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Monday, September 17, 2012 –Nearly 50 people turned out for the unveiling of a historic roadside marker on Main Street in Homer yesterday, the marker recognizes one of America’s foremost social reformers who was born in the Village.

With musical fanfare and an extensive history Homer Town Historian Martin Sweeney and Cortland resident Pamela Poulin unveiled the latest historical marker in Homer, this one dedicated to the early beginnings of women’s rights and temperance advocate Amelia Jenks Bloomer.

Through her research Poulin was able to determine that Jenks Bloomer was born in Homer in 1818 and lived at 43 Main Street. The young Jenks Bloomer was educated at the Homer academy on the Village Green. At age 22 she married the owner of the Seneca County Courier Newspaper and became a writer.

Read more at New Historic Marker in Homer Recognizes Women’s Rights Leader.

Notes

Amelia Jenks Bloomer

Amelia Jenks Bloomer’s The Lily, the first newspaper for women, was issued from 1849 until 1853 under the editorship of Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894).

Published in Seneca Falls, New York and priced at 50 cents a year, the newspaper began as a temperance journal for “home distribution” among members of the Seneca Falls Ladies Temperance Society, which had formed in 1848.

The Society’s enthusiasm died out, but Bloomer felt a commitment to publish and assumed full responsibility for editing and publishing the paper.

Originally, the title page had the legend “Published by a committee of ladies”, but after 1850 only Bloomer’s name appeared on the masthead.

Hell reigns again, and the grave open for another victim. But this time, the accursed scourge has fastened upon the child. But rumsellers are like the savage in their mode of warfare, with this difference. The one butchers for revenge, while the other murders by inches for the paltry sum he gets for his liquor. The traffic spares neither age, sex, nor condition.

While out South to attend our engagements on the 4th, we learned the following:

A poor family, by the name of Parks, have for some time lived in Venice, but now, we believe, live some distance from Parker’s tavern on the Owasco Hill. Parks is an intemperate man. Probably this, coupled with poverty and trouble. has plunged the wife into the same habits. They have led a miserable life, and been steadily robbed and cursed by the rumselling wretches that surround them. Their children have been allowed to drink whisky out of their little tin cups.

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Children may be made amiable, obedient, and respectful, if duly directed and governed when young. They are naturally docile and affectionate. Those traits of character should be nursed and strengthened. But how often are they blunted and destroyed!

If subjected to unkind, harsh. arbitrary and severe treatment on the part of parents, all their natural docility and originally affectionate feelings will be destroyed or much impaired. Children are not born demons; they have a capacity for good, for moral improvement; a kind and genial soul may be found in their hearts, if the seeds of kindness and truth are duly sown.— Indeed, they are naturally found there, and only want a judicious, faithful and affectionate hand for the work of culture and improvement.

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This is an important week in the history of women’s efforts to be part of the political sphere. On August 18th, 1920 women won the right to vote. Long before that day they worked tirelessly to address what they saw as the role of alcohol in the destruction of American families. Amelia Bloomer’s The Lily, the United States first newspaper by women, focused on the temperance movement throughout its four year run.

Accessible Archive’s subscribers can follow the movement through the full text searchable The Lily and Godey’s Lady’s Book.  Our Personal Subscriptions provide access to these and all of our other databases.

Progress

The Legislature of New Hampshire at its recent session enacted a new license law,—or rather amended their old one. Hereafter no license is to be granted in the State, for the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. One person in each town may be licenced to sell for medicinal, mechanical and chemical purposes, and for “no other use, or purpose.” Any person selling spirituous liquors of any description without such license, is subject to heavy penalties. (more…)

Just setting out on the journey of life , when all is bright and full of promise, why will you sacrifice all that is worth living for, upon the altar of intemperance? Why will you wreck your own happiness, and blast your bright hopes by fostering and indulging a love of that poison, the use of which will rob you of reason and consign you to the dishonored grave of the drunkard.

You toil to earn, then rob yourself to enrich your destroyer. And what does he give you in return for your money? What equivalent for the loss of your character–your self-respect–the respect and esteem of friends–your peaceofmind–your immortal soul?

You rob and starve yourself, that the rumseller may fatten upon your gains. Why do you this? You know the consequences of the course your are pursuing, then why will you continue it? (more…)