THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508270049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Colonial Williamsburg is used to a historical party every now and then. But tourists rarely get the chance to sample a Susan B. Salad, taste a little Victory Vino and relieve themselves in a nearby portajane.
On the 75th anniversary of women winning the right to vote, several hundred people attended the ``Celebrate Women'' festival Saturday at the College of William and Mary.
The two-day festival, which continues today, is the effort of two Norfolk women who decided more than a year ago to do ``something'' in honor of the 19th Amendment's landmark birthday. The result was a historic/educational fiesta which attracted women and men from around the country to the college's Sunken Gardens, an expanse of about two football fields.
Sprawled through two giant tents were more than 60 booths and exhibits with information on everything from breast cancer awareness to how-tos on developing a home business. Rock music from the groups Bad Sneakers and Red Letter Day poured from one tent while seminars on finances and self-defense were held in neighboring buildings.
Tickets to the suffragists' honorary food court - Ma (Lucretia) Mott's Bakery to (Cady) Stanton's Sub Station - were $5 and folks were asked pay $1 and sign a copy of the 19th Amendment, which will later be donated to the Virginia Historical Society. All monies raised will benefit nonprofit organizations that serve women and families.
While there was plenty of beer - Freedom Foam - the festival struck a serious chord in many people. Sheri Booth, a William and Mary freshman, said she didn't intend to begin her school year so early.
``I learned a lot today. I enjoyed listening to Barbara-Marie Green talk about her mother,'' Booth said, referring to the daughter of suffragist Mae Green, an African American who organized rallies in New York when blacks weren't allowed to march with white suffragists.
``I didn't realize that that took place. That they were fighting for the same thing but weren't always allowed to do it together.''
Hope Witter, one of the organizers, also was impressed.
``What got me is how so many organizations out there are geared toward women,'' Witter said.
``People don't know they are out there or they think they're all one group. I'm happy that the day is here and that we have the support that we have.''
Lucille Torres drove from Hampton to introduce her daughters Elisia and Mariah to some of the things she missed growing up.
``I'm here to learn. I didn't know much about the suffrage movement. I knew little about women's history because it was not taught in the school system unless you had a feminist teacher,'' Torres said. ``I have two daughters and I'm more concerned about getting involved in women's issues now.''
The two women responsible for ``Celebrate Women,'' Bev Sell and Kathy Reese, were past exhaustion by midday but pleased with what their ``something'' had become.
``I've been hearing a lot of people saying `Thanks,' '' Reese said. ``They said this needed to be done.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
Madeline Brissette, 3, looks up at a picture of Olympia Brown, the
first woman to be ordained as a minister.
KEYWORDS: WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE ANNIVERSARY by CNB