Rome, New York – September 13th, 2014

NEW YORK IS NOT SHORT ON HISTORY! Matilda Joslyn Gage Home/Foundation – FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y.

Of the three women whose historical homes I visited this past month, it is Matilda Joslyn Gage that I find the most interesting. She was not only concerned with women’s rights but in humanity, liberty for all. She cared deeply about the injustices inflicted upon the Native American Nations. Her home played a part in the abolition of slavery. She wrote fluently with sharp criticism against religion, politics, social norms. I have posted an excerpt from the foundation page as there is so much to say about this woman and I have so little time to do so. I had the privilege of meeting  Dr. Sally Wagner  Founding Director before leaving. I have watched her You-Tube videos several times and have admired her work for years.IMG_0800The folks at Matilda J. Gage Home – Sarah Flick (left)site director, Dave Kellogg – Board Member and my guide thru the home and Sally Wagner. THANK YOU

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About the Foundation

One of the most radical, far-sighted and articulate early feminists, Matilda Joslyn Gage was deliberately written out of history after her death in 1898 by an increasingly conservative suffrage movement.  Equal in importance to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Gage is all but unknown today.  Efforts are under way to correct that.
The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation took root in 2000 when Sally Roesch Wagner, the leading authority on Gage, brought together a nationwide network of diverse people with a common goal: to bring this vitally important suffragist back to her rightful place in history.
The Foundation is dedicated not only to educating current and future generations about the lifelong work of this major woman’s rights thinker, author and activist, but also its power to drive contemporary social change.
While restoring knowledge of Gage’s contributions, which continue to be of great relevance today, the Gage Foundation (soon to be called the Gage Center) is also an educational resource for discussion and dialogue about the human rights issues to which she dedicated her life.

“We know we are right; we know we shall be successful,
we know the day is not far distant, when this government and the world
will acknowledge the exact and permanent political equality of man and woman …”

– Matilda Joslyn Gage

Gage stood for:

Gage opposed:
  • Egalitarianism
  • Peace and justice for all
  • Women’s rights / human rights
  • Separation of church and state
  • Religious freedom
  • Treaty rights and Native Sovereignty
  • A woman’s right to her own body
  • Helping slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad
  • Breaking the law to create justice
  • Suppression of truth
  • Degradation of women
  • Double standards
  • Church abuse of power
  • Religious fundamentalism
  • Forcing citizenship on Native men
  • Trafficking in women
  • Slavery and servitude of condition, denying any group their rights
  • Denying women the right to vote

 

“When all humanity works for humanity, when the life-business of men and women
becomes one united partnership in all matters which concern each,
when neither sex, race, color, or previous condition
is held as a bar to the exercise of human faculties,
the world will hold in its hands the promise of a millennium
which will work out its own fulfillment.”

– Matilda Joslyn Gage

 As I rode away I could not also help to be grateful for those dedicated individuals who keep these women’s lives on the history books and accessible to us. Without their hard work where would we be?

New York  roads, although busy, I must say people have been courteous and move over or slow down even though I know I must be a nuisance to them. The state roads are not littered, creeks and most Rivers are clear.

I rode the Historic Erie Canal and it may have been the prettiest 36miles I have EVER ridden. Stopped at the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum off the Historic Erie Canal is fascinating a must stop. The whole Erie Canal story was really all new to me. We traveled the “tow path” which led along the deep canal. The mules walked this path with young children at their tails pulling the big boats up and down the canal.

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The horses now wear flannel sheets at night to keep the cool damp air off their backs. Mosquitoes and flies torment us less and less.
I could not be riding these roads without the Black Smith Shop(see sponsorship page) horse shoes that keep us safe on wet pavement. I am just plain loving my ride through New York!!

Fayetteville was one lively stop, thank you all of you that made the visit so interesting and just plain fun. Special thank you to the Hullars for letting us camp on their lovely grounds near the fish ponds.
Joanne Zimmer as if on cue stopped as I rode along a very dangerous busy road south of Fayetteville and asked if I needed a place to spend the night. I did but what I really needed was a haul around a very dangerous “I should not be riding-road” Thank you so much Joanne!!
Elaine MacLachlan put us up in her back yard and gave us a meal and quiet place to rest.
I have been in Rome for two nights at the Erie Canal Historic Village west of town. Stephen Bootroyd is the Curator and gave us a dry place to rest and take care of errands. It poured today, glad to be in. Times up this is all for now. Heading east for Vermont.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2014/09/06/bernice-endes-just-horsing-around/15228829/