Posted on

Bergen County Historical Society: “Remember the Ladies: A History of American Women in Song”

433468077 955223029941217 2997246557353623464 n
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge NH, historical balladeer Linda Russell begins at 1:30 pm TODAY(note time change) in the state historic site, the 1752 Steuben House for “Remember the Ladies: A History of American Women in Song”.

The role of women’s lives in society from the 18th century to the 19th amendment is highlighted in popular song. Playing mountain and hammered dulcimers and guitar, Linda sings broadsides, laments, murder ballads, love songs, parlor melodies and suffrage anthems. The songs reflect the changing status of women in society. Interspersed with the music are excerpts from women’s diaries and letters. Included will be stories of Deborah Samson, who fought as a soldier in Washington’s army, and New Jersey women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton who lived in Tenafly, Lucy Stone from Orange and Alice Paul from Mount Laurel – all of whom led the fight for Women’s Suffrage.
419737013 955226736607513 3468783538538496334 n
Samantha Perkins, BCHS Trustee and Curator at Caramoor Center for Music & Arts in Katonah, NY, will give an illustrated talk at 3:00 pm. In the fall of 1916, a tight presidential race between Democrat President Woodrow Wilson and Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes emerged. To win, the Republican party sought to attract the four million eligible women voters in the twelve states where women could vote for the president.
Just some of the artifacts on display in the Steuben House (#1 on map below) is a photo essay of women in Bergen County who have made a difference, new exhibits including 12 year old Elsie Cole’s 1845 girls needlework, rare Bergen County chip-carved spoonboard carved by a Demarest, one of our jacquard coverlets that has Rachel Demarest’s name woven, a new hard cover book of enslaved documents from our manuscript collection (not for sale) and Revolutionary War artifacts from the society’s extensive collection throughout the museum site.
Visit the Out Kitchen where cooks will be using recipes from the 1886 Woman Suffrage Cook Book.
Children’s activities feature weaving a potholder. Four historic buildings open and staffed except for the barn.
Ticket reservations are encouraged: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. We may be raising our admission prices so make you reservations now. You can always duck into one of the houses if the weather is iffy.
Free parking available on site or take the NJ Transit’s train to “New Bridge Landing” train stop on the Pascack Valley line and walk one block north and east. Park at the corner lot and walk in to avoid tides.
Dogs are permitted on site on a leash but not in the houses.
For ticket reservations and additional information visit the society’s website:
Email contactbchs@bergencountyhistory.org, or call 201-343-9492 and leave a message. Sunday, March 24th 1 pm- 4:30 pm at Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge NJ.
The event is subject to change.
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *