Clinton News-Record, 1985-5-8, Page 3•
Blyth
'1'11IS O111e;1NAL 1JO('LIMF'.N'f 15 IN VI•:KY I'OOlN CON 1)1'I'ION
Mews and ftaturs
I celebrates 75r year
BLYTH - It all started just before the turn
of the century.
One of the country's and ultimately one of
the world's most important groups was
created after Erland Lee heard Adelaide
Hoodless speak while at a meeting of the
Farmer's Experimental Union in Guelph.
He was so impressed with the woman's
cornmitment to the idea of an organization
to help educate women that he and his wife
Janet travelled township roads to encourage
women to attend a meeting in Stoney Creek
on Feb. 19, 1897.
One hundred and one women attended to
hear Adelaide Hoodless speak and the
Women's Institute grew from that meeting,
a group which has moved into more than 60
countries and has 1,000 branches in this
province alone.
And that historic day also provided the
seed for the beginning of the Blyth Women's
Institute branch on May 12, 1910. During
that day so long ago, a rnenibership of 15
started the long association the WI has had
with the village of Blyth and the surrounding
area. Those 15 members elected the
branch's first president, Mrs. George
Powell and the first secretary, Mrs.. Demon
Crittenden.
Membership fees that first year were 25
cents each and the average monthly
collection came to between 25 and 50 cents.
The money was gathered at the group's
meetings which were held on the first
Thursday of every month as they are even
now, 75 years later.
The group more than doubled its
. membership to 31 in one year and by 1913, 50
women belonged to the Women's Institute in
Blyth. The number of members has hovered
around 50 since that time.
Plans were made to construct a hall and
the•Blyth Women's Institute contributed to
al the project by purchasing the land from the
village council upon wch stands the
Memorial Hall. The hall has been the WI'.s
meeting place since its opening in June 1921,
although in recent years the competition for
space with the Blyth Festival has resulted in
meetings being held in members' homes.
A condensed version of the group's history
states that, "although it is not primarily a
money making organization, money has
been raised" to contribute to various causes
in the community.
"The building and up -keep of the
Memorial Hall and library have been one of
the main objectives including the equipment
for the Memorial Hall kitchen. We also
donate to school fairs, sponsor girls 4-H club
work and adult short courses, and
participate in any other works of the
cornnlunity.
In 1949 the Blyth WI sponsored its first4-H
hornemaking club and has continued this
sponsorship. Last year, four quilting groups
were under WI sponsorship and this year
two sewing groups will be conducted under
their supervision. Some of the members of
these clubs later join the Institute.
In 1960, for their 50th anniversary, the
Blyth WI played host to a large gathering of
Huron County Institute women. For their
65th anniversary, several guests from
Clinton, Goderich, Auburn, 1 ondesboro,
Belgrave and Wingham attended. WI
members from New Hamburg and Seaforth
also visited. Finally; their 70th year was
celebrated with a bus trip to the Ontario
Agricultural Museum in Milton, meeting
Bob Carbert there, the 75th anniversary's
guest speaker.
The Women's Institute branch in Blyth
held the 75th anniversary last week in its
regular meeting place, the basement of the
Blyth Memorial Hall. Many members of the
organization's upper echelon attended the
celebrations to pass along the best wishes of
Bob Carbert was guest speaker at the Blyth Women's Institute's 75th anniversary
celebrated May 2. Mr. Carbert, a former resident of the area, stands before the In-
stitute's crest which bears the motto "For Home and Country." (James Friel photo)
to
CLINTON NEWS -RECO
, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8,1L9115 --Page 3
her Women's Institute branches and of its
elle group.
hey included District President Mrs. Les
Jacklin, Area President Mrs. Clarence
Lewis and N'WIO board member Mrs. John
Templeman.
Bob Carbert, a dative of the area and
formerly an employee at CKNX radio
covering the Blyth area, spoke to the
assembled WI members and guests.
He addressed the perception now
seemingly' held by society that unless a
woman is a career woman she is a
nonentity.
"A housewife is the lowest level to sink -
insignificant and urlfulfuilled. I think they're
painting with a large brush.
•'I look around this room and I see happy
well adjusted fulfilled wonlen...though I ,
haven't net your husbands," he said to
laughter.
.,Wives are more often partners than
subordinates, espt t•ially in rural Ontario.
'('he well managed farms are almost always
from a good partnership. Sinal! business is
the sante way."
The speaker said he had some concern
about the future of wornan's organizations
after living in Milton for several years. As a
bedroom t•on inanity, primarily a place to
sleep, Milton residents travel from day jobs
in 'Toronto and area and don't have the time,
energy or interest in contributing to their
community as a volunteer.
Mr. Carbert said he felt the Blyth WI has a
gold future ahead of it because younger
Wolper are Involved as Imembers.
The women agree. ""1'he ladies of the
Blyth Institute have great expectations of
remaining as a group in the community and
enlightening the homemakers here to bigger
and better things."
Merfpher remembers
Arthritis has slowed her down a bit but
Mrs. Winnifred Johnston was at the Blyth
Women's Institute 75th anniversary
celebrations and participated in cutting the
cake as one of the past presidents.
Mrs. Johnston has been with the Blyth
WOlnen's Institute for 38 years, longer than
any other present member. She has seen
some changes in the operation of the
Institute butanany things remain.the same.
She came from Brantford to Blyth and had.
never 'belonged to a group other than a
ch ur6 h group. Where he moved to the 'area.
she joined the United Church Woman,: time
now defunct Woman's Association and•the
WI. Mrs. Johnston;atrengly felt the Wdanotto
"For Nome and Country.,"
"It's a good thing to belong to..I've been
very active until my leg problem, holding
different offices in the Institute," 'she said
before the festivities.
As part of her contribution to the Blyth WI
and to the com int nitk' tht' hrar)c.1 ef.avps,
1‘,1 Ts. Johnston ,poi . two r eats as president
and 11 years as seeret+ry-t'ee e'er; seven.
years •for ,her first stint and four. for her
second time. •
During her time, althougli the Institute is.
not a money making organization, the Blyth
branch has supplied the Memorial Ha11•with
much of its kitchen equipment. The largest
donation .was the $1,500 stove and additional
gifts include dishes and painting the room.
'1'he group also placed a drinking fountain
in front of the hall but it was replaced after it
was struck by a car.
One of the most heartwarming parts of the
anniversary celebrations on May 2 was the
lighting of the candles.
Mrs. Johnston, as the oldest member,
watched the Blyth Women's Institute's
youngest member light the candles. The
youngest' member is her granddaughter.
Debbie Craig.
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because
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The job of lighting the blue add gold candles, part of the celebration of the 75th anniver-
sary of the Blyth branch of the Women's Institute, fell to the youngest member Debbie
Craig. Debbie is the granddaughter of Winnifred Johnston, the longest term member at
38 years. (James Friel photo)
Five past presidents attended the Blyth WI 75th anniversary. Cutting the intricately
decoratedllcake are, from left to right, Mrs. Audrey Walsh, Mrs. Evelina Webster, Mrs.
Winnifred Johnston, Mrs. Luella McGowan and Mrs. Ken Taylor. (James Friel photo)
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