Post March 2002

Women’s A READER’S MONTHLY Vol. XV • March 2002 • No. 185 History Month PHOTOGRAPHY The Legendary Forest Activist Julia Butterfly Hill HESS at the Bioneers Conference 2001 SCOTT © PAG E 2 • THE PETALUMA POST • MARCH 2002 WOMEN OF THE PETALUMA POST is STATUS THE Writing Women Back Into History ON Celebrating Women ’ s History COMMISSION EARNING THE TRUE STORIES OF with courage, caring and contribu- to building our society and culture. tion to the past differently. When we WOMEN’S HISTORY HAS A POSITIVE tions—is valuable for us all. The 20th History looks different when the con- see history in a new way, we can see COUNTY LEFFECT ON JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. century was peopled with women tributions of women are included as new possibilities for the future as well. For girls and women, these empower- whose lives and work have trans- routinely as those of men. SONOMA ing stories from America’s shared past formed American communities and When we see history in this new —The Petaluma Post Staff generate feelings of personal strength the ideas of their day. way, it is as if we are looking through THE and new possibilities. Boys and men Women’s history is also about a wide-angle lens. More of the picture © will also gain increased respect for countless women who have lived comes into view. By adjusting our women by knowing more about their out their lives quietly at the center of focus, details that were missing become individual accomplishments, and their families. Together, these women clear. An expanded view of history about the female experience across represent many and varied cultures, time. faiths, aspirations and beliefs. And, Celebrating women’s lives—filled they have all contributed significantly lets us see ourselves and our connec- HOURS: M-F 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 707-765-8554 (Near Kaiser Hospital) 3810 Cypress Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954 Just Relax... and think about Trees... “ Petaluma’s historic neighborhoods have magnificent trees.” Trees provide oxygen... Trees give a home to wildlife... Trees increase property values... Trees just make life better... If you are interested in a Walking Tour of the Trees of Historic Petaluma brochure, Valley Oak, along Highway 101. free trees for your neighborhood, helpful planting guidelines, pruning information. protecting existing trees, an approved CITY OF PETALUMA TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE street tree list, or to help us plant trees P.O. Box 61, Petaluma, CA 94953 in Petaluma please send a SASE to: PAG E 2 • THE PETALUMA POST • MARCH 2002 THE PETALUMA POST • MARCH 2002 • PAGE 3 Remembering the OLD The Women of the West- PETALUMA ern Frontier—1850-1885 Hist or y & St o- r ies FAMILY voters were all male. Although this arena of protest after the . SOC these rescue homes were an civil war. Irate groups of women FREEMAN effort to eliminate vice, society would sing and pray on the THE on the frontier was very slow to street in front of saloons, ha- OF change. rassing the patrons and owners. HISTORICAL The organized women’s (This happened in Petaluma STATE effort to control drinking and to and Santa Rosa as well as San COURTESY bring prohibition to the west was Francisco.) , , even more violently opposed by Then in 1866, California the male establishment. passed a “local option” law NEBRASKA , , AMERICA Alcoholism in the 19th cen- that said that if a majority of the OF tury in America was at an all-time voters in a township petitioned high in our history. Hard liquor to have the saloon issue on COLLECTION was readily available everywhere the ballot, it would be put on to every male of all ages. Male and all the saloons could be MONUMENT tensions were high because of closed down, if it passed. The BUTCHER the everyday drudgery of frontier women really got together on . D life. Liquor was the escape. Pub- Sadie Austin stands at ease NATIONAL lic drunkenness was a daily event with her guns on her father’s and a threat to family stability. In ranch, where she worked as a SOLOMON the west, saloons and whiskey cowgirl, more at home on the OF HOMESTEAD tents encouraged drinking by sup- range than in the kitchen. , , Alice Freeman, her stolid portrait mounted in this ornate Civil War frame, headed west in 1865. plying free lunches. This food was Tireless, she ran her husband’s ranch, reared six children, opened a school and practiced medi- laced with salt to promote thirst. SERVICE cine. COURTESY Drinkers were allowed to have © liquor bottles in front of them and PARK to do their own pouring. (continued on page 4) (continued from page 3) this one. They didn’t have the NATIONAL PARK © Rough transient males en- vote themselves, but they