Meet Your Neighbor
- Erin Oxender
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Read more about your neighbors featured in the latest issue of the Minerva Park Community Association Newsletter
Meet the Ricklys! Bill and Jean have lived on the east end of Minerva Lake Road since they built their home in 1958! Both grew up in the Linden area and met as children. They lived three blocks apart and attended the same church and schools.
They married in 1957 and spent a year in an apartment before building in Minerva Park. Relatives of Bill’s were constructing houses in the village, including their own, and built the Rickly’s home on hole #2 of the golf course. Back in 1958, many lots were still empty, and the area was known as the part of the park with no trees!
Bill’s father was an industrial engineering professor at OSU and owned a machine shop where Bill spent his career working alongside him.
Their daughter, Amy, was born in 1962. Jean recalls Minerva Park as a perfect place to raise a family—secluded, quiet, friendly, and full of neighbors who pitched in to make it special. Amy went on to earn her medical degree from Miami University and now lives in Powell, where she raised her family.
Bill helped bring the Minerva Park pool to life, going door to door selling village-sponsored bonds to fund its construction. He even recruited the manager of Linden Beach pool—Bob Jackson—who became Minerva Park’s first pool manager in 1963. The Ricklys have been members ever since and are the only residents who hold a lifetime membership!
Jean was active in the Women’s Club, which organized village events like the annual dance. She also volunteered at a hospital, church, and the school.
Minerva Park was once full of activities—bowling leagues, bridge club, and a yearly variety show at Hawthorne. The lakes were popular for ice skating and hockey in the winter, creating many cherished memories.
The village even held a 4th of July Parade, and in 1995 it doubled as a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Minerva Park amusement park! Jean shared with me her copy of The Villager from August 1995, complete with a write-up and parade photos. Bill added a fun twist that year by leading a goat cart carrying their three grandchildren!
Bill and Jean love to travel and shared fond memories from trips across Europe, favorite southern states with friends, and a 3-week road trip out west visiting national parks.
The couple are members of Central College Presbyterian Church and enjoy spending time with Amy, her family, and nearby relatives.
Fun Facts about the Ricklys and Minvera Park!
In 1978, the village offered residents a chance to trade in their bonds for a lifetime pool membership. Bill and Jean were part of the small group who took the offer—and they are now the only Minerva Park residents still holding a lifetime membership! Jean still has the pass in her scrapbook!
Last Summer they celebrated Jean’s 90th birthday with a party at the pool. Jean was presented with a certificate declaring her birthday an official day of celebration in the village!
The original pool plans included tennis courts on the property. There wasn’t funding for the courts so the green space was used to grow - corn!
If you’ve ever heard the history of the Minerva Park corn roasts, the corn was grown at the pool and harvested for the dinner!
The village has many clubs, including a barbershop quartet that included Bill as a member!
The Ricklys didn’t play golf but Amy and friends would set up lemonade stands to sell cold drinks and found golf balls to the players!
Owners of the golf course, who lived in on Minerva Lake Rd, purchased a vintage firetruck that was the first rig used by the village.
If you or a neighbor would like to be featured in an upcoming Meet Your Neighbor article, please email ErinCaseyOxender@gmail.com.
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