Happy Birthday, Ripley County

Happy Birthday, Ripley County
Happy Birthday, Ripley County as on April 18, 2025, the county will be 207 years old.
You can celebrate the county’s birthday by learning all about the history of the county in my book, Historic Travel Guide to Ripley County.

Transcript:

Happy Birthday, Ripley County

Happy Birthday, Ripley County as on April 18, 2025 the county will be 207 years old.
Greetings, today I will be talking about some of the interesting places to visit in Ripley County Indiana as we embark on a short auto tour of the county.
You can celebrate the county’s birthday by learning all about the history of the county in my book, Historic Travel Guide to Ripley County. You can find my book on my website, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com or by visiting my booth at the Walnut Street Variety Shoppe on George Street in Batesville.
Created by an act of the Indiana General Assembly on April 18, 1818 the county is awash in history. This episode will briefly talk about some of the more interesting places to go and things to do.

I will start at the county seat, Versailles. Platted in 1819 by Mr. John Ritchie. It was not the first county seat, that honor is reserved for New Marion, which had the first court session in 1818. The court moved to Versailles shortly after and has remained there ever since. Construction on the first courthouse began in 1821 and completed in 1823. Construction began on the current courthouse in 1860 and officially completed in 1863, just in time for Confederate Colonel John Morgan to threaten to shell the courthouse with his cannon during his famous raid across southern Indiana in July 1863. Located on the first floor of the courthouse is the Ripley County History Tree. Carved by Weberdings Carving Shop in 1998 the sculpture is a carved wooden tree with leaves that depict the people, places and events important in the development of Ripley County.

Across the street in the old bank building is the Ripley County Historical Society. The Society maintains many old land, marriage and other records of Ripley County. Near their headquarters they have the Ripley County Historical Museum, which has many artifacts from Ripley County’s past.

Northeast of the courthouse Cliff Hill Cemetery occupies a high bluff overlooking Versailles Lake in Versailles State Park. Two historical markers in the cemetery note two events legendary in Versailles history. The Hanging Tree records the spot where a band of vigilantes captured and hung a gang of desperadoes that had been terrorizing Ripley County residents for a number of years. The men always seemed to evade the law, so one night enraged citizens abducted them from jail and hung them. Another spot, Gordon’s Leap, notes an event in the cemetery in which three medical students, John B. Glass, Jonathan W. Gordon, and Bernard Mullen,, under the direction of Dr. Alexander Mullen, attempted to dig up a freshly interred body for study. A mob of people, expecting such a thing, burst upon them. The men fled. The reached the edge of the bluff overlooking Laughery Creek and hesitated. Fearing their fate at the hands of the mob, Gordon leaped over the edge, followed closely by the others. They rolled all the way to the bottom, with only Glass receiving any injury. They did escape the mob.

If you drive south on Monroe Street you will reach Perry Street. Turn right and this will turn into County Road 25S. This road crosses one of the two covered bridges in Ripley County, the Busching Covered Bridge. Constructed in 1885 by bridge builder Thomas A. Hardman the bridge has been nicely restored and still carries traffic across Laughery Creek. At the end of the road to the right is Versailles State Park. Boasting a wonderful campground, fabulous hiking and many miles of trails maintained by the Southeast Indiana Mountain Bike Association. Versailles Like is a great place to fish and the many picnic shelters throughout the park provide a restful place to relax with a picnic lunch.

Return to US 50 and turn right, west, back towards Versailles. Travel through the town to Us 421 N. Turn right towards Osgood. On the left you will see the Bel-Air Drive in Theater. In operation since 1952 the theater is one of the few drive in theaters left in Indiana, a relic of a simpler time in America and a wonderful place to spend a summer evening watching a good flick.

Traveling north, you will reach the town of Osgood. If you want to take a break and stretch your legs, turn left on County Road 300 S to Osgood Trails Park, parking on the right. A series of paved trails here circumvent some old quarry ponds. It is a beautiful spot to take a restful walk and enjoy the waterfowl swimming on the placid waters. At the park you may notice a strange looking tower off to the west. This is a replica of a Bilby Tower designed by Osgood native Jasper Sherman Bilby. The survey towers he designed were quickly assembled and disassembled for survey crews to use as they made maps of the local terrain.

