PO Box 176
Ripley, Ohio 45167
Ladies Room
The Ripley Women’s Club, the origin of Ripley Heritage, Inc., has furnished this lovely room which includes a uniquely hand-carved walnut desk. The carving was done by a lady. In the desk are a variety of early postage stamps and postcards, and a copy of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” written by a famous lady who often visited in Ripley, Harriet Beecher Stowe. On the mantle above the desk is a Seth Thomas clock.
You also find a rare tin antique bathtub; a lady’s foot tub; a sewing machine dated 1855 including instruction manual; a dressmaker’s form; a horsehair covered loveseat; a 1917 oriental rug; a variety of “unmentionables,” including those of a Daniel Boone descendant; and a lovely baby cradle with “Susie” modeling the 1800’s christening gown imported from France.
On the bath area wall is a collection of beautiful ladies’ hair combs dating to early 20th century, as well as a lovely jeweled and beaded hand-made collar.
The “Ladies Room” gives tribute to one of Ripley’s first telephone operators whose words “Number, Please,” repeated hundreds of times each day, is still fondly remembered.
The 1920’s Emma Klinker Hauke collection has the unusual feature of Emma’s actual hair, cut and saved by her mother in 1923.Over the fireplace is a portrait of Mary Leavitt Campbell, mother of two daughters who became first in their fields of medicine and politics. Elizabeth became the first female doctor on the staff of any Cincinnati hospital. She retired from the staff at Christ Hospital in 1942. Edith became the first woman to be elected to the male dominated 29 member Cincinnati Board of Education. Even President Taft returned to Cincinnati for the election saying he came to cast his vote for her.
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A sample of beautiful quilting hangs over the wood quilt rack, unusual for the fact that it was made by a man. On the loveseat you find a handwoven coverlet dated 1826.
Displayed on the spinning wheel are authentic samples of cloth made in Brown County. With the spinning wheel is the companion piece known as a reel from which the children’s song Pop Goes the Weasel was derived. The reel would spin around and make a pop sound, and was also known as a “weasel.”
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