Adams Celebration Committee to See New Young Susan Statue Design
ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Suffrage Centennial Celebration Committee will consider changes to the "young Susan" statue design.
Committee member William Kolis told the committee Thursday that he has been in contact with sculptor Brian Hanlon who is finishing up alterations to the statue of Susan B. Anthony as a young girl to make it more historically accurate.
"We should have a picture in the next couple of days. We will see them and we should be in good shape," Kolis said. "Brian is excited to come up probably in September again."
The town plans to hold a celebration in 2020 marking Anthony's 200th birthday and the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. The committee was formed a few years ago to steer this process and set a goal of $300,000 to fund the celebration and erect a statue to the civil and voting rights activist who was born on East Road.
The statue will be of adult Susan and young Susan. Designs were nearing completion but the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace and Museum pointed out a historical inaccuracy in the original design of young Susan's garb, specifically with her vest.
The group agreed to wait until they actually see the change before taking a vote. The adult Susan has already been approved.
The committee also discussed what Anthony quotes would engraved on the statue and Kolis asked members to consider pulling back on quotes to make room for historical information.
"Some of her quotes are very inspirational ... but I think we should show the full history," he said. "And on the backside of her on that wall I thought it would be a perfect place for the 19th amendment."
The committee still wants to place quotes possibly on the statue and around it throughout the Town Common.
Members agreed to look over a master list of quotes and hold a meeting with Hanlon in the future to discuss how they could possibly display these quotes.
"We should have a working session where we work through the quotes and figure out what works for us then sit down with Hanlon to conceptualize," Kolis said.
The group has secured enough funding for the statue portion of the celebration and have raised $204,306, which includes a recent $5,000 donation from Big Y.
Committee member and Selectman Joseph Nowak also had a $10,000 check in hand from the town bringing the amount to $214,306.
"We started out with not even a penny and look where we are," chairwoman Pam St. John said.
This amount was allocated in the town budget.
The committee also discussed some future events and decided that the Hoosac Valley High Shcool campus in Cheshire would be the best location for the fireworks show in August 2020.
The committee agreed to reach out to Cheshire officials to see if they want to team up with Adams and host the fireworks show.
"If we need to pay for the fireworks or some other fee we want them to put it on," committee member Erin Mucci said. "We want the firefighters to be there to do what they do so it is a joint event between Adams and Cheshire."
She said the event could piggyback off of the Cruz Night fireworks show in Cheshire that typically takes place in August.
The group agreed Valley Street field was the second choice because of its visibility throughout the town. They did note there would be parking issues.
Bowe Field was the third choice.
The committee also discussed the parade that would also take place and noted although it is still in the planning, anyone interested in building a float or being in the parade should contact committee member Peter Tomyl at petertomyl@mohawktrail.com.
They also discussed plans to hold a costume ball in October and a gala in February to raise more funds.
In the more immediate future, the committee noted it will unveil the First Ladies Quilt on Friday, Aug. 2, in Town Hall.
Alongside the quilt, they will place a wall of recognition to honor local women who have had a positive impact in Adams.
Names can be submitted to Town Hall.
The event will be from 5 to 8. Light refreshments will be served.
Tags: centennial, Susan B. Anthony,
