Yesterday And Today, A Salute to Blyth's 125th Anniversary, 2002-07-31, Page 14Jack
Van Dorp
523-9308
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THE BRUSSELS POST
Wednesday, August 15th, 1956
......14100101111••••••
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J.L. McCUTCHEON MOTORS in Brussels was originally
Riverside Motors - owned and operated by
George McCutcheon and later sold to
Jack (J.L. McCutcheon) and now headed
by Robert Richmond.
Staff and management of J.L. McCUTCHEON MOTORS
are pleased to congratulate Blyth on its
125th Anniversary and are proud to be part
of the Blyth area heritage.
Oldsmobile J.L. McCUTCHEON ChlOVKOLEr
Downtown BRUSSELS 887-6856 or 1-888-351-9193
Before you buy give McCutcheon's a try.
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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, YESTERDAY and TODAY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2002.
Blyth's WI history ends in 1990
At the grocer's
Poweil's Grocery (top) was a fixture on Blyth main street for
many years. George Powell is pictured in the foreground,
while Charlie Barrett is on the truck. (Courtesy Ar lyn Montgomery)
Blyth on your
125th Anniversary
44a 523.930E3
JA J 4' 1 I as. tg,
.4elleivaI 4,art
Located 2 miles south of Blyth.
Corner of London Road and Hullett-McKillop Road.
When Blyth Women's Institute
celebrated its 80th anniversary on
May 3, 1990, members knew the end
was near.
The once strong Branch had still
been an integral part of the
community, but with a dwindling
membership, and many of those
members aging, the final years had
been a challenge.
Jean Nethery, who was president
when the Blyth WI disbanded on
May. 2, 1991, recalls that people
didn't really want the responsibility
that came with holding office. "We
just couldn't hold on." Secretary at
that time was Brenda Brooks.
Nethery says the 80th had been the
milestone that the Branch stayed
alive for. "It seems to me we kept
talking about reaching that 80th
year. We knew we couldn't keep
gOing." she says. "Then we gave it
one more year to tie up loose ends."
It was May 12, 1910 when the
Blyth WI was inaugurated. It was
part of what was then a relatively
new Canadian based internatiort al
women's organization. Membership
rose quickly in the beginning hitting
31 and by 1913 it was sitting at 50.
Until 1977 that number remained
almost constant.
By the 81st year there were only
14 members.
The final celebration saw the
attendance of several past presidents
including Audrey Walsh, Winnie
Johnston, Nethery, Luella
McGowan, Pat Taylor and Eunice
Emke. •
Five years earlier, when the
Branch marked its 75th Nethery
recalls pianist Ruby Philp
accompanying Adeline Campbell
who sang a solo.
The youngest Branch'member Deb
Craig (Hakkers) lit the anniversary
candles. "This was quite an occasion
for her grandmother Winnie
Johnston. She was so pleased to have
her granddaughter lighting those
candles."
Also present at the 75th was Edith
Logan, a life member at the age of
100. She passed away the following
year, Nethery recalls.
While its twilight years may have
slowed the Branch somewhat,
intitally it was one of the most active
organizations in Blyth. One of its
main objectives was the building and
upkeep of Memorial hall. It
contributed a good deal to the Hall
over the years, particularly in the
lower hall and the kitchen.
The WI worked closely with the
Red Cross during the years sending
war parcels and was involved with
the women's exhibits when Blyth
had its fall fall.
In 1950 it began sponsoring 4-H
homemaking clubs for young girls as
well as courses for adults.
Leaving such community activism
wasn't easy for all _ members.
Nethery who joined in 1970, did so
.when a neighbour, Edna
Montgomery, asked hcr, offering to
pay her dues for a year.
Seeing the Branch fold was a sad
time, admits Nethery. "Even though
I lived in the country, I had gotten to
know a lot of people in Blyth. I was
glad to he able to meet them.
whereas had I not joined I never
would have. There have been lasting
friendships as a result."
Like Nethery, a few of the former
members kept their ties to the
organization, some even going on to
other branches.
Nethery became a member of the
Belgrave Branch. She is now
secretary-treasurer of the Huron
West District WI, secretary of the
Huron County WI rally and
chairman of the Huron County
scholarship committee.
Repairs to all
makes and
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GRAND VIEW RESTAURANT
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Sundays 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. 523-4471