Livingston is planning to install a new monument on the public square to commemorate the legacy of former Governor A.H. Roberts and his pivotal role in the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
Livingston Main Street Commission Chairman Gene Gantt said the project is funded through a Celebrate America 250 grant intended to highlight contributions to American democracy. Gantt said the commission chose to honor Roberts because his represented the final signature granting women the right to vote.
“A women’s right to vote, we felt like was as important as many other things that have happened in the past,” Gantt said. “I mean, that’s a huge event. And so, we wanted to celebrate a little more. We already have the A.H. Roberts law office, preserved and on display there in Livingston. But we also wanted to bring that history out a little bit more so that more people would see it and understand.”
Gantt said Roberts was a scholar and statesman who served as the Superintendent of the local school system before rising to the governorship. Gantt said the planned monument will consist of a stone featuring a bronze plaque with Roberts’ face etched into it alongside a narrative of his life and contributions.
“It took a lot of political courage for him to do what he did,” Gantt said. “And as a result of what he did with convincing the legislature to approve women’s suffrage, he never was elected to another office after that. So, he sacrificed his political time for that.”
Gantt said the monument will also highlight Roberts’ work reforming the state highway and tax systems. Gantt said the commission is still determining the exact location on the square for the installation.
“We have to be aware of our history and the fact that no matter where you come from, there are great things you can do,” Gantt said. “You always have the opportunity to step up and really make a change. And for a local individual from Alpine, Tennessee, here in Overton County, that was a big event to be able to affect the change in democracy of allowing women to vote.”
Gantt said the project aims to inspire young people in the rural community by showcasing leaders like Roberts, Cordell Hull, and Alvin York who achieved national significance. Gantt said maintaining a vibrant and historical downtown square is essential for the overall health of the county.
“I think a lot of times people in small towns think that they can’t get somewhere because of where they’re from, from a rural community, for example,” Gantt said. “But we are very fortunate in the Upper Cumberland to have had Cordell Hull, A.H. Roberts, Alvin York. We’ve had several great leaders that have come from the hills and hollers of Tennessee. And again, I think it’s something that we should try to inspire in young people that they should strive to do great things.”
Gantt said he has worked with descendants of the Roberts family and knows it is important to them to see this legacy promoted.
“There’s lots of good history about him, but again, we don’t have the chance to celebrate it enough, that’s what we want to bring forward,” Gantt said. “He was a very important figure in the history of the United States, and we’re very proud of the fact that he came from here.”