By Kieran McGovern
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Smithtown Matters is proud to recognize the accomplishments of women. It is fascinating to learn the wonderful and interesting ways women have made their mark on the world. Throughout March, SmithtownMatters will give a brief history of women who made a difference.
Day 21- The Historic Women of Smithtown
We all know of great, inspirational women in history whom all have had profound impact(s) on society at large. Some names that come to mind are Maya Angelou, Eleanor Roosevelt and Dolly Madison. But what about local women? People do not always consider the women who have done great things and created positive change in Smithtown, NY.
In fact there are quite a few such women but, unfortunately, great women of Smithtown have typically “lived in the shadows of the men,” according to Brad Harris, President of the Smithtown Historic Society. However, as far back as the Colonial Period, women were helping to sow the seeds of what we now call our hometown. Women like Ruth Norton Blydenburgh (commonly known as Widow Blydenburgh).
Widow Blydenburgh (1738-1802) owned and operated the Blydenbugh Tavern, which was frequented by British soldiers during the Revolutionary War. She was well-respected as the local shopkeeper and a good woman, in general. The Blydenburgh Tavern was located in close proximity to the Smithtown Library, but was burnt down before the Library was constructed in the 1950s.
Tamer Wren (1890s-mid-1900s), who lived during the 19th century, was a former slave known as a mustee (someone of African and Tribal American descent). She served as the Mills family’s nurse the abolition of slavery. Wren once delivered testimony in a court of law, very uncommon for most 19th century women, let alone a mustee woman and former slave.
Other historical 19th century women include Cornelia Stewart Butler (1846-1943) and Bessie Smith-White(1862-1950), daughters of Judge Lawrence Smith. Both were active community members and philanthropists, contributing many to important causes. Smith-White, who married New York City architect, Stanford White, lived in the Smith House (which has been maintained by the Smithtown Historic Society) located on East Main Street.
Smithtown in the 1900s saw even more significant contributions by women like Cornelia Peek, Smithown Library’s original librarian. Literature professor, Kate Molinoff (1907-2001), who taught in schools and published studies on Walt Whitman, which are on display at the Smithtown Library. Barbara Van Liew (1911-2005) and Charlotte Ganz (1908-1990) were passionate historians. Van Liew was a highly active community member and architectural preservationist. Ganz edited Colonel Rockwell’s Scrapbook, a listing of historic houses in Smithtown. Alice Throckmorten-McLean (1886-1968) was a Saint James resident and founder of the American Women’s Voluntary Services, Inc., which provided aide and services for WWII soldiers and their families. It is worth noting that Throckmorten-McLean was passionate about horses, keeping many on her estate and playing polo. Brad Harris points out that, although there was a women’s polo club, she held her own against the men.
In the 20th century, Virginia Malone was the Town of Smithtown Historian. She published a weekly newspaper column for 30 years until her death in 1978, which came after a fall in one of the historic houses she loved so dearly. Claire Nicolas White, originally from Holland, married Robert White, grandson of Stanford and Bessie Smith-White. White is an author, poet and translator. She is a teacher and editor of a poetry magazine called Oberon.
Other 20th century women of note include; Smithtown’s original telephone operator and one-time town clerk, Mae Edwards; Rosalie Psota Martin, postmaster (and not “postmistress”!) of the Smithtown Post Office from 1938-1952; Muriel Spahr (1923-2005), a well-known, charitable Smithtown realtor; Frances Hall and Thelma Drew, who promoted open-housing in Smithtown in the 1960; one-time Smithtown Society President, Louise Hall, who continues to be involved in local preservation activities; Sally Ann Slacke, CEO of Slacke Test Boring and advocate on behalf of women’s rights in the workplace.
Harris and Cathy Ball, historian at the Smithtown Library, assisted with much of this information. Harris notes that historic women in Smithtown “run the gamut from philanthropists like the Smith sisters (Butler and Smith-White) to ordinary, good neighbors to people like Alice (Throckmorten) McLean, who founded a nationwide organization.”
According to Ball, there are many other women of significant importance in Smithtown’s history.
“Women have unfailingly been an important part of history through all the ages of people,” Says Ball, “but they have not gotten their due in the history books… especially in Smithtown… so, I was pleased to be able to think a bit.” Ball believes the fact that more modern 20th century women are known then those in earlier periods, is reflective of the Women’s Suffrage and Equal Rights Movement after the turn of the 20th century, “women’s contributions, no matter how significant, often went undocumented (in those times).”
So while we all know of the high-profile, famous women, we must keep in mind the women who contributed to the community and shaped the place where we live: right here, in Smithtown. It is vital for us as Smithtown residents to know our roots so that we may continue to empower women to do great things in the future.