congress. The 1917 edition of his works published by Harper Brothers Woodrow Wilson said in the forward, "James Whitcomb Riley has become as much a household word as Santa Claus". In November of 1918 the Riley Statue by Myra Richards was unveiled. It is the only one for which the poet posed. Wm. Herschell’s last photo shows Riley seated beside the statue with Herschell beside him and Mrs. Richards giving the finishing touches to the work.

In 1921 the Greenfield City Council ordered the area around the Old Swimmin` Hole surveyed. In 1925 the ground was broken for the "National Riley Memorial Park". Three thousand children marched with flowers and flags in the dedication parade. The cost of the 40 acre park was $1300.00. On July 4, 1930 the Riley Pool as dedicated. The speaker's platform held ex mayors Ora Myers, S. G. White, R. H. Monger, and Wm. Dudding from the Park Board. The architect was Wm. Bintz and the builder was Bert Foster. The initial cost of Riley pool was $30,000.00.

The Greenfield Federation of Women’s Clubs constructed a well house in Riley Park in 1931 using cracked stone and a red tile roof. Funds for the construction were raised by giving community dinners. Miss Baldwin was Chairwomen. Committee members included Mrs. Bruce Goble, Mrs. Bert Orr, Mrs. O. P. Eastes, and Mrs. Kathyrn Curry. The well house was located on Irvin’s Spring. Afro American Irvin Hunt had a cabin nearby. He would tell tall tales to the children when they visited him. Riley named the spring after Mr. Hunt. In July 1931 Riley Highway was transferred to state status. Several counties relinquished their hold on State Rte 9 with the next step being to pave the road.

The World’s Fair at Chicago, Indiana Building, 1933, displayed a bust of James Whitcomb Riley by Myra Richards who also did the Riley Statue in front of the Hancock County Court House. In 1934 Warner Brothers came to Greenfield to film scenes of the Riley Home, Statue, and Old Swimmin` Hole for a short newsreel. Jap Miller self appointed Mayor of Brooklyn, In., and friend of Riley’s died in 1934. He played a key role in the dedication of the Riley Swimming Pool.

The first Indiana historical marker was dedicated in 1934. The marker was placed in front of the Riley Home and dedicated by Indiana Gov. Paul V. McNutt. The Home first opened to the public in May of 1937. The first visitor was Arlie Arbuckle from Elizabethtown Indiana. During that year Psi Iota Xi was the first organization to announce that it would furnish a room in the Riley Home. The east bedroom became the "Psi Iota Xi Room". The service sorority purchased a high four poster bed of solid butternut circa 1850 for the room. It was brought to Greenfield by Wm. Mitchell from Maysville, Kentucky.

On July 2, 1937 Mrs. John Kelly of Milwaukee Wisconsin was the 1000th visitor. On August 15, 1937 number 2000 was Mrs. J. E. Zeke from Chester Pennsylvania. Caroline Isabelle Rabb, September 17, 1937 was the 3000th visitor. Mrs. Joe Cashdollar from Muncie was the 4000th visitor. It is also interesting to note that gavels made from the old fence wood were sold in 1937. The first one was given to Mrs. Gertrude Hinshaw a local resident who was Secretary -Treasurer of the National Council of Women Chiropractors. In 1937 one of the gavels was used to open the United States Congress. On July 18, 1937 Marcus Dickey, who lived in Greenfield 1901-1904, was the speaker at the Business and Professional Women’s tea at the Riley Home. Mr. Dickey who was Riley’s secretary wrote two volumes entitled the "Youth of James Whitcomb Riley" and the "Maturity of James Whitcomb Riley". In 1937 the key to the Riley Home was presented by Mayor James Allen to Arthur Downing the president of the Riley Old Home Society. Speakers at the festivities included Dr. Herman Wells of Indiana University. Riley’s nephews and nieces, George Hitt his first publisher, George Ade, and Will Vawter.

In 1938 W. G. Bell from Terre Haute sent the Riley Old Home Society two paper knives carved from the beech trees on the property. During the 1890’s Mr. Bell worked for the Holweg and Reese Fruit Jar Co.in Greenfield. His wife was a sister of Lemuel Moore. Also in 1938 Earl Brooks was head of Riley Town Foods on South Street near the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. They produced Rileytown Coffee, Aunt Mary’s Coffee, along with Pancake and Buckwheat Flours.

