Notes from the Greenfield Historical Society

   Since 1918, November starts on a bittersweet note. On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour the armistice began that signaled the end of fighting in Europe of what was called The Great War (now known as WW I). Greenfield, according to F.R. Harris in his book "Hometown Chronicles," began celebrating that first Armistice Day at 4 a.m. when the night watchman gave the bell in the tower of Town Hall a few taps to signal the good news. After whistles blew, bells rang and guns were fired, a barbeque was held at noon in the town square followed by a wreath being laid at the Memorial Tablet next to City Building. The Tablet listed those who had lost their lives in the Great War. In the impromptu parade that followed the barbeque a hearse with a coffin carrying an effigy of the German Kaiser was one of the floats and when the hearse reached the center of town, the "Kaiser" was strung up on a guy wire and riddled with bullets.  Today our celebrations of Veterans Day are just as heartfelt if not a little quieter.

   Citizens of Greenfield had to contend with a pandemic flu outbreak at that time also. In late fall, schools were closed for a month and places of amusement were shut down. At least one name on the monument in the town square is that of Shelby Spooler, a soldier who died of the Spanish Influenza (its name then) in Chillicothe at Camp Sherman.  His mother always said he would have lived if he had been allowed to come home and she had taken care of him. Today, our research of that devastating killer flu helped pave the way for the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccines.

   A more recent event in Greenfield was the visit of Suzi Parron, author with Donna Sue Graves, of a book on the history and growth of quilt barns and quilt trails in the U.S. Paint Creek Patterns was the 31st trail the Atlanta, Georgia teacher and writer has visited. She spoke with quilt barn owners Debbie Beatty, Mary Ann Larkin and Julia Eselgroth. Her book, due out in late 2010 or early 2011, is being published by Ohio University Press.

   On another note, don't forget the GHS Tour of Homes scheduled for Dec. 6th.  Tickets are available at local banks in Greenfield and at the Grain and Hay Building, McArthur Way and Jefferson St. Greenfield, the day of the tour.  Dinner is also being served there for only $8.00 on tour day.