PRESIDENT’S CORNER

 

We hope you noticed the new format for our Newsletter. Our Editor, Shirley Williams has worked hard on this, trying to develop a Newsletter that will be informative, interesting, and reflective of the character of our Society. I think she has done a great job, but both Shirley and I would still appreciate any feedback and constructive suggestions.

 

I would also like to draw attention to our Special Projects Day that is featured elsewhere in this Newsletter. We are developing ways for Society members who are unable to attend regular meetings to still get involved, even if only a small way. The projects we are developing take no special expertise and can be carried out in a few hours. We also think that people getting involved in them will find them interesting.

 

Finally, we like to include in our Newsletter, whenever possible, some piece of Ripon History. This time we are relying on Frank Farvour’s reminiscences. We hope other members can contribute stories, excerpts from letters, or other documents that give us interesting and personal glimpses of our past.

 

SPECIAL PROJECTS DAY

 

Ralph Quinney prepares to paint a porch

 

The Ripon Historical Society is planning a wonderful new activity for all members. This will be a Special Projects Day, and it is planned for Saturday, August 16^th. It will be held in conjunction with our Summer Open House on Sunday, August 17^th, making that time a Historical Society weekend. The purpose of Special Projects Day is to give members who do not have the chance to participate in the work of the Society on a regular basis an opportunity to get involved with a sort-term project that they might find of interest. Projects planned for this time include organizing a number of scrapbooks the Society has received and photocopying portions of the Society’s collected obituaries. Special Projects Day will begin with coffee and doughnuts at 9:00 A. M. and will be finished by noon or earlier. If we all help we can accomplish much together and Special Projects Day may become an annual event. The Summer Open House will be held on Sunday and will feature old-fashioned children’s games, some items for sale, Randallin Nichols’ new exhibit in the Children’s Room, musical entertainment, and refreshments. The hours of the Open House are 1:00 to 3:00 P. M. Mark your calendars for this interesting weekend.

 

VETERANS FROM SOCIETY FEATURED ON TELEVISION

 

Our own dedicated members, George Miller and Arden Gatzke, were interviewed in connection with a series of Wisconsin Public Television programs on World War II. The first program in the series has already been broadcast and included parts of the interview with George. George served in the 41^st Infantry Division in the South Pacific, mainly in New Guinea. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for bravery and service. A taped copy of this program is being added to our collection of video materials. We anticipate that portions of Arden’s interview will appear in the second program in the series scheduled to be broadcast this fall. Arden served in the 2^nd Armored Division in Europe. He was awarded the Purple Heart, seven battle stars, and the Belgian fouregerre, an honor rarely given to non-Belgian soldiers.

 

VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH TOMBSTONE PROJECT

 

Clarence and Diane Bemis have undertaken a project for the Society involving making photographs of tombstones in Ripon cemeteries. Older tombstones in several of our cemeteries have fallen over and some are in danger of being covered over and lost. In carrying out their project, the Bemis’s will actually photograph all tombstones as well as make a record of each one in the cemetery.

The Bemises are natives of Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties. They have a long lasting interest in genealogy and have special workshop training in that field. They have visited and studied cemeteries and historical societies all over the United States. Our Society has been promised a copy of the completed collection of photographs, which will be a wonderful source of genealogical information for both Ripon citizens and outside researchers.

 

RECENT SOCIETY PROGRAMS

 

Professor Martin Farrell from the Politics and Government Department of Ripon College attracted a sizable crowd at the Historical Society on Thursday evening, April 17^th. People who attended were rewarded with an extremely interesting and provocative presentation. Dr. Farrell, who has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors for the past ten years, outlined the structure and objectives of the County Board as well as some of the challenges it faces. The major problem he discussed was the growing tendency of the state government to load the counties with an increasing number of unfunded mandates while not only reducing shared revenues but also limiting the counties’ ability to tax their citizens to raise the funds.