On April the 12, 1938 Guy Hockerhull, Clovis New Mexico was 5000th visitor to the Riley Home. Mrs. Don C. Buell, Rushville, Indiana was the 6000th visitor on June 16, 1938. Miss Janet Grove of Dayton Ohio was the 7000th visitor on August 11, 1938. By September 4, 1938 Omer E Furr, Laporte was the 8000 visitor. Wayne E. Snipes was the 9000th visitor on October 16,1938. Vera Ginn, February 12, 1939 was the 10,000th visitor. Mrs. Ginn was the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, Indiana Order of the Eastern Star. Arthur Downing, President of the Riley Old Home Society, presented her with a copy of "The Old Swimmin Hole and Leven More Poems".By February 12, 1939 the Riley Home had hosted visitors from every state in the union, 1,365 cities, and 8 foreign countries. In March 1939 Hoagy Carmichael, Hoosier bandleader visited the Riley Home. Riley Old Home Society President Arthur Downing had a luncheon at the Columbia Hotel, later called the Riley Hotel, for students who attended Indiana University during the Carmichael years. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Jones, hotel operators, hosted the event.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana, grandson of the poet Longfellow, greeted by Arthur C. Downing of the Riley Old Home Society, May 27, 1949.  Click on thumbnail for full-size picture, then use your Web browser's back button or arrow to return to this page.

On February 24, 1940 the Riley Stamp went on sale in Greenfield. Five poets honored include Longfellow, Whittier, Lowell, Whitman, and Riley. Requests for first day covers were 200 a day. About 160,000 covers were sent out. According to the Indianapolis Star, "...conservative estimate is $35,000 (sold)." More than 5000 of the covers bore the official Greenfield cachet of the Will Vawter drawing combining a Riley portrait and the Riley homestead, and were serviced by the Riley Old Home Society which put five person to work to handle the orders.

Ted Malone and NBC Broadcasting Co. also came to Greenfield in 1940. He brought his radio program "Between the Book Ends". At his side was Marian Ruth and Donald Colestock, Philadelphia In., great grand children of Little Orphant Annie. During this year the Riley Old Home Society received a large American Flag from Edwin Avery, a former Greenfield resident. The flag floated over the Capitol the day the Riley stamp went on sale. Also in 1940, after an accident Mildred Davis (Mrs. Perry Davis) who could no longer work as a dress maker began to make miniature dolls of the characters in James Whitcomb Riley’s poems. Millie’s husband Perry and his brother George "Beemer" Davis had been responsible for starting the fund to erect the statue by

Myra Richards in front of the Courthouse. The memorial bronze was presented to the city of Greenfield by the school children of America.

In 1941 eight people from Greenfield rode the streamline train named by the Big Four Railroad for James Whitcomb Riley between Chicago and Cincinnati. Passengers included Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hough, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Spencer, Mrs. Leah K. Early, Miss Jeanne Mitchell, and Darold T. Fleming. In earlier years the T.H.I.E. interurban ran a car named for James Whitcomb Riley. The car was discontinued in 1931.

Bobbs Merrill Co. in 1942 published Minnie Belle Mitchell’s Book "Hoosier Boy - James Whitcomb Riley". In 1943 the Riley Old Home Society and Benjamin Harrison Memorial Commission jointly celebrated Riley Days. Historian and author Ross F. Lockridge from Henry County addressed an audience at Greenfield High School. His speech was entitled "Harrison and Riley" Wm. Hough recited poetry during the session. October 1944 to 1947 the Riley Home was closed because of World War II. Work was completed on the Riley Park Shelter with WPA labor. The building was designed by Clint Parker. Master of ceremonies at the dedication was Attorney General Omer S. Jackson. Greenfield’s guest speaker was Gov. Clifford Townsend. Nephew, Edmund Eitel, was in attendance along with Dr. L. A. Pittenger President of Ball State Teachers College (later University). Dr. Charleton B. McCullough, Riley’s physician along with Greenfield Mayor James Allen was in attendance. The Shelter House cost $7000.

