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Chapter
1
How Ramrock Began
European settlers began arriving
in Ramford County in the 1700s and by the late 1800s
the population that would become Ramrock was about
800, all living on farms.
The incorporation of the Town of Ramrock occurred
when the leading citizens were told by the governing
body in Ridgepark that all rural schools would be
replaced by a new school in Ridgepark costing
$50,000. The residents were upset over the cost of
the new central school and the fact that their
children would have to walk over 5 miles one way
over largely unpaved roads to access the school. In
addition Ramrock's small School #22 was already
serving their needs.
Residents
organized several meetings and learned that
Ridgepark was about to incorporate into a town that
would include them. They circulated a petition and
hired a surveyor to determine the preferences of the
landowners on the border of Ridgepark. The resulting
map and petition were completed and filed in the
city of Ramford only a few hours before Ridgepark's
filing.
The new town was incorporated in 1894. The vote was
94 for and 2 opposed. The two opposition votes were
cast because the residents feared that a unanimous
vote might not be considered legal.
Taxes were assessed the next year - $3006 were
collected.
A serious threat to Ramrock happened in 1910 when
the Hodger farm was scheduled for development. The
developers, Mr. Howard and Mr. Laklife spoke
despairingly about Ramrock and demanded that their
development be annexed by Ridgepark. A bill was
proposed to enact the annexation in the State Senate
by Senator Bigham a prominent resident of Ridgepark.
The opposition leader asked for an amendment
allowing the citizens of Ramrock to vote, and when
it was denied, approached the Governor directly. The
Governor intervened, the bill was presented with the
amendment allowing the vote. The bill failed by 15
votes and Ramrock remained intact.
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