The above photo of the new Rippey Mural that celebrates the 150th of the anniversary shows adherence to social distancing due to the pandemic. Left to right; Rippey Mayor, Dan Brubaker, Friends of Rippey Treasurer, Sharon Ulrich, Artist, Sarah Stotts, and Rolling Hills Bank President, Darrell Hockenberry.
The above gathered last Wednesday to admire the completion of the mural created and painted by Greene Countian Sarah Stotts. The mural is located on the exterior east brick wall of the Rolling Hills Bank located on the Main Street of Rippey. The project was funded by the Greene County Community Foundation, along with the match contributed by Rolling Hills Bank.
Bank President Darrell Hockenberry expressed pleasure in lending the wall for painting, and being a part of the funding for the project. While the town did not get to celebrate this summer, the sesquicentennial plus one is planned for June 5, 2021.
Rippey persons, and those with ties to Rippey will be pleased to see the importance of baseball to the community is depicted. A Rippey jersey appears to be hanging near a bat and glove. The glove has a visibly small but a significant name, “WALT” for Walt Anderson. His many contributions to baseball and the town is now commemorated. Sarah also has painted a framed picture of the Rippey Ball Park grandstand.
The “clock” with a railroad engine in the center is a reminder that the town was moved to the railroad line 3 and 1/2 miles from the original location near the Racoon River. Other items shown include the Rippey School Memorial, a lantern and pick representative of coal mining, the grain elevator, the Methodist Church, the Community Building/Library, and a bike to be representative of the Bike Ride to Rippey. The art work for clock design was created by Deb Millard Vodenik.
The Friends of Rippey submitted a funding request to the Greene County Community Foundation for the mural and wishes to express appreciation to the Foundation.
-Mary Weaver