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56 ,Hamilton Spectator, Thursday, Sept. 14, 1967 D 1-2 w,rii.rfr'iS'/ _ A Bast-card of the homestead :whic attracts hundreds of in- ternational tourists to Money 'Creek every year, is available at several tqm sires. " . u SALTFLEET -- The Moun- tain Brow homestead of the co- founder of the Women's Insti- tute may be preserved , the province as an historic bui ding it. was learned this week. ' The "Edgemont" estate, built and owned by the Lee family for six generations, has been the centre of concern for some time by organizations wishing to. immortalize the homestead of _Erland Lee. .- . , The Heritage Foundation; a group proposing to purchase and assist with upkeep, of his- toric sites. in the province was created at the last sitting of the pxpyiucigl legislatfurel A At a special unveiling cere- mony Oct. I, a provincial la- que declaring the house an tt torie site will be unveiled, but the province, " yet has made no offers to buy the house. However, lack of funds in the 'past has prevented purchase of the house by various civic and Jmmen'p groups. It is Eggseutly owned by Mrs. Frank I , wid- ow of a son of Erlapd Je, But this‘week both Stoney Creek and Saltfleet councils passed resolutions requesting the provincial government, through its newlv-created On- tario Heritage Foundation, to purchase and help maintain the txeHomestead. _- _ _ . tr (A spokesman for the depart- ment of tourism and informa- tion yesterday said the founda- tion has not yet received offi- cial proclamation from the lieu- tenant-goverr1or. However, she said the selection of commis- sioners to preside over the foundation is pending.) STONEY CREEK councillor Peter Dawson, instrumental in drafting the resolution, said he hopesAe 1,.1,tRe1tty1,y1ll, le ' THE PLAQUE, in front of the 1wld-carved W o o d residence; built in 1873, atmmtm1orates the home and the walnut dining table at which Mr. Lee drew up the first charter of the Worm en’s Institute, - - _ _ iar"it We -iiFii"GrEidereti by the ta1mdatiop, ... ' At present, a rock-hem pla- Alue donated several years ago by the South Wentworth Women’s Institute is the only historic marker on the Ridge Road property. Lee Home Want Historic, Site Status Councillor Dawson is a mem- (f, of the citizen’s committee for preservation of the Me Homestead, a group headed by ‘Mrs. W. J. MeEvoy of Bin- brook. However, other groups such as the "Lee Homestead Com- mittee for the Federated Wom- en’s Institutes of 0 n t a r i o," headed by Mrs. Russell Wise of Puslinch, have been very' active ‘during the past few years. THE FWIO committee has met regularly during recent months and will report back to its board of governors in Nov- ergiger ggpcernixgg ppgress. . Mrs. Wise insists her group is the only one involved in at- tempting purchase of the home: stead. She said that negotia- tions have been undertaken with federal and provincial gov- ernments for some time to ar- tnge1tstrcha.se. . A Minister Will Dedicate Erland Lee Homestead 'M‘ivs. MéEvoy is also connect- ed with the women’s commit- tee, Federatayl Pi, Agriculture,, ii"tii,t1jiallai1iite/as1y Eoncerned W135? lis1iyry ylr,ifult,Pt di "irGsisiiiradfoining "'tSi/ire household. Approximately 300 Women's Institute members from across the province have been invited to attend the unveiling cerem- ony, commemorating the resi- dence of their crAtrupder. "THE WORLD'S first Wo- men's Institute was organized at Sqt1ire's Hall, Stoney Creek, in 1897. Erland Lee, a founder of the Farmers' Institute, as- sisted by his wife, arranged the “gun; ___- A SALTFLEET -- William Stewart, minister of agricul- ture.-wi11 unveil a plaque Oct. I, dedicating the Erland Lee homestead _on Ridge Road as an historic site, ,, "About 100 women from the Saltfleet district attended and were persuaded by Mrs. Adel- aide Hoodless, to form an or- ganization of their own to im. rove their skills in the arts of rJffl'A1lillii' and child care. "Here, in the Lee home, Mr. "m "page "reads: _ "First Women’s Institute, 1897. Mrs. D. H. Rogers, president! of the Stoney Creek Women’s Institute, said her concern] about the future of the Lee household had been a major) factor in her running for elecJ tion. " “I would be just delighted if the province would see fh to purchase it," she said. MEMBERS of the Lee family said we household would be sold in the near future because Mrs. Lee found it too spacious foam? 1%?th netds. . .. . Ertind Lee immortalized} himself in 1897 when he invited] Mis. Adelaide (Hunter) Hood- less to speak at the annual ia. dies' nigh; of the South Putl tworth F mer’s Institute, of which he was secretary. I He had heard Mrs, Hoodlessf speak in Guelph about domestiei science and its value to moth-L ers. Mrs. Hoodless had lost ai 5:th at two years by feeding iti unpure milk. _ Mrs. Hoodless accepted the! mutation to speak and from her address, a women's branch of the society was formed. Er- land and Janet Lee helped draw up the new constitution. "-r'e-9'""""'".7 u c l y cu W draft the constitution of me new spciety. Mrs. E. D. Smith of Winona' became the ttsit trief,t.ient of the "Mother msti- ll e". Jt,t,se,yqtrrtip.r. his 1p , Mo PRESENT at the i1,1,igtiligi will be many distinguish guests, including Mrs. Frank Lee, widow of a son of Erland 'et tYI, 0mm of the Lee movement has worldwide orga H,“ vvvllhl OI LEE “'3: homestead. Miss Marjorie Lee, of Hamilton, and Mrs. H. c. Freel, of Stoney Creek, daugh- ters of the c0-founder, will ills) be present. The 1.e,eAonysstepd is visited. a h " " n -‘ ' V ___- r... ~u U: u The historic sit being erected by t Department of Pu and Archives, on l the Archaeological Sites Board of Ont The ‘Léé'homs a n n u a 1 l y by Women’s Instih - ,7, __ auaLxLULe from all parts of the mkn L:..L_r' _ Women’s In stitute has since; Lid/L a organization." y y.s.r-iiiim'ireiii'"a It“??? members V my Ontarid f lhe globe. A site plaque .153 yr the provincxali Public' Records n the advice (rf Pl and Histone)