Hancock County Visitors Bureau

Wow! What an NFL Experience!

HCVB — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:32:19 +0000

My husband and I were fortunate to go to the NFL Experience this evening thanks to our tickets from the host committee, and WOW…what an experience it was. The Convention Center was full of interesting and fun things to do for everyone, young and not-so-young. We took each others' pictures at the Colts uniform which was a life-sized, action maniquin without a head. You climb up behind this maniquin and put your head behind the shoulders and it looks like you are a football player…wonderfully corny and fun. There were many opportunities to literally punt, pass, and kick the football on fields set up all over the center. There were historical displays and displays of how huge the football players' hands are. They actually had plaster casts of their hand prints and you can put your hand in theirs to see the huge difference in size. If you have the opportunity to go, definitely do this. We parked in the lot east of the City County Building for $7.00. I'm sure that price with change, but it was easy and inexpensive. We chose to eat at a restaurant, but there are lots of very inexpensive options. It doesn't have to be an expensive evening. Go have some fun…and HAVE A SUPER TIME!

Super Celebration Site

HCVB — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:36:46 +0000

Greenfield is a Super Celebration Site! We are so fortunate to be included in the group of approximately 20 communities surrounding Indianapolis that will help make the upcoming Super Bowl fantastic for all of our visitors. Each SCS is unique and that includes Greenfield. We offer over 400 hotel rooms, affordable and fine dining, special Super Celebration Parties, a Super Indy Car, an Historic Downtown district, and (of course) an abundance of Hoosier Hospitality! Check us out…you'll be glad you did!

Indiana Glass Trail

Jean Wilfong Howell — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:39:20 +0000

Did you know that there used to be several glass factories in Hancock County? We actually had 4 plants in Greenfield and more in Shirley. They were in business during what was called the Gas Boom which was a period at the end of the 19th century and early 20th when natural gas was found in central Indiana. Unfortunately, the users at the time believed that the supply was infinite and it was not. They actually wasted a significant amount. By the early 1900's, the gas pressure had reduced to the extent that it could no longer power plants like the glass factories, so they all went out of business.

The Indiana Glass Trail is an attraction that has already been developed in Madison, Howard, and Grant counties where some of the glass plants are still in operation. This year, that initiative is going to expand to other counties in central Indiana, and it might include Hancock County.

If you have any photographs or other artifacts about any of our glass factories, please contact Jean Wilfong Howell at jean@visithancockcounty.com. Also, if have have an interest in this history, we are seeking individuals who will help spearhead this effort.

Peace

Jean

Welcome To Hancock County

HCVB — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:11:53 +0000

A Few Facts About Hancock County . . .

Named for John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence who is remembered for his large signature. It is said he wanted King George to be able to see it without his glasses!
Hancock County is divided into 9 Civil Townships as follows: Blue River, Brandywine, Brown, Buck Creek, Center, Green, Jackson, Sugar Creek and Vernon.
Hancock County was organized effective March 1, 1828.
Greenfield is the County Seat and was first settled in 1828 by Meek and Spillman. By 1849 it contained the Court House and county offices, County Seminary and sixty dwelling houses with 300 inhabitants.
James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier Poet, was born in Greenfield and his inspiration for "The Brandywine," "The old Swimmin' Hole," and other poems came from this locale.
A mill just outside of Maxwell blew up between 1892-1900. A friend of the owner called the group that worked there the "dirty dozen!" — Thanks to Charles Snyder
According to the Society of Indiana Pioneers, an individual was a pioneer of our county if they resided here on or before December 31, 1830.
Cynthia's Hallmark shop in Greenfield is one of the three largest Hallmark store in the United States. www.cynthiashallmarkstores.com
Olympic Gold Medalist, Jaycie Phelps, opened Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center in 2010. Phelps, an Indiana native, was a member of the Magnificent 7 in women's gymnastics in the 1996games. The center is located near Mt. Comfort Airport. www.jpacsports.com

Happy New Year!

Jean Wilfong Howell — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:01:41 +0000

Well…it’s a sleepy time of year in Indiana. With these cold temperatures and the snow that has thankfully melted, most of us are driven inside to our cozy homes. It’s not the busiest time of year for events in our community…or probably in most communities. The expense of the holidays causes us to cut back a bit on January and February entertainment…all very understandable. What I do know, though, is that even though it is a sleepy time of year, the planners and leaders among us certainly are not sleeping. This is the period when lots of preparation is taking place. It takes months of planning to make all of our events and festivals successful! As soon as our events of 2010 ended, the planning for 2011 began. You can bet that the committees for the Riley Festival, Second Fridays, Pennsy Trail, Fortville Winter Festival, the Gourd Show, New Palestine Fall Festival, and all the other events in Hancock County have been meeting and working to make their respective events bigger and better. These are the events that we all are familiar with. One of my goals for this year is to help some of the less familiar events gain a new following. There are many events that take place at our 4-H Fairgrounds that go unnoticed. Groups come into our community for their “trade-specific” event, and sometimes we all don’t even know they’ve been here. This year, keep an eye on the event calendars…the one on this site and www.HelloHancock.com. You’ll be surprised at some of the interesting events that you can attend in Hancock County, often at little or no cost. Coming up in January is Shop at the Hop on the 22^nd and in February is the Remote Control Show on the 26^th. Have fun and stay warm!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jean Wilfong Howell — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:30:16 +0000

