Bit of History -- September 24, 2025

A tiny article on the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated September 28, 1922 announced that Miss Zelma Dale had opened a kindergarten in the “west room of the Christian Church where children between the ages of three and six are being admitted for instruction.”  A number of children had already been signed up for the class.  “Miss Zelma Dale is the ideal instructor and the Journal wishes her abundant success.”  

The Ridgeway Public school had a kindergarten class since at least 1907, so this little school would have been in addition to the public school offering.  (Ridgeway News, Oct 31, 1907.)

Bit of History -- September 17, 2025

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated September 19, 1935:  

Students in the Ridgeway Consolidated School District No. 10 organized a “cheer gang” and rang the bells at the school and the Christian church in celebration of a successful local election for the school.  Voters in the district had passed a bond issue by a vote of 404 to 97 to raise $12,000 to update the school plant and build an auditorium and additional classrooms.  “An addition will be built in which will be provided more class rooms and an auditorium which can be used as a gymnasium and a place for entertainments of various kinds.” The school was very overcrowded.  “At present in many of the classes three and four pupils aro compelled to occupy one seat, so crowded are the classes. Some classes have to meet in basement rooms that are far from satisfactory from any standpoint. The present structure was built to accommodate 150 pupils and the attendance now is 340.”  

In addition to the bond money, the district had also applied for federal grants for both construction and to purchase additional land and were told they would receive $1200 additional aid from the state.  They were concerned as grant applications by the city of Bethany to build the new courthouse had already been turned down.  At the time of the article, they had no notice from the federal government if their application had been accepted or not, but they were planning to have blue prints ready and everything in place to get construction started as soon as possible if the grant was awarded.

The election was such a success due to the hard work of the local women’s groups to get the word out about the need for the bonds as well as getting people to the polls.  “No one in a community knows and understands the worth of proper educational facilities for the children than does the mothers.”

Ironically, one of the improvements was that “the present school structure will be made fireproof, something that has been long needed.”  The school burned to the ground 17 years later almost to the day on September 14, 1952.  

Bit of History -- September 10, 2025

The September 16, 1904 edition of the Ridgeway Journal reported that a number of the dilapidated walks about town were replaced by new ones—some of them by the property owners and others by the order of the city authorities.” 

The City of Ridgeway had already had one lawsuit against it for “allowing dangerous sidewalks to remain”. Property owners were expected to maintain the sidewalks on their properties, but if they didn’t and an accident happened, the “taxpayers of a city are responsible in personal damage suits instead of the property owner whose property is out of repair.” The city, therefore, had great interest in encouraging owners to keep the sidewalks in good repair. “Individuals may complain because they have to fix their walks but the public will applaud the acts of the officials it they keep up the crusade until every sidewalk in the city is in good repair. It is the only way to protect the taxpayers from personal damage suits.”

Bit of History -- September 3, 2025

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated September 18, 1941: A fire destroyed the residence and funeral home of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Roberson. “The large stucco two-story house was owned by Mrs. Lou Leazenby and was also known as the old M. E. Neff place. “The Robersons had only been occupying the property since April of that year. The fire started about 2 am and the residents were awakened by the sound of the flames. The fire had too much of a head start and “the efforts of the fire laddies seemed of no avail and the structure was soon reduced to ashes.”

Volunteers saved many of the household goods, but the funeral supplies on the second floor were deemed a total loss. The house and contents were partially covered by insurance. The Robersons were determined to remain in Ridgeway and reopen their funeral home as soon as they could find a “suitable location.” The story was followed by a Thank You from the Robersons to all who had helped them during the fire.