Named after the cathedral city in England, the city of Ripon in Wisconsin, USA was founded in 1849. Located here, at 305 Blackburn Street is a historic former schoolhouse, known as Little White Schoolhouse (or the Republican Schoolhouse). This modest structure is, in fact, the birthplace of the Republican Party. Photographs on this webpage are from a visit here in September, 2018.
It was built in its original location in 1853 as a school building for the town. The school was founded by Alvan Bovay and championed as part of a wider education initiative. Bovay further involved himself in politics, becoming a founder of the Republican Party. The party founding was triggered by the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill extending slavery set beyond limits set by the Missouri Compromise. Meeting at the schoolhouse in Ripon in 1854, some 30 citizens of Ripon and opponents of the Bill called for the organization of a new political party because (schools in these days were traditionally used by citizens as community centres). They voted to form and become members of this new party, naming it “Republican”, bringing together a group who pledged to fight the spread of slavery. They then also took a leading role in the creation of the Republican Party in many northern states during that year’s summer (a national party was formed by 1856). Thus, the February 1854 meeting at The Little White Schoolhouse was the first political meeting of the group that would become the Republican Party. The schoolhouse is a single-storey wood frame structure and is open to the public as a museum. With a modest Greek Revival-styling, the building has a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior, a single framed entrance, and sash windows.
In terms of The Little White Schoolhouse’s history, it wasn’t long until Ripon outgrew this small building and a larger brick school was constructed to replace it. The old schoolhouse was sold to Wisconsin governor George Peck, for use as a home. By the early 1900’s, it became disused, but was saved from demolition by local civic and historical organizations in recognition of its significance. It was refurbished and moved to the campus of Ripon College. It was to be moved twice more to other locations on the campus, before its final move in 1951 to 305 Blackburn Street. In 1974, the National Park Service designated the building a National Historic Landmark for its role in the 1854 founding of the Republican Party. From 2005-07, the building underwent renovation work.
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After a look around The Little White Schoolhouse, time permitted a stroll around the centre of Ripon. Whilst it is noted for its College, a brief walk was taken up to the First Congregational Church, built 1865-68 in the Romanesque Revival architecture style. It was designed by E. Townsend Mix and is also of note, being on the National Register of Historic Places. Further photographs of The Little White Schoolhouse, and also from the walk are shown in the thumbnail gallery below (click on an image to enlarge):
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