Hometown Broadcasting Community Calendar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2023

CONTACT:  Mandy Kimes
                    920-748-6764 office
                    920-896-5707 chamber cell or mandy@ripon-wi.com

LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE SET TO MOVE THE WEEK OF APRIL 17TH, 2023

Birthplace of the Republican Party

Ripon, Wis – The Chamber of Commerce announced back in October its plans to move the Little White Schoolhouse and with spring arriving in Wisconsin, the time to move has come!

This isn’t the first time the Little White Schoolhouse has moved. It was first located on the triangle of Blackburn, Thorne, and East Fond du Lac Streets, where it served as a schoolhouse until 1860. When the school outgrew the building it was remodeled to be a private home. In 1908 it was moved to Ripon College, where it occupied three different locations. The building then moved to its current location on Blackburn Street in 1951.

Preparation for the move is underway with plans to relocate the building the week of April 17th. It will take an impressive feat of coordination and engineering to move the 170 year old building including the temporary relocation of power, cable and telephone lines as well as police escorts to help control traffic.

The Schoolhouse will travel north down Blackburn Street and turn west to 1074 W Fond Du Lac Street where it will be placed on its new foundation.

According to our research, plat maps, directories and the census from that time show the land at 1074 W Fond Du Lac Street as once owned by the William Dunham family, which has intriguing historical significance.

The historic meeting that led to the formation of the Republican Party took place on March, 20th 1854. Although there isn’t a formal list of those who attended the meeting, as no individual roll call was taken, there is a sheet with the names of individuals compiled by Reverend Samuel T. Kidder, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Ripon, and Samuel M. Pedrick in 1900.

According to Pedrick who was a respected attorney, historian, and published author as well as one of the founding members of the Ripon Historical Society, Mr. William Dunham was a meeting attendee during the founding of the Republican Party! We look forward to learning more about the Dunham family, their former farmland, and their property, in the very near future.

“This process is a great example of how preservation and progress can work together and reminds us of Ripon’s unique history that guides and inspires our future.

From idealistic dreamers to entrepreneurial pragmatists, Ripon has always been known for its innovative spirit and active citizenship. As a Midwest frontier village, the junction of 5 main roads made Ripon a great place for a booming economy and that same spark lives on today,” said Executive Director of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, Mandy Kimes.

We are thankful and honored to continue the preservation efforts of this important piece of history. “It was in 1902 that Samuel Pedrick led the charge to preserve the Little White Schoolhouse. He felt strongly that the Schoolhouse, as “Birthplace of the Republican Party,” was essential to understanding and appreciating Ripon’s heritage and special character.”

Pedrick organized citizens and businesses in town to acquire and restore the Schoolhouse and the community came together to support the project. We couldn’t agree more with Samuel Pedrick and we look forward to involving the community in this next chapter of the Little White Schoolhouse.

This move is a great opportunity to increase visibility and expand all that the Little White Schoolhouse has to offer. The property will allow for the Schoolhouse to sit further back from the road and allows us to create a visitor center. The property expands back into a wooded area and will truly enhance and expand all that the Museum offers while maintaining the integrity of the building and the original historical landscape. The parking lot will allow for easy parking for cars and buses.

“The possibilities are endless,” Kimes adds. “This will reignite the Little White Schoolhouse as a tourist attraction for Ripon just in time for the 170th anniversary of that eventful meeting on March 20th, 1854. Not to mention the proximity of Ripon to Milwaukee, which will host the 2024 Republican National Convention.  This move is going to be so good for our local community.

When speaking about the Little White Schoolhouse, Dr. William Wooley, Ripon College History Professor Emeritus explained, …”Ripon is special because we have a special story, it’s not a story about a national political party, it’s a story about a group of people who seeing a great wrong in their nation, decided to get together and do something about it…they succeeded and changed history. My mind is it’s the best story any little town in the country could have…”

The Chamber of Commerce looks forward to keeping Ripon’s “special story” alive and the expansion possibilities that this new property will provide!

The Little White Schoolhouse looks forward to opening in time for the season depending on the coordination of the move. The Little White Schoolhouse is open on weekends May ~ October and is open daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sources:

Quotes taken from the booklet titled, “A History of Ripon’s Little White Schoolhouse Birthplace of the Republican Party.” by William J. Woolley

Quotes taken from the video titled, “The Founding of the Republican Party Ripon, Wisconsin.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziuN11VRXI

Community Office Hours for April:

Wednesday, April 5, Plainfield Dining Center

Mary Mlodzik, Transportation Coordinator

“Presentation during lunch”

Thursday, April 13, Redgranite Fire Department

Cathy Duesterhoeft, Elder Benefits Specialist

9a – 11a

Tuesday, April 25, Wild Rose Community Center

Julie Johannes, ADRC Resource Specialist

1p – 3p

March 14, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Waushara County Department of Aging Contact: Carolyn Schmidt (920) 787-0403, or Carolyn.Schmidt@co.Waushara.wi.us

Popular Program ‘Aging Mastery®’ Returns for Spring Session

Seniors looking to make small but impactful daily changes that lead to healthier living outcomes are invited to take part in the Aging Mastery Program®, a free, 6-week workshop sponsored by the Waushara County Department of Aging in conjunction with UW-Extension. This well-attended, on-going program was developed by the National Council on Aging and is held nationwide both in-person and virtually for people 55 and over.

