3-20-14 little white school house in ripon celebrates anniversary

Ripon’s National Historic Landmark the Little White Schoolhouse, located at 303 Blackburn Street will celebrate its 160^th Anniversary on March 20^th 2014.  The significance of the meeting that took place in the building in 1854 is magnificent.  Not only were the roots of a political party planted, but the birth of a civil rights movement took place.  In 1854 Alan Bovay called a meeting of 53 voters in the Little White Schoolhouse to organize a new party.  Bovay later said “We went into the little meeting, Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats.  We came out Republicans, and we were the first Republicans in the Union.”  The historic meeting was held due to the Kansas-Nebraska bill, which permitted the extension of slavery beyond the limits of the Missouri Comprise.  Bovay met with Horace Greely earlier to talk about the dissolution of the Whig Party and a formation of a new party to fuse together anti-slavery elements.  Bovay suggested the name “Republican” because he felt it was “a good name with charm and prestige.”  The building is now utilized for tours May-October to inform the public about the importance of the events that occurred in Ripon.  Special events throughout the year will highlight the 160^th Anniversary of the meeting that took place on March 20^th 1854.  For more details please log onto:  www.ripon1854.com