Members of the Broome-Tioga Suffrage Anniversary Committee and participants dressed in period attire gather for a ceremony at 18 Front St. in Owego, N.Y. on July 14 to commemorate the dedication of a historic marker in honor of Elizabeth Browne Chatfield, a suffragist who lived at the property and who worked for and welcomed Susan B. Anthony to the home in 1894. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
About 50 guests gathered at 18 Front St. in Owego, N.Y. on the morning of July 14 to be a part of a new chapter of history at a dedication ceremony of a historic marker commemorating the home and honoring Elizabeth Browne Chatfield, a suffragist and private secretary to Susan B. Anthony.
Anthony came to Owego on the evening of March 28, 1894 to speak at the Tioga County Courthouse and was a special overnight guest of Chatfield’s at her 18 Front St. residence. In the 1860’s, Elizabeth and her sister, Julia, worked in New York City and made a point to visit the office of “The Revolution,” a newspaper published by Anthony about women’s rights.
The erection of the marker is noteworthy and is in conjunction with the 100th anniversary
Pictured is Patricia Grant, age 91, and homeowner of 18 Front St. in Owego, N.Y. Grant is delighted about the notoriety of her home, which now features a historic marker.
celebration of when women in New York State won the right to vote.
Martha Sauerbrey, chair of the Tioga County Legislature, and Emma Sedore, Tioga County historian, welcomed guests to the unveiling of the historic marker. Also attending was Broome County Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, who along with Sauerbrey and Sedore participates in the Broome-Tioga Suffrage Anniversary Committee. It was Sedore, however, who discovered the significance of the home while doing research for the 100th anniversary.
Homeowner of 18 Front St., Patricia Grant, now age 91, shared, “It’s a pleasure to see people are interested.” Grant’s family was also present at the ceremony.
From left, Martha Sauerbrey, chair of the Tioga County Legislature, and Emma Sedore, Tioga County historian, prepare to unveil a new historic marker at 18 Front St. in Owego, N.Y.
Grant has lived in the home, which has displayed a date of 1820 on the front of the property, for 59 years. A native of Tioga County, Grant previously lived in Waverly before moving to Owego and is delighted about the notoriety of her home.
The historic marker reads, “Home of Elizabeth Browne Chatfield, suffragist and secretary to Susan B. Anthony who stayed here March 28, 1894 while on speaking tour.”
The marker was generously provided through a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Also attending the ceremony were several women in period attire in recognition of the suffrage movement. Interestingly, native Tioga County resident Diane Lacey, her daughter Denise Lacey-Corcoran and granddaughter, Lydia Corcoran, are all descendants of Chatfield. The trio, dressed as suffragists, re-enacted the roles of Chatfield and her sister, along with Chatfield’s aunt, Esther Morris, who was influential in the passing of the 1869 bill in Wyoming for the women’s right to vote. Morris was also the first woman Justice of the Peace in the U.S.
From left, Denise Lacey-Corcoran, Lydia Corcoran, Diane Lacey, Bonnie Baker-Duff and JoAnne Thornton, dressed in period attire, pose in front of a historic property at 18 Front St. in Owego, N.Y.
Lacey commented, “We’re pleased to be here to represent the family,” and all three agreed that their discovery of their ancestry ties to Chatfield, and all researched by Lacey-Corcoran through genealogy resources, was “meant-to-be,” and now look forward to participating in future anniversary celebrations.
One celebration is scheduled on Saturday, Aug. 19 from noon until 4 p.m., which invites the public to tour the historic Tioga County Courthouse and be a part of history as Susan B. Anthony addresses guests just as she did in 1894. Music, tours, and other suffrage-themed activities are planned.
For more information about the Broome-Tioga Suffrage Anniversary Committee and upcoming activities and special events, find them on Facebook. Future events can also be found at experiencetioga.com.
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