NEWSLETTER: OCTOBER 2006

Previous issues of the newsletter are posted on our website at http://my.core.com/~riponhistsoc.
Newsletter and Website Contact: Jean Woolley 
 

Guided Tours a Huge Success

Our newest community offering, Sunday afternoon guided tours, were very popular. Joyce Rudolph organized this outreach activity, which provided an opportunity for a personalized, in-depth look at the Society’s museum collection and archives. The tours were on August 13 and 27 and September 10 and 24, from 1:00-3:00. Docents and visitors alike commented that the time spent was “quality time.” Joyce’s team of volunteer guides included Mary Brandt, George Miller, Barbara Scott, Nedra Martz, Shirley Williams, and Michele Benson.

Next Program: Changes in Ripon 1990-1993

The October 19 program will feature video footage taken by Arden Gatzke starting in 1990 and ending in 1993. Arden filmed Ripon landmark buildings before and during the time they were being torn down or modified. Some of the featured buildings are Ripon College Memorial Gym, Fullerton Lumber, Ripon Lumber, and Ceresco and Central Elementary Schools. Ripon “old timers” are encouraged to attend and add their recollections during the discussion after Arden’s presentation. Residents who arrived in Ripon more recently will enjoy this view of their city’s past. The program will start at 7:00 PM in Pickard House at 508 Watson Street.

Rush Lake Prehistoric Artifacts Project

Frank and Karin weigh, measure, and classify artifacts

In the February 2005 Newsletter we reported on the beginning of a project to create a computer database for the 7000-piece collection of ancient Indian artifacts collected in the Rush Lake area by Frank Farvour and John Steinbring during a span of over fifty years. In the summer of 2005, Frank and co-volunteer Karin Hanisch completed the classification of 1500 items according to type, weight, measurements, and color. The two continued to work whenever Karin had a break in her school and extracurricular activity schedule. In addition to their tremendous productivity, octogenarian Frank and middle school-aged Karin became good friends, each learning from the other. Both knew that the project would be completed, and Frank could see his long-time dream taking shape as reality. On April 13, 2006, Frank passed away. Karin misses him, but she didn’t lose sight of their common goal. During the summer of 2006, she came to work regularly at the Historical Society just as she had done the previous year. She has now finished recording the classification information on all 7000 artifacts and entering the data into the computer database developed for this purpose by Andy Lyke. The Rush Lake prehistoric artifacts collection now has a new home at the Society. Karin, Nedra Martz, and Ripon College intern Jessica Fuoco moved the entire collection into a secure room in the archives.

Traveling Trunk Now Available

Some of the items in the Traveling Trunk

From classroom to club meeting to senior citizen activities, our traveling trunk is ready to go. Developed by Jessica Fuoco, a 2006 Society summer intern from Ripon College, the trunk is actually a lidded plastic box filled with a variety of duplicate artifacts from our collection. All of them date from about 1900 to 1920. A text describing each item is in the trunk. Also included is a set of ideas for using the trunk in the classroom, with learning activities that address History, English, and Mathematics skills. Grade four is the target level, but the ideas can be adapted for different groups. The artifacts may be handled. While the Society can supply a presenter if desired, the contents of the trunk are self-explanatory and may be borrowed without a presenter. For more information, call the Society at 748-5354 and ask for Mary Brandt.

Solving Mysteries

Our society archives are a fine resource for people who are doing research on local history and genealogy. Questions come via mail, telephone, email, and personal visits. Sometimes our curators and archivists can respond readily because they already have the needed information. More often, these volunteers have to dig. At times, we can’t offer any information, but we end up learning from the mysteries we try to solve. Currently Jeff Bumby is engaged in just such an effort, and he’s been trolling widely through the community for information. The initial request came via email from Dan Radig, who wanted to know about stock car racing in Ripon. Dan wrote, “My interest came from a book that listed race tracks from all over the United States and Ripon was listed, but the time frame was followed by a question mark.” We had no records at the Society indicating that such a track ever existed. Due to Jeff’s conversations with many people about their Ripon memories, we now know that it did exist. Jeff and Ian Stapleton put a story together for the August 24, 2006, issue of the Ripon Commonwealth Press. After the article appeared, Jeff got many calls, with each caller offering an additional piece of the puzzle. While the information still isn’t complete, it’s growing. If you remember the track, please call Jeff at 748-6598.

Lawson House Restoration Projects

The Lawson House, on Ransom Street, is being restored to save its original features with materials like or similar to the original materials used in its construction. The latest project was the repair and maintenance of the grout. The work was done by Dykstra Construction and with the assistance of Bob and Joanne Kleisner. By using the original patent formula for grout and a specific color of sand, Dykstra was able to match the existing grout. The process of restoration was to grind out all cracks; remove larger areas that had loose material and fill with the grout material. The procedure included making lines on the new material to give it the appearance of blocks. Finally, the grout on the entire house was sprayed with a waterproof material that will keep it from absorbing rainwater—guaranteed for ten years. In the past rainwater had been absorbed by the grout, and freezing and thawing had caused it to deteriorate. Other recent projects have been the replacement of the metal roof and gutters, new floorboards on the side porch, and painting of windows and trim. A bat control specialist has secured the house so that bats can no longer enter. Special exit devices were installed to allow any bats already inside during the securing procedure to get out.

East Central Regional Convention

President Todd Berens enjoys Lyle Plagenz’ car

Mary Brandt, George Miller, Barbara Scott, Joyce Rudolph, Todd Berens, Shirley Williams, and Nedra Martz represented our Society at the 2006 East Central Regional Convention at the Grand River Valley Museum in Markesan on August 26. Sessions included ways the Wisconsin Historical Society fulfills its mission by sharing stories of the past, a presentation on agricultural tools and equipment, and an armchair tour of Green Lake County’s historic resources and their stories. Local societies also had an opportunity to exchange information if they are seeking to acquire or dispose of historical materials.

Program on History of Ripon Postal Service

 Fred Boese Nancy Anderson, Jim Konkel, Tom Putzer

We kicked off the fall program season with a good-sized crowd. A panel of five told about the history of the postal service in Ripon. George Miller described the beginnings of the service in Ceresco, the politics involved in moving the post office to Ripon, and means by which early mail made its way in and out of Ripon—including a carrier who walked the mail to and from Fond du Lac using a pillowcase to transport it. Jim Konkel, retired postmaster, Nancy Anderson, current clerk; Tom Putzer, retired city carrier, and Fred Boese, retired rural carrier each described changes they had seen and the impact of those changes. Bev Christ videotaped the program, so if you missed it you can see it on Channel 19.