The fundamentals of Aging Mastery® support modest lifestyle changes to empower and support health and longevity. Attendees walk away with skills and tools to achieve personal wellness goals. “Aging Mastery combines health and wellness curriculum with expert local presenters on a variety of topics that have direct links with aging,” says Carolyn Schmidt, Programs Specialist with Waushara County. Topics covered include Financial Fitness, Advance Planning, Falls Prevention, Healthy Eating and Hydration, and Exercise and You.

“One of the benefits of the program is getting to know others who are going through similar experiences as you are. I’ve watched participants walk away having learned tips not only from the materials and speakers, but also from each other. It’s an opportunity to learn and socialize by meeting new people too,” says Schmidt.

This in-person session of Aging Mastery® runs from April 6 – May 11, 2023, Thursdays, from 1:00pm 3:00pm at the Wautoma Library. You do not need to be a Waushara County resident to take part. There is no cost to attend the program which is geared for people 55+. Pre-registration is required by contacting the Department of Aging, (920) 787-0403.

The Ripon Middle School is proud to present, “The Little Mermaid (Jr),” April 13th-15th, in the Ripon High School Auditorium.

Based on the 2008 Broadway production and the 1989 animated feature film, this classic Disney title contains all of the songs from the Academy Award® winning animated feature film as well as three new songs from the Broadway show. THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, the king of the sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she’s the girl with the perfect voice.

Performances begin at 7pm Thursday, April 13th and Friday, April 14th; and at 2pm, Saturday, April 15th. Admission is $7 for adults, $1 for children, with tickets available at the door. A bake sale and 50/50 raffle will be held during intermission to support the middle school drama program.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2023

CONTACT:  Mandy Kimes
                    920-748-6764 office
                    920-896-5707 chamber cell or mandy@ripon-wi.com

LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE SET TO MOVE THE WEEK OF APRIL 17TH, 2023

Birthplace of the Republican Party

Ripon, Wis – The Chamber of Commerce announced back in October its plans to move the Little White Schoolhouse and with spring arriving in Wisconsin, the time to move has come!

This isn’t the first time the Little White Schoolhouse has moved. It was first located on the triangle of Blackburn, Thorne, and East Fond du Lac Streets, where it served as a schoolhouse until 1860. When the school outgrew the building it was remodeled to be a private home. In 1908 it was moved to Ripon College, where it occupied three different locations. The building then moved to its current location on Blackburn Street in 1951.

Preparation for the move is underway with plans to relocate the building the week of April 17th. It will take an impressive feat of coordination and engineering to move the 170 year old building including the temporary relocation of power, cable and telephone lines as well as police escorts to help control traffic.

The Schoolhouse will travel north down Blackburn Street and turn west to 1074 W Fond Du Lac Street where it will be placed on its new foundation.

According to our research, plat maps, directories and the census from that time show the land at 1074 W Fond Du Lac Street as once owned by the William Dunham family, which has intriguing historical significance.

The historic meeting that led to the formation of the Republican Party took place on March, 20th 1854. Although there isn’t a formal list of those who attended the meeting, as no individual roll call was taken, there is a sheet with the names of individuals compiled by Reverend Samuel T. Kidder, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Ripon, and Samuel M. Pedrick in 1900.

According to Pedrick who was a respected attorney, historian, and published author as well as one of the founding members of the Ripon Historical Society, Mr. William Dunham was a meeting attendee during the founding of the Republican Party! We look forward to learning more about the Dunham family, their former farmland, and their property, in the very near future.

“This process is a great example of how preservation and progress can work together and reminds us of Ripon’s unique history that guides and inspires our future.

From idealistic dreamers to entrepreneurial pragmatists, Ripon has always been known for its innovative spirit and active citizenship. As a Midwest frontier village, the junction of 5 main roads made Ripon a great place for a booming economy and that same spark lives on today,” said Executive Director of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, Mandy Kimes.

We are thankful and honored to continue the preservation efforts of this important piece of history. “It was in 1902 that Samuel Pedrick led the charge to preserve the Little White Schoolhouse. He felt strongly that the Schoolhouse, as “Birthplace of the Republican Party,” was essential to understanding and appreciating Ripon’s heritage and special character.”

Pedrick organized citizens and businesses in town to acquire and restore the Schoolhouse and the community came together to support the project. We couldn’t agree more with Samuel Pedrick and we look forward to involving the community in this next chapter of the Little White Schoolhouse.

This move is a great opportunity to increase visibility and expand all that the Little White Schoolhouse has to offer. The property will allow for the Schoolhouse to sit further back from the road and allows us to create a visitor center. The property expands back into a wooded area and will truly enhance and expand all that the Museum offers while maintaining the integrity of the building and the original historical landscape. The parking lot will allow for easy parking for cars and buses.

“The possibilities are endless,” Kimes adds. “This will reignite the Little White Schoolhouse as a tourist attraction for Ripon just in time for the 170th anniversary of that eventful meeting on March 20th, 1854. Not to mention the proximity of Ripon to Milwaukee, which will host the 2024 Republican National Convention.  This move is going to be so good for our local community.

When speaking about the Little White Schoolhouse, Dr. William Wooley, Ripon College History Professor Emeritus explained, …”Ripon is special because we have a special story, it’s not a story about a national political party, it’s a story about a group of people who seeing a great wrong in their nation, decided to get together and do something about it…they succeeded and changed history. My mind is it’s the best story any little town in the country could have…”

The Chamber of Commerce looks forward to keeping Ripon’s “special story” alive and the expansion possibilities that this new property will provide!

The Little White Schoolhouse looks forward to opening in time for the season depending on the coordination of the move. The Little White Schoolhouse is open on weekends May ~ October and is open daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sources:

Quotes taken from the booklet titled, “A History of Ripon’s Little White Schoolhouse Birthplace of the Republican Party.” by William J. Woolley

Quotes taken from the video titled, “The Founding of the Republican Party Ripon, Wisconsin.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziuN11VRXI

The Ripon Middle School is proud to present, “The Little Mermaid (Jr),” April 13th-15th, in the Ripon High School Auditorium.

Based on the 2008 Broadway production and the 1989 animated feature film, this classic Disney title contains all of the songs from the Academy Award® winning animated feature film as well as three new songs from the Broadway show. THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, the king of the sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she’s the girl with the perfect voice.

Performances begin at 7pm Thursday, April 13th and Friday, April 14th; and at 2pm, Saturday, April 15th. Admission is $7 for adults, $1 for children, with tickets available at the door. A bake sale and 50/50 raffle will be held during intermission to support the middle school drama program.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International.

Press Release: Rip City Game-Con 2023 

Ripon’s first ever board game convention, benefiting
Wisconsin-based non-profit Mana Oasis

Please join us as we escape into other worlds through board games, all the while benefiting
crucial non-profit Mana Oasis. 

April 15^th from 10 AM – 10 PM

Locally-owned and operated board game and hobby shop Alexandria Games (AG) is proud to partner with non-profit Mana Oasis to bring Ripon’s first ever board game convention to town, Rip City Game-Con (RCGC). Mana Oasis, a veteran-owned organization out of Juneau, WI, has the main mission of supporting veterans and first responders by creating a sense of community and increasing awareness around trauma, mental health, and suicide by using trauma-informed tabletop and role-play gaming. The Mana Oasis community is facilitated by trauma-informed gamemasters and supported by trauma-informed peer supports.

Did you know that 22 veterans per day take their own lives, according to a 2012 report from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs? That is 22 too many. Mana Oasis facilitates a safe space to build relationships with others, which allows players to share their traumas and mental health concerns, thereby reducing the mental health stigma and encouraging them to reach out for support.

On a broader note though, mental health concerns don’t stop with veterans and first responders. Now more than ever, folks of all ages struggle with mental health concerns. One of Alexandria Games’ main missions is to be a safe space for all – those who live on the margins because of their abilities, race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender, age, mental health status, and any other person who may feel “othered.” With RCGC, AG’s goal is to put on an annual event for all-ages. AG invites Ripon’s community of heavy-duty nerds, casual gamers, and all those in-between to participate.

RCGC will be structured similarly to other board game conventions — there will be different tables playing different games at different times. A full schedule of games will be out soon as well as additional information.

For details, visit the Rip City Game-Con website at: www.ripcitygamecon.com 

To speak with someone about RCGC, contact: 

Lauren or Patrick McConnell, owners of Alexandria Games, info@alexandriagames.com; 920-896-6231 

 Eric Wagner, founder of MANA Oasis, Eric Wagner, eric@manaoasis.com; 262-506-4655 

Interested in becoming an event sponsor? Contact Alexandria Games today!

The Ripon Middle School is proud to present, “The Little Mermaid (Jr),” April 13th-15th, in the Ripon High School Auditorium.

Based on the 2008 Broadway production and the 1989 animated feature film, this classic Disney title contains all of the songs from the Academy Award® winning animated feature film as well as three new songs from the Broadway show. THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, the king of the sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she’s the girl with the perfect voice.

Performances begin at 7pm Thursday, April 13th and Friday, April 14th; and at 2pm, Saturday, April 15th. Admission is $7 for adults, $1 for children, with tickets available at the door. A bake sale and 50/50 raffle will be held during intermission to support the middle school drama program.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International.