Highway Marker Unveiled Honoring Suffrage Motorcade

The “Couriers to Congress” suffrage motorcade leaves Hyattsville bound for the US Capitol

📷 source: Maryland Historical Trust

Many events to look forward to this weekend (all of which will be included in forthcoming Weekend Guides! 👏) including the unveiling of the “Couriers to Congress” Highway Marker at US 1/ Rhode Island Ave at 41st Place, in front of Melrose Park, where women rallied in 1914 before parading down Rhode Island Avenue to present 75,000 signed petitions to U.S. Senators considering granting women the right to vote.

When: 10am
Where: 4666 Rhode Island Ave (Melrose Park (where skate park is located));
**According to an email from the City of Hyattsville: Free parking and shuttle service will be available at the County Building, 4990 Rhode Island Avenue, through the entrance on 43rd Avenue.

The Mayor of Hyattsville addresses the suffragists at the 1913 rally at Magruder Park
📷 source: Maryland Historical Trust

According to this article here, “‘General’ Rosalie Jones and her hardy band of suffrage hikers were met by the town’s mayor and given a luncheon…while on their way from Newark, New Jersey, to Washington, D.C. to take part in the huge March 3rd suffrage parade and pageant.”

According to this report by the Commission on the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, this marker will read as follows:

SUFFRAGE MOTORCADE

ON JULY 31, 1913, “COURIERS TO CONGRESS” FROM ACROSS THE

NATION CONVERGED AT THE NEARBY HYATTSVILLE BASEBALL PARK,

CARRYING 75,000 SIGNATURES DEMANDING IMMEDIATE ACTION ON A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ENFRANCHISING WOMEN. HYATTSVILLE RESIDENTS WARMLY WELCOMED THE ARRIVING DELEGATIONS. AFTER THE BALLPARK RALLY, THE COURIERS PARADED IN 60 AUTOMOBILES TO THE U.S. CAPITOL TO DELIVER THE PETITIONS TO THE SENATE. SEVEN YEARS PASSED BEFORE THE 19th AMENDMENT GRANTED WOMEN THE RIGHT TO THE VOTE IN 1920.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST

MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

Pretty cool event and great way to recognize some of the history that happened along Route One.

👉 While you’re in the area, stop by woman-owned Shortcake Bakery and try out some of Cheryl’s sweet treats! (Stone’s throw from Melrose Park.) Truly delicious – and she also supports local artists by displaying their work for sale on the bakery’s walls.

Master baker & Owner of Shortcake Bakery, Cheryl Harrington
📷 source: Shortcake Bakery

Great story here by Hyattsville Life & Times about Shortcake Bakery’s recent reopening. Shortcake’s located at 4700 Rhode Island Ave, Hyattsville.