42 The Fenway
Feb. 2^nd 1900.

My dear Mr. Sheldon;

I enclose the petitions
which Alice and I have
made. If you approve of it,
will you copy it please
it must not of course, be
presented to the gentlemen
in my handwriting -- Will
you and Jenny sign it, and
if convenient, will you
get Mrs. Pratt’s signature?
She has told us that she
will gladly forward the
plan. Then will you please
mail it to Mr. Wm. Abercrom-
bie -- 19 Linden Place
Brookline --we want
some men’s names first.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This letter from Emma Lewis Coleman to George Sheldon is dated February 2, 1900. Miss Coleman refers to a petition (L99.133) that she and C. Alice Baker have made in regard to the proposed trolley route through Deerfield, Massachusetts. Realizing that women's voices were often overlooked in matters of public affairs, she cautions Mr. Sheldon to copy it over since it must not be "presented to the gentlemen in my handwriting." Several names are mentioned: "Mrs. Pratt" was Jenny Eliza Pratt, Deerfield postmistress; "Wm. Abercrombie" lived in one of the oldest houses on the Deerfield street; "Mr. Jones" refers to Charles Jones (1820-1903), Deerfield farmer who played a leading role in town affairs.

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