Historical Society celebrates 50th year of Highland House Museum
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By Pamela Nickell
HCP columnist
This is the 50th article in a series from the Highland County Historical Society featuring members of the Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame and recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Highland House Museum.
Eliza Jane Trimble Thompson
1816-1905
Eliza Jane was the only daughter of Governor Allen and Rachel Trimble.
She married James Henry Thompson, and they had eight children.
On the evening of Dec. 23, 1873, Eliza’s life changed forever when Dio Lewis gave a free lecture at Music Hall.
Dr. Lewis had suggested that women should organize to protest against saloons and to pray for the bars’ closing.
Thompson took Lewis’s advice.
She was not in attendance, but a son and daughter were, volunteering for a committee.
The next morning, she hurried to the Presbyterian Church, where she was elected leader of the Women’s Crusade.
Thompson and her followers were successful in closing the town’s saloons.
She became known throughout the civilized world as “Mother” Thompson, one of the organizers of the great Women’s Christian Temperance Union movement whose foundation was laid in Hillsborough on Christmas Eve of 1873.
Note: Quoted from the plaque in the Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame.
HCP columnist
This is the 50th article in a series from the Highland County Historical Society featuring members of the Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame and recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Highland House Museum.
Eliza Jane Trimble Thompson
1816-1905
Eliza Jane was the only daughter of Governor Allen and Rachel Trimble.
She married James Henry Thompson, and they had eight children.
On the evening of Dec. 23, 1873, Eliza’s life changed forever when Dio Lewis gave a free lecture at Music Hall.
Dr. Lewis had suggested that women should organize to protest against saloons and to pray for the bars’ closing.
Thompson took Lewis’s advice.
She was not in attendance, but a son and daughter were, volunteering for a committee.
The next morning, she hurried to the Presbyterian Church, where she was elected leader of the Women’s Crusade.
Thompson and her followers were successful in closing the town’s saloons.
She became known throughout the civilized world as “Mother” Thompson, one of the organizers of the great Women’s Christian Temperance Union movement whose foundation was laid in Hillsborough on Christmas Eve of 1873.
Note: Quoted from the plaque in the Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame.