The famous Smithsonian Institution of Washington D.C., is sending an exhibit to Greene County Iowa! An opportunity at no cost to experience a quality sports memorabilia exhibit at the Greene County Historical Society Museum, for 6 weeks, from August 11-September 23. This is a first for Greene County, and we want to assure Rippey a part of this sports exhibit.
Local volunteer, Nancy Bardole Hanaman, is gathering memorabilia at this time about Rippey sports. The major part of the display will be relating to baseball and some on basketball including the 1954 and 1955 boys’ teams that were in the sub-state tournament. The 1955 game was played before divisions had been identified by school size. The team played Ames at the Armory, losing by about 30 point in the finals of the Sub State, Nancy plans to use the pictures of the teams from the Rippey High School Annual that documents schedules, scores, equipment, and trophies. She will be placing these items at the Rippey Library for local review, and then transferring them to the Greene Co Historical Society Museum, as they will be displayed during the Smithsonian exhibit.
Now is the opportunity for sharing typed or written personal stories, other documents, or artifacts. They will be returned to you by Nancy. She may be reached at 515-436-7684 and would like your assistance in completing the Rippey Sports exhibit.
The Smithsonian display will be set up by 16 persons on August 8 at the Museum. Volunteer greeters are needed for two hour shifts on Saturdays from 10-6:00, Sundays Noon-6:00, Wednesdays 1-6:00, and Thursdays 3-9:00. Please consider volunteering for more than one shift as the display will cover 6 weeks, and will be attracting visitors from Central and Northwest Iowa.
All students, second thru 12th grades are scheduled for tours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It will not be necessary to “learn” how to be a docent and lead tours, rather volunteers will be present to “Welcome” visitors and to observe and make certain they are respecting the display.
This Smithsonian exhibit is a collaborative effort of Jefferson MATTERS Main Street, and the Greene County Historical Society.