HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-00019Post bound scrapbook, 30 x 37 cms., 94 pages, compiled by the the ladies of the
Altona Women's Institute.
ALTONA Women's Institute Tweesdsmuir History #2 1982 - 1989
"Lord Tweedsmuir – Lady Tweedsmuir
”FOREWORD”
I am so glad to hear that the Women’s Institutes of Ontario are going to compile
village history books. Events move very fast nowadays; houses are pulled down,
new roads are made, and the aspect of the countryside changes completely
sometimes in a short time.
It is a most useful and satisfying task for Women’s Institute members to see that
nothing valuable is lost or forgotten, and women should be on the alert always to
guard the traditions of their homes, and to see that water colour sketches and prints,
poems and prose legends should find their way into these books. The oldest people
in the village will tell us fascinating stories of what they remember, which the younger
members can write down, thus making a bridge between them and events which
happened before they were born. After all, it is the history of humanity which is
continually interesting to us, and your village histories will be the basis of accurate
facts much valued by historians of the future. I am proud to think that you have called
them “The Tweedsmuir Village Histories”.
-Written by Lady Tweedsmuir.
"
"A rare glimpse into John Buchan’s world – Toronto Star 1985
By Kay Kritzwiser – Ottawa
In the high-ceilinged quiet spaces of the National Libray of Canada’s galleries,
it’s John Buchan the bookman – and bookworm – who takes precedence over his
other role as Lord Tweedsmuir, Canada’s Governor General from 1935 to 1940.
Here is the chair he used in his library, pulled up to the solid mahogany partners’
writing desk he shared with his wife Susan, herself a writer. So evocative is the
recreation of his library in Elsfield Manor, the Buchan family home near Oxford,
you expect him to appear and invite you in. You can almost see him move his library
step-ladder (leather-padded to protect his rows of books) to find the book you’ve asked
about. Any minute, the thin lips of the bronze head which British sculptor Thomas John
Clapperton did of him in 1935, will break into a smile.
This kind of intimacy and informality gives the summer exhibition, Glimpses of John
Buchan: His Life in Canada and his Legacy a rare and human quality.
For this, the credit is shared between the National Library and Queen’s University in
Kingston.
In 1955, the Douglas Library of Queen’s University received a gift of Tweedsmuir’s
private papers and his library, from Col. and Mrs. R. S. McLaughlin, Oshawa.
Most of the exhibits came from this collection, supplemented by the National Library’s
material and loans from other institutions and individuals.
Glimpses will be at 395 Wellington St. until Aug. 15. Early in September, much of the
display will be open to the public in the Douglas Library at Queen’s. To commemorate
the 50th anniversary of Buchan’s appointment as Governor General of Canada,
the National Library has published an informative brochure, researched by a staff
researcher, Nancy Miller Chemier.
Glimpses was opened appropriately enough by Governor-General Jeanne Sauve,
with John Buchan’s son, the second Lord Tweedsmuir, there to represent his father.
But Glimpses needs no official hoopla. Whether his fingers were inky from these
handwritten letters (to his mother, to his sister Anna) and manuscripts, or encased in
white gloves below gold-encrusted sleeves of office, he is, in this exhibition, simply
John Buchan.
The trappings are necessarily there and they do have interest. There is admittingly
curiosity about their hand-me-down royal hat with the white plumes. It was worn by
Tweedsmuir for ceremonies, but it belonged originally to Vincent Massey,
who was governor-general from 1952 to 1959. The Copeland and Limogoes china
used at The Citadel in Quebec City and Rideau Hall by the Buchans for state
occasions is nice for the nosy to see at nose-length. But the Tweedsmuir years
sensitively captured like this also gave a sometimes forgotten dimension to the
average Canadians who shared them. During his service as Canada’s 35th
governor-general, there were days of universal grief and gloom. These clippings,
the exchange of royal letters, the official reports renew that focus today.
Here is the governor-general’s warrant for unemployment relief to the prairie
provinces in the Great Depression. In this photo, Rideau Hall is draped in black
crepe for the death of George V. In that one, Tweedsmuir is party to Canada’s
independent declaration of war on Sept. 10, 1939.
But there are lighter memories of the Royal Tour of George and Elizabeth across
Canada in 1939 and of the Tweedsmuirs’ many trips. The photos show him at
plowing matches and university rituals, on visits to Icelandic, Ukrainian and Indian
settlements on the prairies, as a supporter of the Dominion Drama Festival,
at the ceremony for the naming of Tweedsmuir wilderness reserve park in British
Columbia, all evidences of his more than official interest in the Canadian way of life.
When Tweedsmuir died suddenly in February, 1940, there was a wave of regret from
around the world.
In Glimpses, Buchan and his books nudge out the gold-braid years.
A first edition of his famous The Thirty-Nine Steps published in 1915
marks the beginning of his remarkable output, which ends with a books on the
Canadian Arctic completed a few weeks before his death. Many of his books
have his own handwritten flyleaf comments. The letters from his readers include
Winston Churchill, John Galsworthy, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Albert Schweitzer,
Ezra Pound and T. E. Lawrence.
In a quote from Buchan’s Memory Hold-the-Door (1940), Buchan wrote:
“I am not very tractable person or much of a hero-worshipper, but I could
have followed Lawernce over the edge of the world. I loved him for himself,
and also because there seemed to be reborn in him all the lost friends of my youth.”
Finally, Glimpses gives a wide glimpse of what the Tweedsmuirs did for Canadian
writers in establishing the Governor-General’s Literary Awards. The proof, 50 years
later, lies in these rows of books by Canadian authors. They begin with the first
recipient, Berstram Brooker (1888-1955) for his novel, Think of the Earth (1936).
His award was shared posthumously by Thomas B. Robertson (1879-1936) for his
newspaper columns.
On loan are the presentation copies, with individually designed book covers,
made to the authors each year. The specially bound covers are work of Pierre Ouvrard,
professional book binder, who lives in Montreal.
And for her considerable part, Susan Buchan must still be remembered by old books,
once hungrily read, now on forgotten shelves. As Lady Tweedsmuir, she organized a
plan in 1937 and 1938 to collect and send books to people in the economically
stricken rural areas of the prairie provinces and New Brunswick.
Lord Tweedsmuir in his regalia (above) and at a plowing match (top): in the National
Library exhibit, he is simply John Buchan.
"
"Adelaide Hoodless
Our First Organization Woman
She always claimed that she was inspired by the death of her fourth child from
contaminated milk to dedicate her life to the ""education of mothers.""
But considering the enormous range of her efforts, founding or helping to found the
YWCA, the National Council of Women, the VON, Macdonald Institute at Guelph, Ont.,
the Women's Institutes, Adelaide's boundless organizing talents would doubtless
have been triggered anyhow.
She was 35 and a socially prominent Hamilton matron when her infant son died,
and for the next 18 years she traveled, lectured, met with officials (she actually
died on a public platform when she was 53) —the very model of the public-spirited
clubwoman. She probably got as much out of her clubwork causes as they from her.
But in those pre-social-welfare days her causes were winners (and flourish still) .
Unlike most of her contemporaries who were active outside their homes, Adelaide's
sympathies ran counter to the suffrage movement. She was convinced that home
and family provided all the scope any woman of good heart and mind required.
Not surprisingly, making a career out of telling other women to stay home won her
some brickbats.
Her initial campaign was to persuade the Hamilton school system to include
home economics in the public-school curriculum. To win, she first had to run a
pilot project in the Hamilton YWCA. Later she forced the board to undertake teacher
education for home economics specialists. Ultimately she convinced tobacco
millionaire Sir William Macdonald to build Macdonald Institute for household science,
opened in 1903 at Guelph, Ont.
Seven years earlier, her suggestion that farm women needed an association to
improve rural life as much as their husbands needed an institute to learn scientific
techniques inspired 101 women at Stoney Creek, Ont., to form the first Women's
Institute. The idea was so right that today 80,000 women are institute members.
"
"The beginning of Tweedsmuir Books
During Lord Tweedsmuir’s term as Governor General of Canada, Lady Tweedsmuir
took great interest in the Women’s Institutes. She stressed the need for preserving the
history of our Canadian people, places, customs and activities. Federated Women’s
Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) decided to act upon her suggestion and a Tweedsmuir
History Book became the project of each Women’s Institute branch within Ontario.
Today 1125 branches, 112 districts and 14 areas each have a Tweedsmuir History
Book and many branches have 2 or 3 volumes.
Main topics covered in these books are: the branch Women’s Institute and its
contribution to the welfare and development of the community; general community
history; individual families and homes; schools and education; churches and their
organizations; industries past and present; libraries; municipal government; recreation;
and war records.
Many hours of hard work go into these books, but they form a valuable part of the history
of this province. Keep up the good work. – Home & Country: spring 1985
Mrs. Lulu Heales FWIO Tweedsmuir Curator.
“The Willows”
Adelaide Hunter Hoodless
1857-1910
Adelaide Hunter was born in this farm house and lived here until she married John
Hoodless in 1881. On February 19th, 1897 she organized at Stoney Creek the world’s
first Women’s Institute. It was her belief that in this organization rural women could
discuss their problems and work together to improve their standard of homemaking
and citizenship. This movement spread rapidly throughout Ontario and later to other
provinces. Mrs. Hoodless, a natural leader and forceful speaker, introduced the
teaching of domestic science into Ontario schools and obtained funds for building of
MacDonald Institute at Guelph.
The Homestead was purchased by the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada in
1959. It has restored and furnished in the period when Adelaide Hunter Hoodless
lived there. This was a project of all Institutes in Canada. An Apartment was added
to the building in 1979.
The National Historic Sites and Monuments Board erected a plaque in June 1962
proclaiming Adelaide Hunter Hoodless an eminent Canadian.
When was Adelaide Hoodless born?
Is there someone out there who can let us know, with certainty, the year in which
Adelaide Hunter Hoodless was born?
Home & Country recently received a brochure from the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless
Homestead in St. George, which quoted the inscription on a cairn located at the
junction of Highway 5 and 24, a half mile from the birthplace of the founder of the
Women’s Institutes.
It gives 1857 as the year in which Mrs. Hoodless was born.
But a press release sent to us by Nancy Dodsworth, curator of the homestead,
announced the date of Adelaide Hunter’s birth as February 27, 1858.
When we called Mrs. Dodsworth to double check which year was correct,
1857 or 1858, the curator explained that no one seems to know for sure.
“There’s a conflict in the dates,” Mrs. Dodsworth told us. She said she’s done some
research into the subject, and found the family Bible gives the year as 1858,
To make matters more interesting, however, the “8” appears to have been written
in on top of another number – perhaps a”7”.
Until we receive evidence to the contrary, we plan to observe the 1858 date.
What do you other WI historians have to say about this?
The Cairn Inscription
A cairn bearing this inscription stands at the junction of Highway 5 and 24,
a half mile from the Homestead.
“To commemorate the birthplace of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, 1857-1910,
who founded the Women’s Institute, February 19, 1897, erected by the Women’s
institutes of Brant County, unveiled for her Excellency Lady Tweedsmuir,
October 7, 1937.”
When the Scottish Rural Institute members made a tour of rural Canada in 1939,
a flag pole and flag were dedicated in the Adelaide Hoodless Memorial Park.
The South Dumfries Township Council erected a plaque in 1958: “Birthplace of
Adelaide Hoodless, Founder of Women’s Institutes”.
This tribute to Mrs. Hoodless was placed on a plaque at the Homestead by the
Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites board in 1959.
"
"Collect for Club Women
KEEP us O Lord from pettiness; let us be~ large In thought, ln word and deed
Let us be done with fault finding and leave~ off self seeking
May we put away all pretence and meet~ each other face to face, without self pity and
without prejudice~~
May we never be hasty in Judgment and always generous
Let us take time for all things: make us grow
calm, serene, gentle~~
Teach us to put into action our better Impulses straight forward and unafraid
Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that create differences; that in the~
big things of life we are one~~
And may we strive to touch and know the~ great human heart common to us all, and
O Lord God let us not forget to be kind
Mary Stewart
FOR many years, women's clubs in Canada, United States, Britain and other countries
have used a prayer for the opening or closing ceremonies of their meetings. Sometimes
it is simply read by one member, at others it is repeated in unison by all those present.
They have usually called it Our Creed or The Club Women's Creed and as such it is
widely known and popular on this continent, especially in small towns and rural districts.
Widespread usage has resulted in some changes. The author gave it a title: ""Collect
For Club Women,"" when it first appeared in an obscure corner of a well known
American magazine.
Mary Stewart wrote the prayer in 1904, while she was principal of Longmont high
school in Colorado. We are indebted to a Canadian woman, the late Mrs. Alfred Watt,
M.B.E., for a true and correct version of the prayer, as here presented, and a little of the
anthor's own personal story. Mrs. Watt came back to Canada in 1939 to attend and
speak at the eleventh biennial conference of the Federated Women's Institutes of
Canada, in Edmonton. She it was, who had carried the Women's Institute idea to
Britain and later became president of the Associated Country Women of the World.
Mary Stewart, while visiting in England had spent some time with Mrs. Watt at her
English home. Errors had crept into the various printings of the prayer,
especially in the first and second-last lines. These errors marred the beauty of
expression and the clarity of thought of this prayer. The author expressed concern
about the garbled versions which were being circulated. In the studio of Robin Watt,
the artist son of Mrs. Alfred Watt, Miss Stewart personally supervised his work of
copying out the prayer, down even to fine points of placing a comma or a period.
Reproduced here is Robin Watt's copy done by hand, under Mary Stewart's close
supervision. The title, it should be noted is set in type, to identify it.
""It was Written as a prayer for the day. I called it a 'Collect For Club Women,'
because I felt that women working together with wide interests for large ends was a
new thing under the sun and that, perhaps they had need for special petition and
meditation of their own. This must have been true for the Collect has found its way
about the world, especially wherever English speaking women get together.
Indeed it has been reprinted in many forms in many lands.""
It was officially adopted by the National Federation of Business and Professional
Women's Clubs, meeting at their second convention in 1920, at St. Paul.
It was read into the printed records of the Congress of the United States by
Senator Tobey of New Hampshire, at the closing session in 1949.
Mary Stewart held a number of special teaching posts in Colorado and Montana.
In 1921 she become a junior guidance and placement officer in the pioneer period
of U.S. employment services. She continued to write for American newspapers and
magazines. Her Alma Mater, the University of Colorado, in 1927 conferred upon her
an honorary degree in recognition of her distinguished work in education, social and
civic service. --
Adelaide Hoodless Homestead St. George, Ontario owned by Fed. Women's Institute
of Canada."
"ERLAND LEE
(1864 - 1926)
Of United Empire Loyalist stock, Erland Lee had a reputation as
a good farmer, and had a keen interest in the welfare of his fellowman. On the Lee farm,
he raised Jersey cattle, was one of the first to grow grapes commercially,
and he shipped carloads of R.I. Greenings apples from his orchards to the
British market. He was one of the first maple producers in the area to use an evaporator.
He served many organizations: secretary of his local Farmer's Institute for 19 years,
Township Clerk for 20 years, first president of the Wentworth Seed Fair, president of the
Wentworth Agricutlure Board, and Secretary-Treasurer of the Saltfleet Agricultural
Society. But it was his work with Mrs. Adelaide Hunter Hoodless to found the first
Women's Institute in the world that gained him most acclaim. The organization was
his idea originally; he convinced Mrs. Hoodless of its merit and proceeded to develop
the Constitution and By-Laws and carried out the necessary negotiations with the
Minister of Agriculture to secure the Charter.
The Erland Lee (Museum) Home is now an historic site at Stoney Creek,
preserved and maintained by the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario in
memory of its co-founder, Erland Lee.
"
"On May 28, 1961 a memorial plaque on a rugged granite boulder in front of the Lee
Home was unveiled. Through the effort of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario
an historic plaque was unveiled and dedicated at the Erland Lee Home by the Historic
Sites Board of Ontario on October 1, 1967.
For many years it had been the hope of the Ontario Women's Institutes that the
Lee Home could be purchased, and in 1964 a recommendation was presented to the
Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Board meeting from the Districts of Wentworth
South and Wentworth North.
An option was taken by the Provincial Board of F.W.I.O. in October 1969 on the property
on Lot 17, Concession 4, of the Township of Saltfleet, south side of Ridge Road,
in Wentworth County. On June 15, 1972 the Erland Lee Home was officially purchased.
Thus for the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the Women's Institutes the purchase of the
Lee Home preserved one of the most beautiful vintage homes in Ontario for a useful
and permanent purpose as a memorial of Women's Institute beginnings.
Erland Lee (Museum) Home
Home of the co-founder of the first Women’s Institute in the world, Mr. Erland Lee.
It is owned and maintained by the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario.
R. R. #1, 552 Ridge Road,
Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
L8G 3X4
Telephone: (416) 662-2691
"
" History
The first Women's institute in the world organized at Stoney Creek,
Ontario on February 19, 1897 by co-founders Adelaide H. Hoodless and Erland Lee.
BECOME A MEMBER
• woman or girl over 16
• attend nearest branch
• pay membership fee
• receive your handbook and copy of Home &
Country, our magazine
• automatically become a member provincially
(F.W.I.O.) nationally (F.W.I.C.) and internationally
(A..C.W.W.)
Erland Lee (Museum) Home - dining table where original
by-laws and constitution
Written by Mrs Erland Lee
Aims
An educational organization for women who, by working together can expand their
skills, broaden thelr interests and work to improve conditions in homes, communities,
the nation and around the world.
- to help discover, stimulate and develop leadership and confidence
- to help identify and resolve needs and problems in the community
- to help promote use of available resource material
- to help develop better informed, happier and more useful citizens
Opportunities
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE MEMBERS
WORK to improve homes and com-
munities
LEARN by participation In planned pro-
grams, workshops and conferences
INITIATE educational programs and special projects for the benefit of the
community
STUDY current issues and problems related
to family and society
INFORM governments and other decision
makers of rural women's viewpoints
INFLUENCE action by presenting brief submissions concerning problems of our
day
SUPPORT projects in our province, in Canada
and overseas
PROVIDE scholarships and bursaries
ENJOY the friendship of fellow members,
making new friends and the warmth of serving others
Accomplishments
During its history Ontario Women's Institutes have achieved many accomplishments.
Locally, WIs have supported libraries, parks, 4-H clubs, agricultural fairs, hospitals
and nursing homes, foster children overseas, community halls, museums and
recreation areas.
Also on the local level Tweedsmuir Histories have been developed and maintained.
These books document the history of the vicinity through its buildings, people,
farms and industry. Provincially, Women's Institutes offer scholarships for continuing
education and support local members with a leadership training opportunity every year
called Officers' Conference. The Erland Lee (Museum) Home in Stoney Creek,
is owned and supported by Ontario Women's Institutes. It is the home of WI
co-founder Mr. Lee and has been completely refurbished to its original style for WI
members and the public to enjoy. Nationally, Women's institutes participate in
competitions and scholarships and support the Adelaide Hoodless Homestead — the
home of co-founder Mrs. Hoodless.
Internationally, Women's Institutes belong to the Associated Country Women of the
World. As members, they support community improvement projects in the Third
World like nutrition education and sanitary water facilities. They also act as
con-sultants to the United Nations.
