Union Township Public Library - Ripley, Aberdeen, Russellville

08/31/2026

Aberdeen Library

08/27/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
We like to share bits of Ripley history that we find, (often when looking for something else!). We didn't know that Dr. Francis Johnson (1866-1923) was born in Ripley, he was Aunt Polly Jackson's nephew and made tremendous inroads in the medical field in Cincinnati. The information in this book is a good example of needing to check and recheck sources. According to Earlham College records, he was a student from 1881-1883, but we can't find confirmation of his graduation. He did graduate from the Columbus Medical College in 1892. We now have a copy of his thesis in our records. In looking at early 1900s Cincinnati papers, he was involved in politics and worked hard to help create the Peter Fossett Memorial Hospital, Cincinnati's first hospital geared to serve the Black population. The hospital was also a training hospital for physicians and nurses. So yet another Ripley resident that went on to make a positive difference in the world.

Last Thursday night's genealogy class had three new attendees, and we hope the growth continues. Next meeting will be Thursday, September 17th at 6:30 in the meeting room. Everyone welcome.

08/22/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
After the popularity of the Jerry's Restaurant postcard, we looked for another popular Aberdeen restaurant and found a postcard of Frisch's. We suspect this will bring back lots of memories for our readers. We wish every business had postcards made...clearly low tech, but fun to find and share. One would think there would be photos of most every business, but they aren't easy to find. Wish we had a picture of the interior of the library from the early years, but so far, no luck. Recently, the Women's Club was looking for pictures of past restaurants in Ripley, however the success rate was pretty low. We are glad to share what we have, and are always looking for more.

Our Genealogy Club is back for the fall season starting this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The agenda is usually open to the questions brought to the table. Can't find Aunt Gertie in the census? Not sure how Uncle Dan really, really fits into the family? Bring your questions, or share your 'ah ha' moments with us. Melody Kokensparger will bring her Ancestry.com account to use, and there are many other tools , both print and online that help in finding out information on your family.

08/16/2026

08/13/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
While this postcard, from the 1913 flood era, has been shown before, we are sharing it again, not so much for the flood, but for the picture of the corner building long before it was the Riviera (and Snappers was 'just' a house). As the renovations are underway, we find it interesting to look at one of the building's earlier appearances. And hey, the water parallel with Front Street and the wharf boat looking like a house across the street is fun to look at as well.

Seems as if it was only yesterday that school was out for the summer...now it is time to start up again! While 90-degree weather doesn't seem like 'back to school' time, the little (annoying) yellow leaves are falling off the trees in front of the Ripley Library, so we can pretend it is closer to fall. We hope to see the students and teachers using both the school and public library for resources as well as fun reading material. Literacy rules, and the more you read, the more rounded and aware you are! While we love it when you come in to the libraries, we realize time can be short—just a reminder that with your library card and pin number, you can download from the Libby app—many thousands of books (both in print and audible form) as well as magazines are available for free, with both adult and juvenile titles.

08/06/2026

The library staff wish to thank the Village of Ripley for replacing the utility pole last Friday. It was a big job that had to be delicately done so as not to disturb the many cables that ran to it—much appreciated.

The Mahan gift arrived last Thursday—an 1826 copy of John Milton's Paradise Lost. First owned by James Collins of Ripley, then sold to John Mahan in 1830, it has survived in the Mahan family all these years. The book and the print are pretty small for Milton's epic poem—to read it was a test of good eyesight! We appreciate being selected as the next steward of this book.

Thinking of old books, we are in an age that old books of limited issue are now being reprinted—a facsimile, so the text looks just as it did originally. This allows us to have a circulating copy to be checked out! The latest we've purchased is of interest to Civil War buffs—titled The Story of a Regiment: A History of the Campaigns, and Associations in the Field, of the Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Originally printed in 1868 by author E. Hannaford. Why this book? Ripley's Jacob Ammen is frequently involved in the battles, and was in Ripley in 1861 as Superintendent of Public Schools. He was a close associate of U.S. Grant.

August—planning for school, fitting in last-minute summer trips, meeting your reading goals! We are wrapping up the summer reading program for the kids this week, and want to thank the Ripley Boat Club for once again offering the pizza incentive for reading lots of books this year.

08/03/2026

Registration is required for this class.

07/30/2026

From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
Last year, the book Rev. John B. Mahan: Ohio Abolitionist, National Martyr was written and published by Daniel J. Vance. Rev. Mahan (1801-1844) lived up in Sardinia, was an ardent abolitionist, and worked with many of the abolitionist organizations throughout Brown County. Unfortunately, he ended up being a scapegoat for the cause, and his time spent in the jail in Maysville contributed to his ill health. What you may not know is the Union Township Public Library has some unique, original documents concerning Rev. Mahan that the library received years ago from a descendent. Our collection includes a tin travel cylinder with his sermon notes and a notebook listing people that contributed funds to his legal defense - it reads like a who's who of the abolitionist community with names of Gilliland, Hopkins, Salisbury, Poage, Beck and others.
We hope, that by the end of the week, we will be adding yet another artifact of Mahan history. A classic volume that he had in his library with his name written in it. In anticipation of this gift, we've placed some of our Mahan material in the display case at the Ripley library.
While our official 'Summer Reading Program" has ended, we are still offering fun programs for kids. This Wednesday we did junk journalling, next Wednesday at 11:00 we will have some of the 'cool' trucks here in the Ripley parking lot—as long as they aren't on a run, we should have a fire truck, a police car or truck and an ambulance. If your kids (or you!) want to see some of our village vehicles up close, here's your chance.