Ripon Little White Schoolhouse - Photo by Ripon Historical Society
RIPON, WI (WSAU) – When national Republicans assemble in Milwaukee next summer for the 2024 Republican National Convention, many may want to make the short drive to Ripon to visit the place where their party was founded.
However, as of Monday, the “Little White Schoolhouse,” the birthplace of the party, will now have a new address in town.
The Little White Schoolhouse was established in 1853 as Ripon’s first public school. In 1854, a group of men gathered at this schoolhouse to protest the expansion of slavery into the western territories. The Republican Party was formed as a result of this gathering. Later, it was moved and remodeled to become a private residence, and George W. Peck, who became Governor of Wisconsin in 1891, once lived there.
On March 20, the Wisconsin Historical Society submitted a letter to national, state, and local officials requesting that the building be relocated.
The National Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places programs found that transferring the building to the suggested location was not appropriate, according to them.
The structure has been relocated six times, most recently to Blackburn Street in 1951, and will now be currently be located at W. Fond du Lac Street.
This change will have an impact on the building’s listing on historic registers, which has prompted several state party officials to condemn the move.
“The Republican Party of Dane County strongly believes that removing the property will have significant implications for it’s historical significance. We firmly hold the Little White Schoolhouse as an essential part of Fon du Lac County’s history and will continue to ensure it’s spot on both registries. We express our disappointment that the Ripon Chamber of Commerce chose to overlook this decision and proceed with their plans despite the consequences,” Republican Party of Dane County Chairman Brandon Maly said in a press release.
Maly went on to urge the Ripon Chamber of Commerce to reconsider their decision and search for a more appropriate location that meets the necessary criteria for listing in both programs, allowing the buildings status as a National Historic Landmark to be reinstated.
Milwaukee County Party Chairman Hilario Deleon also released a statement saying, “This is a clear tactic by a progressive leftist chamber of Commerce, attempting to erase the Republican parties abolitionist roots and Foundation. Disregarding the recommendation made by the National Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places is deeply disturbing, especially around the 158th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.”
Assuming the move goes as planned, the schoolhouse will open for the season on the first weekend of May.
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