With an overflow crowd of onlookers, a second granite wall engraved with the names of 78 women was dedicated Sunday afternoon at the Women’s Honor Court Park on Water Street.
A one-of-a-kind park in Kentucky, the WHC was established in 2014 and honors the achievements of women in the community. It is located on county property across from the riverfront tennis complex.
In addition to two granite walls lined with names, the park also spotlights eight notable women and their significance to the community on special plaques. They are Susan Starling Towles, Lucy Bakewell Audubon, Mary Willie Arvin, Mary Towles Sasseen Wilson, Thelma Banks Johnson, Joan Frields Hoffman, Marianne Cascio Walker and Bobbie Weathers Jarrett.
Jule McClellan, a local artist and retired director of Ohio Valley Art League whose vision launched the establishment of the WHC, described it as a “place built of stone, grit and gratitude” in a determination to “remember, recognize and raise up the contributions of women.”
In her keynote remarks, Henderson native and Emmy-nominated Ane Crabtree recalled her growing up days before she graduated from Henderson County High School in 1982 and pursued a career in Hollywood that has spanned 35 years.
She called her hometown “a big little town” filled with people who instilled in her “wanting more and dreaming big” and said the granite walls’ “names echo the stories of women who inspired.”
“I fell in love with this town as a kid and I’m still in love with it today,” she said, challenging the audience to ponder what they would do for future generations. “The world needs more strong women.”
Following her remarks, Henderson Mayor Brad Staton presented Crabtree with a key to the city.
Also, Henderson County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider read a proclamation recognizing The Garden Club of Henderson for their centennial anniversary and recognizing their work in community beautification, including work in the WHC.
Schneider called the county-maintained WHC an “island of serenity” in downtown Henderson and thanked the Garden Club for their 100 years of work on a long list of projects.
