Monday, March 17, 2008

Honoring Women

Today's honoree in the Women's History Hall of Fame is one I had never heard of until I came to Nashville and received the little pamphlet Remember the Ladies: Women of Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In reading it, it was eye-opening to realize how much of Nashville's history was made by sweet soft-spoken retiring Southern women.

Kate Eastman Savage Zerfoss was a pioneer in eye surgery techniques. Imitating her doctor father, she bandaged and operated on her dolls as a child. She received her medical degree from Tulane in 1922.

More of interest to me than her skill as a physician was her tenure on the Federal Highway Safety Commission. Kate Zerfoss suggested during her service there that white lines be drawn on the edge of the road to reduce accidents. And what a service to us that was! Especially those of us who need all the help we can get while driving at night.

I ate in her home this year. Her home at 165 Eighth Avenue has been made into a restaurant (a good one). It is the last remaining town house in downtown Nashville.

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