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Bloomers and Bicycles
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2020/07 – July | Photograph By: Marjorie Christiansen Photography
Bloomers and Bicycles. What do they have to do with the Centennial celebration of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote? Just step into Colonel John’s Cabin on the grounds of the historic Zachary-Tolbert house at the Cashiers Historical Society and view their exhibit A National Milestone With a Mountain View: 100 years of women’s suffrage in North Carolina. You’ll discover that connection and so much more.
This exhibit runs through September 5th and offers a fascinating and creative look at the women’s suffrage movement, paying special homage to Amelia Bloomer who invented the divided skirt which allowed women to ride bicycles. Little could she have imagined that her practical invention would offer women freedom they’d never known. Susan B. Anthony once said that she thought the bicycle had done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.
Fans of Mark Twain may not realize that he was a champion of women’s right to vote, albeit it an initially reluctant one. Upon marrying he quickly changed his tune from being against women’s rights to supporting their efforts, even coining the phrase “Votes For Women.”
Among the other fascinating and informative displays is one of local interest honoring Gertrude Dills McKee, the first woman to serve in the North Carolina Senate. This display was curated by Robert Gleason, the collections manager at High Hampton Heritage Center. Posters for the exhibit were created by Jasper Spurlock, a WCU student and the exhibit was built by Sarah Rogers.
Also on display are the winning essays by two local students, Tristan Biddix and Kaitlyn Stewart, who submitted their winning entries in the Crouch Foundation’s competition on the history and influence of the 19th amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Each student won a $3,000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
Children have their own activity room complete with crafts and activities including a delightful XIX Amendment activity booklet which was authored by Sandi Rogers and designed and illustrated by Kat Ford.
