NEWSLETTER

MAY 2012
Our future flows from our past.

Ripon Historical Society 508 Watson Street Ripon, WI 54971 USA 920-748-5354 www.riponhistory.com riponhistsoc@yahoo.com Betsy Stanfield, Editor

Pickard House Museum update By Bill Woolley Last summer our Society began the most complete reorganization of the Pickard House Museum in its history. The Pickard House was originally organized as a middle class Ripon home in the initial decades of the 20th century. It is now being converted to a regular museum that will exhibit artifacts from all periods of Ripons history. The work is being directed by our Museum Curator, Joyce Rudolph, who is currently being assisted by Michele Benson and Bill Woolley. The plan, as it has evolved, is to remodel all but one of the rooms on the first floor. The initial work of repainting the walls and refinishing the floors has now been completed and work is now beginning on the exhibits. The original entry room has now been converted into what we are calling the Ripon Room and includes exhibits that provide a brief history of Ripon. This room is now nearly finished. Moving toward the rear of the house, the next room will be devoted to archeological exhibits. Moving to the right of the Ripon Room the former parlor and dining room will become general exhibit areas featuring displays of artifacts and photographs related to various areas of Ripons social, cultural, and economic life in all periods. The current kitchen, one of our most popular exhibit areas, will remain as it is. The current meeting room will feature exhibits related to the Society itself allowing us to recognize the many volunteers and donors whose work and contributions have made the Society possible and also to explain to visitors more fully the many facets of our activities. Moving downstairs, the basement will remain an archives work and storage area, but will be redecorated. We are very excited by all of these changes and are looking forward to celebrating the project when it is completed with a grand open house. Jeff Bumby to serve as Society President in 2012 By Betsy Stanfield Last October, Society Board members agreed to try a new system where four members divided the presidency into four, three-month terms. This decision was made after discussing the many demands on board members time and how challenging it is for one person to serve for a full year. However, after serving his initial threemonth term, Jeff Bumby agreed to continue as president for the rest of the year and the other Board members voted to keep him in the post. Many thanks to Jeff for his willingness to serve.

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RHS Joins Wisconsin Heritage Online By Jeff Bumby In 2005 a group of state institutions holding significant archival collections agreed to form Wisconsin Heritage Online or WHO. The function of WHO is to share archival materials of all kinds on the web. A variety of materials can be shared in digital form such as photographs, artifact images, manuscripts, books, articles and sound recordings. Currently there are 100,000 digital resources available and almost 70 participants; both Ripon College and RHS among them. Andy Prellwitz, Nedra Martz and Jeff Bumby have begun loading photos from our large collection which will eventually be available online. You can get some idea of the vast possibilities by visiting Wisconsin Heritage Online at wisconsinheritage.org. Watch the newsletter for updates on our progress. March Program: Tebon details downtown rehab efforts By Jeff Bumby Craig Tebon, Ripons Downtown Manager, spoke to an audience of 22 at the Ripon Historical Society on Thursday March 22, 2012. The scope of his remarks revealed where Ripon is at the moment with its efforts to revitalize and maintain a healthy downtown commercial district. With his usual positive nature, Craig noted we currently have 75 buildings in the downtown with an assessed value of $18 million. Though there are currently 13% vacancies, we are doing well in spite of the recession. Since Craig arrived in 1988, he developed four areas to guide development in an effort to avoid mistakes: economic structuring, promotion, design and organization. In the almost 25 years of activity, $20 million has been invested in the downtown and given full or part time employment to 688 individuals. Funding for Craigs activities comes from a variety of sources: business assessment, hotel room taxes and various promotional events. Renovation has not only occurred at the street level but the apartments above the stores have been re-discovered by a diverse tenant population which includes some store owners. Craig talked about some of the problems he is dealing with. Stores that are empty cannot be rented as they are and in most cases need extensive re-modeling before a new tenant can move in. The inevitable questions were asked regarding Boca Grande. Craig indicated that we cant predict the final outcome since negotiations are continuing behind closed doors between the principles of Boca and the city.

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April Program: Rogers shares history of Accurate Controls By Grant Stanfield Our April monthly meeting offered RHS members another look at the history, expertise and effects of successful businesses here in Ripon. Thank you to RHS host Gary Wetzel and speaker T.J Rogers, President of Accurate Controls, for a very informative evening presentation. Accurate Controls of Ripon, established in 1982, is an OE manufacturer and integrator of security automation systems for the detention market. Beginning in 1975 as an industrial-based electrical contractor, T.Js father, Tom Rogers, soon branched into the manufacture of industrial controls and Programmable Logic Controlling (PLCs). The quality-oriented firm made the evolution to the detention market in response to a need for improved and more integrated systems in Wisconsin detention centers. The company has also branched out into real-estate development, design consulting, and began Advanced Paper Enterprises, a Ripon-based paper-converting company, in 2008. The company experienced rapid growth during a prison-building boom from the late 1980s until 2008, and today enjoys careful growth limited only by high-level customization. Their commitment to high quality, exceptional support and willingness to accept challenging projects has grown Accurate Controls into the third-largest integrated systems builder and retrofitter in the U.S. With150 installations of security automation systems for detention centers in the past 3 years, and 50 projects currently in-process, Accurate Controls is enjoying success nationally, and has international projects completed in Canada, Guam, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Rogers noted that Ripons strong work ethic, beautiful countryside and wide-ranging recreational activities have helped the company recruit and retain its strong team of employees. Accurate Controls--another company that calls Ripon home and makes this town proud! Coming up in May Jack Steinbring will present a program May 17th at 7 p.m. on Ripon Military Organizations ranging from the Civil War through World War I. Jacks presentation promises to be rich in detail and filled with information that may surprise you!

Remembering Paul Conant, Sr. Paul Conant, Sr., a lifetime Ripon Historical Society member, passed away April 2 at Ripon Medical Center. Mr. Conant was the owner and CEO of Triarch, Inc. in Ripon.

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Ripon Historical Society 508 Watson Street PO Box 274 Ripon, WI 54971 USA

Youre invited! Do you remember buying popcorn for 25 from the vendor on the square? Did you eat at Gus's Pizza? How about scooping the loop after winning the homecoming football game? If you have memories like these or any other fond memories about Ripon's square downtown, then this event is for you. On Thursday evening, May 24, at 7 p.m., Video Age Productions is hosting an evening for Riponites to reminisce about the fun times they had on the square. Video Age is currently working on a historical program that retells the story of Ripon's square and they are looking for fun stories, fond memories, urban legends, romantic moments and anything else anyone remembers about the square. Mark Your Calendar! All events will be held in the Societys Meeting Room at 508 Watson Street May 17, 7 p.m. Ripon Military Organizations May 24, 7 p.m. Life on the Square -4-