Duxbury Historical Society May-June programs revisit women’s suffrage and the Stonewall Uprising
May 17, 2024 | By Waterbury Roundabout
Educator, singer and historian Linda Radtke presents stories and music from the women's suffrage era at the South Duxbury Meeting House on Tuesday, May 21. Courtesy photo
The Duxbury Historical Society invites the community to two upcoming programs featuring presentations on the women’s suffrage movement and the Stonewall Uprising.
The first is Tuesday, May 21, with local singer and historian Linda Radtke’s program titled “From the Parlor to the Polling Place: Stories and Songs from the Suffragists.”
Radtke will discuss the events leading up to and following the passing of the 19th Amendment. Her presentation will include wearing period clothing and music written during this time.
The program is sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council. It begins at 7 p.m. at the South Duxbury Meeting House (formerly known as the South Duxbury Church) located across from Harwood Union High School. Refreshments will be served.
June 19: Author shares Mafia connections to the Stonewall Uprising
Alex Hortis. Courtesy photo
The historical society’s next program commemorates Pride Month when it welcomes acclaimed historical crime writer Alex Hortis on June 19 at the Waterbury Congregational Church for a talk titled “The Mob & Stonewall: Unraveling the Mafia’s Influence in the 1969 Uprising.”
The event begins at 6 p.m. with music by Burlington’s folk-punk The Champlain Shoregasm. Hortis is on at 6:30.
The 1969 Stonewall Uprising stands as a pivotal moment in history—a fierce response by the LGBTQ community to relentless police raids. On June 28, 1969, New York City Police descended upon the Stonewall Inn, a popular gathering spot for LGBTQ individuals. This time the community fought back, igniting several nights of protest. The rebellion was a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ rights and gave rise to modern-day Pride parades and festivals. Yet, amidst the well-known narrative lies a lesser-discussed chapter: the role of the Mafia which happened to own the Stonewall Inn.
That’s the angle Hortis has researched extensively and will delve into, focusing on the intricate web of relationships that reveal how the Mafia unintentionally played a role in sparking the renowned Stonewall uprising. His presentation will look at the riots and the intersection of the LGBTQ community, law enforcement, the Mafia -- and its alcohol cartel -- at this pivotal moment. The talk will include a question and answer period as well.
A constitutional lawyer and crime historian, Hortis has appeared on national television in AMC’s “The Making of the Mob” (2015), on NPR stations across the country and in true crime podcasts. He also has been a featured speaker at the New York Public Library, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. He’s the author of the acclaimed book “The Mob and the City: The Hidden History of How the Mafia Captured New York.” More information online at alexhortis.com.
This ticketed event is free with donations welcome to benefit the Duxbury Historical Society’s project to restore and preserve its South Duxbury Meeting House and archive building. Ticket reservations are recommended and are available online at the society’s website at duxburyvt.com. Event sponsors include The Alchemist, Moose Meadow Lodge and Revitalizing Waterbury.
See more online from the Duxbury Historical Society.