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\ f ie o n in e o e i ie t it e i oo e ie ie s o on nc aicaan e o inss An exciting time for WI be By STEPHEN BEECROFT Battle of Stoney Creek, but because _ Fuchsia Stoney Creek. Editor the WI was born here. "The offer was originally going to wrhis : w . A Stoney Creek News reader, Harry _ end last December, but we have This is an exciting time for all Ramsden, brought a British magazine â€" extended it until March," said Ms. Women‘s‘ Institute members," said â€" to our offices two weeks ago which â€" Hearld. Mary Kneebone, curator of Stoney described a new variety of fuchsia She said the Women‘s Institute in Creek‘s Erland Lee (Museum) Home. _ named to mark the WI centennial. England had "got in touch with our She is referring to the centennial "Puchsia Stoney Creek has been uns 806 M \ â€" ; brati Â¥ managing director" about the possibilâ€" year of the worldâ€"wide organization bred and developed by the wellâ€" ; aing . . at s tolat i is City i M Y ity of selling this special plant. | _ that started right in this city in 1897. _ known commercial fuchsia breeder w . t I1" she said. "We | "The first meeting was held on â€" Roy Sinton, stated the magazine artiâ€" ‘They te sol C n o . oan on Feb. 19, exactly 100 years ago," said _ cle."It has attractive midâ€"green foliage have gor a lof of cills from Women‘s Ms. Kneebone. and a very neat, trailing habit ..‘ Institute members. f Since then, Stoney Creek . has The News spoke to Sharon Hearld Due to customs regulations, become known across the world â€" not . an employee with Lynn House Plants _ FUChSia Stoney Creek cannot be because of the Stoney Creek Dairy or â€" Itd., in the village of Clenchwarton, â€" Shipped to Canada by Lynn House Battlefield Monument or the 1813 â€" Norfolk, England, which is marketing Plants, said Ms. Hearld. How it all started 100 ow It alil Starte years ayo } By MARY KNEEBONE Dryden, Minister of Agriculture, asking _ scrapbooks of the history of their \| Special to The News for affiliation with the Farmers‘ communities. Better known as | m !lf[‘is(;‘é“t:;(i'“:‘umr (ij‘i"%{lf:fc‘limrgoggctfj Tweedsmuir Histories, these boqks Aof the South Wentworth Farmer‘s _ support. â€" quest$ _ represent one of the most outstanding Institute, Erland Lee was present at an es . ; $8% agricultural conference at Guelph in MA stt o s nnroas n 4 W nsc th & ons 1896, where Adelaide Hoodless gave a 277 L i. wi f & 0 . t ,f\r;«‘:;: F stirring speech regarding the subject 27e _ tas; 2. _ m ffffi )§ _ of women and education in the area ' TVs “) ‘ $ ie o 2 | fp};:@r}x i of domestic sciences. * y We 1 20 n t f Th i N?’, | So impressed with her ideas, Mr. J . gffi; § imanente > is}u;:“ Â¥ 26 ,“‘é;}ig}:‘;\,»“ Lee invited Ms. Hoodless to address L pale ~mmoomen â€" pomenes C â€" W gil ::“:‘5 §) the annual Ladies Night meeting of ‘ _ | _ |WW "aa Mtâ€" > se JA y *‘l@{%{é. the Farmer‘s Institute on Peb. 12, _ | L. _ _ $5) 50| Wl aeat ef»s i hss | _ 1897. With only 30 women present at U r"? t h =6 %fl z85 i,,:"‘ _ CY : | _ that meeting, it was decided that D qo ie | â€"~2 @s\w-;»ig &; | _ another meeting would be held exactâ€" [ es !,5*',,% i P fg’j + OW i. ! _ ly one week later, whereby Adelaide L ut e z;',:w 1('?; ;E,,;?QX ‘:m‘ 4b Hoodless would once again address _ j / _ $} W ~ P d 2 .)«5’2@5 37 the women of Saltfleet Township. 4»?&.&2«&’:&,“?? 