National Women's History Month:

By Donna Castellano

Who knows that March is National Women’s History Month? You did? Then you can go to the head of the class! Now let’s explore a few of the places where we can learn about Huntsville women who made history.

Huntsville actually has the only historic marker in Alabama recognizing Black suffragists. Located in historic William Hooper Councill Memorial Park, this marker honors Mary Binford, Ellen Brandon, India Herndon, Lou Bertha Johnson, Celia Love and Dora Lowery, the only Black women in Madison County allowed to register to vote in 1920.

Huntsville also boasts another distinctive historic marker, which was donated by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, and marks the spot where women made history when they gathered at the Central YMCA building in 1914 for a women’s suffrage convention.

For more opportunities to see some of Huntsville’s historic milestones, this summer the “Rooted in History” exhibit at Harrison Brothers Hardware will run from May 19 to September 6. Here, you can learn about Huntsville’s suffragists through a fascinating exhibit featuring personal items and artifacts owned by these women, including original posters, vintage clothing and photos, and even handwritten convention speeches by Ellelee Humes, who was a major force behind Huntsville’s Suffrage Movement.

These fantastic and FREE programs are the work of the Historic Huntsville Foundation, a historic preservation organization committed to the education and preservation of individuals who have made Alabama history. To learn more about our www.historichuntsville.com or visit Harrison Brother’s Hardware on the square in downtown Huntsville.

(with an assist from the Alabama Humanities Alliance)

• William Hooper Councill Park, 620 St. Clair Avenue, Huntsville

• YMCA Building, 201 Greene Street, Huntsville

• Harrison Brothers Hardware, 124 Southside Square, Huntsville