BELFAST — Downtown Belfast took on historic proportions just after the start of the work day, June 25, when 56 women and one dog gathered to pose for a group photo, and one that celebrated their work, their creativity, services they render, and products they make.

The 2015 photo of downtown women business owners, CEOs, directors and leaders had been weeks in the planning, and by 8:15 a.m., the subjects settled into place next to City Hall on Church Street. Some took seats, others stood on the small rise of a hill between old brick buildings.

“We wanted to take a moment and celebrate women in business in downtown Belfast,” said Breanna Pinkham Bebb, executive director of the Our Town Belfast. The nonprofit works to promote and encourage enterprise in what it calls the “creative, collaborative community” of Belfast.

The nonprofit had organized the event after noting a recent and troubling entrepreneurial trend.

Mike Hurley, himself a longtime downtown Belfast business owner, catalyst and community leader, had caught a piece on the radio reporting that a 20-year annual nationwide increase in the number of women starting their own businesses started to slide the other way in 2014. Last year, the number of new women-led business startups fell close to 2008 numbers.

A May 13 Wall Street Journal article reported similar findings based on a study issued in May by the Kansas City, Mo., nonprofit Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Wall Street Journal said: “The share of new businesses started by women fell last year to its second lowest level in nearly two decades, a sign that the entrepreneurial gender gap widened last year.”

The Kauffman Foundation said in its May 28 report about rising rates of entrepreneurship across the country: “Most new entrepreneurs — 63.2 percent — were men. The 36.8 percent of females who became entrepreneurs in the 2015 Index is close to the two-decade low of 36.3 percent in the 2008 Kauffman Index. The rate of new entrepreneurs grew for all age groups except those aged 45 to 54, which experienced no change in the 2015 Index.”

When Our Town Belfast heard about these cited statistics, they collectively announced: “Not in Belfast.”

Belfast has a history of women owning and running businesses, and starting new enterprises. 

“The discussion caused folks to take a look at this density of women-business owners,” said Bebb. “We were thinking about all of these businesses that have opened up here, and have been staples of the downtown, many owned or partially owned by women.”

The recognition follows what has been acknowledged as the Belfast Revival, an infusion of entrepreneurial energy in the city, and beyond.

So, Our Town Belfast printed 70 invitations and sent them to the downtown women business owners and leaders who came to mind. Then, they put out word via social media, emails and in press releases sent to local media.

“We tried as best we could to spread the word,” said Bebb.

The result began to appear around 8 a.m., and settled into place. 

Heather Pusey, of Our Town Belfast, pulled out her iPhone and snapped many images. Other photographers were also on the scene to help record for history’s sake.

The photo will get enlarged and framed together on a mat, which everyone who was in the photo lent her signature to with a red Sharpie. A frame had been made by Anne, owner of the downtown Belfast Framer.

“It will hang in the Our Town Belfast office, and eventually make its way to the Belfast Museum, for history,” said Bebb.

The goal to “commemorate the many women business owners who have contributed and continue to contribute to the revitalization of our historic downtown” was achieved, she said.

“I would have been thrilled if 30 people showed up,” said Bebb. “To have more than 50 people was a great showing.”

Plus, Belfast now has even more data about who owns which businesses.

“It is not always clear how ownership is structured, so this is helpful data,” she said.

More importantly, it is about business. In Maine, the wage gap between men and women is significant: Women still early, on average, approximately 73 cents on the dollar that men earn.

“When you own your own business you make the rules and you are empowered to achieve,” said Bebb. “It was something we noticed and wanted to celebrate.”

Megan Pinette, at the  Belfast Historical Society and Museum, noted that Belfast women have long had entrepreneurial spirit. She wrote to Our Town Belfast, and included a photo from a Jan. 19, 1926 event of the Belfast Business Professional Women’s Club, which formed in January 1923 and became the largest women’s organization in Belfast. What follows is a short history of that club.

By Megan Pinette

Mrs. Sarah L. Hammons was selected as first president. The club was one of the most active and largest in Maine boasting of a membership of 150 during its first years and was affiliated with the State and National Professional Women’s Clubs.

The Clubs were organized primarily to enable their members to share and broaden their own interests by taking counsel together and by concerted action. They had their social side but took part in all activities designed to promote the public welfare and community progress. They were interested in health, education, legislation and public and international relations. Among their projects: scholarships for Maine Girls, banning of objectionable outdoor advertising and to create better highways. They were an influence for good, helping to make Maine a better state and making better businesswomen.

In Belfast efforts provided a rest-room for teachers in the newly built Crosby School, scholarships for young women going to college, initiated the drive to open a YMCA, and provided funds for supply milk to school children. They even helped an elderly woman to become a resident at the Home for Aged Women.

The BPW opened their club rooms in 1926 in the annex of the American Legion building, the former North Church. It was a handsome space, large double parlors nicely appointed with sofas, side tables, a piano, Victrola and well stocked library. There was a kitchen, coatroom, lavatory, store room and seating for 200. Mrs. Blaisdell, the “fairy godmother” of the group paid for the furnishings. For large gatherings or shows, they used the American Legion Hall, the Colonial Theatre or the Opera House.

A large percentage of members were in business for themselves. Among the membership:

Mrs. B. F. Wells, milliner in business for 57 years. She was in business longer than any man or woman in Belfast at that time.

Mrs. Fred Spinney, daughter of Mrs. Wells, was associated with her mother’s business for 26 years.

The oldest member was Mrs. J. L. Sleeper, on Main Street for 55 years, carried on in her husband’s business after his death, selling wall paper, curtains, rugs and victrolas. 

There was a manufacturer, Mrs. Nettie M. Hall, operator of a shirt factory. 

Miss Alberta Farnham, assistant cashier at City National Bank.

Mrs. Louise Royal, Registrar of Deeds

Mrs. Blanche Clay

3 newspaperwomen, registered nurses, one doctor, office managers, 2 heads of insurance companies, many stenographers, bookkeepers, clerks, buyers, a dancing teacher and school teachers.

These organized women knew how to hold a party and do fundraising! They produced musicales, dances, costume parties, suppers, luncheons, carnivals, and, even Christmas parties. Their biggest show was in October 1929, held in the Legion Hall for two nights, The Womanless Wedding, an all-male, all Belfast cast dressed as perfect ladies performing songs and skits for nearly two hours. Lloyd McKeen’s orchestra provided the music. Leading men of the city- members of the Lions Club and Rotary Club provided many laughs with their “feminine impressions.” The bride was Dr. B. E. Larrabee and the groom was Clyde Shorey.

 Natalie Rose           Eat More Cheese

Meg Reilly, The Sail Locker, 92 Main Street, Lower Level

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657