"
"Ontario Agricultral Museum
Milton, Ontario
Explore Ontario's Past
Old log homestead and barn --
Settler's home and octoganal barn --
Mill wheel and octoganal barn --
Women's Institute Hall"
"Electing a new FWIO Pres. Nov. 1986
Joyce Canning ROS, Charlotte Johnson Past Pres., Margaret Monroe new Pres.
New Director for ROS
The Rural Organizations and Services Branch welcomed Jack Hagarty as its new
director in February, replacing Ken Knox who moved to the Farm Products Marketing
Branch in Toronto.
Jack was executive director of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program before
coming to the ROS Branch. He has had lots of experience working for Ministry of
Agriculture and Food. For two years he was manager of fieled services for the ROS
Branch and before that he was area co-ordinator and farm management specialist for
10 years. Jack began his career with the ministry as a soils and crop specialist.
Jack has worked overseas, on a project with the University of Ghana for three years and
on two short assignments in Malaysia and Nigeria.
Jack is the past president of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists and member of the
Agricultural Institute of Canada and the Canadian Society of Rural Extension.
He has a Master of Science in Agriculture and lives in Guelph with his wife, Joan.
They have four children and four grandchildren.
New concept for WI Hall
The Ontario Agricultural Museum is refurbishing the present WI Hall to resemble a
“typical WI Hall” of 1928.
The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario are asking for the assistance of the
members.
What do you have concerning the history and/or pictures of WI Halls which were in
existence in 1920-1928?
We need assistance with signs, trees, flowers, floors, walls, curtains, lighting, heating,
pictures, flags, calendars, clocks, chairs, tables, and other articles which were common
to that era.
Do you have meeting agendas, minutes of meetings, reports of other activities coming
events, other posted notices which would have appeared in these WI Halls of 1928?
The first display in the restored Hall will be a typical 1928 WI sewing course in progress.
Do you have 1928 sewing patterns, sewing equipment, sewing course pamphlets,
clothing articles made at that time?
If you or your branch can supply some of this needed information, please contact:
Lynn Campbell, Researcher- Ontario Agricultural Museum- P.O. Box 38- Milton,
Ontario- L9T 2Y3- 416-878-8151
Lynn also wishes to conduct interviews with WI members regarding the WI Halls.
FWIO TARTAN
The colours in the FWIO Tartan symbolize the following: White – snow & clouds Gold –
golden grain that sustained Ontario families in early years Green – beautiful verdure
so evident throughout Ontario Red – red fruits grown in Southern areas Blue –
cornflowers & other cultivated & wildflowers Black – the trial of the black walnut that
lead early settlers to Southern Ontario. Nelda Morrison is the designer and weaver of
the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario Tartan.
"
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"Ontario County
Pickering Twp.
Atha
Altona
Glasgow
Cemeteries
Early History"
"THE COUNTY 0F ONTARIO
(of which Pickering Twp. is a part)
The county of Ontario occupies a remarkable position in the province of the
same name. It is situated midway between the eastern and western boundaries on
the frontier. The name Is derived from the smallest of the great lakes whose
waters wash its' shores on the south forming the three Harbours of Whitby;
Frenchmans Bay and Oshawa within the county, while the extreme breadth of the
county is only the width of two townships or eighteen miles. It extends northward
in a direct line to a distance of 66 miles in length. Ontario county is bounded
on the north by the township of Morrison in the county of Simcoe, on the south by
Lake Ontario, on the east by the counties of Victoria and Durham and on the west
by the county of York. Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching and the the Severn River
which also separates it from the county of Simcoe. The encroachment of the
waters of the lakes on the west and north west reduces the width of the county to a
single township, north of Brock, the average width being eight miles and at the
narrowest point about the 9th. concession of Thorah extending but five miles across
from Lake Simcoe to the boundary line of Victoria.
The general face of the country in the south is rolling, the soil mostly a rich loamy clay.
In the north beyond the ridges which cross the county about eleven miles from the
lake, the land is more of a level character and soil fertile with plenty of limestone
to the north. The County is divided into two ridings each sending one member
to the House of Commons, and one each to the local legislature.
The County is composed of the following municipalities, Reach, Brock, Uxbridge,
Scott, Thorah, Mara, Rama, Whitby and Pickering. Ontario did not obtain its
separate municipal existence as a county until Jan. 1st., 1854. Up to 1852
it was included in formed part of the county of York. By an act of Parliament
passed in 1851 the county of York was divided into three counties, but the union
of three counties still continued until Jan. 1, 1854 when Ontario commenced
housekeeping on her own account. On June 30, I853, the corner stone of the
Court House in Whitby was laid.
The project of a Railway from Whitby to Georgian Bay had been agitated long
before the separation of the county, but not until Oct. 6, 1869 was the first sod
turned by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur for the railway line from Whitby to Port
Perry.
In 1960 the Prince of Wales visited the county and was quite a memorable event.
Constant yearly expenditures of money and labour with the increase of population
and settlement brought about the desirable state of things in the way of good and
permanent highways.
The township of Whitby formerly embraced the township of East Whitby, Oshawa
and the town of Whitby as well as the township to Whitby proper; part was
surveyed In 1791 and the remainder was surveyed and laid out in 1795.
The township of East Whitby embraces an area of 34,60O acres.
The old township of Whitby was divided into two separate townships in 1857.
The area of the present township is 31,600 acres. The soil is generally a
loamy clay, very fruitful and the climate healthy, making it altogether one of the
most desirable agricultural locations in the Dominion. Pickering township like
Whitby is a fine fruitful well-tilled township with an area of 74,660 acres.
The township of Uxbridge was surveyed in 1804 and 1805. It contains 52,830
acres, the soil generally light and sandy, The settlement of Uxbridge was of
slow growth until after the Rebellion of 1837 after the concession of responsible
government and liberal institution followed in 1841 by local self government and
municipal institutions induced a very rapid growth and prosperous settlement.
The first sod of the site of Uxbridge Village was broken by Dr. Beswick about
1806. The Township of Rama, the northernmost of the county contains 42,520
acres, being partly surveyed in 1834 on the west
side along the shore of Lake Couchiching, and the second survey was in 1855
on the southeast boundary and the last a couple of years later, A number of
British officers took up 2500 acres of land along the lake, later the officers
cleared out and the Obijeway Indians then located in Rama.
The township of Scugog is an Island containing 11,016 acres. It was surveyed
in 1816 and 1817 and formed a portion of both Reach and Cartwright. From a
very remote date the Mississauga Indians had a village or lodge here.
There are still about fifty left here yet, holding a reserve of 800 acres.
In 1856 a bridge was built by subscription and aid from the county council
across to Port Perry. Later a permanent structure took the place of the old
floating bridge.
The township of Thorah contains 44,320 acres. It was surveyed in 1820 and
partly in 1827. A short time later, several army officers and pensioners
settled here. One of them erected a grist mill and saw mill which was a great
boon to the settlers, many of whom in the earlier days had to carry their bushel
of flour from Hollands Landing, a distance of 40 miles.
"
"THE COUNTY OF ONTARIO Page 2
Through the exertion of Squire Cameron, a road was blazed from Beaverton to Oshawa.
The year 1830 brought a great influx of immigrants.
The progress of the township was slow until the establishment of the Home District
Council.
The township of Scott was surveyed in 1807, contents 49,168 acres. A portion of the
land is very good soil, part inclined to be light and interspersed with swamp. Some of
the best white wheat in the province is grown in Scott.
The township of Brock called after the famous Canadian General of Queenston Heights
was surveyed in 1817 and was early surveyed by was of Newmarket. A large portion of
the township contains excellent soil, a heavy clay loam. There is however considerable
broken and marshy land along the Beaver River. Much of the township of Brock was
settled before Whitby was known farther back than the third concession.
The township of Mara was first partly surveyed in 1821. The survey was complete in
1836. Up to the rebellion there was a very scant settlement along the Lake Shore in Mara.
The township had the appearance of being a good deal cedar swamp.
As it was cleared up, it showed excellent land, and Mara now proves to be one of the
best townships in the county, containing 60,588 acres of land.
Reach was surveyed in 1809 and contains 60,654 acres. The soil through the centre
is light. The land to the northeast and northwest is of excellent quality.
The municipality formerly included Scugog and Port Perry, which with the growth of the
country became separate corporations, Port Perry being incorporated in 1872.
The town of Whitby was incorporated in 1855 by special act of Parliament.
"
"THE HISTORY OF PICKERING TOWNSHIP'S BEGlNNING
At the dawn of our provincial history some two hundred years ago, we find,
according to the records of the French Missionaries, several Indian Villages in
existence on the north shores of Lake Ontario. The Indians who inhabited these
villages were of the tribe of Senecas, one of the famous Five Nations or Iroquois.
Their ancestral territory was south of Lake Ontario within the great forest that
stretched from the Niagara to the Hudson, but a considerable portion of the tribe
seem to have made permanent homes for themselves on the Northern shores of
the lake, attracted doubtless by the game and fish which were there, easily
obtainable in rich abundance. The French Missionaries M. Fenelon and M. Trouve
had established Missions in two of these Indian Villages, one In Prince Edward
County, the other where Port Hope now stands, and in the year 1669 M. Fenelon
proceeded still farther westward to a third Village, Gandatsetiagon, or Frenchman's
Bay. This Village was later to became one of the best shipping ports on the lake,
all the grain and timber from this section being teamed and shipped from there.
Now, nothing remains to show any signs of these activities and the lake shore has
become a summer resort. In passing we may say that an Indian burying-ground
was in later years discovered near the present Atha School. In 1791 the
Constitutional Act was passed which divided the Province of Quebec into the two
Provinces, Upper Canada and Lower Canada. On February 22 of the same year,
instructions were issued from the Surveyor-General's office in Quebec, to one
Augustus Jones, to survey and mark the front line of a row of townships from the
mouth of the River Trent to Toronto, and to carry the side of each township back
one mile. It is interesting to note that the work was completed in the Fall, by the
surveyor and the ten men he was to employ, the time being 79 days, the salary
£34 -11S- 3d. or $172.80.
The survey of Pickering Township would seem to have been completed and some
few settlers located in the township before 1796. The first township meeting was
held on the first Monday of March 1811, when a town clerk, assessors, collectors,
path-masters, pound-keepers, and wardens were chosen. The census of the
township at this time being around l80 persons. In 1911, Centennial Year,
a suitable celebration was held at Brougham. The population of the township at
this time being near the 6000 mark.
The year l830 marks the beginning of a new Era in the history of Upper Canada.
It is estimated that 34000 settlers entered the Province in 1831, and during the
4 years 1829-1832 fully 16000 were added to the population.
Pickering Township had its growing time in this period in common with the rest
of the
Province.
It was during this period that the communities in which we are interested,
namely Atha and Altona, received their influx of settlers. Among the first were
Nathan Bently, John Bell, Michael Nighswander, Mr. Whitson, Andrew Mercer,
Abraham Hoover, Adam Speers. Other pioneers were Lott, Lapp, Brown,
Harrison, Hisey, Yake, Monkhouse, Barkey. Two sawmills were built by these
pioneers, and turned out large quantities of lumber, mostly for building purposes.
PIONEER HARDSHIPS OF THE FIRST SETTLERS
It Is difficult for the young people of the present generation to appreciate the
hardships and sacrifices of the pioneers.
Would-be settlers at this time had to face a long tedious and often dangerous
sea voyage and a toilsome journey from the ports of the lower province or
the Atlantic States. Many came from the States, travelling in their covered wagons,
bringing their families and possibly cattle, the journey over land often taking six
weeks.
Excepting the Kingston Road, there were scarcely any roads worthy of the name.
The roads were often simply paths blazed through the woods or at best chopped
out only wide enough for a wagon to pass. Folk travelled mostly by foot or on
horseback. After a location had been chosen the trees had to be cut down, and
the logs used to build a dwelling. Gradually little clearings surrounded these
dwellings, and season by season they widened, till at length clearance joined
clearance. Then there came a time when the clearance was larger than the
remaining ""bush"" and the years hastened the time when only patches of forest
were left to dot at wide intervals the landscape of the township.
The land at that time was ploughed with a yoke of oxen, the seed sown by hand,
the harvest
cut with the sickle and cradle, bound by hand, threshed by the flail,
the flour made in the
hollow of a stump. Our Grandmothers did the spinning of the wool and flax,
made all their
clothes by hand with the glimmering of the old grease lamp and tallow candle,
the cooking being
done in the fireplace in crude iron utensils.
Some of the old settlers walked as far as Brougham for mail, probably once a
month.
"
"HISTORY OF ATHA, ALTONA, AND GLASGOW PIONEERS
(Written for the Women's Institute by Mrs. Thos. Dunkeld, Feb. 27, 1947)
The year 1830 marks the beginning of a new era in the history of Upper Canada.
It is estimated that 34,000 settlers entered the province in 1831 and during the
next four years fully 160,000 were added to the population. Pickering Township had
its growing time in this period. It was during this time that the communities of
which we are interested, namely, Atha and Altona had their beginning.
The first settler to come to the eighth concession of Pickering was Nathan Bently,
who came in 1831 and purchased the bush farm which Mrs. Carruthers now owns.
Mr. and Mrs. Bently lived there till his death in l874. One of his daughters, Mrs. C.
McAvoy remained on the farm until the death of her husband. They had one son Otto.
On this farm was the first school house built, in the south west corner in 1841.
It was a cottage type, and was a fine school in it's day. My father went to that
school. The desks were all around the wall the children facing the wall.
The play ground was the King's highway and as much woods as they wished to
play in.
The present school house was built in 1864, opened on Jan. 1, 1865.
The Lehman family were one of the next to come. Daniel Lehman came in 1827
from Pennsylvania, bought the south half of Lot 35, Con. 8. In 1835 h3 and his
bride settled on the farm. Before he brought his bride he cleared a few acres of
land and built a log house. In the three years he rode the same horse nine times
to Pennsylvania and back. When he brought his bride they came on horse back.
He erected a sawmill which continued in busy and successful operation as long as
he lived. After his death in 1867 one of his sons Abraham, (my father) continued
to operate the sawmill. He also had a shingle and lath machine. We elder
children many a day packed shingles all day. The mill was later transformed
into a chopping mill run with a stone grinder. The mill at this time is torn down.
The property still remains in the Lehman name, Eli being the present owner.
John Bell, a native of Dunfriesshire, Scotland, came to Canada with his wife in
1834, and settled on lot 28, Con. 7. One of his sons, John M. Bell married and
remained on the homestead, making stock raising a prominent feature of his
farming activities. His daughter, Mrs. Peter Stewart, and her two sons,
John and Peter, lived there until the death of their mother. Then John married
Mary Duncan and farmed for some time. After John's death the property was
sold to Fred Byer.
Michael Nighswander and his bride came in 1838 and located on lot 34, Con. 7.
In 1845 he also erected a sawmill on the farm in which he did a good business
for 45 years. Their family numbered ten, two sons, Michail and Tillman had one
son Otto. Mrs. Nighswander is still living and Mrs. Ralph Nighswander lives on
the Townline.
The Whitson family also came from Scotland In 1839, settling on lot 28, Con. 8,
and since the death of their parents the two daughters Misses Ella and Georgie
still reside on the farm with Mr. Fred Draper as Manager. Robert Whitson owned
the next farm east of his brother's with his two sisters Jenny and Margaret.
They had the post office till the rural route came from Claremont.
Abraham Hoover with his wife came from Markham, purchased lot 34, Con. 8, in Oct.,
1843. A house having been built and 10 acres cleared. As time went by he
owned 400 acres of land. His sons Sam, Noah, Elsie and Jacob took possession
of the farms. The farms are now owned by Mr. Tran, Mrs. Louis Hoover,
Mrs. MacDonald, and Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lehman.
Adam Spears, a native of Scotland, settled on lot 29, Con. 7, in l840 and also
built a sawmill. The lumber was teamed to Frenchman's Bay. This mill was
continued in operation by his son James until about fifty years ago.
The farm was sold, and his son Adam lives in Whitevale.
Other pioneer names familiar are Lapp, Burks, Lott, Harrison, Hisey,
but they are all gone and others have taken their places.
Mr. Joe Brown came to the eighth in 1830 and in 1889 the Dunkelds bought the
farm. The father died soon after. The mother Lizzie, and the three boys James,
William and Thomas took over, till their death, then Murray Dunkeld bought the
farm.
I can't recall when the Byers came from Markham, but I remember Mr. Joe Byers'
grandmother so well. She was a kind lady, I worked there when she died and
recall Joe Byers' sister passed away the same day.
The only church near Atha was erected by the Baptist denomination and was
opened on Sun. August 1835.. The services were held there for 35 years.
Only the Cemetery remains on the Frank Gostick farm. The minister was
Rev. L.D. Gostick. He came to Canada in 1832 from England, and was always
in his place on the Sabbath. After it closed the Sunday School for awhile was
held in the Atha school house. There was once a store and blacksmith at Atha
corners, managed by Mr. and Mrs. Beattie.
ALTONA
At Altona the Mennonites were the first to erect a church built in 1850.
The church still stands and services are held there by the Mennonites.
The ministers are Mr. Thomas Reesor, Mr. Fred Nighswander, Mr. A. Smith.
The union church, Mennonite and Christian, situated on the Abram Reesor
property was built in 1872. Daniel Barkey being the promoter.
He farmed east of Altona, his grandson Charlie Barkey now lives on the farm.
The same denomination still hold their Sunday School and church services there.
The present ministers are Mr. Hallman, and Mr. G. Brown.
A name familiar to the Altona people was Joseph Monkhouse, who came from
Cumberland, England in 1849 and married Christena Reesor. He built the Altona
store and people came
"
"for miles around to make purchases. After his death his son Willis took over
the store. He now lives in Stouffville. Fletcher Goudie now occupies the store
building.
The homes of Mr. White and Mr. McChancy belonged to the Millard family, the
land having been purchased from the crown at the time. The Morris farm belonged
to the same family. A number will remember the old blacksmith shop where
Mr. Boothby worked from morn till night shoeing horses and doing repair work.
On the corner was a hotel kept by Mr. Brown where Mr. O. Madill now has a general
store.
One of the earliest settlers to come to Altona district was the Daniel Yake family
who came from Germany in 1804. It took fourteen weeks to cross.
He buried his wife and four children at sea. He came to Canada from Pennsylvania
with the rest of his family with their little effects and three cattle. Of the children
only Michael remained in Pickering. In 1816 he married Jane VanZant.
They had twelve children. One of his daughters, Poly married Mr. Jones and she
spent all her long life on the farm where Ralph and Mary reside.
Robert Scott, John Scott's father, came from Cumberland, England in 1868.
In 1874 he married Alice Jones, a daughter of Mrs. Jones, and mother of
Mrs. Bunker. There are many more who lived in Altona, the Whites, Stouffers,
Reesors, Hoovers. The Nighswander history was in The Tribune a few weeks ago.
The land at that time was nearly all bushland. They cut trees, the best of maple,
piled the logs and burnt them, thousands of feet of the best timber, to clear the
land. A tree at that time was of no value. In the spring they could tap any number
of Maple trees, made their own wooden sap spiles and troughs for the sap,
boiled it in iron kettles down to sugar. They made a year's supply of sugar and used
it for all kinds of sweetening purposes. A day's work from sunrise to sunset for 50¢
a day or take as pay wheat and apples. They also had sheep and used the wool
for socks, mitts, and took it to Cliff's mill at Altona to be made into cloth and yarn.
The cloth was made into men's shirts and boys' suits and overcoats, underwear and
dresses.
GLASGOW
Mr. Alexander Gordon came from Glasgow, Scotland, over a hundred years ago.
That was where Glasgow got its name. Mr. Brown was 80 years old Feb. 13th of
this year. He was born on the farm where Mr. Will Reesor now lives.
Joseph Brown, Mr. Brown's grandfather, got the farm from the government.
Benjamin Parker built the Glasgow school about 100 years ago. At one time there
were three churches, two blacksmith shops, and a good general store situated
there. Going down from Glasgow we are sure each farm has some history attached
to it, while the pioneers have passed beyond, and the buildings are gone leaving
many gaps. The Slack farm was owned by Mr. Hiram Kester who lived a retired
life in Glasgow. Mr. and Mrs. James Slack at one time lived where Mr. and
Mrs. Walter Davis now live. We remember the name of Forsyth, as being very
prominent.
The land was cleared and ploughed with a yoke of oxen, the seed sown by hand,
the harvest cut with the sickle and cradle, bound by hand, threshed by the flail
and flour made in the hollow of a stump. Today it is ploughed, sown with a drill,
cut and bound with a binder, threshed by a machine, and all drawm with a tractor
and the bread delivered to the housewife's door. Our grandmothers did the
spinning of the wool and flax, made their own clothes by hand with the glimmer
of the old grease lamp and tallow candle, the cooking done in the fireplace in
crude iron utensils. To-day, the housewife pressed a button, floods her rooms
with incandescent light, uses aluminum cooking utensils on an electric stove,
goes to the large centres and purchases the clothes for the family ready made.
Some of the old settlers walked as far as Brougham for mail, probably once a
month. Now we have rural mail delivery at our gates every day and news of the
world at our finger tip on the radio. In the early days the Kingston road was
the only road worthy of the name, other roads being simply paths blazed through
the forest, travelled by foot or on horseback, where to-day our roads are four
rods wide, well gravelled or paved with cement, making it possible for us to
use automobiles to travel long distances in short time and comfort, to attend
social gatherings and meetings for the education and benefit of the community
such as we are enjoying this afternoon.
Do we appreciate our privileges?
"
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ALTONA WOMEN'S INSTITUTE 2/
"ALTONA
Altona was settled by the early immigrants to York County and rapidly grew to a
prosperous community. It is situated on the north part of an area of very productive
soil. The early settlers were primarily Pennsylvania Dutch who arrived with the great
migration. The Altona segment are called Mennonites. Altona is on the northern
border of the Mennonite settlement but their customs and beliefs have penetrated
much further.
THE MENNONITES
These people had a long history before they even arrived. Through the sixteenth
century
their ancestors were of Swiss, German, Austrian and Dutch origin.
There they were called ""Anabaptist"" which they seriously objected to because it
came to designate a punishable heresy. By the seventeenth century,
""Mennonite"" came into greater use.
Their main points of belief were:
1. the essence of Christianity was discipline
2. the Church was a brotherhood
3. the new ethic of love and non resistance.
The Swiss government was financed largely by hiring out mercenary soldiers to
other nations, thus the Mennonites were not an economic gain. As a persecution,
they were deprived of their farms. The Swiss then lost many excellent farmers.
The Mennonites then came to America with the hope of freeing themselves of the
persecution of Europe. They were often scorned by the other inhabitants because
of their unusual beliefs and their strange dress. This traditional Mennonite dress
brought them the common nickname of ""Plain Folk"". Their long hair, long beard,
shaven upper lip, somber clothes, hooks and eyes, broad brimmed hats and
bonnets for the women were adapted because of their complete contrast to the
soldiers with their closely cropped hair, shaven chin, smart moustache, colourful coat,
many buttons and small hat. Their simplicity of dress was also a reaction to the
worldiness of the times.
Their literal interpretations of the scriptures gave them very firm rules by which to live.
""Come out from among them and be ye separate,"" was the basis for their
non-conformity and dissociation with non-believers. They believed to be their
""brothers keeper"", thus they were financially and religiously responsible for
one another. For this reason no one individual suffered loss -they all shared.
From children they were taught to be diligent and industrious. The Mennonites'
duty was to the care of the soil, animals and his property. For these reasons
very few Mennonites have been unsuccessful financially.
In America there were problems with remaining separate but they were able to
keep out of the war by contributions of food, horses and wagons. During these
times the Mennonites and Quakers worked together. To clarify the difference
between the two, the Quakers were English. The main difference in their belief
was that the Quakers owned slaves to which the Mennonites objected.
REASONS FOR MIGRATION
There are many factors that entered in the Mennonite's decision to leave
Pennsylvania. During the late eighteenth century there was a collective
German migration. They had refused to be controlled by American rule and
were still faithful to England. Since the Mennonites were literalists, they had
taken an affirmation of loyalty to the English King and therefore could not affirm
loyalty to a U.S. leader.
The Mennonites were shrewd in money matters. Land in Pennsylvania had
become expensive to buy for several sons and the cheap Canadian land
appealed to them. Also the economic state in Pennsylvania was unsettled
at the time and the Mennonites were forced to pay a tax they had felt was
unjust. Besides all these reasons the Germans and the Swiss had ""itchy feet""
and enjoyed the adventure of pioneering. Good pioneers needed all the
endurance the Mennonites had been trained to accept.
The REESORS
The first Altona Settlers were the Reesors. In 1801 Christian set out from
Pennsylvania with his son Peter and a team of horses. The Mennonites had
been settling in the Niagara and Kitchener districts but land there had become
scarce and more expensive, so the Reesors came to Markham Township to
examine the land. However, by this time there was little crown land left so
Christian and his son Peter traded their team of horses for lot 15 concession 10,
Markham Township. Happy with their purchase they returned home- on foot of
course!
SELECTING THE LAND
One reason for the Mennonites success at farming was their ability to select
good land. The English would head for the loose soil which would have a
bottom and sandy uplands, and the Scottish and Irish would select the hilly terrain
because it reminded them of home but it would be of an inferior quality.
The Mennonites, being mainly German, selected the more permanently fertile
and heavy textured wooded lands. This meant more clearing of the lands but
better soil. It is said that when the Mennonites selected their lands,
they followed the trail of the Black Walnut. If there was a Mixture of maple,
basswood, elm and cherry, as well as the prized black walnut, it was good soil
with the amount of limestone the Germans preferred.
"
"ALTONA (cont.)
THE TRIP
In 1804 Christian returned to Markham but this time with all four sons, Peter,
Christian, John, and Abraham and their families. It was the Mennonite father's
objective to provide sufficient land for all his sons to begin farming.
The Reesors' trip from Pennsylvania was not an easy one. They travelled with four
conestoga wagons each carrying one and one-half tons of goods and were drawn
by four horses. The wagon bed was long and deep with a considerable sag in
the middle so that should the load shift it wouldn't press against the gate ends.
With these wagons there was less likelihood of upsets and spills. The top front hoop
was eleven feet high and the wagon was twenty-four feet long. Imagine pulling a
wagon of that size through miles and miles of bush.
The driver sat on a lazy board which was an oak board that slid out on the left-hand
side of the wagon body. When the driver was not walking or astride his saddle
horse, which was also on the left-hand side, he would ride his lazy board.
All the other vehicles of the time were driven from the right. From this,
the custom of passing on right developed and remains to-day.
The ""stogie"" wagons were well constructed and they had to be for the long six
week trip. The wagons were even water tight so they could be used as boats.
The settlers led their couple of cows, a few chickens and pigs along with the
wagons. Cream that was left in the wagons would churn itself to butter by the
movements of the crude wagon wheels. It is difficult to realize the hardships in
navigating the wooded hills and valleys for six weeks.
THEY SETTLED
Once they had settled on their lot in Markham Township, Peter Reesor began
his scouting around for land for each of the family. One of his crown grants was
for lot 12, concession 9 of Pickering in 1812. Later a crown grant in 1854 for lot
27, concession 9 was settled by his son Peter and wife. Meanwhile Peter Sr.'s
brother Christian had become a minister, John had remained in Markham and
Abraham came to Altona. In 1850 Abraham with his wife and seven children came
to Altona where he built a house, a grist mill and a saw mill. His son Abraham,
continued the operation of the mill.
Peter Jr. who had married Susannah Nighswander in 1848, settled on lot 27,
concession 9 where he began to clear the land that has been in the family since.
Son Elias managed the farm for his lifetime. By Elias' marriage to Annie Burkholder,
another pioneer name, there were two children, Nettie and Barkis. Barkis and
his bride, Ida Wideman, remained on the homestead where their family, Blanche,
Ken, Blake and Stanley were raised. Mrs. B, Reesor was energetic and active
in the community. She took part in the Missionary Church and the Women's
Institute. Through her writings much of the local history has been preserved.
Stanley remained on the home farm while brother Ken farmed immediately south
of the homestead. Although much of the land has been sold to a Mr. Davis,
Stanley remained on twenty-five acres of the original Reesor holdings until 1970,
when it was sold to Mr. Robt. Lewis.
Another prominent Reesor of Altona was William (1875-1968). In 1903 William
married Ethel Millard, the daughter of Asa, and they lived in Mongolia and
Glasgow before settling on lot 32, concession 9, the old Monkhouse farm.
Mr. Reesor was a well known man whose opinion was respected. He was a
school trustee and treasurer for seventeen years, a member of the
Congregational Christian Churches in Ontario for a number of years.
This still did not keep him busy for he was on the Pickering Township Council for
thirteen years, serving as reeve for five of these years. In 1943 Mr. Reesor was
chosen as the Ontario County Warden.
Mr. Reesor's three children, Mrs. Kate Carter, Mrs. Evelyn McNair and Millard all
have been life-long residents of Altona. William retired to Stouffvllle in 1953 and
Millard continued, on the farm, known as Altonholm, until 1969.
Every ten years the descendents of Christian Reesor, gather together for a large
family reunion. The year 1970 was no exception, and the family certainly has
grown. There were fourteen hundred relatives at the picnic held in Markham,
the home of Christian, Reesors came from all corners of the continent and many
came from Pennsylvania for this occasion. The cousins in Pennsylvania still
spell their name, Risser, as Christian's was originally spelled.
1980 brought 2000 to Markham Fair Grounds.
"
"ALTONA (cont.)
STOVER
With the Reesors came Abraham Stover (later Stouffer). He settled north of Cedar
Grove in 1805, then in 1806, he moved to what is now Stouffville. Abraham also
had purchased lot 2, concession 2, Uxbridge from Jacob Winn who held the crown
deed. It was later sold to Samuel Millard. In 1856 and for a number of years
Jacob Stouffer lived on the farm, later owned by Thomas Lewis. John Stouffer
also lived in Altona where he operated the saw mill.
YAKE
Another early settler was Daniel Yake, He had already travelled from Germany to
Pennsylvania but in 1804, gathered his possessions again and arrived on lot 33,
concession 9 in Pickering Township. His son Michael was jailed in 1812 because
he refused to bear arms against the United States. In 1816 he married Jane
Van Zant and they raised their family of twelve on the homestead. During the 1830's
there was a great migration to Michigan because of the pessimism and fear of
rebellion. Three of the Yake children left in this exodus. Of these at home,
one was Polly who married Abijah Jones. Hiram, and likewise his son, Harmon,
farmed the homestead. From 1804--1946 the farm was the home of four
generations of Yakes. The old family cemetery still remains on the property.
BARKEY
Daniel Barkey, who was born in Whitchurch Township, made his new home
on lot 28, concession 9, Pickering in 1846. When he arrived with his new bride,
there were only ten to fifteen acres cleared and their entire possessions were $300,
a team of oxen, saddle, horses, a few farm implements and a couple of cows.
By the next fifteen years there were seventy acres cleared and drained, giving one
of the most splendid farms in the area.
The common practice of the English in clearing their land was to girdle the
trees and let them rot. While the trees were dying, they scratched the surface
of tne land to plant their seeds. The Mennonites, like Mr. Barkey, followed the
German practice of the harder job of cutting the trees and pulling the stumps.
This was slower initially, but it meant they could then plow deep into the prime
soil and plant better crops.
By 1857 the quantity of their possessions had increased considerably and the log
house was replaced by a house of smooth cut flint stone from the farm. This house
still maintains its or-iginal beauty.
The Barkeys were not different than any other pioneer—they knew hard work.
It has been said, the day after her wedding, Mrs. Barkey was boiling down
sap for maple syrup, — a great honeymoon!
Although they were hard workers, they did not neglect their fun. When Mr. and
Mrs. Barkey were courting, Mr. Barkey would call on her on his dashing horse with
shining saddle and budle traps with looping ivory ringed martingales.
While courting, jealous boyfriends would wire down the road gate so he
could not get out. Once they stole his saddle and hid it in the wheat field
where it was not found until harvest. By this time it was nearly eaten by the
grasshoppers.
Daniel Barkey, well known as the Mennonite preacher, died in 1913 at the
grand old age of eighty-nine. Of the six children, Wilmot carried on the farming
and then was succeeded by his son, Charles. In 1969 the homestead was sold
to Mr. O'Connor, but the farm is still lived on and farmed by the fourth generation,
- Frank. The farm must have sported fine orchards for Charlie Barkey was
said to have been Altona's ""Apple King.""
NIGHSWANDER
Another pioneer family of Altona were the Nighswanders. It was in 1838 that
Martin Nighs-wander migrated to Canada and bought the two hundred acres of
lot 31, concession 9. Apparently the three brothers arrived together but no
mention has been made of Samuel until 1841 when he bought the south half of the
lot. Brother Daniel bought a fifty acre portion in 1854. The farm went through
various transactions in the family and portions were sold to E. Cliff and R. Forsyth
but by 1911, Enos, of the third generation owned most of the original two hundred
acres.
Since Enos, his sons David and Peter have farmed lot 31 and operated the mill
and David owned half of lot 32 as well. Peter's son, Harvey still runs the mill
and the farm. David's son Fred was a long time preacher at the old Mennonite
Church before he moved to another mission. Joseph,
David's second son, farms on lot 32.
WIDEMAN
Christian Wideman, also of the Mennonite faith, made his new home on lot 35
with his young bride. They started farming their fifty acres of land owning only a
team of horses and a wagon. He even had to trade his saddle and watch for the
seed grain but with hard work and the Mennonite talent they were soon established.
Mrs. Wideman, besides doing all the regular household chores, managed to
spin three skiens of yarn a day which she later made into carpet and stockings
for sale.
The farm was next the home of their son, Henry. The family name still carried on
as Arthur, of the third generation, spent his life there also. Arthur's brother
farmed directly across the road from the home farm, and his sister,
Mrs. Morgan Hill lived on lot 1, concession 3, Mrs. Arthur Wideman still
lives on the original farm.
HOW ALTONA GOT ITS NAME
Apparently, in the old books valued by the Mennonites, and by which
they believed and practiced, the place of publication was Altona, Germany,
or the name may have come from Altoona, Pennsylvania.
"
"ALTONA (cont.)
Further away from Altona but still serving the area, was Samuel Burkholder,
who from 1853 -1904 owned the present Eckhardt's corner. Sara operated
the furniture store and the undertakers. The two businesses were a usual
combination. Sam also built the house that is still on the corner.
Sam like the other furniture makers of the 1890's must have felt the
competition of the new Timothy Eaton mail order catalogue. Later brother Jacob,
who owned the Hodgson farm, and Sam continued the undertaking business in
Stouffville where O'Neil's funeral home is presently.
From 1870 to 1908, Edwin Boothby was the man to see to shoe a horse or any
other similiar job. The previous blacksmiths, James Chambers and then James
Wilson had a shop near the shoemakers. Mr. Boothby's son Freeman had a tailoring
shop in the upper room of the house. Altona's carpenter in 1869 was Mr. Key.
The butcher shop was also an active business of Altona.
THE SCHOOL
The first school of Altona was a log schoolhouse built in 1834 on the corner
immediately north of the Old Dutch Church. The Mennonites valued education and
were soon to have their school built. It would be log, crude, rough, chinked and
with unplaned plank floors. The early schools were devoid of any globes, maps,
books, etc. All work was probably oral recitation or written on slates of those who
could afford them. The children probably sat at their homemade desks on backless,
and uncomfortable, benches that lined the walls. The potbellied stove would
typically be in the middle of the room. The men of the area were responsible
for supplying the wood for heat.
The teacher boarded at one of the homes of the district as part compensation
for their low salary of $300 to $400 per year. Teaching was not yet a
respectable job, thus many of the men teachers were those who had not been
successful at other jobs. They were often dreamers, alcoholics or incapable of
hard work.
The Altona school section was formed in 1844 and in 1854 the new school was
built. Mr. McSween was the teacher and must have been well liked because he
stayed ten years.
In 1917 the present school was built. It housed many students in its one room
until it was closed in 1966 with the coming of consolidation. The building through
the donation of Arthur Latcham is now the Community Centre.
With the dividing line between the Altona and the Glasgow school section being
the townline, it meant that the children across the street from the Altona school
were to go to Glasgow school. The situation naturally resulted in many unhappy
children and disgruntled parents. Generally the parents paid the extra fee and
sent their children to Altona with their playmates. Abijah Jones overcame the
problem in another way: he rented land across the road so his children could
attend Altona. Mr. Jones went before council several times with a petition to alter
the school section, with the suggestion or forcing a union school, but to no avail.
This system of paying fees worked well until in 1959 the school was overcrowded
and all the children were required to attend their rightful school. The children of
that time well remember how upset they were about this decision.
OLD DUTCH CHURCH
Until 1825, the Mennonites gathered in the homes of the members for their
church services. This arrangement worked well until the congregation grew too
large for the small log homes. At this time they then resorted to using the old
log schoolhouse which was immediately north of the present Dutch Church.
The first recorded minister of the new location was Daniel Kreider.
In 1850 the first meeting of the trustees was held in Stouffville to discuss building
a new
church. These trustee members were Abraham Stouffer— the founder of
Stouffville, and Samuel
Hoover,-a pioneer of lot 34 concession 8, Pickering, and Martin Nighswander—
a pioneer of lot 31,
concession 9. It was decided that the new church would be built next to the log
schoolhouse. The
masonry was done by Wm. Feaster and the remaining construction by the
congregation. By 1852 the
church was completed and ready for services.
The First minister of the new building was Henry Barkey.
These preachers were not professionally trained but were members of the
congregation who had been chosen by lot. The men gathered on one side of
the church and the women on the other to partake in the all German service.
It was not until 1875 that Mr. Hoover gave the first sermon in English.
The reason was that his wife could not speak a word of German.
Meetings have varied from being held every second to every fourth
Sunday depending on the number of Churches in the circuit. Now every week
services of the local congregation are still held in the little brick church.
Within the last five years, many of the traditional beliefs have been modified
to more modern standards.
The cemetry surrounding the church has served Altona as the community resting
place. The first grave was for Elizabeth Stouffer, who was the wife of pioneer
Abraham Stouffer. As the people of Altona began attending other Churches,
this cemetery became more and more for the members of the Mennonite faith.
THE OLD MILL
At the heart of the development of any pioneer settlement was the mill.
Before there was a grist mill, the grain had to be carried to Toronto or Port
Whitby on their backs if they were not fortunate enough to own a horse.
This was all ended in 1850 when Abraham Reesor, son of Christian,
harnessed the Duffin's Creek and built the mill. Unfortunately Abraham only
continued for five years
before he became fataly ill with the typhoid fever.
His wife, Christina, left with the seven children, remarried to Joseph
Monkhouse. Mrs. Monkhouse only had a life lease on the mill,
thus when she died in 1867, her son, Abraham Reesor, continued to operate
the mill.
"
"Pickering Twp. Historical Society
1999 Pathmaster Vol. 3 #1
A Fond Look Back
Altona Public School S.S. #17
By Joseph Nighswander
‘School Marms, Atha and Altona, 1915’. Names not available.
-On Saturday, 11 September 1999, a reunion was held at the Altona Public School.
Both former students and teachers returned to their old school to reminisce and to
renew old acquaintances. One former student, Joe Nighswander, prepared this history
for the occasion.
Most of us have vivid memories of our public school days. Especially, perhaps,
if we attended rural school where we saw the same people everyday.
To emerge from the intimate family home setting where we were born and raised
and attended the local school was an initiation into the broader world.
For this writer it was a frightening experience. I was known then as ‘little Joe’;
everyone else was bigger and stronger!
The Altona schoolhouse, built in 1911 and used until the advent of the Regional
school boards in 1966, is still in excellent condition. It is currently used for church
purposes by an Ajax-based group who has done extensive redecorations.
There has been a public school at the Altona intersection of Pickering sideline 30
and the Uxbridge Pickering townline since the settlers pioneered in this area in the
early 1800s.
The first schoolhouse was a log building situated on the southeast corner of the
intersection where the Altona cemetery is located. The oldest grave in the cemetery
is dated 1835, so it can safely be assumed that school was moved elsewhere about
that time. In an article published in the Stouffville Tribune in the days of publisher
A.V. Nolan and written by Mrs. Ida Reesor, it is said “The pupils in the log schoolhouse
sat on backless benches, and their playground was the road and as much bush as
they wanted to use!”
School section #17 was officially organized in 1844.
In 1834 a new brick schoolhouse was built on a site a little farther south on the west
side of the sideroad, near, or on, the site of the present building. William Feaster was
the contractor. Photos on exhibit at the reunion included one of approximately 50
students with their teacher, Mr.. John Tran, standing in front of this brick building.
After continuous use as a school for about 77 years, this building was torn down,
and a new school was constructed. The records indicate school sessions were held
from 1909 to 1911 in the Temperance Hall located on the northwest corner of the
Altona intersection.
It is interesting to note that this hall was located immediately across the road from
the hotel, which is on the northeast corner (and still standing). The hotel had the
reputation of being a rather lively place at times!
A teacher who taught for 10 years in these early days was a Mr. McSween who was
paid an annual salary of $375.00. It should be noted that at that time butter was 8
cents a pound, eggs 5 cents a dozen, and tea sold for $1.00 a pound. Undoubtedly
his duties included keeping the wood heater going, cleaning and light maintenance,
along with teaching 50 or more students in eight grades! In the Altona cemetery there
is an old tombstone with the name ‘Archibald McSween’, who died on Oct. 25, 1881.
It is safe to assume this was the schoolteacher.
Since it was the custom at that time for the bigger boys to help on the farms during the
summer and attend school only in the wintertime, the teacher surely had his hands full
in the wintertime. It is fairly certain the teachers boarded in homes in the community.
In 1869 eighty students attended during the winter. Mr. John Millard was the teacher.
Construction of the ‘new’ school where the reunion was held was completed in 1911
and it was used continuously as a school until 1966. For several years in the 1960s
part of the basement was renovated for a second school room and two teachers were
employed. In 1966 the Regional schools replaced the community one-room schools.
Trustees at the time the school was closed in 1966 were Gordon Wideman, Millard
Reesor, Joe Nighswander, Marion Meyer (secretary).
Teachers who taught in this school include the following: Miss Beihn; Vida Lee;
Fanny Ramer; Annie Murray; Irene Reesor; Irene Harper; Bessie Robinson;
Mrs. Bright; Mrs. Ross; Ruth Sprung; Marie Pike; Kate Reesor; Edna Stephenson;
Doris Watson; Gordon Bolender; Mary Graham; Margaret Wallace; Gloria Harding;
Luella Harper; Miriam Heise; M.E. Symes; Mary Woodcock; Vera McLarren;
Frances Shultz; Ruth Webber; Jim Empringham; Sharon Sturdy; Linda Grill.
-Eva (Nighswander) Reesor, former teacher Luella (Harper) Lewis, Mary Ann (Fretz)
Schlabach, and Betty (Snyder) Stemen meet again at the school’s reunion.
-School class at the ‘new’ school built in 1911, date unknown.
"
"The Altona Mennonite Meeting House
By Joseph M. Nighswander
There it stands, solid and simple, yet attractive, at the intersection of the
Uxbridge/Pickering Townline and Sideline #30, in Pickering Township.
Since 1852 the Altona Mennonite Meeting House has graced the rural hamlet of
Altona. It is surrounded by the only cemetery in the community, and by the graves of
the pioneers who settled in the area in the early 1800s.
A number of Mennonite families were among emigrants from Pennsylvania and,
in a few cases, from other areas. The Mennonites gathered for worship in the homes
of members until 1825. When the congregation grew larger they began using a log
schoolhouse on the southeast corner of the intersection.
According to an old minute book, a trustee meeting was first held in the “new” church
on 19 January, 1853, thus establishing that the church was built in 1852. William Feaster
was the builder, and Daniel Kreider was the first minister.
This red brick building, with its two doors facing the road, its eight small windows with
7 x 9 inch [17.5x23cm] panes, its pine floors and pews, its simple interior with the
main meeting room and two small anterooms, reflects the simple lifestyle and theology
of the people who built it so long ago.
The floors and pews have never been painted or varnished and are as they were in 1852.
The plastered walls and ceilings are stark white as they have been through all the years.
Two rows of cast-iron clothes hooks are attached to two by fours suspended from the
ceiling, but only on one side. This reflects the fact that women sat on one side of the
central aisle, and men on the other. Since there is no cloakroom for the men, the hat
hooks were essential. A simple long pulpit is the focus for persons sitting in the pews.
The church building has never been enlarged or renovated.
The present trustees have tried to use only authentic materials for necessary repairs and
maintenance. The church building is currently in an excellent condition structurally.
The cemetery is well maintained. Continuous worship services, although not every
Sunday, were held in the church until 1974.
Commemorative services have been held biennially since 5 October 1980. The most
recent service was 28 September 1997. Recently two weddings were held in this historic
building for daughters of a local family.
-Altona Mennonite Meeting House
-For further information on bookings of wedding or tours of this lovely old building
contact the trustees:
Joe Nighswander –905 – 640 – 1536
James Nighswander –905 – 640 –1188
This Article was in the 1998 Winter Edition of the Pathmaster newsletter distributed by
the Pickering Township Historical Society.
"
"ALTONA (cont.)
At the bottom of the hill on Old Mill Lane, Reesor's Mill was a well known centre of
Altona. At the top of the lane were two houses, now gone, where the Andrews and
Bodins lived. The Andrews house was of the old salt box style. After Abraham,
the owners of the mill have been Wm. Van Zant, Wm. Kaiser in 1920, Alexander
Jones, Hugh McIntosh in 1924 and finally Earl Howsam. On March 10, 1944 the
Old Mill burned—a common fate. A Mr. Alexander then purchased the property.
ALTONA INN
Few villages or even corners did not sport a hotel in the 1850's - 70's. Altona had
one of the finest hotels around. Wm. Cooper was the first hotel keeper and in
1850 began quenching the thirsts of many men. Mr. Cooper did not stay long,
for in 1855, Andrew Lindsay was the next to operate the community action centre.
In 1867 Andrew Brown bought the hotel. He replaced the west half of the building
with a two storey brick building in 1855. This must have been a very impressive
entertaining place. A gilded sign hung over the gilded barroom in the new addition,
Above the barroom was a dining room and even a ballroom. A second dining room
was in the frame half. Besides all this, there were guest rooms and the Brown's
residence.
In 1906 Mr. Graves was the next proprietor. He managed it himself for a few
years then rented it to James Wellman and son Harry. Bussiness continued as usual
until in 1910 when local option came. Finally the temperances forces had won and
the township voted that no alcohol would be sold in the township, (see: Goodwood,
The Hotels)
After local option, Mr. Graves returned and lived in the building until he sold to Mr.
Peters from Toronto. In 1921 O.M. Madill purchased the corner and converted
the old hotel into a thriving general store. Madill's store was always well stocked
with groceries, general goods and even gasoline. In 1953 Mr. Madill closed the
store.
Since then Mr. Brown had tried to carry on a store, but being unsuccessful he
sold to Housser in 1956. It was then converted to the present apartments.
NlGHSWANDER'S MILL
The Nighswander's mill, which is still in operation to-day, has a long and
varied history.
It all began in 1838 when Martin Nighswander purchased lot 31, concession 9.
He then sold the south half to brother Samuel, who in turn sold a portion to
Edwin Cliff in 1858. Whether Samuel or Edwin actually built the mill is not known
but Edwin did establish the earning mill for the manufacture of woolens.
Being originally from England, he made a return trip to buy the machinery for his
mill.
The family of five lived at one end of the mill with the house part separated only
by a board partition. It would certainly bring the family close to one's work.
Edwin's son Edgar carried on the business until 1894. It is interesting to note that
Edgar was born in 1851 when Edwin was fifteen years of age. Edgar held a position
in Ottawa and rented the mill to Oliver Barrett for several years until it was sold to Enos
Nighswander in 1903. Both Edwin and Edgar died in 1926.
Enos soon converted the mill to a grist mill. In 1924 his son Peter again
converted it: this time to make apple cider. Peter and son Harvey supplied a
great number of people with their yearly apple cider. Later they began making
apple butter—a traditional Mennonite speciality. Anyone wanting to taste this old
favourite can still find it being made at Nighsawnder's Mill.
THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
In l875 Abraham Reesor gave land to the Mennonite Brethern in Christ Church
and the Christian Church so that they could build a new place of worship.
The Bretnern in Christ Church, which had been meeting in Stouffville, was one
of the many sectors that had broken from the old Mennonite order.
Their beliefs were more lenient and adaptable. The Christian Church had only
been organized since 1872 and they had held services in the homes and the
Temperance Hall. Among the new members were familiar manes, Burkholder,
Patterson, Nighswander, Morden, Pearson, Mighton, Brown, Connor,
Brown, Wideman and Stover.
The two groups worked together in unusual harmony with each faith conducting
services on alternate Sundays. In 1937 the basement was added. Here was
held one of the most largely attended Sunday Schools in the district.
In 1957 the two groups became one, the United Missionary Church. Due to an
amalgamation in the United States, the name changed again in 1969 to
The Missionary Church.
MONKHOUSE
In 1849 Joseph Monkhouse arrived in Toronto from Cumberland, England.
In 1850 he came to Altona and joined his brother Thomas, who had already
begun keeping store. The first store soon became inadequate so Thomas built
a large brick building immediately north. The new store is the present
apartment building next to the Old Dutch Church. When the first floor had
been laid, the Honourable George Brown delivered a political speech from this
platform to the large crowd of people who had anxiously gathered for this
privileged occasion. In those days, speeches were long and dry, and the
longer and the drier they were, the better it was considered. People loved
to hear speeches and politics was one of the favourite topics of the time.
The main floor of the building was a large general store with the ""potbellied""
stove to warm up the gossip. Thomas also kept the Post Office.
The upper floor of the building was every woman's delight, for here was the
famous China Hall.
An article from the Free Press published in Stouffville in 1890 gave the following
description of China Hall.
"" The store is noted not only because of its large stock of dry goods and services,
but especially because it carries the largest stock of delf ware in this district,
the whole of the
"
A.L7�Nfl INN 1850
�t 4
"Altona Inn
In 1875 the barroom was removed and a 2-storey brick structure was erected.
Altona Inn- In 1870 the property was owned by Andrew Brown. The east half consisted
of a two storey frame building and used as a home. The one story west part was the
barroom. In 1875 Andrew Brown tore down the barroom and attached the two storey
brick part which stands to-day. The south west room on the ground floor was used as the
bar and two of the large rooms were used as dining rooms. An open shed was also
attached for the accommodation of horses. In 1902 Mr. Brown died and was buried in
the Altona cemetery. The property was bought by Mr. Graves and operated by him as a
hotel until 1907 and was rented by Mr. Wellman and his son Henry who did like wise.
In 1909 the Wellman’s bought a farm in Glasgow and the Graves’ returned to live and
then sold it to Mr. Peters of Toronto who rented it so several tenants. In 1921 Mr. O.
Madill purchased the property and opened a General Store. The shed was torn down
and a garage erected. In July of 1953 it was sold to Mr. Brown who operated the store.
It was sold to Mr. Housser in 1956 and has been used as an apartment house since.
-Expropriated in 1972 by the Fed. Gov’t for an airport.
"
"The Altona Inn
By John W. Sabean
Few hamlets or villages can date their beginning’s as precisely as can Altona.
Until 1850 the only public or industrial building that existed at the juncture of Pickering
Township’s Sideline 30 and Uxbridge Township’s Second Concession Road was a
log schoolhouse. In the year 1850 three entrepreneurs—Abraham Reesor, Joseph
Monkhouse and William Cooper—created the nucleus of the hamlet of Altona with the
building of a mill, a store and a hotel.
Reesor’s Mill
Abraham Reesor (1815-1855) was the son of immigrants Peter Reesor (1775-1854)
and Esther Eby. In 1804 the Reesor family, headed by Christian Reesor, Peter’s father,
made the trek in a Conestoga wagon from Pennsylvania to Markam.1 They were
among the early settlers of Markham Township. The Reesors were part of an extensive
Mennonite migration to Markham, part of which spilled over into western Pickering
Township.
In 1850 Abraham Reesor, who farmed Lot 34, Concession 3 in Pickering Township
(down by Cherrywood), built two mills, a flour mill and a saw mill, at the north end of
Lot 30, Concession 9 in Pickering Township.2 However, just five years after he started
the mills he died of typhoid fever. Joseph Monkhouse married his widow and ran the
mills for awhile until Christina’s son, Abraham, Jr., took over the operations. After the
Reesors the mill went through a series of hands until it burned to the ground in 1944.
Monkhouse’s Store
Joseph Monkhouse (c1826-1903) originally came to Canada West in 1849 to operate a
store in Stouffville, but he soon came to the north end of Pickering Township to join his
brother Thomas. Here he established a business which was to be widely hailed during
his lifetime, and which would last for almost a century. The business was a store, which
Joseph created in 1850. It was here in 1853 that the Post Office was opened with
Joseph as the first Postmaster. It would have been at that time that a name was
chosen for the post office, and therefore of the little hamlet that was taking shape
around it.
When Joseph Monkhouse left to run the Reesor Flour Mill, sometime after 1857,
his brother Thomas stepped in to take over the daily operations of the store. He
was the chief clerk and also the Postmaster until he died in 1886. After a few years
the business was so successful that the old two-storey building was erected in its
place in 1865.
Once Joseph Monkhouse’s duties as miller ceased he turned to farming.
He purchased Lot 32, Concession 9, and there carried on a successful farming
operation. He also took up politics and served on the township council for 10 years.
A measure of his stature may be taken from his election to several terms as Reeve
of the township (1884-1887) as well as a stint as county Warden (1887).4 When
Thomas died in 1886, Joseph left off farming and returned to the store. Monkhouse
died in 1903 and the business was taken over by his son Willis who continued the
business until 1937. This building, too, eventually succumbed to the flames.
Cooper’s Inn
In the same year that Abraham Reesor was building the mills and Joseph Monkhouse
was creating his store, both near the southeast corner of Altona, William Cooper was
erecting the Altona Inn of the northest corner of the intersection. The hotel was a
mainstay in Altona for 60 years before it fell victim to the Temperance Movement.
In Pickering the concessions were laid out from Lake Ontario, so concession roads
run east-west, the north-south roads being referred to as sidelines.
Uxbridge, on the other hand, was laid out from Yonge Street and so its concession
roads run north and south. Where Sideline 30 in Pickering meets the Second
Concession Road at the Uxbridge-Pickering Townline lies hamlet of Altona,
equally divided between Pickering and Uxbridge. The former Altona Inn is situated
on the northeast corner of this intersection, on the Uxbridge side of the road.
The village of Claremont in Pickering lies to the east and a little south—about seven
kilometers, while Stouffville is about the same distance to the west and a little north.
One 19th century writer referred to Altona as “the eastern suburb of Stouffville.”5
Indeed, the citizens of Altona have always related more to Stouffville than to either
Uxbridge or Pickering.
There is no evidence that any structure had been built on the northeast corner of
what became the hamlet of Altona before 1850. When William Cooper purchased the
property in 1850 it was with a view to constructing an inn. This was to be one of eight
that existed in Uxbridge at mid-century. As McBurney and Byers stated in Tavern in the
Town:
”Uxbridge was founded by Pennsylvania Germans and Quakers, and from earliest
times, when John Plank built the first tavern there, business and drinking flourished.
By mid-century there were eight taverns in Uxbridge Township and,
in the free-and-easy spirit of the times, people as young as fifteen years were allowed
to drink in them.”6
Cooper’s inn was in a strategic location—about mid-way along the east-west route
between Claremont and Stouffville. It would serve as a stopping place for weary
travelers and as a meeting place for local residents.
Inns were an important institution in pioneer society and were often among the first
structures to be erected. For travelers on their way to their new homesteads,
or on their way to market, or, of course, on many other journey, inns were places for
lodging, dining, and drinking, and for the refreshing and/or stabling of horses.
And because travel was slow and tedious inns were frequent along the roads and
spaced at convenient intervals. For community purposes inns were often the only
public buildings available for meetings or social gatherings. It was here that dances
were held, politics was discussed, and all the local and distant news was exchanged.7
William Cooper was 60 years old when he established the Altona Inn. He maintained it,
possibly with the help of his son James, for five years before retir-
-Pickering Township Historical Society Pathmaster Vol # 3&4 2002.
"
"ing and selling the business to Andrew Lindsay. In the 1851 Census for Uxbridge,
miller John Hicks is listed as owning a distillery. This may have been at least one source
of Cooper’s supply of liquor.8
The next owner of the Altona Inn was Andrew Lindsay. Lindsay was included in Lovell’s
Directory of 1857 as the innkeeper, but he may have died that year or the next because
for the years 1858-59 the Assessment Rolls list George Levitt (b.1829) as innkeeper.
James Cooper (b c1827) was the innkeeper in 1860-61. Andrew Brown in 1865, and
George Fishburn from 1866 to 1870. And in 1867 it was Andrew’s wife Hannah who
sold out to Andrew Brown.9
The man who owned the inn for the longest period—for 39 years—and the man whose
name is usually associated with the inn, is Andrew Brown (1823-1907). This was not
Brown’s first association with the running of an inn. He had been proprietor of the
Halfway House (he called it The Forest Inn) on the Fourth Concession Road at the
corner of Stouffville Road.10 And in 1865, as we have seen, he ran the Altona Inn for
Hannah Lindsay.
Brown operated a very successful business in Altona, successful enough by 1875 to
carry out a project of renovation. He replaced the west half of the old frame building,
which housed the barroom, with a new two-storey brick addition. A new barroom—
decorated in gilt—was installed on the first floor and above it was a dining room and
ballroom. The east wing, which was left intact, was renovated to house an additional
dining room, guestrooms and the residence for the proprietor and his family.
At the entrance a gilded sign stood as an invitation to patrons.
The selling of alcoholic beverages in taverns and inns was regulated right from the
early years of the province’s history. In order to sell “spirituous liquor” an innkeeper
had to obtain a license, and the number of licenses for any township was determined
by the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace.11 In addition, the sale of liquor
was closely overseen by inspectors. In 1805 eighteen people in the Home District
applied for licenses to keep a tavern. Not all were recommended, but among the
successful applicants was Hawkins Woodruff who was the first to operate a hotel/tavern
in Pickering Township.12 It was not until about 1825 that the first hotel was established
in Uxbridge—by J.P. Plank, in what became Uxbridge Village. 13 It is not known,
however, if Plank’s hotel was immediately licensed.
By all accounts excessive consumption of alcohol was a severe problem in the
pioneer society of Upper Canada. Almost all travelers’ and settlers’ accounts make
mention the overdrinking and its effects on family life and the local community.
The causes for this were many and complicated and cannot be easily summarized
in this report, but certainly contributing factors included the loneliness and harshness
of pioneer life and the lack of intellectual and cultural stimulants and social engagement.1
4 And for the traveler, whiskey, which was extremely cheap,
was a welcome relief at the end of an exhausting journey.
The Temperance Movement—an attempt to deal with the ills created by the problem
of over-consumption—began in the United States where the problem was just as
acute. From there it spread to Upper Canada where the first temperance society was
formed in Bastard Township (Leeds County) in 1828. By 1832 there were about 100
societies in Upper Canada—including Pickering Township, but not yet Uxbridge.
However, at least until the mid-century the arguments of the prohibitionists did not
carry much weight. For one thing whiskey sales had an important economic function.
As Leo Johnson put it:
”In early periods when grain was cheap and difficult to transport, whiskey produced
from wheat paid for many early farms. Moreover, in an era when travel was slow and
difficult, frequent inns were necessary for the comfort and well-being of travelers,
and the sale of alcohol was a mainstay of the innkeepers’ incomes. Without the sale of
whiskey there is little doubt that many, if not most, inns would have been forced to
close. Indeed, not only was the latter argument used to defend the sale of whiskey,
but in periods of strong temperance agitation the dependency of the public on the
inns was exploited to prevent the effective introduction of anti-liquor legislation.”15
In Ontario County the Temperance Movement began to take a foothold in the 1850s
when several new societies were formed, including one in Uxbridge. In 1858 a
demonstration by temperance advocated was held in Uxbridge in order to bring
attention to the issued and recruit new members. If the popularity of prohibition was
increasing, however, it was not translating into votes. And when by-laws were passed
they proved to be ineffectual, or worse still, counter productive. Voters were well aware
of what happened in Bowmanville in 1859 where a by-law was passed to prohibit the
sale of whiskey by inns and taverns. The Whitby Chronicle recounted the results:
“The effects of a prohibitionary liquor law in Bowmanville are daily becoming more
inconvenient, and a subject of public complaint. The Tavern keepers—prevented from
selling that on which alone they derived profit—keep their premises altogether closed
up, their gates locked, and will not open them to travelers or anyone else. This they do
by way of retaliation got the unjust manner in which they consider they have been
treated. The result is that neither food not a place to rest—for man or horse—can be
procured in the Town for love or money.”16
Customers, of course, simply went to nearby towns to secure their wants and needs.
Johnson adds:
”When farmers and travelers, complaining of the lack of accommodation for
themselves and their horses, began to avoid Bowmanville, the bylaw was hurriedly
repealed. After a few such experiences, the movement faded from view until the 1870s.
”17
As interest in prohibition began to wax again in the 1870s there was another grand
demonstration in Uxbridge in May 1873 led by the Sons of Temperance Society.
Perhaps in response the Uxbridge Township Council in 1875 passed a by-law to
limit the number of tavern licenses to five. Among those fortunate five was Andrew
Brown of Altona. The other innkeepers had to be content with licenses for Temperance
Houses.18
Meanwhile the provincial and federal governments began to get into the act. In 1864
the province passed the Dunkin Act which introduced the principle of Local Option.
Any county or municipality—if they could secure a majority vote—could prohibit the
retail sale of liquor. It wasn’t until 1877, however, that a poll was taken in Ontario
County. Uxbridge Township was one of four municipalities that voted against
prohibition, but since an over-all majority in the county approved it it was put into
effect in the following year. The new law, however, proved to be unenforceable in the
coun-
"
"ty and just a year later—in 1879—a by-law to repeal the Dunkin Act in Ontario County
was passed.
In 1878 the federal government, under John A. Macdonald, passed the Scott Act which
had much the same provisions as the Dunkin Act. It took another eight years for this to
come into effect in Ontario County, only to be repealed again three years later—again
because it was unenforceable. The repeal of the Scott Act in Ontario County brought into
force again the Crooks Act, a law that was passed by the provincial government in 1876,
putting the authority for licensing the sale of alcohol into provincial hands. 19 So in 1890,
when applications came in again for liquor licenses, the provincial inspector again
approved five licenses in Uxbridge Township, and once again Andrew Brown was
among their number.20 The struggle between the Wets and Drys continued for the next
20 years, but while Brown always faced the threat of losing his right to sell liquor,
his license was renewed annually.
The federal government tried again—this time under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier.
In 1898 they held a national plebiscite, and while a majority voted in favour of prohibition
it was not a large enough majority for Laurier to feel confident in passing it into law.
Then the province tried again. Under Premier James Whitney the rules were tightened:
the cost of licenses was increased and inspections were made both more frequently
and more stringently. Whitney would still allow municipalities to introduce prohibition,
but only if they achieved a three-fifths majority of voters. In 1905, 94 Ontario
municipalities put the question to a vote. The townships around Uxbridge—Markham,
Pickering, Whitchurch, and Scott—were among the 94, but Uxbridge was not. Uxbridge
did, however, put the matter before the electorate in the following year, but although the
Drys won the vote they failed to reach the necessary three-fifths majority. Prohibitionists
had to wait another three years before they could make another attempt, and this time—
in 1910—they were successful. Local Option came into effect in Uxbridge Township in
May 1910.21
Before the axe fell, Andrew Brown had retired in April 1906. By that time he was 83
years of age. He died a year later and was buried alongside his wife Martha
(who had died in 1901) in the Altona Cemetery. His epitaph reads: “In life beloved,
in death lamented.” And this sentiment seems to be genuine, for by all accounts he
was a highly respected member of the Altona community, and ran an efficient, popular
and no-nonsense establishment in his more than 40 years in the hospitality trade.
Several authors refer to an epithet that became associated with the Altona Inn during
the Brown regime—“Look-See Brown” Hotel—and conclude from that that “
many hair-raising events took place there.”22 But no compilation of stories has
survived to substantiate this interpretation. A more likely explanation of the epithet is
that told to me by Joseph Nighswander. Andrew Brown was justly proud of his inn and
its décor. He liked to take guests on a tour of the premises and stopping in front of a
particular feature he wished to point out would say, “Look, see…”23 This explanation
is much more in keeping with the reputation that Brown had earned in Altona over the
years. His burial in the Mennonite cemetery is not at all and anomaly.
In 1906 Ted Graves moved out from Toronto to Uxbridge with his wife Ida Mae to take
over the running of the Altona Hotel. He apparently had dreams of turning the hotel into
a summer resort, but that as not to be.24
After a couple of years he turned over the operation of the business to James
Wellman who ran it for the next three years with the help of his son Harry until Local
Option made it unprofitable in 1910.25
The next owner, Michael Peters of Toronto, who seems to have been an absentee
landlord, turned the building into apartments. There is some evidence that one renter
may also have used part of the premises as a store during the summer months.26
The former hotel gained new purpose when Oliver M. “Ollie” Madill (1887-1968)
returned to his roots in 1921 and remodeled the building into a general store.
The Monkhouse store was still in operation and would be for another decade and a
half, but there was little competition as they traded in different goods.
While Madill came to Altona from Toronto he was born in Brougham and had roots
that went well back in Pickering history. His great grandmother, Ruth Wixon, was the
daughter of Joshua Wixon, one of the earliest settlers in the north of Pickering;
she is believed to have been the first white child born in Pickering Township.
Madill’s tenure in the former Altona Inn was second only to that of Andrew Brown.
He ran the Altona General Store for 32 years, from 1921 to 1953.
When Madill took over the premises he found them badly in need of repair.
He completely renovated the interior to make it suitable for grocery sales.
He added shelving, but found that the old bar would serve just as well for his counter.
He put on a new roof, tore down the out-buildings, and cleared away the underbrush..
But more he could not do immediately because he found himself in the middle of a
slumping market. For years he and his wife struggled to make ends meet,
but eventually they came to enjoy a more fruitful profit margin.
Once he was well establish he undertook a beautification project for the property to
the east of the building. He spruced up the whole area to create a park-like setting,
and even built a bridge over the creek. The store itself occupied the brick part of the
building while the older frame structure served as the family residence. Madill’s
services included an egg-grading station and the area’s first gas pump.
After he retired in 1953 he moved to Stouffville.27
Madill probably chose the right time to retire, for by the 1950s small country stores
were beginning to give way to the super stores appearing in the town centres.
So when Robert Hilker Brown came down from Bruce County to take over the store
he found a business that was rapidly declining. He lasted a mere two years before
packing it in.
Hilker Brown was the great uncle of Allan McGillivray, the present curator of the
Uxbridge-Scott Museum and Archives. Allan was only about 11 or 12 years old when
Brown ran the store. He remembers going to the store on occasion for ice cream,
and he remembers his great uncle’s booming voice and great mustache.28
What was needed in the area was not a general store, but a facility that catered to
the needs of local farmers. In 1954, Fred Lewis opened his Altona Feed and Supplies
store just down the road from the Altona General Store. This business lasted twenty
years until changes in local farming practiced phased out even this business.29
After Brown closed down the Altona General Store the building was once again
converted to apartments and run as such by subsequent owners.
The hamlet of Altona was never large and it’s public building were few
"
"but served the basic needs of a farming community. There were, of course,
other services and other businesses locally available—such as a blacksmith and a
slaughterhouse—which came and went as the need dictated.
The Altona Inn was one of the first extra-residential structures to be built in the hamlet
of Altona. With both a commercial and social purpose it was also one of the keystone
buildings. For 60 years it served its original function, and in a later age served another
important role as the community’s general store.
Of eight primary nineteenth-century commercial or public structures of the hamlet of
Altona—two churches, a school, two mill complexes, a hotel, a temperance hall, and a
store—only half are still standing. Of these none are still in use as originally intended,
and only one is fully occupied.
The public buildings that remain, along with a few of the older houses such as those
built by Abijah Jones and Joseph Monkhouse, are all that is left to tell us the story of
this once Mennonite dominated area. Since this hamlet sits on the edge of the Oak
Ridges Moraine—which is to be preserved—it would be well to preserve as well
those buildings which have defined the area over many years. Perhaps if the Moraine
becomes a place to visit—to view the countryside and to walk the trails—once thriving
hamlets like Altona will discover a new purpose and a new life.
NOTES:
1 The story of the Reesor family migration has been told often. See, e.g., Reesor
Family in Canada (2000), and Davies (1973).
2 Mills may have existed before 1850 at the north end of Lot 30, Concession 9.
In the 1851 Pickering Census under the name of Abraham Reesor two mills are
described: “1 Flouring Mill. Cost £300. Power to drive 2 run of stone. Produce
about 200 bbls per annum.” And “1 Saw Mill. Cost £50. Power to drive 1 saw.
Produces about 100 m feet per annum.” Attached to these entries is a note, probably
for assessment purposes, that “These are both old mills, and are not at present worth
scarcely of [sic] fraction of their original cost.” If the mills predate Reesor just who built
the mills and when is not now known. Reesor then would not have been the creator of
the mills, but the restorer only.
3 Rosenthal (1965). In the census of 1851 both Joseph and Thomas are described
as merchants. By that time the brothers had been joined in Pickering by their parents
John and Sarah.
4 Farewell (1907), pp. 16, 145-150. Wood (1911), 272-273.
5 Free Press (Stouffville), 1890.
6 McBurney and Byers (1987), p. 116. According to the Census of 1851 the
innkeepers in Uxbridge were: William Cooper, Joseph Finch, Joseph Galloway,
William Gamble, Leonard Long, George Metcalf, John P. Plank, and Henry Vanzant.
Cooper, Galloway and Vanzant all possessed an inn (and Vanzant’s residence is
described as a roadhouse), the others all possessed a tavern. Gamble, Long and
Vanzant were listed as farmers and Finch as a smith, rather than innkeepers.
7 The two standard accounts of Upper Canada’s inns are Guillet (1954-1962) and
McBurney and Byers (1987).
8 Census of 1851, p. 55, #1.
9 Lovelle (1857); Assessment Rolls for Uxbridge, 1858-1866; Census of 1861;
Conner and Colston (1869).
10 Todd (1980). P. 35, n. 14. According to the Assessment Rolls, Brown worked at
the Altona Inn in 1865 for Mrs. Lindsay. In 1866 he is shown as the hotel keeper at
Concession 3, east Lot 18. He is listed as the owner of the Altona Inn in 1867 and
again in 1869, but is also shown as the owner of Concession 3, east Lot 18
(with David Armitage as the innkeeper).
11 McBurney and Byers (1987), pp. 4-5.
12 Fraser (1932), pp. 78-79.
13 Higgins (1887), p. 70.
14 Garland and Talman (1931), esp. p. 175; Guillet (1954-1962), esp. I, 54;
McBurney and Byers (1987).
15 Johnson (1973), p. 217.
16 May 13, 1859, as quoted in Johnson (1973), pp. 218-219.
17 Johnson (1973), p. 219.
18 Todd (1980), p. 100. The other licenses were Barnard Rowland and Jim Todd at
Goodwood, John Saunders at the Halfway House, and George Conway at Rothes.
19 Authority to issue licenses resided first with the governor of the colony (to 1818),
then with the provincial magistrate (1818-1849), then with the municipal governments
(1849-1876), and finally with the provincial government (from 1876). McBurney and
Byers (1987), p.5.
20 Todd (1980), p. 184. The others were John Higgins and Jim Todd at Goodwood,
Lance Hutchinson at Rothes, and Ambrose Lewis at Glen Major.
21 A good summary of the temperance movement in Uxbridge Township may be
found in Todd (1980), and in Ontario County in Johnson (1973).
22 Gauslin (1974), p. 207.
23 Joe Nighswander, pers. comm. One historian got even the name garbled referring
to “Luxey Brown” (Reesor, n.d.).
24 News clipping, probably from the Stouffville Tribune, c1953, as found in the Altona
Tweedsmuir History.
25 Assessment Rolls.
26 News clipping, probably from the Stouffville Times, 1951, as found in the
Tweedsmuir Histories. See also the Assessment Rolls for 1916 and 1917.
27 Much of the information about Madill comes from the Tweedsmuir Histories.
28 Allan McGillivray, pers. comm.
29 Sabean (2000).
SOURCES
Altona Tweedsmuir Histories.
Assessment Rolls, Township of Uxbridge. 1859-1957. PAO.
Beers, J.H. 1877. Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario, Ont. Toronto:
J.H. Beers.
Census Records, 1851-52, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901. PAO.
Conner, J.C. and J.W. Coltson. 1869. The County of Ontario Directory for 1869-70.
Toronto: Conner and Coltson.
Davies, Blodwen. 1973. A String of Amber: The story of the Mennonites in Canada.
Vancouver: Mitchell Press.
Dowswell, Gwen. N.d. “History of Uxbridge Township.”
Farewell, J.E. 1907. County of Ontario. Whitby: Gazette-Chronicle Press.
Fraser, Alexander. 1932. Twenty-first Report of the Department of Public Records
and Archives of Toronto. Toronto: Herbert H. Ball.
Garland, M.A., & J.J. Talman. 1931. “Pioneer Drinking Habits & the Rise of the
Temperance Agitation in Upper Canada Prior to 1840,” Ontario Historical Society
Papers & Records 27: 341-364.
Gauslin, Lillian M. 1974. From Paths to Planes: A Story of the Claremont Area.
Claremont: The Author.
Guillet, Edwin C. 1954-1962. Pioneer Inns and Taverns. 5 vols. Toronto: The Author.
Higgins, W.H. 1887. The Life and Times of Joseph Gould. Toronto: C. Blackett
Robinson.
Johnson, Leo A. 1973. History of the County of Ontario 1615-1875. Whitby:
Corporation of the County of Ontario.
Lovell, John. 1857. The Canada Directory for 1857-58. Montreal: John Lovell.
McBurney, Margaret, and Mary Byers. 1987. Tavern in the Town: Early Inns and
Taverns of Ontario. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Reesor, Ida (Mrs. Barkis). N.d. “Local History of Altona.”
Reesor Family in Canada. 2000. The Reesor Family in Canada. Markham:
Genealogical and Historical Society.
Rosenthal, Max. 1965. “Early Post Offices in Pickering Township.”
Sabean, John W. 2000. “Three Properties in the Hamlet of Altona.”
Todd, Eleanor. 1980. Burrs and Blackberries from Goodwood. Goodwood:
The Author.
Wood, William R. 1911. Past Years in Pickering. Toronto: Briggs.
"
"ALTONA (cont.)
MONKHOUSE (cont.)
upper flat of the building (erected about twenty-five years ago) is transformed into
a veritable China Hall. The visitor's attention is first arrested by counter after counter
covered with handsome Dinner and Tea Sets. This large assortment is found in a
variety of colours in print and enamel, with plain gold or spangle. Under these
counters are arranged scores of Toilet Sets from the comparatively plain to those
of the most handsome design and superior quality. Next in order are arranged
large counters of glassware, plain and in colours. On both sides of the building run
wide counters the full length, covered with a bewildering variety of fancy china.
Much of this stock comes by direct importation from Europe. This fact is indicative
of prices at ""China Hall"". No one in this vicinity need go to Toronto to buy fine
table ware.""
During this particular time Joseph was managing the store and he employed four clerks.
Thomas married Miss McFarlane, who died at an early age and left him with four
small children, Jane McFarlane, a sister, then married Thomas. Jane had three
children who died in infancy. The lack of doctors, medicines, sanitation and the
spread of diseases were reasons It was not uncommon to see many tombstones
for the little children and often the young mother as well. Their son John was the
village merchant tailor. He probably worked from the yard goods section of his
father's store .
One interesting bill found among the papers of Thomas Monkhouse was for the
taxes on the store and property in 1876. The total assessment for the property
was $400 - The taxes were 80¢ for the county and schools, 80¢ for the
township and 60¢ for the railway, giving a grand total of $2.20.
