Fantastic documentary! When I was a kid, my family owned a farm in Felicity, Ohio, and my parents would occasionally take us to Ripley. They often talked about the Rankin House and its incredible history. Watching this has inspired me to plan a trip back to visit. You did an amazing job bringing this story to life-thank you!
I am a former Ripley resident and now live in Anderson. That being said, I sincerely appreciate the topic and how well y'all did presenting it! Great job!
I love this!! A large piece of my heart will always be in Ripley! The people, history, and town were instrumental in shaping my childhood. This "River Rat" would love to be able to live in Ripley. Fantastic production showcasing a very special place.
I usually avoid the "suggested" videos when I am viewing something on UA-cam. Today I didn't. Excellent piece about Ripley, The Underground Railroad and how morality and community digress from political wrangling to become something greater. A complex story told economically and without drama about courage - true courage - by people who took a stand and lived it. Brilliant work. Thank You!
We lived in Ripley when I was born, although I was born at the old Hayswood Hospital in Maysville KY. Our neighbor in Ripley, Dr. Lyle Franz, delivered me. We moved to Maysville about a year later, then to a farm in Fincastle, Brown Co., OH. But we had returned to Maysville when I was six-years-old to start school. My eldest sister married & moved to Ripley in the early 1950s. She stayed until she passed away on 4 July 2014 at the age of 79. Physically, she didn't go far, just six feet under at the Red Oak Presbyterian Churchyard. All four of her children were reared in Ripley. Her eldest, an only son, still lives there. Her youngest daughter lives there, too.
Ripley IS a special place. Walk along the waterfront and see houses where UGRR station-masters lived. Visit the John Parker House to hear how he risked his life many times over to bring fugitives to freedom--often by rowboat under cover of darkness. Ride up to the top of the town to visit Reverend John Rankin's House. Fugitives could see the light in the window, climb the 100 steps, knock on his door, and be on their way north. The large Rankin family lived in that small house; their influence was felt through many states. I wrote a historical novel set in Ripley, North to Freedom, which follows two fugitives helped by John Parker as they make their way north to Canada and freedom. It's an exciting story, based on many of the facts Ann Hagedorn researched.
Hi! I’m Gracie, I worked on the doc, and I’m so glad to see other Ripley lovers finding this documentary! I’ll have to read your book! Thank you so much for letting me know about it!
As someone that lived here, grew up here as a kid and moved away to seek a better opportunity as an a adult. Please talk about how there is literally no opportunity for anyone coming up to make a living. I loved this place as a small town as a kid. But I saw my family and so many others that I grew up with, STRUGGLE. there is no where to work, there is no job advancement. Yes this is a beautiful town if you look outside it from a view of not living here. You do a disservice to the people watching this by not telling the full story. Half the time the people of this town cannot even get clean water. After graduating college with a criminal justice degree from one of the best colleges for that program in the nation, eku, I was offer a job as a cop in Ripley for $12 an hour. What an embarrassment and slap in the face. I love the town I grew up in but it is not what’s this video portrays. If you don’t work at the local power plant or limited healthcare facilities, there is no work or living.
Tyler, yes, I agree that Ripley has charm but not much place for opportunity. You notice that both the interviewees made their living by doing something history-related. Perhaps some of those who grew up loving Ripley but having to move away could figure out a way to bring some clean small industries to town.
Hello Tyler, I’m Gracie and I worked on the doc. I’d like to thank you for your concern. I’m 100% in agreement with you in the way that the town has a lot of growing and changing to do. I have lived in Ripley and I have seen how the town needs a lot of help, but I’m hopeful for its future and hope that spreading the word of this beautiful village is to bring more life and opportunities to it.
I love Ripley, it's history, it's architecture, it's people but it could be so much more. I look at towns like Augusta KY or Madison Ind. and wonder why Ripley hasn't had the same influx of capital. Poor leadership perhaps?
Fantastic documentary! When I was a kid, my family owned a farm in Felicity, Ohio, and my parents would occasionally take us to Ripley. They often talked about the Rankin House and its incredible history. Watching this has inspired me to plan a trip back to visit. You did an amazing job bringing this story to life-thank you!
