JOHNSTOWN-The U.S. Congress ratified the 19th amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits any state from denying anyone the right to vote based on gender, 90 years ago.
The Elizabeth Cady Stanton Hometown Association says much of the history that led up to that victory in women's rights started in the city where Stanton grew up.
On Saturday, the group hosted a ceremonial banner raising event to celebrate that history. A banner was hung on a city lamppost near the corner of West Main and Market Streets. Eventually, 34 of the banners will hang in the city.
The banners are purple, gold and white - the colors of the original suffragist flag - and highlight the city as the birthplace of Stanton, a pioneer of women's rights.
Each banner was paid for by groups across the region and individuals, including one banner sponsored by Coline Jenkins, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's great-great granddaughter.
Jenkins currently lives in Greenwich, Conn., but made the trip to the city to watch the banner raising
"She connected women and law right here in Johnstown," Jenkins said.
City fire department Captain MaryAnn Mowrey, the city's first female firefighter, placed the banner on the lamppost and said she was honored to be a part of the city's history.
"It's nice to play any small role I can in promoting the women's movement," Mowrey said. "Providing encouragement for the girls coming up-that's important."
Mowrey said she's been with the department about nine months.
Mayor Sarah Slingerland, the city's first female mayor, said she hopes to market the Stanton history the way other small communities market their historical ties.
"I was just in Stockbridge, Mass. at the Norman Rockwell Museum and I thought, we have a name to market," she said. "The significant role of women's history is still impacting the region and that's what we'd like to highlight today."
Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Wally Hart attended the event and said the Chamber includes information about Stanton in their brochures, but they'd like to do more.
"We've talked about that for many years but never really [utilized] it," he said. "It's incredibly important history to this country. I think we've been proud, but quietly proud."
Hart said he's noticed many different groups coalescing during the past two years since the Hometown Association was founded and thinks the enthusiasm at Saturday's event, with a turnout of at least 50 people, is encouraging.
Groups who sponsored banners and attended the event crossed party lines with both the Women Democrats and Women's Republican Club of Fulton County taking part.
Debra Kolsrud, chairwoman of the association, said the group worked on coordinating the event and getting sponsors for the banners since August.
She said if the weather cooperates, city workers will raise the rest of the banners along Main Street from about Union Hall to Johnstown Dodge.
A banner will also be placed outside 9 S. Williams St., a boarding house where Susan B. Anthony and Stanton worked on the 3rd volume of the history of women's suffrage.
In May, flower baskets in purple, gold and white will be hung to complement the banners.
Amanda Whistle can be reached by e-mail at montco@leaderherald.com
