HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DEARBORN-DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Early in 1949, 37 women from the Dearborn area participated in a study group of the Detroit League of Women Voters. Here the group studied a wide range of Detroit, state, and national issues, but very little about local Dearborn issues.
Frustrated because they could not concentrate on Dearborn issues, the women arranged a pre-organizational meeting which was held in November 1950. The Dearborn League became a provisional league on March 19, 1951 with 37 charter members.
After completing a required study of the local Dearborn community, the Dearborn League of Women Voters was recognized as an official League with 78 members on December 19, 1951. The first president was Modesta Gamble.
The first finance drive in 1951 brought in a total of $508.00. Dearborn and Its Government was published by the Dearborn School’s print shop in the summer of 1952, at a minimum cost, in exchange for providing the schools with several hundred copies. On Election Day in 1952, the League worked with other organizations in Dearborn to provide child care at 63 precincts. A forum was held at Henry Ford Museum.
Voter guides were delivered door-to-door in 1954. The first luncheon was held at the Woodworth House and the Annual Meeting was held at Lovett Hall. General meetings were held at a community center at Horger and Michigan Ave. and later at the Dearborn Historical Museum.
The Dearborn League was involved in efforts to hold a new state Constitutional Convention as early as 1955. Dearborn members spent many days in 90 degree heat at Gate Four of the Ford Rouge Plant, obtaining signatures on petitions while convincing people of the need for a new constitution. Eventually, the Constitutional Convention was held and member Kay Cushman, a charter member of the Dearborn League, was one of the delegates elected in 1961.
In 1961, the first issue of Know Your Wayne County was published. A local study on Dearborn Schools began.
In 1965, a Dearborn Heights League was established. Seven women attended the first planning meeting followed by a public meeting at Wellever School with more than eighty potential members. In 1968, members of the Dearborn Heights League met at Crestwood High School. Members regularly marched in the city’s July 4th parade. An important mayoral forum was held between the current mayor and a candidate whose platform included a plan to merge the cities of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Important studies included the possible merger of the then seven school districts and problems related to the flooding of Ecorse Creek. At that time, the League became very active in opposing a proposal to enclose the Ecorse Creek, including writing a letter to the EPA office in Chicago.
In 1967, the Dearborn League opened an office on Mason St. The Dearborn League was the first suburban league in the Detroit area to have a telephone listing.
In 1968, Dearborn teachers went on strike. The League organized a forum with five other organizations called “Crisis in Education - Where Do We Go From Here?”. The forum was held at Ford Motor Company’s “Glass House” with over 2,000 people in attendance. The event was held on a Thursday and the schools were open the next Tuesday.
In 1971, three years before full LWV membership was awarded to men, Fred Hoffman joined the Dearborn League. Mr. Hoffman is still a member of our League.
In 1973, the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Leagues merged and became known as the LWV Dearborn-Dearborn Heights.
Around this time, members were now listed in the directory by their first name rather than as “Mrs. John Doe”.
In 1981, the League established an office at Christ Episcopal Church, where we still meet today. Prior to that, during the 1980’s, one of the offices rented was over the Howell Bar in west Dearborn, a popular meeting place until it burned down several years ago.
The Dearborn-Dearborn Heights LWV has been a mighty force over the years. Here are some other activities and accomplishments of the League.
LWV Dearborn-Dearborn Heights Past Presidents
1951-53 Modesta Gamble
1953-55 Jane Cameron
1955-57 Rosalie Sullivan
1957-59 Dorothy Radke
1959-60 Margaret Foersch
1960-61 Helen Weightman
1961-63 Mae Hudson
1963-65 Gloria Rottman
1965-67 Margaret Terry
1967-69 Mary Tuttle
1969-71 Charlotte Copp
1971-74 Kay Cushman
1974-76 Sarah Lavoie
1976-78 Romona Kraemer
1978-80 Jackie Kaiser
1980-82 Kathy Abramczyk
1982-85 Carole Lennis
1985-87 Janice Berry
1987-91 Carolyn Buell
1991-93 Janet Capehart (Kilmer)
1993-97 Judy Carty
1997-99 Ellie Wright and Carolyn Buell
1999-01 Charlotte Ecclestone and Judy Carty
2001-03 Vacant
2003-05 Christina Sullivan
2005-07 Toni Tront
2007-09 Mona Hammoud
2009-13 Mary Bugeia
2013-17 Betsy Cushman
2017-21 Mary Jo Durivage
2021-23 Jennifer Oliver
2023-25 Alicia Mazurek and Jen Oliver
