Union Block a representation of women’s history

MT. PLEASANT - The Union Block in Downtown Mt. Pleasant has been designated as one of 20 historical sites across the nation competing in the Partners in Preservation: Main Street campaign. If the Union Block is voted as a top ten site of the campaign, Main Street Mt. Pleasant will receive part of a $2 million grant to help restore the windows of the building as well as the east gable.

The competition was created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express in 2006. In a news release announcing the Union Block as a historical site, it states the campaign was created 'as a community-based partnership to engage the public is preserving historic places.” This year's theme celebrates the 'untold history of women across America.”

Lisa Oetken, Main Street director, began working on an application to submit the Union Block building as a site since April. Oetken noted that the contributions of Arabella (Belle) Babb Mansfield, the first woman to be admitted to the Bar in the United States and a Mt. Pleasant native, 'has been a very well kept secret until just the last twenty years.” Mansfield took her bar exam at the Union Block building.

'A lot of people didn't know about Belle and what she did in Mt. Pleasant,” Oetken added.

Mt. Pleasant's Main Street was the only main street from the state that was chosen as a finalist and Oetken believes the campaign is a great way to educate Iowans about the history of the town and its progressiveness throughout history. In addition to being the first woman in the county to be admitted into the Bar, Mansfield also chaired the first woman's suffrage convention in 1870. Because of her involvement with women's suffrage, Mansfield helped bring other historical women to Mt. Pleasant including Susan B. Anthony, Anna Dickinson and Sojourner Truth.

'I think that's part of the reason why we were chosen. The history that has happened in Mt. Pleasant and with Belle touches women and girls all over the U.S. If we didn't have someone brave like Belle, who took that bar exam not knowing whether she'd ever be allowed to practice law, we might not be where we are today ... she helped pave the way,” she said.

'We have a very rich history, we just need to be better at telling our story ... This campaign will not just bring state attention but also bring national attention to Mt. Pleasant. It will help us recruit new businesses and people who have never heard of us before will learn about the town,” Oetken added.

If Mt. Pleasant is voted a top ten site, Oetken says the funds will go to repairing and restoring the 158 year old windows on the building. Currently the windows are single pane and not energy efficient, which makes heating and cooling the building incredibly expensive. Mt. Pleasant Main Street kicked off a $3.5 million dollar renovation project in 2011 but did not have enough funds to renovate the windows or the east gable. With the support from the grant, Main Street would be able to complete its restoration project.

The campaign is mostly based on votes submitted online. Once registered, a person can vote for the Union Block building five times a day.

An in-person opportunity to vote will take place on Oct. 17. A representative from Washington, D.C. will be in Mt. Pleasant to collect votes from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Votes will be collected at the Union Block.

A roaring twenties party will begin at the building at 5 p.m. and will include free food and drinks. At the party, prominent women in the Mt. Pleasant community including Pat White, Kathy Nellor and Barb Welander will be present to talk about their careers and experiences in town.

'it's a great opportunity to show off the building and what a great town we have,” Oetken said.

Those interested in voting for the Union Block can visit voteyourmainstreet.org/mountpleasant. Those who text Union to 864-614-8683 can receive a text reminder each day to vote.