May Hutton

May Arkwright Hutton was born in Ohio in 1860. In 1883 she boarded the train to Idaho and the dream of riches promised by the Silver Valley. Upon her arrival she opened up a restaurant. She was loved and respected by the poor and downtrodden, especially the prostitutes she befriended. She was looked down upon by the elite society of the Valley. Her happiness and success came with her marriage to Levi "Al" Hutton, a railroad engineer who ate at her restaurant. May and Al worked side by side in the muck of a mine in which they had invested, and were among the few who struck it rich.

Having money gave May the opportunity to read and add to her meager three years of schooling. She became interested in politics and was instrumental in getting the vote for women in Idaho in 1896. She entertained many of the rich and famous, including Sen. William Borah and Clarence Darrow. Not only was May involved in political ventures, having run for a seat in state government, but she was also an activist for Labor. She was a loud voice for the miners during the disputes between labor and management. This success resulted in the formation of unions in the mines.

In 1906 Mary and Al moved from Wallace to Spokane. If the elite of Wallace looked down upon May Hutton, the society matrons of Spokane were even more critical of her bright colors, flowered prints and wide-brimmed hats with roses spilling down to her shoulders.

In Spokane "May the Flamboyant" was known for helping the poor and for her plans for the Hutton Settlement House. But history will record her successful fight for women's rights in the voting booth.

Her death at age 55 in 1915 left an unfilled void, and an inspiring example of energy and concern for others.