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Summary
This building became significant for a meeting that took place on the evening of March 20, 1854. The people at the meeting were mostly Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats who believed that their respective parties could not prevent the extension of slavery to the north. They came out of the schoolhouse in agreement that one unified front was crucial to the fight against slavery and thus began the Republican Party. In 1860, the schoolhouse was moved and converted into a private residence. The schoolhouses' final owner, Miss Perrine, put the schoolhouse up for sale in 1908. At this time, Samuel Peddrick called the community's attention to the historical importance of the building. It was decided by a committee to purchase the schoolhouse, relocate it, and preserve it for the benefit of the community in 1908. The schoolhouse moved three times around the Ripon College Campus before it was relocated to 305 Blackburn Street in Ripon. It remained at this site until 2023, when the building was moved to its present location at 1074 W Fond du Lac Street. The building is significant as the birthplace of the Republican Party and acts of preservation for a commemorative property.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Politics/Government,Social History |
| Period of Significance | 1854,1908-1974 |
| Architectural Style | Greek Revival |
| Architect | Pratt & Atkins |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | School,Single Dwelling,Museum,Meeting Hall |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Additional Documentation, State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | May 24, 2024 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
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The Little White Schoolhouse Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Friday, August 02, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Little White Schoolhouse in the National Register of Historic Places on July 22, 2024.
1074 W Fond du Lac St
73000079
Located in Ripon, Fond du Lac County
Birthplace of the Republican Party
1938
Text at foot reads: "Birthplace of the Republican Party, Ripon, Wis." Handwritten at foot of image: "First Meeting Held Here-March 20th, 1854. Ripon, Wis." The Little White Schoolhouse, the birthpl...
Birthplace of Republican Party Historic Marker
1074 W Fond Du Lac St, Ripon
Birthplace of the Republican Party
1950
Text on the reverse reads: "The Famous Little White School House, at Ripon, Wisconsin. Birthplace of the Republican Party in 1854." Surrounded by dwellings, trees and a white picket fence, the scho...
