The Ripon Rabbit
WHAT WE HAVE LOST
All small Victorian towns like Ripon, Wisconsin have suffered the loss of irreplaceable archaeological remains. Largely this is because they value money before our historic heritage. So sites which could tell us much about our past are bulldozed away to make a parking lot, or historic buildings are demolished for fire-fighting practice!
Ripon has lost dozens of buildings and historic sites because it has totally failed to protect them. Mainly this is due to profound ignorance. The people who are entrusted to run our city have been poorly educated in our community’s past. We have focused on our “Little White Schoolhouse”, and a superficial knowledge of “Ceresco” while destruction of many significant sites prevails.
This exhibit is presented to show some of the many cases where a better understanding of our past by our leadership might have led to some level of protection, or, at least a more satisfactory comprehension of our real history.
It is truly a sad day for the community as the Little White Schoolhouse has been moved despite the efforts of concerned citizens and the attempt to obtain a temporary restraining order. It is disheartening to see such a significant national landmark, full of history and heritage, be treated with such little regard and care.
The rush to move the building has resulted in irreversible damage, both physically and symbolically.
The decision-makers who pushed for this move have clearly shown their priorities are not aligned with the preservation and protection of our nation’s heritage. It is a blow to the entire community who holds the Schoolhouse dear and values the historical significance it holds.
We can only hope that this will serve as a wake-up call for those in positions of power to prioritize the protection and preservation of our national landmarks, rather than their own agendas.
