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Warren’s Upton House: Trip down Memory Lane

WARREN — Signs saying “We Got the Vote 1920 ” and ”Celebrating Women’s Suffrage 19th Amendment” were displayed in the yard outside the Harriet Taylor Upton House, which opened its doors for four hours Tuesday in honor of Election Day.

Upton led the woman suffragist movement in Trumbull County.

E. Carol Maxwell portrayed Upton and Kay Fisher portrayed Zell Hart Deming, the first woman publisher of the Tribune Chronicle.

The two women spoke to guests while in character about their contributions to women getting the right to vote and helping women get involved in government.

Ann Miller and Carol Olson, board members of the Upton Association, said board member Harry Raphtis suggested opening the home on Election Day so the public could pay tribute to Upton by placing their ”I Voted Today” stickers on Upton’s marker.

Miller said the board learned that people placed their voting stickers on Susan B. Anthony’s marker before and again on Tuesday.

”It’s a nice way to give a tribute to someone who helped so many people,” Miller said, noting they had several people attend.

Upton’s marker and a small statue in the garden were covered with stickers by the time the open house ended.

”They heard it was done for Susan B. Anthony and thought why not do it here,” Olson said.

Olson said board member Janet Schweitzer brought several antique dolls dressed in period clothing and election colors.

Maxwell said Deming was very supportive of the Women’s Suffrage Movement and she would encourage Upton to write articles that would be published in the newspaper.

”At that time, it was very daring for women to be doing that,” Maxwell said.

She said the two women were friends and worked tirelessly together on the Suffrage Movement.

Deming was also the first woman elected to the Associated Press.

Maxwell said Deming’s daughter, Helen Hart Hulbert, and then her granddaughter, Zell Draz, were very supportive of the Upton Association’s efforts to preserve and maintain Harriet’s former home on Mahoning Avenue.

While many adults stopped by the historic home, younger generations also did.

”It was really fun and exciting to be here and see this house,” said Maevel Law, 8, of Youngstown.

Her brother, Hugh Law, 5, said he liked placing the voting stickers on Upton’s statue in the yard.

Annalise Winkle, 8, and Daniel Winkle, 5  of Cortland, brought flowers to place at Upton’s marker.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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