RICHMOND, Ind. – Organizations are shaping Wayne County through their efforts to give back and the Wayne County Foundation is one of the earliest organizations to work in providing financial relief throughout the area.

The Foundation is a private organization, founded in February 1979. The Wayne County Foundation was one of the first 12 community foundations in Indiana. Since then, it has worked to meet local needs by connecting donors with causes that matter.

“We are touching lots of organizations in all parts of the county,” said Rebecca Gilliam, Executive Director of the Foundation.

The Foundation is always partnering with nearly 200 organizations in some capacity, ensuring directed donations reach their intended recipients. It supports not only social service nonprofits but also arts and culture, parks, and outdoor spaces.

“What the public sees is, they see grant programs. They see that we offer opportunities for nonprofit organizations across the county to apply for grants. They see that we have scholarships for students to continue their education,” said Gilliam. “The nonprofits see that there are funds that provide them with ongoing support, year over year.”

Gilliam said Wayne County is an incredibly philanthropic community and that donorship has increased. According to the Wayne County Foundation website, in 2024 the Foundation granted more than $3.64 million to the community.

“They believe that the community is worth it. It has the potential to grow to thrive. It already is in some pockets, but then they also recognize that there are areas that aren’t,” Gilliam said.

The Foundation accepts a variety of donations. This can come in forms of cash, check or credit card, securities, estate gift, life insurance, crops, charitable remainder trusts, and more. Donors can work with the Foundation to target specific organizations or causes.

Each year, the Foundation recognizes two individuals with two honors, the Charles A. Rodefeld and Ruth J. Wickemeyer Awards.

These awards recognize those who have made a significant impact on the community. This year, David Jetmore received the Rodefeld award. Howard and Patty Lamson received the Wickemeyer Award. 

Additionally, the Foundation offers Rapid Response Grants for nonprofit organizations. These grants cover an urgent opportunity that requires immediate funding for a 501(c)3 organization. Numerous scholarships are available to students county-wide and through specific schools.

Several local organizations received grant funding in the spring to support community improvement projects across Wayne County. A Better Way Services was able to make renovations to enhance safety and security, while Animal Care Alliance is recruiting an associate veterinarian and expanding its services. The Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County was granted funds to revitalize Camp Guy, improving the camper experience and enabling year-round use. Every Child Can Read received grants to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. Ivy Tech Foundation is looking to purchase a virtual welding machine to serve more students at its Richmond campus. Morrison-Reeves Library received funds to launch a Mobile Book Truck aimed at reaching rural and underserved areas. Lastly, the Williamsburg Area Community Center was granted funds for electrical system upgrades and interior painting.

The Foundation’s current goal is shifting towards a stronger community leadership role. In the last five years, it launched the Forward Wayne County initiative. The program connects towns across the county to work on shared goals of improving educational attainment, growing the population, and enhancing quality of life.

The Foundation is developing a county-wide Strategic Investment Plan, created with input from 11 of the 14 towns in Wayne County. The plan identifies priorities based on community needs and aims to guide how federal, state, or private dollars are deployed.

The Foundation continues to seek out impactful projects from local organizations and welcomes applications from nonprofits across the board.

RICHMOND, Ind. – Thistlethwaite Falls is ranked among waterfalls in Indiana, offering a blend of history and beauty. This man-made waterfall is located in the heart of Richmond, making it a hidden gem among the town.

In the early 1800s, industrialist Timothy Thistlethwaite blasted through bedrock to redirect the West Fork of the Whitewater River. His goal was to power a sawmill, and in doing so, he created one of Richmond’s beloved outdoor attractions. Though man-made, the waterfall has been shaped by nature over time.

The waterfall is made up of limestone rock, which is common in this region of Indiana. The flow of water has smoothed the stone, creating natural steps.

Thistlethwaite falls is located just south of Waterfall Road, right across from Springwood Park. Free parking is available, and a short hiking trail that leads directly to the falls. The walk is accessible for families, hikers, and photographers looking for a spot of nature.

What makes the falls even more appealing is the year-round accessibility. There is no entrance free, and it remains enjoyable in each season. This can be a spot to cool off in the summer, enjoy the leaves of autumn, or watch the snowfall in winter.

RICHMOND, Ind. – Richmond’s oldest street festival celebrated its 44th year on the first weekend of October.

Held on South 4th Street in Richmond’s historic district, the fair took place October 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission was free.

This year’s event included around 136 vendors, offering a wide variety of handmade goods, arts, and crafts. A special Kids’ Zone, organized by Life Spring Church, featured games, a bounce house, and a new obstacle course.

Near South B and South D Streets, two food courts served up a range of food options, including baked goods. The fair had 14 vendors dedicated to food. Several tents were set up, offering spots for people to sit, rest, or enjoy a meal.

Live music was held on two stages throughout the weekend, and visitors took part in giveaways and raffles.

