More about local women activists

Published December 6, 1995

1918 ... You are marching single file en route to a temporary billet in the next village. The U.S. has entered the war in Europe. Shells are flying overhead. Chilled, hungry and homesick, you observe from the corner of your eye several women gathered along the side of the road ahead. Dressed in Salvation Army uniforms, these women are thrusting two hot fried cakes into the hands of each man marching by. As you murmur a grateful thanks and sink your teeth into one, all the smells of Mom’s kitchen crowd into the taste and you never forget that moment. Mrs. Adjutant Electra Hammond and Mrs. Adjutant Pauline Swartz were among that small group of women who risked their lives to furnish the boys in the trenches with warm doughnuts in the shell zones of World War I.

Miss Marie Furman also went into that war, as an Army nurse. Her older sisters, Cora and Marjorie, were active on the home front. Cora, as a young girl, took part in the first sit-down strike staged in Coloma earlier in the century; and Marjorie we see seated at a piano on a truck in the middle of Coloma’s main street, accompanying the singing for the gala program which marked the Armistice Day celebration.

From the Civil War on, women had become involved in social reform movements, including better education for girls, temperance societies, working to abolish alcohol, missionary societies supporting the spread of Christianity, and legal right for women, as well as the right to vote. In 1874, the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) was organized – and a number of local women took active part in that. Frances Willard was its national head, but local women involved included: Mrs. Clara Ball, Mrs. Clara Hewitt, Mrs. Alice Baker, Mrs. Eva Friday, Mrs. E. Rea Smith, Mrs. F.G., Mrs. Emma Klett Frazee (later married George Randall), Mrs. Sutherland, and Mrs. Mae Garrett (Dr. Wm.). I remember with great respect Mrs. Ora Whitney, a Benton Harbor lawyer, who at one point was head of the County association. The WCTU did not limit itself to Prohibition, but was deeply involved with children’s and family welfare. As early as 1893, Watervliet people were raising money for the “Watervliet Room” in the West Michigan Children’s Home in St. Joseph. Among other things, Nathan Perkin and his wife, Peggy, gave an “Old-fashioned Husking Bee” in Becraft’s Hall, as were the Kings’ daughters and sons of the Congregational Church. Mrs. Eva Arent Port (Benjamin) won the WCTU oratory contest while at MSU in 1916.

The Red Cross, begun in this country during the Civil War, under the leadership of Clara Barton, was active locally. While the annual meeting in 1918 was dominated by men, one officer was Mrs. R. H. Sherwood. In 1918, there were 14,259 members. The Watervliet chapter furnished 76 gauze rolls and 11,800 gun wipers that year; Coloma, 75 gauze rolls, three sweaters, 32 socks, six pillows, and one blanket.

A few more women I must mention, whose roots were here, went beyond Shingle Diggin’s. One is Dr. Mabel Elliott who first intrigued me by taking part in many of the dramatic productions here, while also being a physician. She moved on to Benton Harbor, but during those First World War years was doing missionary work in the Near East. The Courier article says, “We applaud the heroism of three Michigan women who have refused to allow military operations to interfere with their work of caring for the children of the Near East city of Ismidt, which has just been evacuated by the Greek army.” She was one and was also caring for a large number of patients in the American Women’s Hospital. She was stationed in Marash, Cilicis, where 12,000 Armenians were massacred (Turkey). Later, she spoke of her work at a PTA meeting.

A headline in the Record of 1918 reads: “Watervliet Girl Wins High Honor ... Helen C. Pratt Now A County Agricultural Agent.” ... It goes on to say, “One farmer said he would throw a woman county agent out of his house but she knows her business and can teach the women folks those little things which will mean economy. The U.S. government is paying all her salary and expenses, except when incurred while traveling. The county must pay those.”

It was shortly after the Suffrage Amendment passed that Miss Ada Lukens of Coloma sought the Republican nomination for Register of Deeds. The Courier said, “The Village of Coloma has the honor of presenting the name of the first lady who announces herself a candidate for a county office. She has been a deputy in the office for 12 years and has performed a great share of work so she would be well qualified.”

There are more. The names I’ve mentioned are only a few examples of active women who have contributed to the equal rights of women. Feel free to add your nominations. I stopped with 1920, the year the 19th Amendment finally passed. For now, we’ll move on to a new subject.

Coloma Public

Library news

The Library will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. Regular operating hours will resume Tuesday, May 27.

Faith Walkers Book Study

Community members are invited on Thursdays from 10-11:30 a.m. for a book study based on the title “Love, Leadership, and Influence” by Penny Tucci. Lessons are facilitated by Pastor Linda Jackson of The River. The book is available for purchase for $10. There are a limited number of library editions available for no cost borrowing.

Coloma Library Book Club

The public is invited to join the Coloma Public Library Book Club every other Thursday in the Community Room at 4 p.m. The next discussion is May 22 and the title to read is “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders” by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Not Your Mother’s Book Club

The NYMBC meets every second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. To be put on the list and get the month’s book club pick, please call the library. The next date is June 10.

Program schedules are on the calendar at: colomapubliclibrary.net. Contact staff at 269-468-3431 or readcoloma@gmail.com for more information.