The Suffragette Bell, in Milton, Pa.
Throughout the late summer and early fall of 1915, the Women's Justice Bell, a replica of the Liberty Bell, traveled throughout nearly every town in every county in Pennsylvania, working it's way methodically across the state from June to November. In each of our local towns, suffragettes spoke, parades and rallies were held. Schools were let out to watch the bell, businesses and homes were decorated, and cars were made into floats to join the processions..
The only local town that was missed was Danville. A planned stop there had to be cancelled, when a typhoid outbreak struck the town that week. Many from Danville drove to Washingtonville and Exchange to see the bell at those stops.
Casting the Suffrage "Liberty Bell" at Troy (NY)
Katharine Wenworth Ruschenberger, Pennsylvania suffrage activist, launched an idea to cast a replica of the Liberty Bell and drive it around on a multi-state tour. After production, the bell was mounted on the bed of a pick-up truck and taken on a driving tour to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Its clapper (the part that hits the bell to make a sound) was chained, preventing the bell from ringing. This symbolized the silence of women who did not have the vote. The bell’s 5,000 mile road trip was designed to raise awareness for women’s suffrage in Pennsylvania.
Katharine Wenworth Ruschenberger, Pennsylvania suffrage activist, launched an idea to cast a replica of the Liberty Bell and drive it around on a multi-state tour. After production, the bell was mounted on the bed of a pick-up truck and taken on a driving tour to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Its clapper (the part that hits the bell to make a sound) was chained, preventing the bell from ringing. This symbolized the silence of women who did not have the vote. The bell’s 5,000 mile road trip was designed to raise awareness for women’s suffrage in Pennsylvania.
The bell began it's journey through Pennsylvania on June 23, in Sayre, Bradford County.
It was meant to begin on May 15th, but a special truck had to be ordered to carry the bell, and that "delayed matters". From there it went west across the northern tier, then south down the western tier, arriving in Pittsburgh for the 4th of July. From there, it zigzagged it's way across the state, arriving in the Susquehanna Valley in the late summer and early fall of 1915.
The Bell in Jersey Shore Pa
When the bell arrived in Lycoming County, Helen Hoyt of the Williamsport Gazette interviewed the driver, Oliver Hall. He reported that in the 6 weeks they had been traveling so far, there had been no serious delays. The only real inconveniences so far had been blow outs or other minor problems with the truck.
He reported that most of the accidents had very conveniently occurred on days that had been kept as "rest days", so they have caused no serious delays in the schedule.
The Mayor of Williamsport and numerous other city officials greeted the suffrage bell as it crossed the county line. At Newberry there was a "flag stop", because interest had been displayed. Miss Louise Hall gave a very short talk to those who had gathered at Diamond Square. Miss Hall is well known in Williamsport, having been there several times to do suffragette work.
From Newberry the bell paraded down Arch street to Third, down Third To Rose, from Rose out to Fourth, down Fourth to Market Street, over the Market street bridge to Southern Avenue. From Southern avenue it went to Maynard street, then down Southern avenue to Town Hall, where an address was given by Miss McShane.
September 16-17th
The bell had originally been scheduled to stop in Danville, but an outbreak of Typhoid in the area cancelled that visit.
The original scheduled called for the bell to enter Montour County from Jerseytown, stopping at Washingtonville and traveling to Danville.
At Exchange, the bell was met by 38 school children lead by their teacher John Yeagle. Over 100 townspeople listened to a speech by Miss Elizabeth McShane
At Washingtonville Miss Mary Bakewell spoke.
A number of Danville residents came to both locations to welcome the suffragists.
In the bell party, escorting the bell, was Oliver Hall, driver of the truck and brother of Miss Louise Hall, a prominent Pennsylvania suffragist. Miss Mary Bakewell, president of the State Suffrage asscociation, and Miss Elizabeth McShane of Uniontown. Miss Dorothy Walls of Lewisburg, and Miss Florence Shimer of Milton were along as temporary aides. Miss Rose Weston, "whose suffragate and other articles in the newspaper have attracted wide attention" was also along.
