“History must be imagined before it can be understood.”
(Historian David Blight)
The Falls History Project began in 2000 when John Pellowski and Paul Rykken discussed the idea of a local history initiative. Their goal was to explore community history through authentic sources, with a strong focus on oral history. Rykken started by researching Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr., a BRFHS graduate and Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean Conflict. He aimed to understand both Red Cloud’s story and how the community remembers him. This plaque honoring Red Cloud was originally displayed at the High School on Third Street, which later became a Junior High and then an Elementary School. Today, it is part of the “shared history” wall at BRFHS.
Through 2025, 22 projects have been completed, including nearly 100 interviews with community members.
Paul Rykken directed the FHP from its inception in 2000 through 2021. In 2022, Eli Youngthunder joined Rykken as co-director of the project. Jackson County History Room Historian Mary I. Murray Woods has been a key supporter of the FHP from the start, offering guidance and access to local resources.
Our Current Research
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Falls History Project in 2025–26, our current research focuses on the transformative impact of Title IX (1972) and the rise of women’s athletics at Black River Falls High School during the early to mid-1970s. We are conducting in-depth interviews with four key individuals: educators Mary Mack and Carol Anderson, who helped launch foundational programs, and Kitty Young and Mary Rykken, pioneering athletes who embraced new opportunities and went on to long careers in coaching in various schools, including BRFHS.
In addition to these oral histories, we are exploring newspaper archives and school documents from the era, while actively seeking reflections from women—now elders—who advocated for equity and inclusion in sports. Our team includes junior Lily Sullivan, a standout history student and multi-sport athlete, whose perspective bridges past and present. This project honors the legacy of those who broke ground and invites the community to reflect on the enduring power of access, advocacy, and athletic opportunity.
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.”
(L.P. Hartley)
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