Ripton is a fictitious town in Massachusetts, United States. In 1985, Hugh Davis, brother of Hester A. Davis and a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, along with George "Gige" Darey, a local selectman, sought to demonstrate and protest the ignorance of the state bureaucracy in Boston of the rural portions of the Commonwealth. To do so, he invented the town of Ripton, supposedly founded in 1767. He then proceeded to apply for various grants and other official assistance, and the town was allotted funds in the state budget.[1] Several checks were issued, and deposited in an escrow account, before the hoax was uncovered. The funds were returned and the matter dropped.
In 1985, self-appointed representatives of the town of Ripton contacted the U.S. Air Force and invited them to situate antennas for a post-nuclear war communication system in their town. Robbins Phillips, chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Ripton, stated that the antennas would make good nesting places for eagles. [2]
Some signposts in the western portion of Massachusetts still contain "directions" to Ripton. Lawmakers in western Massachusetts have continued to humorously reference the incident in proposed state budgets.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^Woodward, Meredith (1985), "Ripton, Mass. - A Real Nowhere Town", Boston Globe, Boston, MA (published July 16, 1985)
^United Press International (1985), "Where is Ripton? 'We're still looking'", Boston Globe (published July 16, 1985)
^Associated Press (1991), "The Humor Rolls on in the State's Budget", Worcester Telegram & Gazette (published May 29, 1991)
External linksEdit
Signpost in the center of Shutesbury, Massachusetts showing the distance to "Ripton."
Town of Ripton web site.
This Massachusetts-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
ripton, fictitious, town, ripton, fictitious, town, massachusetts, united, states, 1985, hugh, davis, brother, hester, davis, professor, university, massachusetts, amherst, along, with, george, gige, darey, local, selectman, sought, demonstrate, protest, ignor. Ripton is a fictitious town in Massachusetts United States In 1985 Hugh Davis brother of Hester A Davis and a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst along with George Gige Darey a local selectman sought to demonstrate and protest the ignorance of the state bureaucracy in Boston of the rural portions of the Commonwealth To do so he invented the town of Ripton supposedly founded in 1767 He then proceeded to apply for various grants and other official assistance and the town was allotted funds in the state budget 1 Several checks were issued and deposited in an escrow account before the hoax was uncovered The funds were returned and the matter dropped In 1985 self appointed representatives of the town of Ripton contacted the U S Air Force and invited them to situate antennas for a post nuclear war communication system in their town Robbins Phillips chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Ripton stated that the antennas would make good nesting places for eagles 2 Some signposts in the western portion of Massachusetts still contain directions to Ripton Lawmakers in western Massachusetts have continued to humorously reference the incident in proposed state budgets 3 References Edit Woodward Meredith 1985 Ripton Mass A Real Nowhere Town Boston Globe Boston MA published July 16 1985 United Press International 1985 Where is Ripton We re still looking Boston Globe published July 16 1985 Associated Press 1991 The Humor Rolls on in the State s Budget Worcester Telegram amp Gazette published May 29 1991 External links EditSignpost in the center of Shutesbury Massachusetts showing the distance to Ripton Town of Ripton web site nbsp This Massachusetts related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ripton fictitious town amp oldid 1178648494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