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
17, 20 (with Union County in Between)
From Moorseburg on Friday afternoon, the bell traveled to Milton on Friday night, where a big parade and mass meeting was to be held. Fire companies and other organizations joined the parade in Milton.
On Saturday the bell was to travel through the upper enf of the county, and a portion of Union County. On Saturday evening it would reside in Lewisburg.
On Monday, after the tour of Union County was completed, the bell would travel on to Northumberland.
The bell arrived in Northumberland on Monday the 20th at 5:15, a scheduled 30 minute stop It was taken around town, and greeted by Calhouns Band, and the men from the Keystone Forging work, who dropped their work and came out in their work clothes to greet the parade. The school children came out in full force and pelted the bell with many yellow flowers. Principal Myron Geddes made a stirring address of welcome, followed Miss Mary E. Blakewell explaining the mission of the bell, which "is now pretty well known about the state".
Watch Fobs Were The Most Popular Souvenir Of the Tour
Miss Blakewell was followed by Miss McShane, who managed the bell tour. It was her responsibility to look after the financial end, and to help raise money to pay for the tour. She sold souvenir pins, watch fobs, and bracelets made of the same material used for the bell.
In Northumberland she found a number of ready buyers, and a collection was taken up by the high school girls as well..
From Northumberland the bell went to Sunbury, where another large parade was held, followed by an open air meeting at 7:30pm.
At Sunbury, crowds thronged the streets for the 7:30 parade. Many merchants had decorated their windows, and Dr Drumheller of the City Hotel, where the bell party would be staying, had special decorations in thier honor.
Over 50 automobiles, engines, and trucks of various fire companies appeared in the parade, which was lead by the city band.
Miss Nellie Haines answered the question of "Who will take care of the baby when mother goes to the polls to vote?". A sign on the front of her automobile read "Women going to the polls to vote?" On the back of the vehicle was a baby coach containing a life sized doll.
The evening meeting at Sunbry was held at the band stand in Riverside Park.
Here Miss Mary E Bakewell made a wuick speech before catching the train to Pittsburgh for a weeks rest. Miss Louise Hall, a New England girl, took her place on the stage.
Union County, Pennsylvania
September 18th - 20th
The Suffrage Liberty Bell arrived Saturday, September 18th, in Allenwood, at the Northern most part of the county. The homes in that town were decorated in suffragette colors, and the population was on the streets watching for the bells arrival. It was escorted through the county by a number of Lewisburg people, including Dr Mary Wolf. Miss Mary Bakewell, from Pittsburgh, spoke in Allenwood, along with Dr Hamblin from Bucknell.
The bells next stop was White Deer, where "a very good meeting was held"
In New Columbia, when the truck holding the bell arrived, school children dressed in white with yellow sashes, surrounded the bell. The whole town was out to see the bell, and Miss McShane from Uniontown spoke here.
At 6pm the bell arrived in Lewisburg, met at the eat end of the river bridge by the Citizens band and at least 20 or 30 automobiles, decorated with yellow flowers, pennants, and flags. The parade passed up Market as far as second street, down second to St Louis, then up third to Market. From Market it traveled to 8th street, and then back to the square where it was parked until 8pm.
Monday September 20 1915
The bell started from Lewisburg at 8:30am, where it visited the employees of the chair factory. At 9:30 it was escorted by a few people throughout the western end of the county.
At Vicksburg, Miss Bakewell addressed a fair sized crowd.
From there it went to Mifflinburg, then Millmont.
At Millmonth, Miss McShane Spoke.
Next it traveled to Hartleton, where Miss Louise Hall from the suffragette headquarters in Harrisburg gave a talk. (The majority of the audience here were men)
All along the route, the country roads and rural school buildings were decorated. School children were dismissed long enough to see the bell.
There was not time for the bell to be taken to Hartleton or Glen Iron, but speakers in extra autos were sent to those towns.
