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Women’s Institute founder spoke out when Addie Hunter Hoodless made her mark as a tireless crusader for rural women’s education BY JUNE FLATH SPECIAL to Onlario Fatmer delaide Hunter Hoodless was a domestic crusader, a woman ahead of her time, a woman of her time. Bom on a farm near St. George, ntario in February of 1857 she was raised when women were not encouraged to be outspoken. They at home, raise the chil- dren, keep house and keep their opinions to themselves. Husbands of headstrong women were openh criticized for their inability to keep their further education might spark other interests, such as careers in medicine and teaching. Addie was the mother of all mothers says Karen Richardson, curator for the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead National Historic Site. Richardson edu- cates her visitors, young and old, ‘on Adelaide’s impressive list of achievements. ‘While Addie has long been recognized for her involvement in the Women’s Institute, this is only one of a long list of crowning glories. The youngest of 13 children, her father died before she was bom, leaving her to be raised by her mother and a tribe of older siblings. Richardson imagines that Addi ition i i Still, women were beginning to Adelaide Hunter Hoodless speak out. Thy wanted to vote and be educ: ere are a ways to be meant she got away with more than the other children, allowed her to be outspoken and possibly oiled. She married John Hoodless in 1881 and the couple settled in Hamilton. It was here that her life turned a corner and turned her into an activist. As the wife of a successfui manufacturer, living in a respectable upper class neigh- \d in Hamilton she purchased milk from a door-to- door salesman. The milk had Bot Berry of these were uphill attles. When addressing the board of education she was told that ies didn’t need to got to school to England and Scotland. In 1919 the Government of Canada granted the Institutes a federal charter and provincial representatives met that others wouldn’t water and collapsed. ‘Every year, on her birthday, Feb. 27, the Hoodless Homestead, her cnihood home, hosts an ‘Addie they learned them from their mothers, she should go home and take care eof her own family. Her me achieve- sam a Federated Women’s Institutes of jada. party. irae ll Ibe punch and birthday cake, plus a display and | omase4 attention to child ment was = fount the Women's Institute, which welfare, medical care, child dental care, to.advance the education of rural women. as well as improved services to help immi e their and post cards in i museum’s permanent collectic During the winter school groups are invited to take part in areAlueanianial pYGERaNTS avell- 14-month-old son died after drinking the contaminated milk. ‘The rest of her life was dedicated to raising awareness of health in Ontari Agricultural College in Guelph and one of her listeners, Erland’ Lee, invited her to speak at ladies night for the Farmers’ Institute of In 1903, the Macdonald Insti- ute was established in the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph (and later, Macdonald College in Quebec) to train Canad 7 able. Other includ Addie’s summer garden party in July and the Spirits of the Homestead in October. This progressive play includes vignettes performed in various of d ience. Adelaide Hoodless died suddenly on the eve of her 53rd irthday in 1910. In spite of suffering froma headache, and us. the theme of the skits will be the announcement of Addie and John’s engagement. Her brothers want to know if he is worthy, the maids shes, shi insisted on following through 8 heard. Addie has been referredto standards, the need for pasteur- South Wentworth. as a creative social reformer. She ized milk, safe drinking water, i was strong-willed, but not con- and proper health care. She also frontational. She brought her i i omen 1f-education. She i i the back di both i i Jater and When addressing a group of informal gajherings in homes. _that meeting resulted in the found- men while rallying for domestic She rallied for classes in ing of the Women’s Institute of science classes in the publicschool domestic science in the public Saltfleet Township. system she coyly informed them, school system, was involved in The idea spread. Within 10 years, that these courses were in the establishing the Victorian Order more than 500 instit men’s best interest. The women _ of Nurses, the National Council organized across Canada. would be better housewives. of Women, and the Young — During World War I, Women’s idn't adverti \'s Christian Associati ‘Women’s Chi that Institutes were introduced into Women’s Canadian Club in Toronto. During her presentation she paused to reach for a drink of a wonder if he’s up to the challenge f their Addie. For more information on Adelaide Hunter Hoodless or events at the Homestead call 519- 448-1130 or at hoodlesshome- stead @symatico.ca