I am a former Ripley resident and now live in Anderson. That being said, I sincerely appreciate the topic and how well y'all did presenting it! Great job!
I love this!! A large piece of my heart will always be in Ripley! The people, history, and town were instrumental in shaping my childhood. This "River Rat" would love to be able to live in Ripley. Fantastic production showcasing a very special place.
I usually avoid the "suggested" videos when I am viewing something on UA-cam. Today I didn't. Excellent piece about Ripley, The Underground Railroad and how morality and community digress from political wrangling to become something greater.
A complex story told economically and without drama about courage - true courage - by people who took a stand and lived it.
Brilliant work. Thank You!
It gives me goosebumps. Talking about taking shoes off. I love seeing the history, I grew up so close too. 💖 Great job.
👏 👍 👍
Me too
We lived in Ripley when I was born, although I was born at the old Hayswood Hospital in Maysville KY. Our neighbor in Ripley, Dr. Lyle Franz, delivered me. We moved to Maysville about a year later, then to a farm in Fincastle, Brown Co., OH. But we had returned to Maysville when I was six-years-old to start school. My eldest sister married & moved to Ripley in the early 1950s. She stayed until she passed away on 4 July 2014 at the age of 79. Physically, she didn't go far, just six feet under at the Red Oak Presbyterian Churchyard. All four of her children were reared in Ripley. Her eldest, an only son, still lives there. Her youngest daughter lives there, too.
Ripley IS a special place. Walk along the waterfront and see houses where UGRR station-masters lived. Visit the John Parker House to hear how he risked his life many times over to bring fugitives to freedom--often by rowboat under cover of darkness. Ride up to the top of the town to visit Reverend John Rankin's House. Fugitives could see the light in the window, climb the 100 steps, knock on his door, and be on their way north. The large Rankin family lived in that small house; their influence was felt through many states. I wrote a historical novel set in Ripley, North to Freedom, which follows two fugitives helped by John Parker as they make their way north to Canada and freedom. It's an exciting story, based on many of the facts Ann Hagedorn researched.
Hi! I’m Gracie, I worked on the doc, and I’m so glad to see other Ripley lovers finding this documentary! I’ll have to read your book! Thank you so much for letting me know about it!
Hey Karen as someone that grew up here please see my comment and give you thoughts? Not to take away from the historical significance of this town.
Dang, was born in Ripley actually
As someone that lived here, grew up here as a kid and moved away to seek a better opportunity as an a adult. Please talk about how there is literally no opportunity for anyone coming up to make a living. I loved this place as a small town as a kid. But I saw my family and so many others that I grew up with, STRUGGLE. there is no where to work, there is no job advancement. Yes this is a beautiful town if you look outside it from a view of not living here. You do a disservice to the people watching this by not telling the full story. Half the time the people of this town cannot even get clean water. After graduating college with a criminal justice degree from one of the best colleges for that program in the nation, eku, I was offer a job as a cop in Ripley for $12 an hour. What an embarrassment and slap in the face. I love the town I grew up in but it is not what’s this video portrays. If you don’t work at the local power plant or limited healthcare facilities, there is no work or living.
Tyler, yes, I agree that Ripley has charm but not much place for opportunity. You notice that both the interviewees made their living by doing something history-related. Perhaps some of those who grew up loving Ripley but having to move away could figure out a way to bring some clean small industries to town.
Hello Tyler, I’m Gracie and I worked on the doc. I’d like to thank you for your concern. I’m 100% in agreement with you in the way that the town has a lot of growing and changing to do. I have lived in Ripley and I have seen how the town needs a lot of help, but I’m hopeful for its future and hope that spreading the word of this beautiful village is to bring more life and opportunities to it.
I love Ripley, it's history, it's architecture, it's people but it could be so much more. I look at towns like Augusta KY or Madison Ind. and wonder why Ripley hasn't had the same influx of capital. Poor leadership perhaps?