Friday, December5,2025
Claude and I were on our way to Ripon, WI, at 2:00p.m., and arrived at Cobblestone Suites at 3:45, as Jay and Laura were unloading; Brad, Janice and Colin followed shortly after.
We are fortunate to have chosen this weekend, since Ripon is celebrating its 35th Dickens of a Christmas with a lot of attractions.
When we told the agent at check-in that we were planning on eating at Roadside Pizza, she said that it wasn't one of her favorites. Janice suggested Knuth Brewery, which was a much better choice. We planned to watch the downtown parade afterward, so we bundled up for the low 20s temperature; Laura had insulated pants.
We ordered beers and soft drinks and the men stood in line to order pizzas. Pizzas were very good, however, the crust was limp.
Jay said that my age permitted me to watch the parade from the upper level of the brewery. I had my handicapped tag to prove my eligibility. There was a steep climb up many stairs to get to the upper level, but I made it.
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Laura and Brad stayed outdoors.
It was a typical small-town parade, that ended with Santa.
https://www.facebook.com/100005646435658/videos/pcb.2870432823154904/2276084876220735?__cft__[0]=AZVreIVw5-uUNbHLEQQO8Jeottof_bC8HHZ5-xZEiILbXaNGr5IR7-5okD49lYDzcr3DgHprYqxFXzxiIilnrXm3QEzJhRjTTxuYKHf2Qq54TzlCbQFg4W7tLtoAbnHQE50&__tn__=*b0H-R
Laura eventually joined us when her toes were getting numb.We had the benefit of a meeting room for Birthday cake and snacks, which we shared with Karen, the hotel agent. We sang Happy Birthday to Jay and Colin got a string of money as a Birthday gift.
We played Taboo where a team had to guess a word with clues that could not include words that would be obvious to the word, while the opposing team monitored.
Saturday
After a mediocre hotel breakfast, we made our plans for the day.
We had a 10:00 a.m. timeslot for the Tour of Homes featuring historic homes decorated for the holiday season. With our lanyards, maps and shoe coverings, we were on our way.
Our first stop was the Ripon Historical Society with collections displaying the history of Ripon from past to present. It was fascinating going through panels with photos, letters and news clippings.
https://riponhistory.org/
The Zobel House is on the Register of Historic Places and we were impressed with the beautiful parquet flooring and woodwork. The owners decorated it tastefully throughout, and there was a lot to decorate in this very large home with numerous bedrooms and side rooms, some approached by a rather steep stairway.The home had belonged to Herman Zobel, a teacher of instrumental music at Ripon College. He was also solo trombonist in the Tripoli Shrine Band in Milwaukee. Plus, he held an number of musical positions throughout the country. His love of music was evident by the musical instruments arranged in the home.
Read his obit here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188788939/edgar-herman-zobel
The Vossekuil/Gallops House was a prominent center for Ripon's social life, hosting events and meetings for local organizations. An account from a previous owner mentions historic details like a servant bell system and two doors in the parlor, believed to facilitate receiving lines at funerals.
It had a beautiful four-season room that I would love to spend time knitting and reading.
The Cheney House was once the site of a honey processing company. We visited this updated home, the fragrance of pine permeating throughout. All of the fresh greenery was provided by a local florist. The barn where the honey was processes is vacant, but plans are being made to re-purpose it.
The New England-gambrel Geoldi home featured a brick fireplace with a mantel the owner built, a nostalgic snowman and German Nativity displays, and a train circling the Christmas tree.
At every home we visited, owners and assistants gave information about aspects of construction, and/or historical significance. At one home there were cookies; at another, hot chocolate.
By this time we were ready for lunch. Janice suggested the Public House. We shared some plates, leaving room for our dinner tonight.
A crew of model railroad hobbyists manned the display at the Ripon Model Railroad Club. Lots of track meandered through the display, going through tunnels, over bridges, passing imaginative scenes.
The men explain all they do in this YouTube video.
The Horicon Bank had an Enchanted Forest of decorated Christmas trees.
And Farrell's Fine Furniture had a Gingerbread House contest.
We took some time out before Jay, Laura, Brad, Claude and I took a walk through the downtown. Laura bought some foot warmers; I found a needle with a large eye at the Ben Franklin store.
People were beginning to come for the Living Windows display that would begin at 5:30 p.m. Besides brightly lit windows, there would be caroling, music and other street entertainment. We could not stay for that since we had a 6:00 p.m. dinner reservation.
We had dinner reservations at the Oakwood Restaurant in the Heidel House. The room was not crowded; therefore, I expected excellent service. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
It took uncomfortably long for Chris to take our drink orders, and when she brought our drinks, she told Claude that they were out of the beer he requested. He agreed to order an alternate. We were almost finished with our drinks, and Claude still did not get his beer. Jay went to the bar to get it. When Chris came to take our entrée orders, I told her that someone had to get Claude's beer. She apologized, saying that the bar misunderstood, and didn't serve it. (Chris was our waiter, not the barkeeper).
We were served our dinners and Chris told Jay that they didn't have the brussels sprouts he ordered. Jay blew his top, telling her that she should have come with that information when she put the order in, not when she is serving the dish.
The meals were delicious, with light piano music in the background. When Chris gave me the bill, she said that 25% was deducted from each entrée. That was a considerable compensation.
We finished the evening playing another word game, writing clues on erasable strips for another person to guess the word.
Sunday
Claude and I went to 9:00 a.m. mass at St. Catherine of Sienna Church. Fr. Chuck Wrobel continued the Dickens' theme in his homily, referring to the Dickens of a Christmas and how Dickens wanted to bring the plight of the poor into our consciousness and the transformation of Scrooge into enlightenment. As we, too, should be enlightened during this Advent season.
Instead of having the meagre hotel breakfast, Claude and I had our breakfast at Wisco Coffee in downtown Ripon.
We had a pleasant drive back to St. Rita Square, arriving at 1:00 p.m.
