Pleak’s Hill, now home to the HighPoint Orchard, turned 150 years old on Saturday, and families flocked to the orchard for a full day of activities and celebration.

The festivities, brought together by Orchard owner Karen Cyman and local radio station WTRE, began just before 11 a.m. when “James Whitcomb Riley,” a 19th century writer, showed up to discuss his life as an American poet and went into detail about his career in Indianapolis as a best-selling author and public speaker.

Riley regaled the crowd with recitations of his most famous works, including “A Nonsense Rhyme” and “Raggedy Man.” He also went into detail about his early life, which included time spent swimming in Brandywine Creek while cutting class. Riley shared the advice of his mother, who supported his decision to shirk his school work.

“Never let school get in the way of a good education,” he said.

After he dropped out of school, Riley said he went on to accept many odd jobs, though writing was always his passion. When studying legal risk amidst a stack of papers on his desk, he made up his mind.

“I just turned them over and wrote verses on the back,” Riley explained.

Riley invited the crowd to participate with him as he recited his famous works before discussing his passing in 1916. Riley was buried at the highest natural point in Indianapolis in Crown Hill Cemetery, while former president Benjamin Harrison was buried at the bottom.

“I’m at the top,” Riley said with a smile.

Once Riley had shared his stories and wrapped up his presentation, the families were ushered to the meal tables to enjoy a big lunch high on the hill. During the meal, the children were entertained by clowns Squirlee and Sparkles, who provided the children with balloons and face painting.

With the big lunch behind them, the party-goers were invited to visit with former President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.

According to the former president, he was born in a one-room dirt floor log cabin and had a total of nine months of formal schooling, while Mary Todd was born into a wealthy, affluent family with powerful political influence.

But before the two met, Lincoln was a young boy who had his religious beliefs instilled in him by his mother, he said. He also explained more about his early childhood, including several instances in which his parents explained to him the evils of slavery.

In 1816, the former president said, he and his family moved to Indiana because it was a slave-free state. Upon moving back to Illinois, he found Mary Todd. When he laid eyes on her at a party, he asked her to dance right away. Mary Todd knew that she had found her future husband.

“He wanted to make sure people had the best,” she said.

That, she added, was the best trait for a U.S. president.