22 f \“}“fi‘s\»»&&«;x‘ f During the next week, Erland and | *4 _ 'b,;;\flw‘, his wife, Janet, rode by horse and cut ; _ [( . _ {aal es oc ter up and down the roads of Saltfleet, _‘ _ ___ ’ew,‘«m:f‘»: personally inviting women from every ) [ _ _ _ & 271 :;::fi esc a\ as class and distinction. The result was is . | _ : â€" m “ 8 o oommman {,Q“ © f&fi?;b? e that on Feb. 19, 1897 101 women and usc _z _ tss t cesc 2o oe one man (Erland Lee) were present to â€" &5 " *n n Pn Cc Uime ole o mss hear Ms. Hoodless speak. Mr. Lee _ l Mary Kneebone stands outside the Erland Lee Museum Home, | presided as chairman over the meetâ€" â€" holding the orginal WI constitution. | ing and it was on this night that it was Photo by Richard Lelmeri motioned that a women‘s Department _ were granted and government assisâ€" of Domestic Economy in affiliation tance was secured for the Women‘s and valuable contributions of the with the Farmer‘s Institute be orgaâ€" â€" Institute, Women‘s Institute Organization.These nized.This motion was moved by Ms. It was the first organization of its histories incorporate information Melson and seconded by Ms. Lee. kind in rural Ontario. It provided an _ about the community, including geogâ€" One week later, this organization _ education forum for rural women at a _ raphy, topography, municipal governâ€" became known as the Women‘s _ time when there was little else â€" ment, farming, homes,education,trade Institute of Saltfleet. besides isolation and ignorance. and commerce, recreation, local famiâ€" Shortly after, Ms. Lee became one As advocates for a better future for _ lies, churches, schools, libraries, indlusâ€" of the first directors of the Women‘s women, Erland and Janet Lee and try (past and present), war records, Institute. On Feb. 25, 1897, with direcâ€" _ Adelaide Hoodless showed incredible _ etc. These comprehensive factual colâ€" | tion from E.D. Smith, Major EM. â€" insight as they promoted an excepâ€" . lections of historical data and pictures Carpenter and Erland Lee, Janet Lee tionally new idea that was to one day _ have been recognized by the Ontario hand penned the original consititu inspire the hearts and minds of, Ministry of Education as authentic tion and byâ€"laws at the dining room _ women all over the world. sources of material for students of hisâ€" table that is still present in the Erland Their progressive thinking has . tory. Lee (Museum) Home. today developed into a fellowship of A hundred years later, the Women‘s It was suggested by Janet that the _ women around the world. Institute Organization is now repreâ€" first membership fees be set at 25 Why is this story so important? sented worldwide with a membership cents per person, an affordable sum It signifies a distinct part of â€" of over six million in more than 80 } for all women wishing to join. Canada‘s history that had a profound _ countries. Through the umbrella orgaâ€" { According to the original docuâ€" effect on the lives of women and as a _ nization,Associated Country Women #% 1 ment, the purpose for the organizaâ€" result, families and communities. of the World, WI members remain conâ€" f tion was as follows: From its inception, this organizaâ€" . nected to the common cause of being M The object of this Institute shall be, to _ tion was not limited in scope. The . "For Home and Country" _ promote that knowledge of Household original constitution states that f1ll In 1995, membership in Ontario Science which shall lead to improvement _ members would have the opportunity donated over X million hours in volâ€" in household or architecture with special . to expand their knowledge in a vari unteer service to a wide variety of | attention to home sanitation, to a better . ety of other areas such as art, literaâ€" projects and causes. Many members l | _understanding of the economic and ture, music, medicine, horticulture, . are currently volunteers, fundraisers . | hygenic vglue.?f foods, fang“gil: w?ht: sociology, education, legislation, archiâ€" _ and supporters of their local commuâ€" \a,ier?,voffSrc;;?sri‘:glcd:grge?mefial standard of tecture (with special references to . nity museums across the province. the health of our people. sanitation, light and heat), just to name It is these contributions to the 20. a few. preservation of our local history that On behalf of the organization Mr.dLeet In 1940, many of the branches _ must not go unnoticed. X’m[gfn[gefy 1?,?3;?32 mll)ne;nt[(fnl(fi:]n across the province began compiling See Heritage Day Celebrations/ page 10