 

Speaking to a crowd that nearly filled our meeting room at our program on May 15^th, Diane Mockridge used art slides and other materials to illustrate a presentation on the impact of the so-called Commercial Revolution on upper middle class women in northern Italy. According to Dr. Mockridge, new opportunities created by the revolution for men in this class led them to postpone marriage until their mid-thirties while still selecting as wives girls in their late teens. The perceived need to keep their business secret also led these men to distrust their wives and to deny them any role in it. As a result, the traditional vision of marriage as both a family and an economic partnership was disrupted and women entering marriage relations in this class often found themselves isolated, mistrusted, and, sometimes, physically abused.

 

NEW EXHIBITS AT THE SOCIETY

 

Boys and their toys

 

Our exhibit specialist, Randallin Nichols, has mounted a new exhibit in the Children’s Room entitled Boys and their Toys. This new exhibit demonstrates in toys the changing of the times for young boys between the decade of the thirties and today. In the thirties and forties we saw cowboy figures such as Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers and now we have the Power Rangers and other action figures. Also on display is a rare Buddy L Truck, so popular with boys of the thirties and forties. Adults, as well as children, will want to see this tasteful and well-displayed exhibit.

Joyce Schenke is responsible for the attractive setting of the pink glass dinnerware in the Dining Room. The glass dinnerware set dates from the 1940s and was donated to the Society by Alice Stroinski. At present we have only three historic dinnerware settings, which we put on rotating display in the Dining Room. The gift of other four-place settings with some historic tie to Ripon would be greatly appreciated.

 

NEW SUMMER INTERNS

 

Jessica Kinzel and Jessica Owens

 

This will be the year of the Jessicas at our Society as both of the new Ripon College interns who were selected are named Jessica. The interns are Jessica Owens and Jessica Kinzel. They are working as part of the ProCollege program sponsored by Ripon College, which gives students interested in an area of study the opportunity to do research and other work with professionals in that area. This year’s interns will be working with George Miller on the Zobel family papers and with Mary Brandt on artifacts once used to advertise local businesses. They will also be working with Dr. Russell Blake of the History Department at Ripon College on projects related to the archives of the College. The students will also be involved in their own research projects using Society materials.

 

OUR GARDENS

 

Barbara Scott works in the gardens

 

Our gardens, which are both historical and highly attractive, are a source of great pride to all of us in the Society. They also require considerable work to be maintained. While Board Member, Alan Hargrave is responsible for all grounds of the Society, nearly all of the work related to the gardens comes from volunteers. Arlyn and Bonnie Sanders have undertaken overall responsibility for the gardens themselves and have invested a great deal of time, effort, and plants in maintaining them. Other members have adopted certain portions of the gardens as their own project. Evelyn Kain has adopted the southeast “L” where the Christmas roses are grown and Susan McConnell has adopted the garden located around the barn. This adoption system works quite well so that we hope that other Society members with green thumbs might consider adopting a part of our gardens as their own.

 

 NEW SOUND SYSTEM UNDER CONSIDERATION

 

 The Society, under Harry Heilemen’s direction, is experimenting with using sound systems in our meeting room. The experiments so far have shown such a system to be highly advantageous, but a final decision has been delayed pending consideration of costs. Any input from members on this issue would be appreciated.

 

RIPON FEATURED IN MONTAG NEWSLETTERS

 

As part of his Vagabond in the Middle program, Thomas Montag publishes a monthly newsletter recounting his research and the research of others related to his project. There have been stories about Ripon written by Christina Abel, a Ripon College student who has been assisting Montag, in both of the last two issues of this Newsletter. The January issue contains a story about the relationship of the Congregational Church with Ripon College and the February issue contains a story about the College’s Prairie Conservancy. The Society receives copies of the Newsletter, which are available in the Library.

 

BOBBIE SCOTT IS PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN MINNESOTA

 

Bobbie Scott, who played a major role in developing our educational outreach program in the elementary schools in Ripon, has recently accepted a position at the Sherburne County Historical Society in Minnesota. At the Society she will be responsible for all programs, for maintaining the Society’s website, and coordinating the work of volunteers. Bobbie’s professional education was focused on Scandinavia so that she is particularly pleased that her new position in Minnesota will provide her with significant opportunities to make use of that education and research.