Brother Joseph helped Thomas keep store until he married Christina Reesor,
who had recently been widowed with seven children. Mrs. Reesor's husband
had built the Altona Mill, so Joseph carried on its' operation. By this marriage
there was one daughter, Sarah. In 1865 Mrs. Monkhouse died and since the
mill was only on a lease for her life-time, Joseph had to leave to allow his
step-son, Abraham to continue.
Having already operated a store and a mill, Joseph decided to farm.
He bought lot 32, conc. 9 where he farmed for twelve years with Elizabeth
Kester as his wife.
Joseph was a well-respected and admired man. For ten years he served
on the Pickering Council, was reeve from 1884-1887 and 1887 received the
honour of being Warden of the County of Ontario .
In 1886 after Thomas' death, Joseph returned to the store. Even in his later
years, Joseph was active. In 1894 he and N. Mowder were appointed Liberal
delegates to a convention at Whitby. In 1903 Joseph passed on, but certainly
was not forgotten. His only son Willis, continued the store's business until he
sold in 1937. Reubin Tindal kept the store for a few years, then it was sold to
Fletcher Goudie. In 1954 the building was converted to apartments.
A fire destroyed the building in 1973, after which it was uninhabitable.
In 1972 the property was expropriated for the proposed Airport. Since it was
untenable for renting, it was demolished by the Government in 1975.
JONES
Many of the early inhabitants obtained their land by the sale of several horses,
but Abijah Jones received his land by another type of agreement.
His grandfather, whose name probably was James Brown Sr., and his
grandmother owned and lived on lot 1, concession 1 but in their old age could
no longer care for it. Since their family had married and gone their separate
ways, they asked if Abijah would manage the place for them with the promise
that the farm would be willed to him. So in 1835 at the age of twenty-eight,
Abijah sold his farm in Ringwood to live in Altona.
In 1842 he received possession of the farm, then in 1847 married Miss Pickett
by whom he had one daughter. Being a widower he remarried to Polly Yake,
the granddaughter of the pioneer Daniel.
By this marriage there were eight children.
Abijah was a very active member of the community. When there was any
worthwhile project undertaken, Abijah could be counted on to help.
Abijah Jr. was an all time resident of Altona having spent the later years of his
life in the house immediately north of the hotel. Ralph was the last of the family
to be born In the original homestead. He had possession of the farm until his
death in 1916. At this time the youngest of the family, Mary, also single,
cared for the farm. In 1959. the estate was sold to another Jones family,
although of no relation. They set about renovating the house, then later sold to
Greenshields, the present owner.
Alice-Jane, the eldest daughter of the family, was first married to Robert Scott.
Of the three children, John, Mary and Abijah, John was long associated with
Glasgow. By her second marriage to Thomas Burnham, a large and husky
man known for his ability to make good sausage, there were two girls,
Margaret and Minah. Margaret, Mrs. N. Bunker, had lived in Altona all her life.
In 1955 Margaret's son, Mervyn, bought a large corner of the original Jones
homestead from Mary. He bought the land with the intention of building the
present subdivision of Altona- This had pleased Mary because she had always
wanted to see that area as residential. It would be interesting to know what Mary
would have thought If she had known this is what Century City Developments
thought as well.
MILLARD
Timothy Millard had come from Newmarket to Altona where his brother Samuel
had bought lot 3, concession 2. Timothy, who must have been living with
Samuel, was in Altona a number of years before he bought his brother's farm in
1848. By 1852 he also owned the east half of lot 2, concession 1.
Timothy was not only an active farmer but was also deacon of the
Congregationalist Church in
Stouffville and a member of the Temperance hall in Altona. In I860, when the
Glasgow school was
built, he was chairman of the first trustees' meeting.
"
"ALTONA (cont.)
MILLARD (cont.)
Sons Asa and Joseph, were also active on the school board.
Between the two, they were auditors of the board for fifteen years.
Asa lived on the north quarter of lot 3 and probably built the present white frame
house. Asa married Miss Kester and their daughter, Ethel, was willed the farm.
Joseph married Joseph Monkhouse's daughter, Sarah. Their daughter Lena,
was also willed the farm. The two daughters rented out the farms until they were
sold in 1952.
As well as both being a township councillor and reeve, Joseph was the clerk.
Asa and Joseph were credited with being the leaders in breeding fine horses.
Joseph must have enjoyed fine houses too, for the house he built was and still is
one of the best In the area. The house presently lived in by the DeLa Matters
retains most of the original floor plan and finishings. It was built on the Georgian
style in approximately 1885. Stories are that the bricks and gravel came from
Toronto - quite a task in itself!
Before Joseph had built the house the family had lived in a small cottage behind
the present building. It had a large kitchen and bedroom on the main floor with
bedrooms upstairs. The house was then built on to the frame structure.
This was were the parents are said to have lived. The frame building was torn
down in 1953.
The corner stone on the barn, which Joseph probably built as well, is dated
1894. Older barns appear to have been further back on the property, near
Duffin's Creek.
TRANSACTIONS ON THE MILLARD FARMS
East half lot 2, concession 1
1804 Jacob Winn - patent
1815 Abraham Stover (later Stouffer)
l844 John Brown
1852 Timothy Millard
1876 George Robinson
Lot 3, concession 2
Howard Allan - patent 1834 John Millard 1848 Timothy Millard
North quarter South quarter
Asa Millard Joseph Millard
1931 Ethel Millard Reesor 1939 Lena Millard Hoover
1952 Alex Brickland 1952 Walter Vague
1954 James Culham 1953 John DeLaMatter
1954 Herb Sills 1968 Century City
1956 Harvey
1960 Femson
1965 Butler
1968 Century City
LEWIS
It all began in 1844 when Thomas Ambrose Lewis (1834-1923) came from his
birthplace of Unionville to lot 2, concession 2. Mr. Lewis farmed here for awhile
then returned to York County but by 1873, he was back in Altona. This time he
bought lot 4, concession 1. Thomas was twice married and had a family of ten
children, many of whom remained in the vicinity.
One of his sons, Edward (l873-1958) made his home on lot 5, concession 2,
at Glasgow for forty-six years, then his son, Bruce continued the farming
operations until recently. After leaving the farm, Bruce built his present house
in Glasgow.
Another son, Art, who was the youngest in the family, stayed on the farm.
Since there was no family, the farm was then sold to Mr. McCartney and finally
in 1958 to Frank Hulshof.
Thomas H. Lewis, a son of the first family, was not as stationary as his other
two brothers. He began his farming on the Bluegrass farm, then moved to west
lot 9, concession 2 for approximately nine years. The next stop was Stouffville,
10th then back to Altona on lot 31, concession 9 and finally to east lot 1,
concession 2, where his grandson now farms.
While on this last farm, Thomas Lewis and his sons, Stanley and Bertram
operated the local beef ring. The butchering, the dividing and the collecting all
took place in the old shed that still stands near the road. After Mr. Lewis'
death in 1957, Bert and Stanley continued the business for a few years.
Farm was split after grandfather's death.
Thomas Lewis' interests were not confined to faming for he took an active
interest in the community affairs and for a number of years he served on the
Uxbridge Township Council.
Stanley and Bert must have liked the area, for Stanley has spent his farming
career on the home farm and Bert is still farming on the adjacent land.
Besides farming, Stanley once kept three yards of bees and Bert did
woodworking. Both have been honoured on the occasion of their fiftieth
wedding anniversary in 1970, and 1969.
Sixteen years ago, another house was built on the home farm for Mr. and
Mrs. Stanley Lewis
as their son, Robert and his family were living on the farm. Another son,
Harold is not far
from either: he lives on the sideroad across from the farm.
"
"ALTONA (cont.) LEWIS (cont.)
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Lewis' only son, Fred also lives in Altona - across the road.
Fred owns a large ""Feed and Supplies"" store and operates an implement
dealership in Altona, His business began behind the house in 1946 as a little
shop for selling feed. The grand opening of the store in 1955 was the beginning
of another great store in Altona's history.
Fred's family of nine are leaving home but not far. Shirley, Mrs. Hanson and Jean,
Mrs. Harper live in Altona, Helen, Mrs. Bradley, is on the Markham townline, June,
Mrs. Powell is in Stouffville and Roy farms on the Glasgow Sideroad.
Three boys are still at home.
HODGSON
The west half of lot 1, concession 1 was sold in 1804 but Its development really
did not begin until 1853 when Jacob Burkholder began farming the land.
A corner of the farm was sold to his brother, Samuel who built the present
house there and operated a furniture store and undertakers.
A branch of Duffins Creek runs through the farm and apparently there was once a
saw mill along the stream. It was probably built while Jacob owned the farm and
used it to saw the lumber for Samuel to make the furniture and coffins.
In 1882 Henry Hodgson came from Whitevale add purchased the land.
The present buildings were built by Henry, the barn being in 1893 and the house
In 1895.
By 1904 Samuel and Jacob decided to move their business to Stouffville,
so Henry bought the corner lot. In 1926 it was resold to Wm. Eckhardt.
Three generations, Henry, Leslie and now Charlie have farmed and raised their
families on this land. A notable occurance happened in 1964 when four generations,
Leslie, Charlie, Harold and Christine, were all living in the house at one time.
ALTONA THROUGH THE YEARS
Altona is still growing and changing, yet many things still remain the same.
The Nighs-wander's Mill still operates and the Old Dutch Church has regular weekly
services. Along this road there have been such names as David Crosier,
a long time resident of Altona and Glasgow, Wm. and son Fred McNair farmed
here and Stanley Thompson was the local contractor. The Old Mill has long since
burned and the once productive Duck Farm is no more. Walter Davis has retired
from his farm in Glasgow and now lives along this road. The Monkhouse store
has been converted to apartments and the school is now a Community Centre.
The Altona Inn has also become apartments, Going east, the United Missionary
Church has continued to grow. Several generations later, many broke away from
the old Mennonite Order and moderated their customs such as dispensing with
the long black uniforms. Many then joined the United Missionary Church.
The large Sunday School classes necessitated the addition of another wing.
Across the road is Fred Lewis' store. Here one might find anything from feed to
hardware to farm supplies to candy to implements and tractors. Next door, son-in-law,
Jim Harper has a repair garage.
Along the lane have been the Lehmans, the Jacob Stouffer farm, John Stouffer,
who operated the saw mill and later Sam Frets, the ""maple syrup king"".
The Stouffer farm is now the Lewis farm. The Carter farm across the way has
been in the family name for two generations, George and Waiter.
Coming back to the hotel and going north, there were such names as Samuel
Mighton, Geo. Morden, and Robert McFarlane, the township clerk. George Irwln,
the mason and then his son, Weyman the watchmaker, lived in their house from
1906 until it was sold to Loss Hill. Celeb March lived in Altona from 1914-1919
and his brother Frank, owned the Boothby place from 1908 until 1925 when he
sold to Fred Pilkey. Ross Wideman is the present owner. In the 1920's before
Wm. Clarkson, the sheepshearer, the house was owned by Robert Hook.
Elwood Elson has been at his house since 1954. The Elson family has been
in the Altona area for many generations. To-day Mrs. N. Bunker is the oldest
life-time resident of Altona, For eighty years she has lived only in her present
house and the one that was next door.
Across the road and up a bit was the Robinson farm from 1876. In 1905 his
widow left the farm and rented the land to James Howitt. The farm was willed
to her daughter who also rented it out until 1966 when the farm was sold to
Tapscott Brothers, The renters have been Joseph Mowder, Frank Wagg, Vincent
Baker and Wm. Wallace.
Coming back down the road are many new houses, most of them built by Mervyn
Bunker when he divided his land. One of the first of these houses was, however,
built by Glen Byer in 1958 where he lived until 1965.
Going up to Elson's corners, are many more new homes. Across from Hodgson's
farm is the house where Fred McNair lived for thirty years. The farm next was
farmed by the Kesters for three generations until it was sold in 1950 to Fred Hope,
The Elson Brothers have continued the garage business that was begun by Wm.
Eckhardt in 1927. Behind the garage on lot 2, there have been such names as
Dalton Lewis, Joe Lewis, Fred Chamberlain, Harry Gilbert and Melvil Kester.
Victor Little has farmed here for twenty-two years.
Altona has changed. With better transportation It became residential rather
than the business centre it once was. In the last ten years the long skirts and
blackened cars of the Mennonites have disappeared with the moderations of the
old beliefs. New houses have been built and new families have arrived,
yet many of the old families and a number of the old traditions have continued.
"
"ALTONA (cont)
THE PIONEER WAY OF LIFE
A young man of these time was ready for marriage as soon as he had erected a log
house in the woods. The father of the groom usually tried to provide the land.
When Mr. and Mrs. Peter Reesor were married in February of 1848, the wedding
supper was served on the farm. The menu was cornmeal, mush and milk served
in tin cups and eaten with pewter spoons.
In the summer months, the settlers lived by the plentiful game and fish plus the
wild fruits. The game was preserved by salting and kept in hollow trees.
The wild fruits were dried and preserved by maple sugar. Nuts were also plentiful.
Such commodities as tea were sacred and used on state occasions only.
Since the pioneers had no stoves, fireplaces were built of clay and straw.
In some places, brick and clay ovens were built outside the house for baking bread.
The spices they were able to find in the woods were sage, sassafras, thyme,
spicewood and hemlock. Some how they managed to produce a coffee from a
combination of the following: peas, barley, acorns and roots of dandelions.
Certainly it was not quite as easy as our instant coffee of today!
Before much machinery was available, the crops were cut with a sickle and the
wife usually bound the sheaves. The grain was then threshed by flails.
In order to separate the chaff, the grain would be placed on a sheet on a breezy
day then thrown up in the air to blow out the chaff, Grain was often carried to Toronto
to be ground.
Because of the almost non-existent roads and the few horses, it was not very
profitable to carry grain to Toronto or Whitby to sell. One man could not carry
enough grain on his back to warrant the trip. Instead, they often made whiskey
from the grain and because of the higher price per volume, they transported this
for sale.
When father went to the market with his produce whether it be grain, vegetables or
meats, mother usually had her produce to send as well. She made butter,
did preserves, spun yarn and wove fabric,
OTHER PIONEERS
On the ninth concession the Hoovers were early settlers and we see such names
as John Hoover and his sons Eliza and Joseph.
John White pioneered on lot 29, concession 9- Later he acquired other land
nearby but none surpassed the homestead where he had planted the orchards and
the maples. John White was the first farmer in the district to own a binder which
was partly due to the fact that his sons were very interested in machinery.
Seven of his eight children moved to the West.
In 1846 Fred Johnson purchased lot 32, concession 9 and set about clearing
the land. Fred was remembered for his trips to Toronto for supplies for the
village for such things as an axe or bag of white flour. These were not quick
nor easy trips for the Rouge diver had no bridges and he would sometimes have
to wait until the water lowered so he could pass through on horseback.
The farm was passed on to Michael and then on to his son Fred. The Johnsons
must have also travelled to Garibaldi rather frequently as Michael's wife, Eliza Ann
Dowswell, and Fred Jr.'s wife Jennie Hope, were both from there. In 1937 the
farm was sold to David Nighswander.
EARLY ALTONA
During l850 Altona, like the rest of Ontario, was enjoying the great prosperity
for the next twenty years due to the Crimean War. At this time wheat was at
the great price of $2.50 per bushel. Also the Reciprocity Treaty with the United
States signed in 1854, encouraged trade back and forth. This all brought about
a great increase in the number of mills of various kinds and brought many people,
homes and businesses to Altona.
Edgar Cliff began a carding mill where the Nighswander' s Mill is presently;
Thomas Monkhouse was operating a large general store and the post office as
well as the China Hall with the largest supply of china around. Reesor's Hill was
drawing farmers from miles around. The Old Dutch Church was the place of
worship for the community. By 1854, the log schoolhouse was replaced by a
frame school nest to the present Community Centre.
Whiskey flowed freely in the hotel on the corner of Altona, These hotels were
large, luxurious and prosperous businesses. The Altona Inn, which now serves
as apartments, sported the popular bar room, two dining rooms, a ball room as
well as sleeping accommodations for the travellers, (and over-indulgent customers).
Across from the hotel, on the Abijah Jones homestead property,
was a Temperance Hall probably built during the 1870's. Here was where the
Temperance Force held their meetings, women's groups met, election debates
were heard and religious meetings called to order. During the years of 1909-11
school was even held in the little frame structure.
Legal affairs must not have bothered the members too much for this public hall
was built on private property. When the bargain was made between Joseph
Monkhouse and Abijah Jones for the purchase of the land, Joseph was to pay
Abijah $25 towards the cost of donating the land. The bargain was not kept
therefore there was no deed. The community paid shares to have the hall built
but Abijah kept claim to the property since he still paid the taxes. In 1923 the
building was torn down.
Also on this corner was a shack that was for the shoemaker.
Before 1855 the old shop had apparently served as a dance hall,
The first shoemaker was James Campbell, then Baikie, Swanson,
Reath and Jobitt. Robert Robertson and Levi Nigh were also Altona
shoemakers, but probably had shops on the other side of the townline.
The shoemaker would travel from house to house yearly and measure
feet for the knee-high cowboy boots. A house was visited once and
only once a year. The little boys must have stumbled around in their new
boots with the two inches for the year's growth.
"
"BEEF RINGS IN THE ALTONA DISTRICT There were five known Beef Rings.
A. At the Samuel Fretz farm on concession 9, Pickering. Mr. Samuel Fretz was
the butcher.
B. At the Isaac Lehman farm on the Altona Road. Mr. George Carter and
Mr, Isaac Lehman were the
butchers. This one had formerly been on the Thomas Dunkeld home where
Frank Powell now lives,
(across the road from the David Tran home). Mr. T. Dunkeld was the butcher
there and Mr.
Carter helped him.
C. At the Stanley Lewis farm on the Uxbridge-Pickering townline. Stanley and
Bertram Lewis were
the butchers. At each of these three places the beef ring building was a small
frame structure
near the farm buildings.
D. These next two were away from any farm buildings.
On Concession 10, south of Stouffville in the front south-east corner of the Mantle
Farm. This one served the Mongolia district. Mr. Ludwig Hoover was the butcher.
E. On Concession 7, of Pickering, there was also one in the north-east corner
of the former
Charles Reynolds home. Mr. Eppie Holtby was the butcher. The windlass that
pulled the beef
up to a hanging position is now being used at the Norman Fretz slaughter house.
Mr. Holtby
preferred an Indian cutting stone rather than a knife for separating the animal's
hide from the
flesh. It was an instrument fashioned like a chisel which had been found on the
farm, having
been there since the days when Indians inhabited the area. Several of these
cutting stones
were found on this property. Mr. Charles Reynolds has one in his possession
which was found on
this property.
Mr. Reynolds tells the story of a pig belonging to Mr. Bert Mathews,
who lived on this farm prior to Reynolds. This black sow had the run of the
farm yard and every Monday night, when the beef was slaughtered,
it wandered up across the fields to the slaughtering house to drink the
blood of the slaughtered beef. It would then come back to the barn yard and
would lay around the straw stack for a couple of days showing no interest for
food. They said that pig knew when it was Monday evening. I venture to say that it
probably could smell the fresh blood.
Perhaps some readers do not know what a beef ring was or how it operated,
so I will undertake to explain.
