HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-10-10, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019.
Walkerburn Club marks 100 years before disbanding
Walkerburn is a small community
south of Auburn on Concession
12/13. In 1919, some of the women
organized the Walkerburn Club to
help the Red Cross in Auburn as they
needed supplies.
The first meeting was held at the
home of Mrs. Foster Wright in July.
When they weren’t helping the Red
Cross and their own community,
they were helping families in
Toronto. Miss Margaret Jackson, a
daughter of one of the members,
taught school in Toronto and would
write home asking for help with her
students’ families. They also spent
a great deal of time remaking old
clothes and quilts to send to the
Neighbourhood Workers
Association in Toronto, as well as
helping in their own community.
Each member took turns having
monthly meetings in their homes.
They opened the meetings with “The
Maple Leaf Forever” and “The
Lord's Prayer”. They also sang
hymns during the meeting, which
included business and different
forms of entertainment. They always
ended with a social time, including
lunch provided by the members.
During World War II, they became
very active helping the Red Cross,
Auburn WMS and others that
needed help. They often had two
meetings a month. They would take
care of the business the first meeting
of the month, maybe a bit of
entertainment, as well as cutting
quilt pieces and sewing blocks
together. The second meeting would
include quilting or tying quilts, as
well as getting quilt tops together. In
June, 1944, it was reported that there
were seven completed quilts, one
crib quilt and 25 quilt tops handed
in.
From 1962 to 1986 the club
supported two Korean foster
children as well as helping out in the
community and other organizations.
While quilting died out after the war,
it picked up again in the 1990s.
Quilts were donated to charities for
fundraisers, fire victims or the
needy.
In 1999, the club started making
quilts for “Quilts for Breast Cancer”,
donating a quilt a year for 10 years,
raising well over $2,500 for the
worthy cause. In 1995, Restview
Home was opened in Clinton. The
first resident was a gentleman from
Auburn who needed help. That year,
the club made him a quilt and
followed up other years with
nightshirts and other things he
needed. That was the start of being
involved with Restview and then
Ansfield. The club gave Christmas
and birthday presents to residents
with no family and would sing
Christmas carols with them and
serve some goodies afterwards.
Even though the club membership
is small, the club has raised money
with two miscellaneous sales a year,
as well as other ways of raising
funds. The club has donated to the
three hospitals members use, the
Salvation Army, One Care, Soup and
More, as well as other organizations.
If there were fire victims in the area
the Walkerburn Club helped them
with funds or quilts, as well as others
facing struggles.
In recent years, the club had a
secretary, a treasurer and each took a
turn being president of the month.
The club has continued with
prayer, a business portion, a program
and always enjoyed a social time
around the table with our friends and
neighbours. The club still has four
descendants of the original members
of the club. They are Pat Hunking, a
descendant of Mrs. Bert Hunking
and Christena Gross, Eileen
McClinchey and Ila Cunningham,
descendants of Mrs Walter
Cunningham, and Mrs. Guy
Cunningham.
The club’s final project has been a
wall hanging with dates 1919 -
2019. The outside area of the quilt
has four spool quilt blocks and
borders. Then there are four more
corner blocks with houses in which
our members have lived. Other
blocks include the Red Cross, The
Maple Leaf Forever, auction sales,
picnics, music, tea time and quilts.
These blocks represent things the
club has done over the years.
The Auburn Hall Board have given
the club permission to have this quilt
displayed in the hall.
For the club’s 100th anniversary,
members gathered at the home of Pat
Hunking on Sept. 28 and the
members were served a delicious
dinner at the home of Marg McInroy
and returned to Pat’s and had former
members of the club join for the
afternoon.
Members had albums and other
pictures on display and had a short
program, as well as anniversary cake
and ice cream and a social time.
As membership has fallen and
members are all getting older, they
are sad to report that this wonderful
organization will be ending.
Members are all going to miss this
time together with friends and
neighbours.
By Bev Craddock
The Majestic Women’s Institute
met on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the
Brussels Library. Ten members were
present. Kathy Bridge opened the
meeting with a reading, followed by
the Institute Ode and the Mary
Stewart Collect. A short business
meeting was held. Yvonne Knight
reported on the district meeting.
Edna Pletch then shared some
readings and jokes.
Marie McCutcheon spoke on her
life-long love of travel around the
world, to destinations like Peru,
South Africa, Bali, Italy and more.
She has enjoyed all types of travel,
even backpacking and a special trip
with her 92-year-old father.
Members then played a game
about what you would pack for an
overnight trip. Lucy Hesse won.
Marie McCutcheon and Kathy
Bridge served snacks and drinks.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Yvonne
Knight and Kathy Bridge were
recognized for their work over the
years at the Brussels Fall Fair from
fundraising, sponsoring, promotion
and more. They were presented with
the award of excellence from the
Women’s Institute.
Tickets were drawn on
Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. Thank
you for your support of our annual
quilt draw.
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The Municipality will be picking up leaves, grass clippings and yard
waste in the Morris-Turnberry Urban areas on the following dates:
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Monday, November 4, 2019
For more information, please refer to the flyer you received by mail,
or on the website at www.morristurnberry.ca
Municipality of
Morris-Turnberry
2019 FALL YARD WASTE
COLLECTION
A great century
The Walkerburn Club, originally based in the small Auburn-area community of Walkerburn,
celebrated its 100th anniversary in late September in Blyth. After a storied history, the club will
now cease operations. Members will leave behind a legacy, however, with a quilt marking the
club’s history that will be erected in the Auburn Community Hall. From left: Eileen McClinchey,
Pat Hunking, Deanna Snell, Mary Elder, Vera Penfound, Ila Cunningham, Maggie Treanor and
Christena Gross. Absent was Dorothy Schneider. (Darlene McCowan photo)
Majestic WI meets