 

LOCAL HISTORY BOARD MEETS AT RIPON

 

The Board of the Wisconsin Council for Local History chose to hold its most recent meeting at the Ripon Historical Society. The meeting took place on the afternoon of April 26^th.George Miller and Mary Brandt acted as hosts. Several Board members took advantage of the meeting to tour our facilities afterwards. Many of you probably recall that our Society hosted the annual East Central region meeting of the Wisconsin Council for Local History last summer.

 

TREASURER’S JOB CHANGES HANDS

 

Harry Heilmann prepares for a finance committee meeting

 

Timm Nelson has regretfully resigned as Treasurer of the Society citing increasing issues related to both his personal life and career that prevented him from giving the work of our Society the attention he felt it deserved, His resignation was accepted by the Board with deep regret. Although Timm took on the duties as Treasurer only a short while ago, he approached the job with a combination of conscientious carefulness and enthusiasm that will be sorely missed. We are happy to announce that our own capable Board member, Harry Heileman, has agreed to take over as Treasurer for the rest of the year.

 

OPEN HOURS AT THE SOCIETY

 

There has been some confusion recently about whether our Society has regular hours when it is open to the public. Our present policy is that we do not have hours when we are generally open to the public. It is true that several Society members work here during morning hours some days of the week and when they are here the doors are unlocked. However, none of this is regularly scheduled and cannot be counted upon. To avoid disappointment and frustration, it is our policy that any person wishing to do research at the Society or seeking reference service should made an appointment first by means of letter, telephone call, or voice mail.

 

RECENT DONATIONS

 

The Society recently received a gift of $1000 and some valuable archival materials from James and Suzanne Marvin. Suzanne Marvin is the daughter of Gib and Dorothy Lambert who were long-time active members and benefactors of the Society.

Franklin Farvour donated a very special clock which is now located in our Meeting Room. The clock is linked to the National Observatory and corrects itself every few seconds. So, thanks to Frank, all our meetings will be timely in more ways than one.

 

RECENT DEATHS

 

Ramona Kohl Kessler, long time Ripon Historical Society member and donor, died on June 14^th, 2003. “Mona” worked on the “March of the Madonna” project in Ripon in the 1950s. She also helped with the popular Ripon Heritage Prints. Mona was a graduate of the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee.

 

HIKE TO SOUTH WOODS

By Frank Farvour

 

Frank Farvour is always ready with a story about Ripon in yesteryear

 

Note: This story was taken from Frank Farvour’s collection, Grandpa Stories, published privately in Ripon in 2002. The hike Frank describes happened in the late 1920s.

 

During the mid 1920s we had no family automobile so everywhere we went, unless we got a ride with some car owning friend, we traveled on foot. Gramps and I put in many miles together as we walked to the site of the next adventure he has in store for me. He didn’t hold back on my account either, his stride was fixed and I was the one to make the adjustment. Everything he did had a purpose and so did this. I soon developed the strength and endurance to stay with him on walks to any part of town and back home from there. One Saturday evening in late spring Gramps declared that Sunday afternoon would be a good time for us to take a trip to South Woods.

 

I had heard of South Woods but knew very little about it. This certainly would be something new. I was to wear my well-seasoned “high cuts” (boots) and tough overalls. We would have dinner (at noon) at home but would take a snack with us as “survival rations” to have mid-afternoon. Sunday dawned bright and clear, and I was ready and raring to go by nine o’clock in the morning. As always, the hours up to; departure time seemed to take forever to pass, but finally the noon meal was eaten and we were ready to go. We left by the back door and walked along the North edge of Mr. Kohnke’s land next door—we couldn’t stay on our own property because is was completely surrounded by high woven wire chicken yard fence. Climbing that fence was something that absolutely was not done. Once we got to the “back street” we followed it a short distance and then took off cross-country again, following the line between the Falk and Ratajczak properties. This took us to a dirt road, which we followed briefly before turning in to the driveway of the Gehrke farm. We walked between the barn and the granary, through a gate to a lane along side the barn yard, and up a slight rise in the ground—and there it lay in the valley before us: South Woods itself. I have never seen so many trees al in one bunch before in my life. We still had a half-mile to go before we got to South Woods Road and the lane leading into the woods itself.