A group of farmers or others in a district desiring to have fresh beef each week
during twenty weeks of the summer months banded together to organize a
beef ring. At that time a deep freezer for home use was unheard of. As a matter
of fact, hydro had not yet come into the district, and when it did, electric
refrigerators were not the first things that were purchased. Therefore there
was no way of keeping fresh meat for longer than a few days. Nearly all farm
homes counted on having a cool area in the cellar to keep perishables.
Some had a box fashioned to the inside of the well.
A meeting was called yearly to conduct the business of the project.
At this meeting arrangements were made to hire a butcher. Lots were
drawn as to which week each shareholder provided a beef. The beef was to
weigh not less than 400 lbs, and preferably not over 500 lbs. Also,
it was to be grain fed. Fees were levied to each, to cover various costs of
maintaining the building and paying the butcher, etc. A chart called for twenty
members and for each to provide a beef of said size as his turn came up.
It would be brought to the building twenty-four hours ahead of slaughtering
time and put in a stall alongside the building. The animal was given no food
for the twenty-four hours before slaughtering. The animal was killed in the evening,
skinned and left hanging all night to cool. Early the next morning, usually about 4 a.
m., the butcher would return and start cutting up the shares. He was often finished
by 6: 30 a. m.
A share consisted of twenty pounds of meat of various cuts, rotating the cuts each
week. Each member usually got a piece of liver every other week. The man
providing the beef, usually got the heart, head and hide. He also paid the butcher
when his beef was being done. Any overweight went to the one providing the
beef and any underweight was paid at a certain rate per pound set by the club
to those who may not have gotten a full twenty pounds. Usually in this case,
the provider of the beef went short himself.
Sometimes two small families would divide one share, each taking ten pounds
per week and also sharing the buying of the animal.
Each shareholder went for his meat as soon after 6: 30 a. m. or 7 a. m. as
possible. It would be hanging on a hook which had his mane above. Each took
his own container to take the meat home in.
When the Stouffville Creamery built in a large freezer section, where farmers
could rent a locker, the beef-ring was on its way out. Farmers could kill their
beef in the winter when they weren't quite so busy or whenever they had an animal
ready or needed more meat. Each week when they took their cream to the
creamery or went shopping, they could bring a piece or two of meat home as
they needed it. It wasn't long until folk began to buy deep freezers and keep their
meat at home.
A farmer doesn't always kill his own beef even now. He usually takes it to a
butcher who does the work for him. When he goes back for the meat,
it is all cut, wrapped and labelled. All he has to do is to pay the butcher,
take the meat home and pack it in his deep freezer.
Times change and we change our ways of doing things.
Compiled by L. E. Byer, 1972.
"
"HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ALTONA PIONEERS by Mrs. B Reesor
Grandmothers Day at the Institute --March 18, 1926.
At the home of Mrs. W. D. Parker, Atha, on Wednesday, March 10, the Altona
Women's Institute held their monthly meeting. It was marked as one of the most
interesting of this season. A paper given by Mrs. Barkis Reesor on ""Pioneers of
Altona, "" proved a big hit. It was prepared at a great deal of sacrifice of time,
but it was worth the effort, and serves to link up the present with the past or early
days of this locality. Mrs. Reesor is indebted to any who furnished her with
information for the following historical sketch:
""In the year l801, just 125 years ago, one Christian Reesor with his son came
over from Pennsylvania to examine the country in Markham Township.
They traded their team for a piece of land and returned on foot as far as Markham.
Three years later he returned with his four sons and their families to settle in
Markham. 1816 was commonly referred to as the summerless year, when all the
grain froze, and what little they saved was gathered by men wearing overcoats as a
protection from the cold. At this time there was but one store in Toronto and these
early pioneers made the trip by horse back or on foot in order to get supplies.
On Feb. 28, 1848, Peter Reesor was married to Susannah Nighswander. It was truly a
pioneer wedding. The wedding supper was served on the farm now owned by Lewis
Burkholder. It was of simple fare, cornmeal mush and milk, served in tin cups and
eaten from pewter (tin) spoons. Mr. and Mrs. Reesor commenced farming on the
place now owned by Ellas Reesor. His wife, Susannah, was raised on the farm now
owned by Peter Nighswander. She was accustomed to assist in her father's woolen
mills, spinning webs of blankets and flax. Marketing methods were crude. The trip to
market was either made on foot or with the lumber wagon, Mrs. Reesor often carried
her produce south of Claremont and returned with groceries. Butter was 8¢ per
pound and eggs 5¢ per dozen. In exchange tea was $1 per pound. Mr. McNab,
the storekeeper, bought cottonade by the web to be made into pants and
Mrs. Reesor was able to put out four pairs per day. Her husband died while a
young man, being 28 years old at his death. He was regarded as a successful farmer.
The first school house was a log building situated on the corner where the old
dutch church shed now stands. The pupils sat on backless benches and the school
grounds are said to have been composed of kings or queens highway, and as much
bush as the pupils wished to play in. Next a school house was built in 1834. A.
McSween was teacher for ten years at a salary of about $375 per year. In 1911
the new building was erected. Following are the names of teachers since 1834;
Wesley Waunch, Miss M. Mlllard, Jas. Bassingthweight, Thos. Beare, Frank Sangster,
Jas. E. Forfar, W. J. Stark, R, F. Andrews, Miss A. Irwin, Donald Noble, M. Flumerfelt,
Wm. Henderson, Chas. McDonald, J. M. Traun, John Yake, Miss W. Wallace,
Miss Leach, Miss W. B. Nicholson, Miss A. J. Watson, Miss Annie Johnson,
Miss Annie Murray, Miss Beihn, Miss Irene Reesor, Miss Fanny Ramer, Miss Vida
Lee, and Miss Harper.
Fred Johnson married Susan Kester. He died In 1894, aged 79 years; he well
remembered going to Toronto for an axe or anything they required, such as white
flour, and they ground the wheat between two stones in those early day. There
were no bridges, and they had to ford the Rouge River. Sometimes they had to
wait until the water lowered so they could pass through on horse back. Michael
Johnson, his son died in 1901, aged 63 years. His wife Eliza Ann Dowswell died In
1912, age 63. They had two daughters and one son, Fred, who still lives and
owns the farm. Mr. Bothby conducted the blacksmith,
Jacob Lehman came to Canada in 1833 and lived on the farm owned by
Geo. Carter, Isaac Leyman's grandfather, Daniel Lehman, came from Pennsylvania
in 1827 and brought out horses and traded them for land and returned back on foot.
This he did seven times.
Samuel Hoover was married to Esther Reesor on Dec, 25, 1845. They moved on the
farm now owned by Barkis Reesor, It was all bush save a small clearing.
A log house stood on the west hill just north of the lane near the road. In 1875
Mr. Hoover was elected by the Mennonite church as a preacher, and was the
first minister to preach English in that church, Mrs. Hoover's father gave them 75
acres of land and Mr. Hoover traded a horse for the 25 acres between Barkey's
and McKay's. With their children they were accustomed to going down to see her
father on the old home place near Markham, with a sleigh and team of oxen, and
a bundle of pea straw for a seat. He cut the grain with a sickle and Mrs. Hoover
bound the sheaves. She used to sit the baby in a basket in a fence corner,
while she helped her husband. Deer trailed across the farm, and bears often
stole the little pigs. Wolves were plentiful and all kinds of game.
They were able to spear white fish with a pitch fork in a little swale that ran
across the lane. Mr. Hoover was the first man to erect a bank barn.
Their eldest daughter, Adeline, spun the yarn and knit a small pair of stockings
for her cousin, Peter Reesor, at the age of 4 years,
Samuel Nighswander owned the woolen mills with Mr. E. Cliff next proprietor.
Elisha Shrigly, millright, noted for his bravery, always carried a tom-a-hawk and
said he was not afraid of any thing. Sam Nighswander put a sheet over him and
stood in the path where he had to pass, then Shrigly threw his hawk and ran for
his life.
"
"ALTONA PIONEERS --Page 2
In 1878 the grain was sown in March and sheep were sheared, and the lettuce up
an inch high. Mrs. Ellas Reesor had her spinning done by the 21st. of May and she
knit 50 pairs of mitts and 50 pairs of stockings by hand every year and sold them
to Thos. Beare, Whitevale. Flavius Reesor married Mary Barkey in 1866 (Jan. 30),
and they have celebrated their diamond wedding. Jacob Stouffer married Annie
Reesor on May 13, 1856, and lived on the farm now owned by Thomas Lewis.
He led the singing in the Christian church for years, and was a strong temperance
worker. In 1904 they moved to Alberta where he died.
The Dutch church was built about 1852, the first preacher being Jacob Grove.
Martin, David and Samuel Nighswander owned the land now occupied by Peter and
David Nighswander, and John. Stouffer lived in a house across the road from the
church and ran the saw mill at Altona.
A branch of the Christian Church was organized in Altona by Elders Tattan and
Sholtz, April 22nd. 1872 fifty-four years ago, when the following were the pioneers
members: Samuel Burkholder, Merida Burkholder, Jacob Burkholder,
Annie Burkholder, Elijah Patterson, Martha Patterson, Abram Nighswander,
Elizabeth Morden, Sarah Pearson, Charlotte Mighton, Al Brown, Regina Connor,
Nancy Connor, Esther Brown, Margaret Wideman, Charlotte Stover. Mrs. Merida
Burkholder of Stouffville, is the only present survivor, all the others of those old
pioneer members having passed away.
The Union Church was built in l875, and Noah Dedwiller was the first Brethren In
Christ preacher.
Seventy years ago (1855) Edward Meyer came from Switzerland to Canada at the
age of 13 years. He married Magdalena Wideman in 1870, lived in Markham,
but moved to Pickering 1878, and crossed the ocean eight times. His wife spun
flax for linen and spun wool for all the clothing they wore. Wm. Feaster did the
mason work for the first school house, also the mason work of the Mennonite church
and caught a cold which afterwards proved to be the cause of his death.
In 1850 Abraham Reesor, wife and family came to Altona where he built the flour mill,
sawmill and house. In 1855 he died leaving a wife and eight children. It is told
that his father John Reesor, got 600 acres of pine at Bethesda for a horse, saddle
and bridle. Another pioneer was Joseph Monkhouse, who came to Canada in
1849 and began storekeeping in Altona the following year. In 1857 he married
Christena Reesor, and leaving the store began milling in l865. His wife died and in
1874 he moved to Lot 32, con. 9, where for 12 years he managed the farm.
His second wife was Elizabeth Kester. Besides being a successful business
man and farmer, he took considerable interest in public affairs and served 10
years in the council, being reeve from 1684 to 1887 and warden of the county in
the latter year. On his brother's death in 1886 he returned to the store,
continuing till his death in 1903. He was succeeded by his son
Willis J. Monkhouse, who still continues the business.
William Eckhardt's great grandmother traded her shot gun for the 200 acres of
land now owned by W. Eckhardt at Glasgow. Mr. Fishburn and Andrew Brown kept
the hotel. Mrs. Eli Lehman's great grandmother Barkey came from Pennsylvania,
and on the way here they milked the cows and cooked the meals.
Christian Wideman married Hannah Pugh on Feb. 16, 1862, and settled on the
farm owned now by Henry Wideman, He considered himself up-to-date with a
fiery horse and saddle. It was necessary for him to go through 10 miles of bush
to see his girl, which later became his wife. He started with 50 acres of land, a
team of horses and wagon, and rather than go into debt he sold his saddle and
watch for seed grain.
The first crop was cut with the cradle and his wife bound it and helped to harvest it.
Mrs. Wideman spun 3 skeins per day besides doing her household duties;
she also spun yarn for carpet and stockings for her farmily that consisted of 3
children. She always was ready to lend a helping hand to the needy.
Mr. Wideman was strong and healthy. In religion they belonged to the
Mennonite church and were faithful to the end. Mrs. Wideman died on
Oct. 13, 1912, and Mr. Wideman on Feb. 3, 1924.
John White born in 1835, married Susan Derusha and lived on lot 29, con. 9.
He was a successful farmer and planted the maples around his farm, also two
fine orchards, also had the first binder around Altona, and his sons were all
mechanical. One of his daughters, Alice, is a trained nurse and Libbie
(Mrs. Levi Pugh) lives in Alberta, his seven sons moved to the west with the
exception of Henry who lives on the 3rd of Uxbridge.
Thomas Stephenson came from England in the year 1834 with his wife and
family. They were eleven weeks coming across the water in a sailing vessel,
and settled on the 5th con. of Pickering, near Whitevale. We have one grand
daughter, Mrs. Wm. McKay and one great grand-daughter, Mrs. H. Slack a*
members of this branch of the Institute."
"ALTONA PIONEERS —Page 3
The Millards came to Uxbridge Township from Newmarket, about ninety-five years
ago. Timothy Millard bought the 200 acres known as lot 3, con. 2, which is still in
the family. Lot 2, now known as the Morris place, was the property of Samuel Millard.
These two farms were first granted from the crown to Jacob Winn in the year
1805. The crown deed with the seal of George III attached, may be seen here to-day.
Lot 2, the Morris farm, was purchased by Abraham Stouffer, grandfather of the
gentleman by that name residing in Stouffville at the present time. Later it was
purchased by Samuel Millard. The Robinson farm, or the part the buildings are on,
was purchased by Timothy Millard from a John Brown, Jacob Winn also held the
crown deed of this farm. The north 70 acres of this farm was known as the Pearson
farm. The owner being the grandfather of the late Wm. Pearson, known to most of
us. Timothy Millard's first wife was Esther Rogers, aunt of the late Ellas Rogers,
the Toronto coal dealer. His second wife was Selena Howard. Timothy Millard was
a Congregatlonalist in religion, being deacon of the Stouffville church. Service was
also held in the temperance hall at Altona.
Daniel Barkey was born April 2, l824 on the old Barkey homestead, 7th con.
Whitchurch, was married March 24, 1846, to Barbara Pike, daughter of Francis Pike,
at their home just east of Dickson's Hill, and moved the same spring to lot 28, 9th
con. of Pickering, into a small log house, where they lived until the summer of 1857.
About 10 to 15 acres of the 100 acre farm had been cleared when they arrived in the
spring of 1846. Their entire possessions consisted of about $300, a team of oxen,
saddle, horses, a few farm implements and a couple of cows. During the next
15 years, 60 to 70 acres of this land was cleared of the wood, mostly maple,
beech and elm, and completely tile drained, making one of the most splendid
grain and stock farms in the township. When they first arrived here the side road
between the townling and 9th con, was a terrible mud hole and under water in the
spring. This farm was covered with cobble and huge big boulder stones, which
they dug up and blasted. Fences made of them and road beds, and often times
were piled in large heaps in the fields, which have remained until quite recent
times. The Barkeys had six children who all lived to see their parents' golden
wedding celebrated, March 24, 1896. The old log house was replaced by a
most splendid smoothe cut flint stone house in 1857. These huge granite
boulders were blasted and cut from the fields. The increased prices for all farm
products in the following years, caused by the American Civil War, helped these
lonely pioneers much in securing many needed conveniences and luxuries.
These early times had there many trials, they were often bothered and chased by
wolves and the flocks stolen and devoured by them. No motor purred up to their
doors in those days. Mrs. Barkey's trips to Toronto and other markets were made
in a side saddle across a nimble cantering horse, often carrying her baby in her
arms. Many were the days the baby rested in the hay in the fence corner, while
the mother helped in the hay and harvest field. Even the day following her
wedding day, found her at her new home, attending to the duties of boiling down
the sap in the maple woods for syrup and sugar, and also those early days were
not devoid of teasings and playful tricks on youthful lovers, for while Mr. Barkey
was courting Miss Pike and he calling on her with his dashing saddler horse,
bedecked with splendid saddle and bridal traps with looping ivory ringed
martingales—While he was calling, his jealous boy friends would wire down the
road gate, so he could not get out, and once went as far as to steal his saddle
and hide it in a wheat field. It was not found until harvest time when it was nearly
eaten up with grasshoppers. The Barkey's lived long past the scriptural allotment
of years, Mrs. Barkey passed away on Aug. 29th, 1905 and Mr. Barkey, Feb. 19,
1913, both having lived here until their deaths, after enjoying many years of
comfort, gained from lessons of thrift as real pioneers on this now picturesque old
farm, passing it on to the next generation.
Abijah Jones, born Nov. 7th, 1808, died Jan. 27, 1889, aged 81 years.
He was
married to Mary Yake, daughter of Michaed Yake, on May 18th, 1852, by John
Durant, Congregational minister, Stouffville. Three sons and five daughters were
born of this union on the old homestead now owned and occupied by Rolph Jones
and
sisters. Five of the family are living, three are dead. The mother, Mary Jones,
died
Oct. 5, 1915, aged 87 years.
Michael Yake was one of three sons of John Yake, who left Strasburg on the Rhine
the latter part of the 17th century, and came to what is now, State of Pennsylvania,
burying his young wife at sea. Hearing about Canada he came with his young
daughter to Hamilton. She grew to womanhood and married Geo. Baker.
Their descendants are many about Hamilton. They came to what was then called
muddy York, now Toronto. He settled (the family having married again) on the
homestead near Stouffville, now owned by Wm. Slack, Michael emigrated to
Michigan with all his family excepting three daughters, who were married here.
Of a family of 12 children, none survive.
"
"THE LADY WITH A LANTERN IN HER HAND
This article Is about Miss Mary Jones, who was born and lived her active life on the
farm at Altona. As I remember her, I think of her as the lady with a lantern in her
hand.
Mary was born April 2, 1873 in a small house that stood just a little to the north
and east of the present house that is on the former Jones farm. She died at the
age of 86 years and 5 days and is buried in the Dickson Hill Cemetery.
From the Tweedsmuir History accounts, I learn that Mary's great grandparents lived
on this farm which is Lot No. 1, Con. 1, Uxbridge Township. Entrance to the
buildings was off of the north side of Uxbridge-Pickering townline, west of Altona
corners. As Mary's great grandparents were getting on in years, they invited
Mary's father (their grandson) to come and assist them on the farm, promising
him that when they passed on, he would inherit the property. He did as they
requested. After their deaths, he married Sally Pickett who died at the birth of their
second child. The first child was Liza Ann, who married a Mr. Hopkins.
His second wife was Mary (Polly) Yake. To this marriage there were eight
children: William, Abijah, Mahallia, Sally, Susan, Alice, Rolph, and Mary.
Mary was physically handicapped but to say she was born handicapped may or
may not be true, for whatever was the cause of her lameness, it was not noticed
until she was about four months old. Her one leg did not grow in length or size
equal to the other one. Even with a highly built-up boot, her limp was quite
incapacitating. Those remembering her say she used the stub of a broom for a
cane. However, she never allowed it to make her an invalid and she kept active
on her feet until the last nine years of her life.
Mary received her education at the Altona School. Letters written by her to
Mrs. Bunker show beautiful penmanship. The Eulogy she wrote to her Church
paper about her Mother is in our Tweedsmuir History. These things and even to
converse with her was to know that she had a keen mind and was well schooled
for her time.