On this eve of the day that we devote to gratefulness, I want to send out some thankfulness…

–Thank you, Greg Cross, for creating such a great website for our visitors and for our community. You have made the site so user-friendly, and you are a treasured leader in our business community.

–Thank you, George and Chris Katris, for investing in our community with your plans to open Lincoln Square Pancake House in 2011. It will be a wonderful addition to downtown Greenfield.

–Thank you, Jill Ebbert, for your work at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen. It enhances the caring spirit of our community.

–Thank you, Retta Livengood, for your high level of enthusiasm for our community and your unfailing example of goodness.

–Thank you, Indiana Gourd Society, for choosing Greenfield / Hancock County for your state show in April 2011. We will make every effort to welcome your members and visitors with open arms.

–I am grateful to all the ambassadors in our community who welcome and serve our visitors…the hoteliers and innkeepers, the restaurateurs, the service staff, and all the others that I am forgetting.

Peace.

The Great Dane Show was a really big dog show…get it?

Jean Wilfong Howell — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:48:50 +0000

Is that a great line or what?! Bob Hunt at the Creative Arts & Event Center gets full credit…very funny, Bob. Anyway…the Great Dane Show this past weekend (November 13, 14) at the fairgrounds, and was SO much fun. My husband and I dropped in on Saturday to see the big sweeties, and we were just amazed at these magnificent animals. We sat beside an owner who had brought her dog down from Minnesota for the show. She shared some of her experiences with us about the breed. The huge canines tend to be very sedate, to the point of lazy. They are not very motivated to go out for exercise, and really just like taking naps on the sofa…dogs after my own heart! At the show, there was no barking. All the dogs were so well-behaved. They think they are lapdogs so you would see these "shetland pony"-sized guys standing over the laps of their owners. It was hilarious. Apparently, Great Danes are emotionally very sensitive, so the owners are very gentle with them. In the show ring, the owners would put their dogs through their paces, and I was struck at how slowly they go into the "sit" command. It just takes them a long time to get their bottoms to the ground. Most people in the community don't know that this show has been happening in Hancock County for the past 40 years. It is open to the public…no charge. I'm really hoping that next year, we at the Hancock County Visitors Bureau can help the state organization do a bit of marketing to bring in more visitors. Any dog lover would surely have a great time!

Hancock County Visitors Bureau New Website

Jean Wilfong Howell — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:31:34 +0000

Thank you for visiting our new website!

On behalf of the Board and Dave Scott, the Director, welcome to the new on-line home of the Hancock County Visitors Bureau.Â I hope you will find this site to be friendly and alive with lots of interesting and helpful information.Â If you are planning a visit to our community, you will find lots of fun things to do in our beautiful, historic county.

If you are a resident of Hancock County, this can be a great resource for you.Â You might even discover things you didnâ€™t already know about!Â In gathering information for this project, we all were surprised at some of the attractions about which we were unaware.

Hancock County has so much to offer for a weekend get-away, a business meeting, a day tour for a group, or a wedding.Â Weâ€™ll be adding new information on a regular basis, so be sure to check here often.

If you canâ€™t find what youâ€™re looking for, feel free to e-mail or call.

Till next time,
Jean Wilfong Howell

Indiana Gourd Society

HCVB — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:16:06 +0000

The Indiana Gourd Society through individual and organizational activities, promotes educational efforts which advance an appreciation for the gourd’s role and significance in past and present cultures and for gourd cultivation, crafting and artistry.

James Whitcomb Riley

HCVB — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:45:29 +0000

James Whitcomb Riley (1849 â€“ 1916), known as the Hoosier Poet was a rock star in the late 19^th century and early 20^th centuries. Riley was born in Greenfield, and spent his boyhood here.Â After struggling to earn a living as a poet, he came into prominence after writing several best-selling childrensâ€™ books and traveling on reading tours.Â He had tricked his way into east coast newspapers by submitting a poem, â€œLeonanieâ€ under Edgar Allen Poeâ€™s name.Â When he was revealed as the true author, he was proved to be more than just a â€œfrontierâ€ poet and author.Â For more fun history, visit the Riley Home and Museum.