 

There were so many wonderful things to be seen along the way! At a fence corner Gramps pointed out a big granite boulder that had been broken in two. In the half showing in the pile of rocks was half of a round hole that had been drilled into the rock. Gramps matter-of-factly said, “Yep, that’s where they drilled a hole into the rock and stuck a stick of dynamite and touched her off and blowed that rock clean in two. Powerful stuff, that dynamite.”

 

As we approached South Woods Road, Gramps held the fence wire while I crawled through into an adjoining field. Gramps went ahead of me as we walked cautiously toward a semi-open area near the fence corner. When we stepped out of the long grass there before us was an open hole in the ground between three and four feet in diameter. Its sides had been completely walled up with stone. Gramps held my hand tightly and said, “Now listen.” He took a small stone and dropped it down the hole. It seemed to take forever before I heard it hit the bottom. “’Bout forty feet down I figger. A feller could get hurt pretty bad fallin into that thing. You sure gotta keep your eye peeled for that sort of thing when you’re pokin’ around in strange country. Old Bill Kohl oughta cover that damn thing up afore somebody gets hurt in it.” (The next winter Janet Fargo did fall into that old well and broke her ankle. Gramps was visibly shaken when he heard about it. I guess he figured if Kohl wouldn’t cover the hole he should have done it himself. Shortly after that a big slab of rock was laid over the opening.)

 

Getting to the woods itself was like entering a different world. The foliage was sufficiently developed to make the path a shadowy green tunnel. My imagination had all manner of wild beasts and beings hiding in wait to grab me. When he had to walk single file I held tight to the waistband of Gramps’ trousers. The first time I did it, Gramps turned to see what was going on. I don’t believe I ever saw such a grin on his face as he put on with that.

 

We followed the trail south, crossed several fences, and came out into a meadow that seemed like the most beautiful place on earth. A sparkling creek came down the valley to meet us and big willow trees stood here and there along it. The land was privately owned and was being used for pasture, so we were now out of the brush and brambles. Ahead of us stood what looked to me like a mountain. It was a sheer cliff of bare limestone, and wonder of wonders, the creek came out of a hole in front of it! I had never seen a spring before and was truly impressed.

 

Although we had walked only about two and a half miles, I was ready for a rest and thought longingly of a cold glass of water. As if reading my mind, Gramps just said, “C’mon,” and headed for the spring. As he approached it, he took off his perennially slouched hat and whapped it against his leg. A cloud of dust flew, but it diminished with each continued strike. Then he turned the brim up and made sort of a little dipper out of the front and proceeded to dip up a drink of water in it. Strange thing…the felt held water like a cup and I enjoyed the sweetest water I had ever tasted.

 

We sat in the shade of the great rock and ate the apple and cookie that Mom had put up for us. A few more drinks from the hat brim cup and the world looked more beautiful and peaceful than ever. I was happy to just sit there and enjoy it all.

 

Not so with Gramps. Admonishing me to stay put, he turned and scrambled up a crevice in the rock like a monkey. My heart stood still as he perched on the very edge of the cliff and put a fresh chew of Plow Boy into his mouth. That done, he came down the rock with the same ease with which he had climbed it.

 

It was time to head for home. My lessons in nature and the world around us continued. Rocks were overturned to see what was under them and rotten logs were kicked apart. Plants and shrubs were identified and songbirds pointed out. I was a completely tired and happy little boy when we reached home, I certainly would sleep that night. I don’t know who was the happier, Gramps or me, but most likely we came out even. We made more trips to South Woods after that, but that first one was by far the most unforgettable.

 

Shirley Williams

Newsletter Editor

 

Shirley Williams marking items that have recently been accessioned