ADAMS, Mass. – A group hoping to mark the 200th birthday of Susan B. Anthony and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment needs to raise money -- a lot of it.
The Adams Suffrage Centennial Celebration Committee, also known as the ASCCC, has been planning for over a year for the townwide celebration in 2020 to commemorate the contributions of suffrage activist Anthony, who was born on East Road in 1820.
"Susan B. Anthony is not only the most famous daughter of Adams, but is also considered by many to be the most influential female figure in American history," Chairwoman Pam St. John said at last week's meeting. "2020 is Adams' opportunity to celebrate this legacy by showcasing her impact and accomplishments."
But the group has some lofty goals, with plans to hire an artist to design and install a statue of a younger and older Anthony on the town common. The unveiling of this statue will coincide with a large parade, fireworks, a women's conference, and educational and entertaining events.
In order to accomplish all of this, the committee has set a $300,000 funding goal.
"Our fundraising goals are ambitious," acknowledged St. John at the annual Anthony birthday party hosted by the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum on Feb. 18. "We estimate we will need $300,000 to meet our goals including 150k for the stature. We have written letters to our state legislators and to the top 100 women-owned businesses in the commonwealth."
To date, the committee has raised nearly $23,000 with significant donations made by the Town of Adams and the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, which presented the group with a $10,000 check at the annual Anthony birthday celebration to great applause.
Anthony's 198th birthday celebration also included a performance by Mossa Dance of Rochester, N.Y. The ballet, "Diamonds," vignettes of courageous women, in this case Mother Teresa, Malala Yousafzai, Anne Frank, Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, and, of course, Anthony.
Adams Community Bank has also pledged to match $25,000 and when the ASCCC hits $100,000, the bank will donate another $25,000.
"Adams Community Bank is a pillar of the local community and we are very grateful for their generous offer to match local contributions," Treasurer Erin Mucci said last week.
The town of Adams has been providing support funding and staff assistance and will be asked to provide future financial help. The commission was created and appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
The committee also recently sent out a mailer to all residents and businesses to solicit donations.
"If every family in Adams pledged $10 a year, we would have a minimum of $120,000 toward our goals, which would almost pay for the statue," St. John explained at the Anthony event.
Mucci added that "this is a great way for residents and businesses from around the region to really leverage their local giving towards something will have an everlasting impact on both Adams and the Berkshires."
About a dozen sculpture proposals have already been put before the commission and it hopes to announce a chosen sculptor soon after the proposal review.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Adams Free Library Pastel Painting Workshops
ADAMS, Mass. — Award-winning pastel artist Gregory Maichack will present three separate pastel painting workshops for adults and teens 16+, to be hosted by the Adams Free Library.
Wednesday, April 24 The Sunflower; Wednesday, May 8 Jimson Weed; and Thursday, May 23 Calla Turned Away from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Registration is required for each event. Library events are free and open to the public.
These programs are funded by a Festivals and Projects grant of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
This workshop is designed for participants of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Attendees will create a personalized, original pastel painting based on Georgia O’Keefe’s beautiful pastel renditions of The Sunflower, Jimson Weed and Calla Turned Away. All materials will be supplied. Seating may fill quickly, so please call 413-743-8345 to register for these free classes.
Maichack is an award-winning portraitist and painter working primarily in pastels living in the Berkshires. He has taught as a member of the faculty of the Museum School in Springfield, as well as at Greenfield and Holyoke Community College, Westfield State, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
The Adams Beautification group, which has been quietly sprucing up the town since 2022, hopes to bring in more members of the community during a community cleanup day scheduled for Saturday, April 27. click for more
Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School history teacher Alla Chelukhova has been selected as the April Teacher of the Month. click for more
Desroches graduated from the Police Academy on March 22 in the top tier in his class. He's currently in the field training program and assigned to Sgt. Curtis Crane.
click for more
Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
click for more