Granville Woodhull Memorial Clock Proclamation

Whereas – the Avery-Downer House has been a Granville landmark since 1842, beautifully expressing through Greek Revival architecture the ideals of education and culture so valued by the early settlers of this village; and

Whereas – we honor our fellow Licking County forebearer, Victoria Claflin Woodhull, born and raised just north of us in Homer 171 years ago, on September 23, 1838, who went on to travel from California to New York City, speaking out on behalf of women’s rights, speaking as the first woman to address a Congressional committee, and first woman to formally run for President of the United States in 1871; and

Whereas – we salute former village resident and antiquarian Robbins Hunter, Jr., who purchased this home in 1956, living here and searching out antiques from this base through the end of his life in 1979; and

Whereas – Robbins Hunter saw fit to prepare our area for the national bicentennial by erecting a monument to a too little known Licking County personage, using his own property and assets to create and present a clock tower honoring in name and image Victoria Woodhull; and

Whereas – this memorial was in 1975 the only American memorial to honor this important figure in our history, paired with a memorial tablet behind the high altar of Tewkesbury Abbey in England, where as Mrs. Victoria Woodhull Martin she lived out her life in philanthrophy and public service until her death in 1927; therefore

We declare this day, September 12, 2009, a day of celebration and rededication of this restored clock and mechanism which once again, as Robbins Hunter wished, puts the name and face and dreams of Victoria Woodhull before the citizens of the village of Granville; this restored memorial helps to keep her memory alive for all who watch the hour strike, the figure to appear, and even to ask to hear the story of this Licking County original -- and the no less interesting story of the maker of this memorial;

Therefore, with the Robbins Hunter Museum staff and board, and the officers of the Licking County Historical Society, the members of Granville Village Council and mayor therefore proclaim this “Victoria Woodhull Memorial Rededication Day,” and invite all to join us in marking this day with all appropriate respect and celebration.