Saturday History Forum focuses on local suffrage events
“Getting on the Map of the National Vote for Women Trail” is the topic of the first program of the Original Wasco County Courthouse 2021 Regional History Forum. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, programs will take place on Zoom and not at the historic 1859 Courthouse.
Access is free at this link: http://OWCCZoomLink.info and those needing help getting Zoom on a computer or cell phone may leave a message at 541 296-4798. There is a limit of 100 participants. Zoom will be available at 1 p.m. and the presentation starts promptly at 1:30.
Karl Vercouteren learned about the project of an interactive map commemorating the centennial of Women’s Suffrage at the first program in this series a year ago. The speaker challenged local historians to come up with people and events that led up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 and put them on the map.
Local history buffs were interested, and Vercouteren found time to research and write entries. The National Votes for Women Trail website can be accessed at https://ncwhs.org/votes-for-women-trail-2/ and the map allows zooming in on the local area. A click on a circle opens a box with information about that location— eight for people and events in The Dalles, two in Hood River, and also sites in Mosier, Condon, Heppner, and Prineville.
Vercouteren encountered several challenges: it’s difficult to do research when the libraries are closed, and entries were limited to 85 words or less to describe the relevance of the site. He came up with visuals to do a PowerPoint presentation that features the 85-word descriptions with additional background information.
The online presentation, just like in-person programs over the past 40 plus years, is free. But donations to the Original Courthouse are gladly accepted.
