Kimberly Mansion facts for kids
|
Kimberly Mansion
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1625 Main Street, Glastonbury, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | circa 1720 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002178 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
The Kimberly Mansion is a special old house in Glastonbury, Connecticut. It was once the home of two amazing sisters, Abby and Julia Evelina Smith. These sisters were important political activists. They worked hard for causes like ending slavery (called abolitionism) and getting women the right to vote (called women's suffrage).
They became famous around the world for standing up for their rights. They argued against unfair taxes on their property. They believed it was wrong to pay taxes if they didn't have a say in the government. This idea is known as "taxation without representation."
Contents
The Smith Sisters' Fight for Rights
The Smith family used their home, the Kimberly Mansion, as a meeting place. They held gatherings and talks about ending slavery. They even collected signatures for a petition against slavery. They sent this petition to former president John Quincy Adams to share with Congress.
.jpg)
In 1873, when they were older, the sisters started a big fight. They disagreed with how their property, Kimberly Farm, was being taxed. They felt the town was charging them too much. At that time in Connecticut, women could not vote. This meant they had no say in how their tax money was used.
The sisters decided not to pay their taxes. They said they wouldn't pay until they had a voice in government. Abby bravely spoke to the town council. She reminded them of the country's motto: "Proclaim liberty to all inhabitants of the land!" She asked how liberty could be true if half the people (women) were ruled by the other half.
Standing Up to Unfair Taxes
The town did not like the sisters' protest. They took the sisters' cows and sold them at an auction. They even tried to sell their farm! But the sisters were smart. They managed to buy their cows back.
They then took the town to court. And guess what? They won! This court case made the sisters and their cows famous. It also brought a lot of attention to the cause of women's right to vote.
A Family of Trailblazers
The Smith sisters came from a very interesting family. They were known for being independent thinkers. Their father, Zephaniah Smith, was a lawyer and a minister. Their mother, Hannah Hickok, loved math and wrote poetry.
They had three other sisters, all unique. Hancy was an inventor. Laurilla was an artist. And Cyrinthia was a poet.
Julia Smith was also a very talented person. She knew many old languages like Greek and Latin. In 1855, she finished something amazing. She completed the first full translation of the Bible into English by a woman. She published it herself in 1876. She wanted to show everyone what women were capable of achieving.
The Kimberly Mansion's Legacy
The Kimberly Mansion itself is quite old. It was built around the early 1700s. A Connecticut politician named Eleazer Kimberly built it. Zephaniah Smith, the sisters' father, bought the house in 1790.
In 1974, the house was named a National Historic Landmark. This is a special title given to places important to American history. It was recognized because of its connection to the Smith sisters. It played a big part in their brave protests for women's rights and fairness.
