09/02/11 Marshall County Historical Museum Director Linda Rippy has been chosen to be the Blueberry Parade Marshal for 2011. The parade is Monday morning through Plymouth. The theme of this year’s festival is “Making Memories and Building Friendships.” Rippy was a good choice to match the theme since she has worked diligently for nearly 20 years to make a quality museum for all visitors to enjoy. Rippy’s passion is preserving the memories of Marshall County in a way that all can learn from the experience of visiting Marshall County’s museum. A graduate of Plymouth High School in 1961, she chose a poodle skirt to wear in the parade.
She became Museum Director in 1998 and expanded on the work of previous Directors. Under her leadership the museum has grown to fill three buildings in downtown Plymouth, becoming a destination for tourists and locals alike. The museum offers age-appropriate tours to school groups. Rippy coordinates the retired teachers who help with the instructional aspects of these school tours.
Rippy invites everyone to bring their families and see the model train room and the other new exhibit areas that have been developed as a result of the recent expansion.
Several years ago Marshall County was the recipient of an INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) grant to develop a Transportation exhibit for the Michigan Road, Yellowstone Trail, Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway, and Grand Army of the Republic Highway. That grant and local fund-raising paid for the purchase and renovation of the two buildings to the south of the Lauer Building.
The transportation exhibit is nearly complete and will be open to the public in mid-October.
Rippy is active in other civic organizations such as PEO, Kiwanis, Hoosier Old Wheels, Lincoln Highway Association, Wythougan Valley Preservation Council, and Yellowstone Trail Association. She is the County Historian and a member of the Indiana Historical Society and the Michiana History group. She is on the Plymouth Library Board and a past president of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the First United Church of Christ. In recognition of her civic service, she was named a Distinguished Hoosier by the Governor of Indiana this past spring.
Linda has been married to Rick Rippy since 1962. They have three sons and 6 grandchildren.
