A Quirky Quartet on a Qabalistic Quest & Clue #1

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Norval W.I. Bell
The quaint village of Norval is situated on the Credit River in the town of Halton Hills. This village proudly boasts hiking trails, heritage walks, green spaces, the Willow Park Ecology Centre, and the Lucy Maud Montgomery Memorial Garden.

The Norval Women’s Institute has been an integral part of this village since 1906.

During the years 1926-1935 while Lucy Maud Montgomery lived in Norval with her family, she wrote in her journal: “Norval is considered one of the beauty spots of Ontario.” Lucy Maud Montgomery was an active member of the community and the Norval W.I.

In 1840, a beautiful red brick one-room schoolhouse was built. It was a well-loved building for 113 years. During its demolition in 1953, the school bell was saved by Mrs. Murray, the Norval W.I. President at the time. The bell tower was saved by Mr. Bob Crawford.

In 1967, a Centennial Project was initiated by the Norval W.I. Mr. Fred Fendley designed and built the stone cairn. Every member of the Norval W.I. brought a stone from their Norval farm home. The cairn has a memorial centre stone that reads: "Norval School Bell in service 1840-1953, erected Norval W.I. 1967."

During construction, a time capsule was buried within the cairn, to be opened fifty years later. It was opened at the Sesquicentennial celebrations in 2017.

The plaque reads:

"Norval on the Credit Canada 150 Celebration
A cairn built in 1967 by Fred Fendley and Percy Donaldson held a time capsule. It was opened June 3, 2017 by Norval Women’s Institute “For Home and Country.”
President: Mary Churchill
Past President: Kathy Gastle
Secretary: Helen Pettingill
Members: Dianne Taylor, Gisela Malchin, Anne Wilson, Norma Tripp, Carolyn Crawford. Life Members: Aileen Nixon, Norine Price.
Norval Heritage Society."

The plaque, school bell, and tower proudly sit atop the stone cairn. The cairn is situated in the Lucy Maud Montgomery Memorial Garden. The garden also features an anelemmatic sundial and a gazebo. Built in 2006 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Norval W.I., the gazebo’s interior posts feature small plaques of poems written by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Along the picturesque Credit River is McNab Park, named after the original founder of Norval. In 1996, a park bench was installed so people could sit and enjoy the view of the river. The plaque on this bench states: "Donated by the Norval Women’s Institute Commemorating its 90th Anniversary."

Today there are seven active Norval W.I. members and two life members. Their numbers may be small, but they have been a mighty force and much-loved in this historical community for the past 116 years.

PHOTO: Taken February 12, 2022 in Norval, Ontario on a very cold snowy day. Features the Norval Bell and two W.I. plaques and the Quirky Quartet Team.

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