Generations of students who attended the Rippey school have created a virtual all-school reunion with a Facebook open group – Remembering the Rippey School (Rippey, Iowa). Already, Remembering the Rippey School includes photos from when the school was brand new in the 1920s to the most recent decade, with 1940s school buses and leisure suits in between.
In just two days the group has nearly 220 members, and that number is growing.
Former Rippey students are sharing memories about folks like Charlie Wishman, Nellie Young, Mr Tipton and Miss Johnson.
The Facebook group was started by 1984 East Greene graduate Marc Monthei of Des Moines. Monthei went to school in Rippey from kindergarten through eighth grade, taking out a year for third grade in Dana. His dad also went to school in Rippey and graduated from Rippey High School in 1958.
Monthei shared an article about the pending demolition of the building written by Mary Weaver for GreeneCountyNewsOnline, and after Facebook conversation with several fellow former students from as far away as California and Arizona, he launched the open group. (See the News tab for the complete story.)
“Like many others, the end of the building feels very personal and painful. I’ve got a lot of great memories there,” Monthei said. “I thought the Facebook group might be a place people who have history with the Rippey school could relive some good memories and reconnect.”
He is glad the gym will not be demolished. “It’s a beautiful gym and it is a place that was and is very special,” he said.
