Women's Suffrage Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

PHOTO LEFT: Kari Weis (left) and Cassie Ward

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY GRACE BENNETT

On Friday, September 15, visitors to Greeley’s Garden at the Horace Greeley House surely felt magically transported back a century for a couple of fascinating hours.

And that was true whether you arrived dressed in contemporary wear or as a guest fully embracing the spirit of the occasion wearing the era’s fashion. The Garden was decorated with assorted signs on the lawn plus ones with ‘Vote’ banners dangling from robust apple trees; these served as a pointed reminder of the intense struggles of the time, and could only begin to hint that courage and true grit among the women fighting for the amendment were in no short supply as “1,006,503 women in New York State ask you to vote for Women Suffrage; Amendment No. 1, Nov. 6th.”

With this backdrop and with a brochure in hand detailing the women’s suffrage movement and the historical amendment’s ratification, the New Castle Historical Society and their guests celebrated “100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in New York State” with plenty of good cheer and fine food on a beautiful September evening. Guests also enjoyed a challenging game of “Women’s Suffrage Bingo!” Cassie Ward, executive director of the New Castle Historical Society (NCHS) led the game engaging everyone in questions about the history of the women’s suffrage movement.

A special Thank You was extended to sponsors for ‘Susan B. Anthony’: Judy and Morgan McGrath; ‘Elizabeth Cady Stanton’: Margaret Macchetto; and for ‘Carrie Chapman Catt:” Jamie and Rich Comstock, Bonnie and Gerard Curran, Lois and Bill Donnecker, Sue and Ken Fuirst, Georgia and Ron Frasch, Victoria and Owen Gutfreund, Ivy Pool, Kimber and Ray Sanseverino, and Barbara Wagner and Jeremy Novak.

There were also a host of wonderful silent auction items and gift certificates from local business sponsors including the Inside Press (as official media sponsor), Douglas Elliman and the Nicolaysen Agency. The evening was an important backdrop for an upcoming exhibit too.

Following the garden party, the NCHS mounted a new exhibition, New Castle’s Carrie Chapman Catt & the Women’s Suffrage Movement: Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in New York State (on display until June 2018). This family friendly exhibition is packed with historical photographs, documents, and information that introduce museum visitors to the organizations, leaders, supporters, and opponents of the women’s suffrage movement.

For more information, visit newcastlehs.org

(L-R) Kristen Browde, Iris Weintraub Lachaud, Ivy Pool and Kari Weis

(L-R) Adam Brodsky, Judith McGrath and Robert Greenstein

2017 marks the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New York State. New York State awarded this right to women three years before the 19th Amendment expanded it nationwide.

In honor of this significant anniversary, the New Castle Historical Society (located in downtown Chappaqua) is hosting “A Party in Greeley’s Garden: Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in NYS,” on Friday, September 15, 2017, from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm, at the Horace Greeley House Museum.

All proceeds from the event support the NCHS; and a portion of these funds will be used toward the creation of a special exhibition exploring the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the life of Carrie Chapman Catt, a leading suffragist and a former New Castle resident. The exhibition will open in this fall.

“Carrie Chapman Catt, along with her many suffragist contemporaries, will forever be remembered for their steadfast struggle to empower women by solidifying their right to vote. These women, many of whom were extremely active in Westchester County and throughout New York State, exemplify to the fullest what it means to embody strength, courage, and tenacity. Catt’s legacy of determination and independence will inspire girls and boys, and women and men, for generations to come,” said Cassie Ward, Executive Director of the New Castle Historical Society.

“It is important that we recognize, remember, and discuss influential historical figures like Carrie Chapman Catt; for it is in the exploration and understanding of their lives and legacies, that we often find inspiration and guidance for our own, modern lives. The NCHS’s upcoming Garden Party celebration and exhibition provide us with the perfect opportunity to remember, recognize, and discuss these leaders.”

The Women’s Suffrage Garden Party celebration will include 20^th century suffrage-related music, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. At the party, guests will enjoy the historic outdoor space just as the Greeley Family did over 160 years ago. Guests are encouraged to dress like their favorite suffragist, or to dress as the suffragists did, entirely in white.

To buy tickets or to become a sponsor, please visit newcastlehs.org, call (914) 238-4666, or email Cassie Ward at director@newcastlehs.org. Sponsored by: The Inside Press (Media Sponsor), Nicolaysen Agency, Inc., and Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

The New Castle Historical Society is a non-profit organization that discovers, collects, preserves, and communicates the history of the Town of New Castle.

P.O. Box 55 | 100 King Street | Chappaqua, NY 10514 | (914) 238-4666 | newcastlehs.org