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 prior to April 30, 2020. 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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That Frankenstein Mask!! by Steve Nail
As I recall, it was a Saturday morning, just prior to Halloween; the year was 1969. I had just purchased a Frankenstein mask preparing for that event and wanted to show this very realistic looking find to my friends at the First National Bank in Rippey.
I had known Clark, Myron, and Maybelle for years and had stopped in just to say hello, with or without a deposit or in need of a loan. This trio was just a fun group to be around. So, with that as a relationship backdrop, the thought of placing that full head cover mask over my head and walking into that bank and expecting anything but a compliment on how realistic it looked didn’t really cross my mind. WRONG!
As I climbed the bank stairs, threw open the door and entered the lobby four feet from the counter, I quickly realized that my idea was not impressing anyone and could have been correctly identified as a felony in a court of law. Luckily there were no customers in the bank at the time to witness this very awkward situation.
Clark was in his office, Myron and Maybelle were behind the counter and I quickly realized that none of them knew it was me under that mask and what was to happen next. At this point, neither did I. After what seemed like minutes had passed without conversation, I finally began to figure out the reality of the situation. The look on the faces of Myron and Maybelle will remain with me forever. I decided to identify myself, pulled off the mask and witnessed the sigh of relief combining with the elevating notice of anger at the same time. As we finally started to engage in limited conversation and color began to return to the faces of those three bank employees, the atmosphere began to lighten and the belief that my original intension of making their day with a little humor was gradually being accepted.
Luckily, at this point there were still no additional patrons who had entered the bank. After apologizing and promising that I would never, ever, ever pull that one again, I left the bank. This crazy event was asked about for days, weeks and months and I still get asked about it to this day. I doubt I made their day, but I do know that I created a memory. Only in small town Iowa could someone pull this off and still be friends with those you placed at a risk of cardiac arrest, and then turn around the next day and be approved for a loan at a fair and unbiased rate!
Thanks to Rippey, the First National Bank, especially Myron Rinker, and the late Clark Bardole and Maybelle Wisecup. What an understanding group who witnessed and recovered that day, or maybe the day after, from this once in a 150-year event!