40 Years Later: The Fire That Still Haunts Ripley

By Ripley Gazette Staff

Archive image of smoke and flames consuming the west wing of St. Joseph's.

Smoke pours from the west wing of St. Joseph’s School for Girls on November 12, 1985. Fourteen students were never found.

What Really Happened?

RIPLEY, WISCONSIN — It’s been forty years since flames tore through the west wing of St. Joseph’s School for Girls. At 2:14 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 1985, a blaze broke out that left fourteen students unaccounted for—and a town forever changed.

Ask anyone who’s lived here long enough and you’ll hear stories: about the girls who whispered about being mistreated, about a ritual they planned to end it, about the headmaster who never walked out— and the names that never made it to the plaque. All probably hold morsels of truth.

What’s certain is that the west wing burned, the investigation raised more questions than answers, and St. Joseph’s closed its doors for good. The building still stands at the edge of town, shuttered, fenced off, and waiting.

Today, the west wing is a scar on Ripley’s map—a place parents warn kids away from and teenagers dare each other to approach after dark. Some say the town moved on. Ask the families of the missing, and they’ll tell you Ripley never did.

Local News

Portrait of Finn Jones, smiling in a classroom.

Finn Jones Crowned Little Mr. Ripley 2026

By Ripley Gazette Staff

RIPLEY, WISCONSIN — At just three years old, Finn Jones has already secured a place in Ripley history. This week, the town’s youngest resident was officially crowned “Little Mr. Ripley 2026”—a title bestowed by neighbors who have watched him grow up before their eyes.

Locals have grown used to seeing Finn charm grocery clerks, greet passing patrol cars with an eager wave, and make regular appearances at the town’s parks alongside his parents.

“He has that kind of presence. You just notice him, like he belongs here,” said one resident. In a town marked by past tragedy and long-kept secrets, Finn’s bright spirit has quickly become a symbol of something else entirely—a sense of renewal.

O’Leary’s Launches Townwide Search for Ripley’s Best Mixologist

By Ripley Gazette Staff

Interior of O’Leary’s Pub, with patrons seated at the bar.

RIPLEY, WISCONSIN — O’Leary’s Pub has officially called on the town of Ripley to step forward—one cocktail at a time. In an announcement made late Tuesday evening, the longtime Main Street establishment declared a townwide search for Ripley’s Best Mixologist.

Bartenders, hobbyists, and creative residents alike are invited to craft an original Signature Ripley Cocktail that could soon find its way onto the big screen. The winning drink will be featured in the upcoming independent film WORN, and will also be served at the film’s world premiere in Kenosha.

Participants are being asked to submit an original recipe along with a short video explaining the inspiration behind their drink and why it represents the spirit of Ripley.

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