Handicap-accessible parking was available near 4th Street, and additional parking was organized to keep vendor and public areas separate.

“Parking has always been my biggest desire to improve,” said Tom Davis, co-organizer of the fair.

Preparations were in place for weather, with shelters set up in case of rain or early snow.

South 4th Street is home to over 200 buildings that are hundreds of years old. The fair first began 44 years ago with a woman named Gertrude Lucky-Ward. Ward started the fair to shine light in an area of Richmond that was struggling. The fair was a way to draw attention to the neighborhood’s charm.

“This particular section of town was having difficulties and problems. So, what she did was begin with an arts and crafts type fair to begin to make people aware of this area,” said Tom Davis. “It turned from one of the most negative areas of Richmond to one of the positive areas.”

The fair is now run by 4th Street Foundation Inc., a nonprofit formed by Tom and Gail Davis in 2022. The Foundation was set up to keep the fair going, after it was once struggling.

The Davises first moved to Richmond in 2021 and quickly got involved with local events including the fair.

“The houses, the different things about it have such an aura to it. I love to explore and see what’s going on,” said Tom. “There’s just so much here that is so much fun.”

Proceeds from the fair benefit 4th Street Foundation, Inc. and organizations they give back to. This also includes public art installations by local artist Dale Lewis, who is carving tree stumps around Richmond into sculptures. One stump was carved at the fair. The Foundation is also supporting the addition of new LED streetlights in surrounding neighborhoods.

The Davises said they’ve seen growing enthusiasm from locals. A Facebook post asking for fair memories received more than 300 responses. The fair isn’t just about vendors and music, it’s about pride in a place they hope continues to grow stronger.

“The people of Richmond respond, they’re looking for a direction of guidance,” said Tom Davis.

With a banner hung across South 4th Street, the fair once again welcomed neighbors, families, and first-time visitors to celebrate Richmond.

“It’s really exciting when RFD strings the banner across the street with their mega trucks and extension ladders, it just brings the excitement that this is it,” said Gail Davis.

Image courtesy of Jessi Thornburg.

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Two Sisters: Books & More is a local bookstore in Richmond that was started from a lifelong dream.

 The store, which opened in late September 2012, is the creation of sisters Kate and Patty Glen. The two had imagined owning a bookstore since they were children. The dream finally took shape one summer when Patty had just graduated from college and Kate was on summer break from her teaching job. A space became available along Fort Wayne Avenue, and the timing felt right.

“The words we most often hear people use are ‘peaceful’ and ‘quaint.’ We try to keep the shop a calming place with an old-world vibe,” said Patty Glen, in an email.

Kate and Patty come from a family of readers, with planned family reading time becoming the norm growing up. While operating the store, the two also have careers outside of the bookstore. Kate received an English degree with a Master of Arts Administration. She currently works at the Boys and Girls Club. Patty majored in anthropology and classical studies before becoming a field archaeologist. She now works as a Corporate Safety Coordinator.

The bookstore is designed around what they dreamed of when they were younger, with nods to historic eras, favorite books and characters, and comfy seating areas. They self-built the bookshelves and designed them strategically to be like a maze.

“For us, a bookshop is a place where you go to wander around in search of books, and we wanted to encourage and reward that kind of shopping,” Patty said.

Kate suggested the store’s name to reflect their shared ownership. The shop’s logo is a design based on how a family friend remembers the sisters as children.

Kate, the elder sister, is also a published author. Two of her books, The Misadventures of Martin Hathaway and its sequel Shipwrecked Off Heramathea's Cove, were even adapted into plays by the Earlham College Theatre Department and performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Two Sisters features a wide variety of books. Patty said it’s the bookstore’s mission to get people the books they need, and they will make special orders if they do not have a specific title in stock.

The bookstore occasionally hosts reading challenges and seasonally offers tea that is themed around books and authors. Its back room is also available for public reservations, making it a space for meetings, study sessions, or quiet gatherings.

Patty added that keeping books affordable is part of their mission, too. The store offers discounts for students and tries to keep pricing affordable.

When asked about the bookstore’s role in the community, Patty Glen said it is a community hub where people can slow down for a while and connect with the lives of others, whether that’s real or fictional.

“It’s a place that allows you to curate your own collection of knowledge, resulting in a personal library as unique as the individual doing the collecting,” Patty said.

In describing the local reading culture, Patty used the word “eclectic.”

“It means we have to find as wide a variety of topics to have on the shelves as we can. It’s not so much changes over the years that we’ve noticed, but rather there is definitely a seasonal aspect to which genres of books are being sold,” Patty said.

She noted that the demand often shifts around events like school breaks or summer travel.

Kate and Patty are planning to host an annual Burns’ Night, a celebration honoring Scottish national poet Robert Burns. They are also working on an education section for homeschoolers and participate in the Wayne County Book Crawl in October.