19th Amendment Society seeking a new generation of volunteers

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

March is Women’s History Month and there has been nobody more impactful to that history from Floyd County than Carrie Chapman Catt.

Growing up on a farm just outside of Charles City, Catt was a key figure in the National American Woman Suffrage Association and instrumental in seeing the 19th Amendment adopted in 1920, securing the right to vote for 27 million women across the nation.

“There is a reason to put some pride in Floyd County,” said Mike Downey. “We have some things that are worth remembering.”

Downey is a former history teacher and an active volunteer at the Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home, a museum that preserves the link between Catt and Floyd County.

Since 1991, the National 19th Amendment Society members have volunteered their time and effort to maintain Catt’s childhood home, turning the property into a museum to celebrate Floyd County’s most historically impactful resident.

As spring approaches, the non-profit organization is getting ready for a new season of events and activities.

“We have some exciting things happening,” said Co-President Cheryl Erb.

Coming up on May 4, the museum will be celebrating the dedication of its “Red Shed,” a bright red building used for storage and as a classroom for large groups.

Later in the summer, the museum will host its annual Prairie Day Camp on Aug. 7 where Charles City elementary students will come out to learn about history and about nature in the Tallgrass Prairie preserve.

Finally, over Labor Day Weekend, visitors will be invited out for Family Apple Picking Day to collect apples off the orchard’s 18 trees and enjoy freshly-pressed cider.

Beyond the scheduled events, the museum is open to the public seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Along with being able to tour Catt’s historical childhood home, the grounds also include a walkthrough museum exhibit featuring an interactive touch screen display and an acre of nature preserve and apple orchard.

“It’s a great day trip for parents and a child,” said Downey.

Guided tours are also available by appointment throughout the year.

“We love to give tours,” said Downey. “It’s as simple as a phone call.”

Maintaining the museum does take a lot of dedication from volunteers at the National 19th Amendment Society and the board of directors is actively recruiting new members to volunteer their time and services as current board members retire.

“We’ve had some significant losses over the last year,” said Erb. “We need additional people to serve on the board.”

Meeting monthly from March through November, volunteer board members are needed to help manage the organization’s finances, plan programming and maintain the buildings and grounds on the property.

“It’s just like your house at home,” said Erb. “It takes continued maintenance.”

The museum is also seeking out volunteers to serve as docents — tour guides who would be interested in learning about Catt and walking visitors through the museum.

Downey will be hosting a docent training camp in early May. Those interested can text Downey at 641-220-0887 or email at MikeDowney0887@gmail.com.

Those interested in serving on the board can contact Erb at clccatt@gmail.com

Whether serving as a board member, docent, or just helping to maintain the museum or outdoor areas, volunteering is encouraged and welcomed by the staff.

“It’s taking ownership of the history of Floyd County and the dramatic national impact of a Charles City resident,” said Downey.

Originally built in 1866, Catt’s childhood home had fallen into serious disrepair by the time the original members of the National 19th Amendment Society came together in the 1990s to restore and preserve it. Now the group is in need of a new generation to make sure that this piece of Floyd County’s history remains intact in the 21st Century.

“It could have been a lost story,” said Erb. “It is such a treasure that it needs more people to see it.”