did couraged family men to join control the table and the bed at them for “a tipple.” The saloons home and lobbying took a new NATIONAL were open 24 hours a day and turn. Women were encouraged often had hookers working the to become “aggressive.” crowds for the cribs upstairs. In Alameda, a drunken YOSEMITE Gambling tables were orga- crowd, enraged by this new atti- , nized by professional gamblers, tude, chased the women from in and drinking while gambling, front of a saloon and into a tent SERVICE was on the house. where they kept them captive all PARK As most towns matured, day while sitting around outside gambling disappeared, and getting more rowdy and soused. HE PIONEER WOMAN HAD TO organized into societies and women’s homes sprouted up to prostitution became much more In 1870, the Supreme Court BE MORE THAN JUST A WIFE groups for united strength. They protect their sisters. NATIONAL discreet. But heavy drinking declared California’s “local op- AND MOTHER; she had to be decided to take action, even if Charitable societies in the T stayed on. By 1885, San Fran- tion” law unconstitutional. So an equal in strength, determina- it was offensive to their spouses. west were used to bad press be- cisco had a saloon for every 16 then, the Women’s Christian tion and duties. The society that In San Francisco, in 1853, cause the male domination of voters (and that was 31 times Temperance Union was formed COURTESY these women left “back east” the San Francisco Ladies Pro- the press reflected community © as many saloons as churches). (and became a national force). had to be completely rebuilt out tection and Relief Society was embarrassment about these very It was also twice as many, per It was quite active in Petaluma west. The trail was hard and the formed. Many women with needs that cried out for reform. capita, as New York City! Sin (see the W.C.T.U. Fountain on destination just as hard. homes of their own, realized the It was the campaigns against was a way of life in the west the corner of the Boulevard and On the frontier, women economic and personal help- gambling, saloons and prostitu- and that was the way frontier Western Ave.) But 10 years went discovered that they had never lessness of women who sud- tion that most violently pitted man wanted it. by and no results. The women fi- known what a completely rough- denly found themselves on the female against male. Women This alcoholic promiscuity nally returned to their homes. shod male-dominated society streets. The society decided to banded together to assert their was, of course, mostly male. However, also in 1870, was like. Many women tried to open a home for “all respectable “inherent moral authority.” It The problem became so severe women had gotten voting rights change it. They were met with women in want of protection.” became a gender war. that finally, even the politicians in Wyoming and Utah. The Utah wild drinking, rampant prostitu- These women received a The Chinese Mission House started taking public note. The move was a Mormon thing. The tion, no voting rights, profes- lot of bad press and uproar over in San Francisco opened its western woman really entered men wanted the same things the sional gamblers and second-class this effort because the western doors to “women in disgrace” citizenship at every turn. male was being labeled as a and a mob threatened to tear Carefree Kitty Tatch cavorts with a friend high above Yosemite Val- There was stress between predator. (Probably true.) But, down the building. Prominent ley in 1900. Kitty autographed postcards of her antics at a nearby the genders over these and other the women kept their own politicians kept their mouths hotel where she was a waitress. issues and the western women counsel on this issue and more shut about this because their PAG E 4 • THE PETALUMA POST • MARCH 2002 women did and Brigham Young ROOM wanted to attract more people to Mormonism. In Wyoming, it was a public relations push to HISTORY get more attention from pioneer families who didn’t like the BANK cold climate. (The fact is, that OLD women were not even allowed FARGO to be on jury duty until 1950 in PETALUMA Wyoming!) WELLS Co-education was another Hist or y & St o- goal of women’s organizations. During the Civil War, this effort r ies COURTESY got a big push because many © colleges were forced to accept women students just to stay in business. But, the teaching was still primarily aimed toward marriage preparation rather than career. Such courses as “etiquette, conversation and needlework,” “cooking and the household arts” and “domestic economy”Lillie Hitchcock were Coit high shows on theoff the uniform that she wore when list.chasing San Francisco fire engines.

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