Thursday, March 26, 2015

America's Smallest Community Museum



It may be tiny, but Ripley has a museum! Ripley where, you say?

Ripley, WV! We are only a few miles away from other Ripley's in the world.

I love museums. I have often thought of how great it would be to work at a museum - or to even have one of my very own. So, when I found out we had one right here in our little town - no matter how small it was, I just had to have a look see.

Our town was named after Harry Ripley, a circuit riding minister who tragically died in 1830. Legend has it that he fell in love with a local girl, believed to be the daughter of Capt. William Parsons. He drowned days before the wedding while attempting to cross Mill Creek. Their wedding certificate was found in his coat pocket.





 
The picture above is of West Virginia's last public hanging. It occurred in Ripley, Thursday, December 16, 1897.  




There was a CCC Camp located in Ripley. 
I never knew that!





It does live up to its claim - it is small. At 7-feet, 7-inches wide and 15-feet, 7-inches long, the new museum at the Ripley Convention & Visitors Bureau measures approximately 120-square feet. But, no matter how small, I love  museums. If you are ever in our neck of the woods, check it out. It is located at the corner of North and Church Streets.

Want to read about another small museum in West Virginia. Go here to another post and read about Shoney's Big Boy.


14 comments:

  1. I've been through Ripley many times, but never knew of this place.

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    1. It's fairly new, since the beginning of the year, I think.

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  2. Very interesting and sad about the man drowning only days from his wedding. There is a museum of sorts in our town run by the Historical Society. Lots of pictures and old items.

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    1. Yes, it was sad. A while back they put on a play at the high school about him.

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  3. I do enjoy visiting unique museums. I have never heard of one being even close to as small as the one in your town! Definitely unique and it sounds like you learned a lot too. :) Thanks for sharing!
    ~Jess

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    1. Jess, I love, love, love museums! And this one definitely is small.

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  4. Fascinating. I enjoy browsing through museums too. And I love your picture of the cardinal.

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    1. Hi Beverly. Thanks. I love taking pics of cardinals, they are so colorful!

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  5. Janet -- This post certainly is one that interests me. Particularly the photo of a public hanging and the CCC camp.. A community museum no matter the size is always a welcome addition to the folks that live in the area -- and it also preserves their history. Great idea for small towns. May it grow as time passes by -- barbara

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    1. Hi Barbara, I hope it grows larger, too.

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  6. This post is so neat! I, too, love museums and these stories are so interesting. Have you thought about weaving them into your books or articles? That is so sad about the marriage certificate.

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    1. Hi Anita. Sometimes I do weave truth into my fictional stories.

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  7. The post about Shoney's takes me down memory lane. All the Shoney's restaurants have closed locally, but there is still one open across the Tennessee state line about 15 miles away.

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    1. I used to go to Shoney's before I was married. They came out to the car and took your order, then brought it back and hung the tray of food on your window. It was so neat, for quite a while I didn't know that you could eat inside :o)

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