The Flagler Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) filmed their acceptance speech this morning at the Holden House Museum for the induction of Bunnell Suffragist Alice Scott Abbott into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame by Governor Ron DeSantis. Mrs. Abbott was a local, state, and national women’s voting rights pioneer and helped lead close to 200 Flagler County women, 50 of whom were African American, to register to vote in the historic 1920 election. Mrs. Abbott was also the music director of the Bunnell Seventh Day Adventist Church, built on S. Anderson Street in 1916. The church would become home to the local Episcopal church in the 1950s. The building was moved to Espanola in the late 1960s to continue serving as a place for salvation in the community.
The Flagler County Historical Society and the AAUW have teamed up to bring the church back home to Bunnell, with placement next to the Holden House, to create the Florida Women’s Voting Rights Museum! The museum will tell the tale of the historic struggle and vote. It will also teach children the critical thinking skills needed to become responsible voters by looking at 1920 social issues, platforms, and candidates, and then voting on the 1920 Flagler County ballot!
Phase 1 Fundraising Has Begun! We need your help to bring this project to fruition.
Fundraising will take place in four phases:
Phase 1: Buy that Church!
Phase 2: Move that Church!
Phase 3: Restore that Church!
Phase 4: Make the Museum!
For information on donating money, time, and services, call the Flagler County Historical Society at 386.437.0600 or email [email protected].