"Women Behind These Walls" will feature the stories of twenty different women civilians who lived in Gettysburg during the battle. Each one will have her own poster hung in a location around town significant to her life. The project is the result of the efforts by five local business women: Ashley Andyshak Hayes, director of advocacy and public relations at the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County; Linda Clark, licensed battlefield guide and Civil War author; Deb McCauslin is a local historian and owner of For The Cause Productions; Angela Keen Badjie, supervisor of Direct Services at Survivors Inc.; and Joanne Lewis, licensed town guide and licensed battlefield guide.
The project was inspired by a presentation Clark gave at a County Commissioners meeting about her book "The Battle for Gettysburg: What was it like for the Citizens of 1863?" Keen Badjie began to wonder about the experiences of women in particular. She approached Clark with her questions, and with the input of Andyshak Hayes, the idea for the project was created. According to Clark, visitors have an interest in civilian stories because they are able to relate. They might not have military experience, but they have "civilian" experience.
Twenty businesses on Carlisle Street, Baltimore Street, Chambersburg Street, Middle Street, and Washington Street will each have a poster displayed in their window or somewhere on their business. Andyshak Hayes worried that some might not want to participate, but many showed excitement toward the project. Visitors can take a self-guided tour by following the brochure detailing the project. Different locations throughout the town will have the brochures available.
Visitors who are feeling especially ambitious can probably walk the entire tour at once, says Andyshak Hayes.
The women intend for the project to create a "unique learning experience for most visitors." Unless people have extensive knowledge about Civil War history, they most likely have not heard of some of the women featured. For Andyshak Hayes, the project was important because she works at the YWCA, which stands for Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women. Keen Badjie had a similar connection through her work at Survivors Inc, whose mission is to end domestic violence and sexual assault. They share a strong belief in communicating the messages of these powerful civilian women with the public.
According to Lewis, "We always hear about the great battle that was fought here and discuss troop maneuvers, leadership decisions, tactics and strategies, but we seldom stop to think what effect the war and the battle had on the civilian population as a whole and the women in particular. What the women of this town did in response to the tragedy of the battle is nothing short of awe inspiring."
And Sonya Sengson agrees. "I think that sometimes people overlook the good done by people other than the soldiers. Women were not on the front lines of battle, but they were left to deal with the effects of it. They cared for the wounded, kept families running, and supported the troops. They deserve to be honored as well. Civilians played an important role in the war which so uniquely impacted and shaped the culture of our country." Sonya Sengson supports the efforts of these local women to educate others on the role that civilian women played in the Battle of Gettysburg.
ABOUT:
Sonya Sengson is a registered pharmacist and a history enthusiast. She has spent time researching her family heritage and discovered their links to American history. Her family came to America in the mid-1600s as indentured servants. Some members fought in the Revolutionary War. She has traveled to historical sites such as Manassas, Annapolis, Mt. Vernon, many sites in Washington DC.
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