Continue north on US 421 to enter the quaint town of Osgood. On the right you will soon see the Osgood Historical Museum. This historical gem contains many interesting artifacts, photos and exhibits from Osgood’s colorful past. One of the more interesting items is the King Steam Car. Designed and built by Osgood machinist Henry King, the car first took to the road in 1897, the first known automobile to navigate the road in southeastern Indiana. The last time it is known to have operated was in 1962 in a parade for Vice President Richard Nixon when he visited Columbus. The car has been faithfully restored and is still apparently in operating condition.

Just up the street is the historic Damm Theater. In operation since 1922, the theater has provided movie entertainment for Osgood residents. The theater has been restored and still runs movies regularly.

Continuing north on US 421 to Napoleon you will reach the second oldest town in Ripley County. Platted in 1820, it was considered one of the up and coming towns in southeastern Indiana. A stagecoach line connected it with Indianapolis to the north and Lawerenceburg to the southeast. A major Underground Railroad station existed at the Railroad Inn, now the Union Bar and Grill. An historical marker nearby notes the route of a pioneer road, Berry’s Trace, which led to the west. The Michigan Road, Indiana’s first major highway, connected the town with Madison to the south and Michigan City on the northern border of Indiana. Turn east on Indiana State Road 229 and drive past the Central House. Constructed in the 1820’s the Central House was a stagecoach stop, inn and tavern. It has been restored and hosts several events each year. Continue on State Road 229 to Batesville. Platted on November 3, 1852 the town grew quickly to become a prosperous town with woodworking factories that featured talented German wood carvers. You will pass Brum Woods on the outskirts of the town, another great place to stretch your legs with a hike. Historic Liberty Park is straight ahead on Central Avenue. Driving into the downtown, a left turn on George Street brings you to the Batesville Historical Society Museum, an excellent place to learn about Batesville’s past.

Continue driving north on State Road 229 until you reach Indiana State Road 46. Turn east and drive out of town. As you drive you will see Weberding’s Carving Shop on the left, the company that carved the history Tree. They maintain an interesting gift shop where they sell some of the things they make. Continue driving through the pretty Ripley County countryside until you reach Indiana State Road 101. Turn left to enter Sunman. The Sunman Museum is located on the left in the Town Hall. This small, interesting, museum includes an iron cage that was the first town jail, many artifacts and photos of early Sunman and memorabilia about the Sunman High School teams, the Sunman Tigers.

Continue south on State Road 101 to Milan. A right turn on Carr Street will take you to the Milan ’54 Museum. This museum details the exploits of Indiana’s legendary Milan basketball team that won the Indiana State Basketball Finals in 1954. The museum has memorabilia from the team, a small movie setup where you can watch the game. The hospital bed featured in the hit movie Hoosiers is in the museum. A small display notes the achievements of another Milan resident that same year, Miss Cecilia Dennis, who won the Miss Universe pageant that year.

Drive back north on State Road 101 to Indiana State Road 350. Turn left, west, on 350 and drive to Indiana State Road 129. Turn right on 129 to drive to have dinner at Ripley County’s only operating winery, Ertle’s Winery.

Each of the towns listed has many small eating and drinking establishment where you can dine on a variety of Hoosier delicacies like the famous breaded tender loin sandwich, fried chicken and other Indiana culinary delights. There are numerous small shops as well where you can shop. Support the local economy by visiting these businesses.

The book Historic Travel Guide to Ripley County includes detailed accounts of all of the destinations on this tour as well as much, much more. The Ripley County Historical Society has installed over 40 historical markers around the county. The book notes the locations of all of these and provides detailed back story ab0ut each one. Short histories of each and every town, even those that have disappeared from sight, are included as well as many of the civic organizations that are so much a part of our lives. Residents of Ripley County were active participants in the Underground Railroad movement. The Ripley County Tourism bureau has put together an extensive map and auto tour that allows visitor to visit each of the destinations in the county. The book includes more information about this tour as well. the book is available online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple and other online book retailers in ebook, softbound and audio book formats. Locally it is available at the Walnut Street Variety Shop on George Street in Batesville.

So happy birthday, Ripley County, get out an celebrate the history of this wonderful area.

For more information about the attractions of Ripley County, visit the
Ripley County Tourism Bureau
PO Box 21
220 East US 50
Versailles, IN 47042
812-689-7431
888-747-5394
http://www.ripleycountytourism.com/

I Hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.