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bloomer_homerA Dedication and Unveiling of an historic roadside marker in honor of Homer born Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894), suffragist, abolitionist and temperance advocate will take place on Sunday, September 16 at 2:00 PM on the front lawn of the former 'Jenks Homestead' at 43 N. Main Street (Rte 11), Homer, NY.

Included in the celebration will be Sousa Marches, trumpet fanfares (David Shiffman), soprano soloists (Lucia Helgren & Pamela Poulin), pianist (Donna Anderson); a short walking tour led by Homer Town Historian & Lincoln Scholar, Martin Sweeney, to a splendid Reception nearby being catered by Linani's.  'Amelia' as portrayed by Pamela Poulin in costume will lead the ceremonies.

At the Reception, there will be music inspired by Bloomer's 'dress reform' (that being the wearing of shorter dresses over trousers and the eschewing of corsets):  Pamela Poulin will sing two tongue-in-cheek selections, with Donna Anderson performing on the piano:  "The Bloomer's Complaint" (1851), and "Sunday in Cicero [Seneca] Falls" from Bloomer Girl, the 1940s Broadway hit musical (over 600 performances), by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg (who also composed the music and lyrics for the "Wizard of Oz"), with choreography for Bloomer Girl by Agnes de Mille.  There will be instruction on how to dance a "Bloomer Polka!," exhibits about Bloomer and a continuous slide show of Bloomer pictures and artifacts.   There will be free householder maps of Homer from 1855 and 1876, free 'Amelia Bloomer' paper dolls, , a display of books on Bloomer and related topics, and 19th century games and toys for children to enjoy. 

A special Amelia Jenks Bloomer exhibit will be on at the Homer History Center view starting on Friday, September 7, and also on the day of the Celebration (9/16/2012) from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 

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