On April 5, Hilda and Jerry Strange were named the Outstanding Citizens for 2021! The Women’s Club wish to thank all those who submitted nominations this year. We have many great people living in Ripley! Please join us in congratulating Hylda and Jerry! Read more about Hylda and Jerry’s contributions to Ripley, from their nomination…
Hylda and Jerry live in a historic stone house in Centerville, Ohio, but they spend nearly every weekend in Ripley. Every Saturday morning you will find them having breakfast at the Twins Diner where they can “catch up” with the news in Ripley.
Several years ago Jerry organized some Ripley residents who played the dulcimer into a group called the Banks of the Ohio. They have performed at the Ripley Christmas concerts, Grant Days, River Village Christmas and other community affairs. On a warm sunny day, if you are walking on front Street at 10:00am, you may hear the group practicing on the front porch.
Read more about Hylda and Jerry from their nomination form:
“In 1985 they bought the Collins House on Front Street, designated as a house on the Underground Railroad. The house, at that time, was in a deplorable condition. They decided that the restoration of the house would be done so that the integrity of the house would be unchanged. To this day they continue to keep all repairs up to date. They are always willing to take people a tour of their home and tell them the history of the Collins family and of Ripley. The restoration of this historic house is certainly a benefit to the community.
While Jerry is either working on some project in the house, or playing his dulcimer, you will find Hylda in her straw hat and a wagon full of gardening tools taking care of weeding, fertilizing, planting and generally caring for several areas in Ripley. She tends the area in front of the library, the Annex, the area across from Cohearts, the memorial plaque in front of the original Rankin Home on Front Street, and the memorial for Colonel Young in the Parker Park.
Hylda and Jerry are part of a Ripley Group called the SOB’s (Save Our Buildings). One of the first things that the group did was to restore the building that is now the office for Dr. Alley. They have also been active participants in the restoration of several buildings in Ripley.
Although Hylda and Jerry are not full time residents, they have certainly had a postitive impact on the community.”