A special thank you to all those who have participated in our “I Remember Rippey” series. Your remembrances have allowed readers to share in our town’s history, activities, sports, school, church, and daily life covering 150 years.
We will continue posting online here, using “I Remember Rippey” remembrances received, though those received after April, 2020 will not be in the printed history book. If you would like to read more Rippey history, you may also click on the History tab of the Rippey Library website: https://www.rippey.lib.ia.us .
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An Interview With Mary Cunningham. Rippey Community’s Oldest Female Citizen
In photo above: Mary Cunningham with her granddaughter, Jennifer Brant Eiteman (left), and her great-granddaughter, Delany Eiteman (right).
Mary Ethel Cunningham, age 93, was born at home with the assistance of a mid-wife and Doc Martin. She was the only child of Leeta and Robert. Her parents moved to Rippey in 1928 and she lived near or as she describes, “under the water tower.” She walked to school, starting in 1932 to the “new” Rippey Consolidated School, graduating in 1944 at 16 years of age. Her first job was substituting for the fifth-grade teacher who was absent due to a family illness. Her first paycheck earned her $3.00 per day substitute teaching as a new high school graduate.
She describes helping her Mom with the household chores of gardening, raising chickens, and canning as a child. She recalls at age 11, when Doctor Chase had to sew up her knee after she had a severe biking accident on the unmelted ice by the locker plant. (Formerly located between the Rebekah Hall and the beauty shop/yellow Hawkeye House). Her knee was ripped open through her snow pants and the cut was so deep the bone could be seen. She was held in place by her parents as Doc Chase repaired the wound, since he did not use any anesthesia or Novocain.
She can recall her Dad going to work at the coal mines around Rippey, including the Greene County Coal and McElheney mines. Her Dad also worked as a farm helper earning $1.00 per day, 6 days a week, providing his own lunch and transportation.
She describes the fun she and the other neighbor kids had when the water tower would occasionally overflow, and they could splash around in the water under the tower. She was a natural athlete and could play baseball with the Zanotti boys and one other girl. Her parents also had purchased a croquet set, and she enjoyed that game.
She worked in the telephone office, served as a bookkeeper, and assisted in households prior to becoming the bride of Kenneth Cunningham in 1947. Her mother had taught her to can, and she had a goal of 100 quarts of tomatoes and 50 quarts of beans every season.
When queried she said she only had one professional permanent for her hair. She learned to cut her own hair, as well as provide home permanents for her family members.
The biggest and best change that happened to Rippey in her memory was the paving of every street in the town.
In a follow-up phone call, Mary subsequently thought the biggest change could have been the tiling of the area of the Rippey baseball field. Prior to the county tile * being put in place, the field would flood going across the now County Road, P-46, up to the Methodist Church parking lot. She was told part of a jingle… “Ben Osborn and ole Saul J. (Johnson) went for a boat ride on Ridles’ Bay.” (Ridles were the owners of the property originally).
She recalled a shuffle board located in a park near the former water tower, now the Rippey Fire Station. She and the city kids would play hours of shuffle board. She said the flooring could be picked up in case of flooding, but was probably 8 feet wide by 20 feet long.
She has many wonderful stories, and reported the park, known as Osborn Park, was originally called the Soldier’s Park, and trees were planted there in recognition of the many soldiers who had served in WWI.
She said she and her husband Ken, who drove the Standard Oil Tank Wagon, were entertained by going to the movies in Perry, or to dances. They also played bridge and pinochle with friends in the community.
Her children, David and Kathy, were born at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson, with Dr. Chase in attendance.
She resides south of Rippey with her family and is pictured here with her granddaughter, and her great grandchild. She remains mentally sharp, is well informed regarding current affairs, and has strong political beliefs that she willingly shares.
We thank her for her contributions to our remembrances. Interview conducted by Mary Dorris Weaver.
* Michelle Fields, drainage coordinator for Greene County replied: “The tiles that drain the west side of town to the east belong to Drainage District 119. My records show landowners petitioned the Greene County Board of Supervisors to create that district in March of 1916 and that construction was completed in July of 1917.”