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WoMmMEN‘s INsTITUTE n 1903, the Springford Women‘s Institute was formed. Main Street and it was moved there for a cost of $2310. The The men of the Farmers Institute of South Oxford met ladies borrowed $1000 on a mortgage and held social Iin the town hall. Their wives met in the schoolhouse evenings, garden parties, debates, plays, concerts, chicken and elected their executive:president: Mrs. F.W. Vardon, suppers and strawberry suppers. By February 1940, a social Springford, viceâ€"president: Mrs. M.R.Stover, Norwich, secâ€" evening was held to which the entire community was invited retary, Mrs. J.C.Smart, Springford, Directors: Mrs. S.Pratt, and the mortgage was burned. Springford, Mrs. M. W. Rice, Springford, Mrs. A. NU AWILZZZ! x V McFarlane, Oftterville, Miss Maggie Paul, Otterville. This a ’g;;_‘; 9’\.;, institute covered quite a territory so meetings were planned ,\ 9 "‘,' in advance and members notified by postcard. Officers i4 s i ss > .f ~,;f§%§_,_-%§b “‘&{";?A_;\E\\ e arranged the first meeting for May 6, 1903. * &? i:‘;?g::gf’;.é;i% "fi': s R a § biliiccemdlts. / m ==~1 â€" 3Â¥ s e n e E % i J Springford Women‘s Institute Hall â€" 1960 . Cw S f ( # “ ;% By this time the Second World War had begun and the litiss: 1. M | ladies were involved in making quilts, socks, sweaters and ' onaad M holding an annual bazaar to support the war effort. In 1943 | M Springford made the most quilts and gave the most honeyâ€" 200 lbs.â€"of all the branches in Oxford South District. By the end of the war, Springford had made 310 quilts. Repairs to the hall and construction of a basement kept the FXY, Vardon; First Prosident Springford Women‘s ladies busy at further fundâ€"raising. In 1948 a basement was comâ€" Mrs: f Ifistitute 1,903-5; 1917â€"1920; 1931â€"1932 pleted for the cost of $700 and a good deal of donated labour.A In 1950, Mrs. Lena Fox began the Springford Tweedsmuir Books.This was an important means of recording the local From 1914â€"1918 the Institute made shirts, quilts, socks, village and community history. She was followed by other etc. for the war. During that time the young ladies organized members who helped preserve written information about our a club known as the Girls Patriotic Club. Toward the end of _ history. Mrs. Lillian White made immense progress recordâ€" the war, they became a Junior Institute. This was a very _ ing the histories of specific farms, personalities and early vilâ€" active group and for awhile Springford had both a Junior and lage history. During her term of office, Mrs. White and her a Senior Institute. Gradually, the senior group became smallâ€" committee prepared a set of 82 slides with an accompanying er and the Junior group invited them to meet with them. In tape about the history of the village of Springford. This was December 1925, a motion passed to become known as entered in a provincial Tweedsmuir competition where it garâ€" Springford Women‘s Institute. nered first prize. More recently, much credit goes to Mrs. After much discussion and planning, the Women‘s Joyce Pettigrew who spearheaded the project to print this Institute accepted the Springford town hall from the trustees book and also completed many property histories prior to of that hall in 1928. Mr. William Bell gave a plot land on _ publication. 30