On September 11, 1963, the Bethany Republican-Clipper featured an article about a novel idea that leaders in Ridgeway were trying. A group of Ridgeway business men had decided that Ridgeway was in dire need of new housing and they formed the Ridgeway Improvements, Inc to build them. One member of the group was quoted as saying “We have lost families from the town because they could not find the kind of home they wanted. We want to prevent this from happening in the future.”
Members of the group pooled their cash or borrowed from the Farmer’s National Bank to raise the funds to build the first house. When it was completed, they planned to sell it at cost to build the next one. The first house was located one block north of the city park on Route T on a lot formerly owned by Dick Polley.
Members of the group included Dick Polley, Wayne Gibson, Forrest Thompson, Dean Kampmann, Carl Emery, Arlo Price, George Light, Dean Leazenby, Ernest Tripp, Charles Pash, Bill Selby, Junior Polley, Keith Polley, Kenneth Polley, Delbert Shain, Francis Shepard, Garland Polley, L. C. Stoner, Dean Williams, Berl Scott, Wayne Polley and Virgil Travis. The group hoped that their efforts would start a revival in Ridgeway. The article also said that “with so many residents interested in Ridgeway’s future, prospects for future growth are brighter than in many months. Undoubtedly any other project for the town’s welfare will find fertile ground for development among these community leaders. “