The Riley Centennial was 1949. On September 30, a steel tower 23 feet wide and 70 feet high was built for the Parade of Flowers on October 7th. Gov. Henry Schricker was in attendance. Mr. Arthur Downing was Centennial Chairman. Marcus Dickey, Riley biographer and secretary, who was 90 years old at the time issued the following from Bear Wallow Ridge in Brown County, " The statement Riley could only write under alcoholic stimulation is a vicious untruth". "He never wrote anything worth saving while under the influence of liquor." Minnie Belle Mitchell’s book James Whitcomb Riley As I Knew Him was released during the centennial. In 1949 Psi Iota Xi released the first hand tinted Riley plate. The design was from Delano Studios in Setanket Long Island N.Y. Also during that year on September 20th Jeanette Nolan, Psi Iota Xi, addressed a group at Bradley Methodist Church her speech was entitled "James Whitcomb Riley Hoosier Poet" In 1953 the final Riley Plate was issued by Psi Iota Xi. It was rumored in 1954 that Hoagy Carmichael was to release his latest musical "When The Frost Is On The Pumpkin". In 1956 Dorothy June Williams began her "Round About The Riley Home" column for the Hancock County Democrat.

In 1962 actor James Brolin and politicians Eugene McCarthy and Gov. Roger Branigan visited the Home. Helen Hibben who sculpted the State House Riley bust visited the home in 1963. During the year 1966 Dorothy June Williams wrote "Hancock Historama" a play. In one scene Capt. Reuben Riley received an honorary sword from the Greenfield community. This was Reuben’s actual sword given by the community that is on display in the Museum.

In recent years many visitors from all over the United States and foreign lands have visited the Riley Home. It is sincerely hoped they will add to the lore of the 21st century.

	About the Authors Mr. Joseph Skvarenina
			Mr. Skvarenina has been the Director of Development and Public Relations at Lutheran High School since 1991. Joe has both a bachelors and masters degree in education from Kent State University in Ohio. He is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa - Leadership Honorary, Phi Delta Kappa - Education Honorary and Phi Alpha Theta - History Honorary. He completed the req
	q uirements for the teaching ministry by colloquy on December 17, 1997 at Concordia University, River Forest, Il. Prior to joining the staff at Lutheran High School, he worked for various national health agencies and served for 11 years with the American Cancer Society. He is currently President of the Hancock County Historical Society along with being Hancock County Historian. Mr. Skvarenina has been awarded the key to the City by Mayor Keith McClarnon and recognized by the Indiana General Assembly by Current Resolution #27. Recently he was awarded the "Distinguished Hoosier" by Gov. Frank O'Bannon. He was named Lutheran Man of the Year by Lutheran Service Club. He writes a monthly historical column for a local paper. He has just released a pictorial history of Hancock County. He will soon release a "Military Commemorative" of Hancock County with Larry Fox.

	About the Authors Mr. Larry Fox
			Mr. Fox has been a Hancock County resident since the earliest days of childhood. A graduate od Charlottesville High School, he received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Ball State University. Mr Fox servedas historian for the Hancock County Pictorial History and is archivist of the Riley Old Home Society, Inc. He taught history and government at Hancock Central and Green
	f ield-Central schools from 1961-1996. Mr. Fox is a past president of the Hancock County Historical Society, the Riley Old Home Society and is President of Shares Inc.

	About the Authors Mr. Thomas E. Q. Williams
			Mr. Williams is a local attorney, historian and author. He has written several books including the only current biography of James Whitcomb Riley entitled James Whitcomb Riley: The Poet as Flying Islands of the Night. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University in American Studies and a Juris Doctor Degree Cum Laude from the Indianapolis Law School of Indiana University. Other titles he has written include A History of Hancock County Indiana in the Twentieth Century (co-authored with his mother, Dorothy June Williams), Annie: The Story of Little Orphant Annie, the Wild Bull of Blue River, Children of a New Abraham. He is currently working on a biography of the Hancock County-born "Hoosier Evangelist" John Thomas Hatfield due out at Christmastime. He has two children, Emily and Billy.

ORDER BLANK (PRINTABLE) FOR PURCHASE OF THIS HISTORY (OTHER LOCAL RILEY AREA HISTORIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE WITH ORDER BLANKS TO FOLLOW.)