The bell arrived in Mifflinburg at 12:30pm. There, boy scouts met it at the end of town and escorted it in. School girls dressed in white and yellow marched behind the bell. At least 30 beautifully decorated automobiles joined the parade. One beautiufl float, in red, white and blue, carried the Goddess of Liberty.
At the Buffalo Valley Inn, Miss Louise Hall spoke, followed by Miss Bakewll.
After lunch, at 2pm, the bell began it's journey to New Berlin. The Mifflinburg band played as a send off. At New Berlin Miss Hall addressed the audience, and then it was to be taken on to Northumberland County.
Prior to the bells arrival in Union County, the Lyric Theatre had hosted an evening of
films, music and speeches on women's suffrage. Dr. Wolfe gave an eloquent and well received speech, as did Dr. Raignel of California (son-in-law of Mrs. George S. Matlack of Lewisburg). Raignel told how in states where women had the right to vote, there was a positive impact on education, the economy and community welfare.
The week after the bell's tour Mifflinburg Telegraph editor George Schoch urged men to
vote in favor of women's suffrage, noting the accomplishments of women in the
community as workers, storekeepers, teachers, and the invaluable assistance women had
provided in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. "Of, for and by the people, should be our
battle cry in favor of women's suffrage." [Telegraph, 24 Sept. 1915]
The Suffrage Bell Tour In Pennsylvania
Snyder County, Pennsylvania
8:30 am an unscheduled meeting was held at Shamokin Dam, after the people sent an urgent request for the bell.
At Salem the residents came out directly after breakfast to hear about the bell from Miss Elizabeth McShane.
At Kreamer, Miss Adella Potter allayed the mens fear on the score of increase in taxation.
At noon, the bell was stopped at the tannery in Middleburg, where Mrs Gertrude Breslau Fuller spoke.
In Paxtonville, a meeting was held in the brickyard of W.H. Hill. As the bell swung into sight, the road was gay with fluttering yellow pennants carried by 50 little children marshaled by Miss Anna Swengel. High school girls carried golden rod and little ones trooped alongside the bell.Yellow bows were tied to the barn doors and every available post was decorated.
In Beaver Springs, an address was made by Dr Woodruff of Susquehanna University, and by H.I. Romig of the town.
From there the bell traveled over the hills and through teh farm land into McClure, where campaigners were given a sunset welcome and supper served at the Inn.
That evening the bell was taken back to Beavertown for a night meeting. It was met by a parade of townsfolk, children strewing the way with flowers.
The Selinsgrove reception began at Port Trevorton.
At Middle Creek Dam, a delegation of Professors from Susquehanna University joined the demonstration.
Selinsgrove was decorated in suffrage colors, when the bell arrived there.
On Saturday the bell arrived in Freeburg, where yellow flowers were distributed, and benches placed on the sidewalk for the audience. Dr D.E. Long sent his decorated car into town with yellow paper entwined in it's wheels and a huge American flag covering it and pennants waving from the sides.
Lunch was served at Mount Pleasant Mills, where a picturesque meeting was held int eh town square.
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Mrs. Sarah Grusel, 65 years old and 200lbs, walked 2 miles into town on a 97 degree day, to see the Women's Liberty Bell.
"You see," she explained, "I want the vote, and I want my daughter to have it, so I just naturally had to come along and let you know about it. I thought that if you knew a big fat woman was willing to walk two miles in the hot sucn to show her colors, you younger women you aren't carrying weight or age and can talk suffrage might feel like doing an extra work on my account. What do you think about it?"
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The Women's Suffrage Amendment did not pass in Pennsylvania in 1915; it appeared to
carry in rural area but not the cities
It would be another 5 years before the clapper would be released and the bell would be rung for the first time.
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Find More Local History & Stories From The Central Susquehanna Valley Here
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The Bell Arrived in Philadelphia on October 22, 1915
The words "Establish Justice" were engraved on the bell.
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