MASON CITY — Women's rights were a hot topic in 1910 — and women attending a ladies tea on Wednesday at the Historic Park Inn Hotel heard all about it. Margaret NAGLE (portrayed by Pat SCHULTZ), the town gossip, didn't mince words.

"They're trying to give us the right to vote. They should be giving us the right to breathe — to get rid of these corsets," she said.

The tea was held in the ladies' parlor on the second floor — "away from where our husbands are downstairs, so we don't have to put up with their cigars," she said.

About 18 women, many of them wearing period hats, listened attentively as their speaker expounded.

"I know I've been called an old gossip," she said, "but you know, I just can't resist."

Mrs. NAGLE talked about the grandeur of the Park Inn, designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd WRIGHT.

"I'm not supposed to talk about Mr. WRIGHT," she said, and then added, "but do you all know the story?"

She then told of how WRIGHT left Mason City, went back to his hometown of Oak Park, Ill., abandoned his wife and six children and went to Europe with the wife of one of his clients [Mamah (BROSWICK) CHENEY, a native of Boone, Iowa].

"The country is just going downhill," she said with a sigh.

SCHULTZ'S portrayal of Mrs. NAGLE is one of many activities being held this week to commemorate the opening of the hotel.

Former Gov. Chet CULVER will be an overnight guest Friday at the Historic Park Inn Hotel after attending a reception recognizing donors and supporters of the hotel project.

Jean MARINOS, president of WRIGHT on the Park Inc., which owns the hotel, said the CULVER administration was a strong backer of the hotel through various state programs.

Regina BAILEY, representing Vision Iowa, the state program that provided $9 million toward the hotel renovation and other city projects, will also be in attendance.

A community recognition event will be held today in appreciation of business people. Mason City and Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce members will be special guests.

The official ribbon-cutting for the hotel will be at 6 p.m. Friday [September 9]. The week's grand opening activities will culminate Saturday night with the Skylight Ball in the hotel ballroom.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2011