LIBRARY TALK – APRIL 30, 2022
We’re always on the lookout for postcards that tell a tale of Ripley’s past. Our latest acquisition is a ‘house photo’—one of our favorite types of postcards. This one is especially good as it says who was living there at the time. (Oh how we wish we had early Ripley directories and phonebooks!) The card was never sent, so it does not have a postmark on it, but it is an AZO brand card, and by looking at the symbols around the area where you place the stamp, it was produced between 1918-1930. Looking at the clothing, it does look like typical 1920s garb.
So, who was E.R. Young? Eugene Rollo Young was a prominent attorney in Ripley, following in his father William D. Young’s footsteps and then partnering with his dad. Eugene was born in February of 1872, and died in January of 1936. He was the village solicitor, the attorney for the Citizen’s National Bank, clerk for the Union Township Trustees and had an honorable reputation in the law world. He was an officer of the former Ripley military Company, and during the Spanish American War served as First Lieutenant of his company. At the time of his death, he was survived by his widow Maude Evans Young, a daughter Miss Virginia and tow sons Eugene and William. Two of his sisters have some fame—Cora Young Wiles, best known for writing the words and music to the Ripley Song. She was accomplished in music, writing and art, and Hattie Virginia young Palmer was a painter of note, especially when she moved to Texas.
The big question….where is this house? We took a look at the real estate transfer books in the teens and twenties—Mr. Young owned lots of property throughout Ripley, so not sure where all the lots are. (Street addresses are not listed). The 1920 Census says Second Street, the 1930 Census says S. Second Street. In asking some of our longtime residents, it is felt strongly this may be the house that existed where Giovanni’s Pizza is now located. We have heard about the ‘concrete block house’ being there, so this very well might be it. If you have any memories of this house we’d love to hear them, and confirm where it might have been.