Mary took her place contributing to the household chores and assisted in making a
living off the farm. She set eggs under hens to raise chickens. The hens were
kept for laying and the roosters sold off when large enough to make a chicken
dinner. Mrs. Bunker, a neice, remembers lots and lots of chickens around the
Jones place due to Mary's efforts. She liked to sew and made quilt tops for
which she usually found a buyer. Mary was never really able to do heavy work on
account of her disability. It was difficult for her to get up or down. She would
go upstairs on her hands and knees and downstairs on her seat. In her older
years when she finally couldn't get up or down stairs any more to her room above
the kitchen, which got its' heat from the kitchen below, she slept in a bedroom
downstairs. When it got too cold there, due to no heat she resorted to sleeping
on the kitchen floor. When Mr. Wm. Reesor became aware of this, he had his
single bed brought down from his hunting lodge which provided Mary with a bed
in her kitchen, which was the only room with heat. Finally she got so that she
couldn't undress herself so she slept in her clothing, changing them only to be
washed. She had a desire to remain in her home and be independent.
Her brother Rolph, who was eight years older and a bachelor, had gone to
Brierbush Hospital about two years prior to this and had passed away there.
The farm has been rented to Mr, Lloyd Turner. When Mary finally consented to
go to Brier bush where she would get nursing care, she went reluctantly but was
granted her request to have the private room that her brothers, Abijah and Rolph,
had occupied, When Mary left her home, things in her house remained just as
she left them. It is said that some food and the dished that were on the table
stayed there too. Eventually some prowlers got in and disturbed a few things.
She never consented to sell the farm while she lived. When her money was
running low, she mortgaged the farm to pay for her hospital care. It was sold
after her death.
Coming back to our title, ""The Lady With A Lantern In Her Hand"",
I first remember Mary coming to Altona Christian Chursh walking the half mile,
when weather was good, carrying her lantern, lighted if it was dark or to light
it for the later trip home. She always sat in the second from the front seat
on the left hand side. She would carry her lantern up the aisle, lay down her
cane, put the lantern out and put it on the floor by the wall, I can still smell the
sulphur as she lit the match to light her lantern for the homeward trip.
There must have been a reason why she preferred to walk for I am sure
that others would have offered her transportation. Her neice, Mrs, Bunker,
recalls her riding with her brother to church in a cutter.
Mary never changed her style of clothes, She wore her skirts long. Mary was
a member of the Christian Church and when this congregation wished to join with
the Missionary Church Congregation, Mary didn't care to mark her ballet,
otherwise the decision was unanimous. When a ballet was taken to her at
the hospital, her reply was, ""I'll never be able to go to my church again,
so just say that I prefer to go down with the old ship.""
I remember her as always having a smile, as in the accompanying picture.
She never completely resigned herself to hospital life. She would have preferred
her independence in her own home but she did say that she was thankful that
she could at least end her days in the private room that her brothers had
occupied,
Mary demanded privacy. She requested that her door remain closed and that the
nurses should knock before thay entered. However, she always welcomed her
visitors and was a good conversationalist. She spent her quiet time reading her
Bible and piecing her quilt tops.
We must say that Mary Jones was made of ""good stuff"", had courage, fortitude,
ambition and an inner strength from her Heavenly Father, whom she loved for
how else could she still have had such a radiant beaming smile as the one in
the picture, after over 80 years of labouring and living with her physical disability.
Compiled by L.E. Byer, 1972.
"
"Miss Mary Jones
story on previous page
she was a patient in Brierbush Hosp. here -->
Napolean named Joseph his brother King of Spain, 1808.
Mary H. Jones Dec. 5th, 1887 see reverse side
One thing at a time and that well done leads to excellence.
Mary H. Jones Dec. 8th, 1887"
"Madrid on the Manzanares is the capital of Spain. Mar.
Pennsylvania was first settled by English Quakers. Penn.
Mary H. Jones Dec 17th, 1887 Altona"
iii
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ALTONA WOMEN'S MSTffOTE 49
"GLASGOW
The following information was gathered & compiled by Miss Gwen Dowswell,
at the height of the Century City operations in 1969.
The first settlers arrived in the Glasgow area about 1808 many of whom were
supposedly descendents of the Germans who left New York State to come to
Markham in 1794. It was not until the 1830's that the corn-unity began to develop.
By 1835 there was a school, by 1858 a church,
by 1860 a hotel and in 1867 a store.
THE FORSYTHS
By 1877 Glasgow was almost entirely owned by the Forsyths, for six hundred and
fifty acres were in their name. The father or them all was James Forsyth (1788-
1866) who arrived in 1814 and first bought lot 4, concession 2. This was divided
between his sons, Charles and William, but he had more sons, so in 1852 he also
bought lot 5.
of the ten children in the family, the sons were David, Caleb, James, Ira, John,
William, and Charles. They all remained in the area, married and raised their
families here. The great-grandchildren scattered around in the area. Today if
the Forsyths of this locality trace back their family tree, many of them will find they
are grandchildren of James.
David, the eldest of the family, held the patent to lot 6, concession 1 in l853.
He owned other land as well. Of David's fourteen children, many stayed in the
locality: Altona was across the road and Van Buren remained at home.
Both of Van Buren's sons, Levi and Edwin had farmed on the home farm—the
last of the family at Glasgow.
Timothy Forsyth operated the general store and the first post office in Glasgow
before he left to run the Goodwood Hotel. In the school minutes, the Forsyths were
often trustees and were very interested in their childrens education,
THE FORSYTH SCHOOL & MISS ELLEN TRACY
The schools in the pioneer days were privately owned and those sending children
provided the 'facilities and supported the coats. The first Glasgow school was
built on the James Forsyth farm.
One of the teachers was Miss Ellen Tracy, who later became the wife of V.H. Mitchell,
the first reeve of Pickering Township. They had met on the boat from England. Miss
Tracy signed the following contract:
""Article of Agreement made and concluded this 3rd day of June, 1835 between
Miss Ellen
Tracy, School Mistress, of the one part, and the undersigned of the other
part, now the cond
itions of this agreement, in such the said Ellen Tracy agrees to teach school in
Forsythe
School on lot 4, concession 2, of Uxbridge, for the tern of 9 months for 6
shillings New
York Currency for quarter, and board with the scholars of such as wish to have
her board
with them. Those that wish to pay for board herself for 5 shillings, for which
the will
teach reading, writing and sewing, and keep such order In her school as she
hopes will
satisfy her employers. The pay will be required the first day of February, 1836."" **
THE CHURCH
In 1853 James Forsyth sold a corner of his lot for the Church.
The first building was probably frame and then was replaced by a brick
church known as the Methodist Church. Around this church was the first
community cemetery but as there were mainly Forsyths, it is called the
Forsyth cemetery. Approximately 1940 the building was torn down.
THE NORTH CEMETERY
At the north of Glasgow is another cemetery that began at a later date.
Especially since the end of the Methodist Church, this is now the community
cemetery.
At one time there was a meeting hall associated with it. This probably served
as the public hall as well. The building was just south of Harry Noble's house.
THE HOTEL
In the 1850's the Elisha Miller Hotel was in operation. This large building on the
north-west corner, had the typical long verandah and the residence at one end
of the building. For half a year in 1861, the hotel was closed due to carnage by
fire.
Elisha Miller came to Glasgow in 1849 and while here he was an active constable
and the pound keeper until 1902. After his death in 1907 at the age of ninety-four,
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Davis made their home in the old hotel.
THE BLACKSMITH
The first blacksmith was Samuel Ottewell before he moved to his shop at
Goodwood.
Then John Latcham shoed the horses from his stone blacksmith shop on the
hill just east of the Odgen home.
** The subscribers to school were Forsyths, Mordens, Wideman and Castor
and others to the total of fifteen full time and one part time scholar.
"
"GLASGOW (cont.)
THE STORE AND POST OFFICE
In 1867 Benjamin Parker bought the land on the north-east corner to build a general
store. When this burned, he rebuilt, but this time it was a smaller store between
where the first was and the Odgen house. This new store was operated by
Timothy Forsyth when the first Post Office was started. Timothy then moved to
Goodwood where he ran the Goodwood Hotel.
The next proprietor was Mr. Mowatt and he lived in the house next. This is the
same house that Tom Odgen lives in to-day. Then John Latcham kept the store
with the few groceries and ran the post office. The last to run the little business
was Miss Pearl Davis. She was only there three years before the rural route
delivery came into effect in 1911.
THE MILL
At the bottom of the hill was the mill pond where the children spent their
afternoons skating, but the mill was were the farmers brought their grain
to be ground and their logs to be sawed. Some say that Mr. McNaughton
built the large three story mill, but the first known operator was John McDonald.
At this time they used the stone grinders which crushed the wheat into flour and
course bran for feed. Mr. McDonald left Glasgow in approximately l890 to go
to the Goodwood Mill.
The next proprietor was Amos Stover, a gentleman well liked in the community.
The mill then was used mostly for chopping and sawing, although some
remember taking buckwheat to be ground, bringing it back home to sift and
then making the best buckwheat pancakes.
Later, Edward Eckardt bought the mill which he and his son William operated.
Next Jim Elson did the chopping and sawing for the Glasgow farmers.
During the 1930's the mill was torn down.
GLASGOW TRANSACTIONS
The following is an outline of many of the transactions that took place in the
Glasgow area .
Lot 3
1823 Kings College - crown grant
West East
1834 Nichols University of Colleges
1872 Blackie South North
H. Brethour 1860 Geo. Pearson 186l Roddick
1884 Wm. Brethour 1874 Conwath
1887 Chris St. John 1879 Chrim
Wm. St. John Geo. Robinson
Howard St. John E. Robinson
1968 Century City
Lot 4
1816 David Harden
West East
1848 Jacob Morden 1849 Geo. Morden
1872 J. Story 1877 H. Kester
1877 pt. Hiram Kester 1906 J. Slack
pt. C. St. John 1950 H. Slack
1916 T.F. Fairless 1951 M. Brethour
1954 G. Brillinger
Lot 5
1815 D. Morden
1846 J. Morden
West Centre East
1849 D. Forsyth 1872 J. Story 1877 H. Kester
1878 A Forsyth Johnson l906 J. Slack
1913 Wm. Morden 1876 Boyles H. Slack
L. Slack 1951 M. Brethour
1949 Head
1957 Hope
"
"GLASGOW (cont.)
Lot 6
West: East
1853 David Forsyth – crown deed: 1846 Caleb Forsyth
1890 Van Buren Forsyth: 1847 E. Miller pt.
1921 Levi Forsyth: 1855 D. Morden
1925 Edwin Forsyth: 1857 M. Morden pt.
1941 Earl Drewery: 1906 J. Davis
1968 Grant Drewery: 1926 R. Brown pt.
: 1938 H. Noble
: 1939 W. Davis
: 1966 M. Davis
Lot 7
Initially there were many transactions.
East: West
- Stover: 1935 Morris
- Pryne
1909 J. Davis
1948 W. Davis
1956 R. Ross
1959 Bluegrass Turf Farms
Lot 8
1805 Jacob Peer
1808 Christian Hendrick
1837 Leedy Hendrick
West: East
1856 Jacob Eckardt: 1856 Geo. Eckardt
: 1901 Ed. Eckardt
: 1919 Wm. Eckardt
Frank Malone: 1961 Gordon Eckardt
1963 Casa Malona Ltd.: 1968 Bluegrass Turf Farms
Lot 9
1833 Canada Co.
Hunter
Steward
Poulikat
Stover
Warwick
King
Concession 2
Lot 4
1805 Stephen Howard
1814 James Forsyth
West: East Wm. Forsyth
Charles Forsyth: 1889 Oliver Forsyth
1906 John Forsyth: J. Cleland pt.
1922 Latcham pt.: 1912 M. Gilson pt.
1928 Jos. Smith: Wier pt.
1952 G. Francis
1962 D. Francis
Lot 5
1830 Canada Co.
1852 James Forsyth
1853 pt. to church
West: East
1850 Charles Forsyth: 1852 John Forsyth
1860 pt. to school: Wm. Forsyth
1853 Frank Forsyth
: Centre: East
: 1885 B. Parker:
1955 Vale: 1919 E. Lewis: J. Forsyth
: 1953 B. Lewis: 1964 R. Lewis
"
"GLASGOW (cont.)
Lot 6 In the houses at Glasgow, some of the names have been, T. Latcham,
Mowatt, Lawr, H .Kester, Brownsperger, Gutteridge, H. Wellman, B. Black,
J. Davis and R. Brown.
Lot 7
T. Latcham Crosier
Ed. Davis Crockford Bluegrass Conservation
Lot 8 McCullough
Jim Elson Tom Beaton
Drewery Jesse Davis
Godfrey
Conservation pt.
Lot 9
Jack Spense McCullough (T. Lewis Rented)
McRae
BENJAMIN PARKER
Born in 1828, Benjamin Parker came to Canada from Cumberland County,
England at the age of three. The family first settled in Quebec but soon moved
to York, where his father operated a butcher shop.
Benjamin moved to Grey County where he not only began a general store and a post
office but was also the county magistrate. Thinking that maybe carpentry was his line
of work, Ben did the required apprenticeship but decided his real love was for
farming.
Having bought a farm near Stouffville on the Uxbridge-Whitchurch townline he
pursued his farming. In 1869 he settled in Glasgow where he used his carpentry
skills and built a general store. This store, which was apparently quite large,
was situated on the northeast corner of Glasgow to serve the small community
and the number of surrounding farmers. When this frame building burned,
as they so often did, Ben was not long in replacing it with another but smaller
store just slightly to the east. The store also became the local post, office.
Martha Heard of Weston, his first wife died at a young age after her two infant
children had died. When Benjamin remarried to Rachael Forsyth, he purchased
the middle section of lot 5, concession 2, on the sideroad, where he returned to
farming. There were no children by this marriage .
Besides his changing from farming to store keeping, Mr. Parker was an active
council member. From 1873 to 1884 he was on the Uxbridge Township Council
and during the final three years served as reeve. He believed in progress and
was an influential advocate of any worthwhile project. He was a great reader and
introduced many advanced ideas on municipal and educational matters.
Among these was his plea at County Council for the Ontario County House of
Refuge (Home for the Aged), which mainly through his efforts was one of the
first built in the province. Mr. Parker was also a county magistrate.
In 1910 a widower again, Benjamin sold out at the farm and moved to
Stouffville for his retirement. On December 31st, 1922 the year came to its
end and so did a great man. There were no children to carry on the family name
in Glasgow, but Benjamin Parker will not be forgotten.
ECKARDT
Lot 8 had been in the family from 1808 when the land was owned by Hendrick.
It was then sold to either a daughter or sister, Lydia Eckardt, for the price
of a shotgun. The east half had been in the Eckhardt name for four
generations when it was sold in 1968. The Eckhardts once owned and
operated the mill.
LATCHAM
In 1852 Thomas Latcham began his farming at Glasgow. His son John was a
blacksmith
and his grandson Cecil farmed in the area.
MORDEN
David Morden was an early pioneer who owned a large acreage. This land he
divided among his sons. After the third generation, the Morden name
disappeared from the Glasgow area.
ST JOHN
Along the townline was the home of three generations of St. Johns,
Christopher Jr, William and Howard, from 1887 - 1968.
The large stone house is a beautiful landmark of the early days.
"
"GLASGOW (cont)
LEWIS
The original Lewis farm was east lot 4, concession 1 where Thomas
raised his family. Son Art remained on the farm and Edward farmed lot 5,
concession 2, which was then continued by his son, Bruce. Bruce has now left
the farm and is living in his new house at Glasgow.
SLACK
James Slack came from the fourth concession to Glasgow where he rented a
few years before he bought his farm in 1906. A brother, Freeman, lived on the
Sideroad, lot 6, concession 2, where there were three generations of Slacks,
James' son, Henry, lived on the farm until 1951. Another son. Louis, farmed the
west half of the lot.
DAVIS
Jesse Davis came from England and lived on the third then north of Glasgow before
he bought the east half of lot 6 in 1906 and then east lot 7. Lot 7 was in the family,
sons Rolph and Walter, until 1956. Lot 6 is now farmed by the third generation,
Morley. Walter Davis was the first in the area to own a combine and was a
familiar sight on the road during harvest as he travelled from farm to farm for
custom work.
Jack Davis of Glasgow was of no relation to the above. His son, Ed and grandson,
Jim were also residents of Glasgow. Jack's daughter, Pearl, operated the post
office and his daughter, Annie, is the mother of three generations of Nobles,
all living in Glasgow.
GLASGOW TODAY (1968)
South of Glasgow is the good soil for the vegetable farms — Frank Hulshof's cabbage
and cauliflower fields and Dave Francis' rhubarb patch across the way. Behind where
once stood the red schoolhouse is Dr. Vale's cottage. This attracted much interest
during its construction because all the cedar logs are from British Columbia, the first of
its kind around here. At the bottom of this hill was once the old cabin of Granny Held,
where the children often landed as they came sledding down the hill.
Across the road, the mill has been long gone, but the Thompson house still sits
at the bottom of the hill. The dam has been rebuilt making a scenic waterfall in
full view of the Picturesque new Rodbard home. At the corner is the new school
but the hotel, the red school-house, the store, the blacksmith and the Latcham's
house are gone. Now there are the homes of the Davis, Odgens, Dykes,
the old Wellman house, Shaws, Reamans, Bakers and Nobles. Worth of Harry
Noble's greenhouses are acres of the green grass of the Bluegrass Turf Farms.
Past this are the Goodwood Farms where the club members from Toronto hunt and
fish.
Other than the new school, more specialized farming and a couple of new houses,
Glasgow has changed very little. Here the residents enjoy the quiet life in a rural
community.
"
"HISTORY OF GLASGOW SCHOOLS AMD COMMUNITY by Levi Forsythe,
1964
Before the time of what we call the old school there was a still older schoolhouse
called the Forsyth Schoolhouse. No person living to-day has any recollection of that
building nor can any recall hearing of it. However an original agreement between
some of the early settlers and a Miss Ellen Tracy, dated 1835, refers to this
schoolhouse located on Lot 4, Conc. 2, Uxbridge. Mr. Fred Reynolds recalls
that when the church was built on this location there was already a shed to the
north of it. It may well be then, that the first schoolhouse stood on this spot.
It would have been a log building with benches around the sides and a stove in
the middle if it followed the plan of other schools of the times.
Miss Tracy came from England with her family aboard the sailing vessel ""Esther""
in 1832. Her family settled in Pickering Twp. and she taught both in Pickering and
Uxbridge. Later she married a fellow passenger from the ""Esther"", one
Wm. Henry Mitchell who was to became the first reeve of the Twp. of Pickering.
There are noted educationists among her many descendants, including Prof. Robin
Mitchell of Madison U, Wisconsin, Prof. Fred Tracy of the Univ. of Toronto, and Charles
A Mitchell who was associated with Shaws Business Schools.
At this time schools were not supported by taxes, but rather by churches or groups
of parents. In this case 14 parents signed the agreement- The first signature is
that of James Forsyth who signified the attendance of three children. He was the
Forsyth who received a crown grant of 600 acres which takes in this whole corner
and the present farms of Walter Davis, Earl Drewery, Grant Drewery, Donald Hope,
Gerald Brillinger and Mervyn Brethour. The three children indicated by this agreement
would possibly be Elisabeth, William and Phidelia. All the Forsythes in this part of
the country trace back to James who came to Uxbridge from Scotland by way of
Pennsylvania in the early 1800s and traded his horse and saddle for 600 acres.
David Forsyth, oldest son of James was also an original signee, and he had only 1
child ready to attend school at this time. David has at least 2 surving grandchildren
in the district —Levi Forsyth of Stouffville, and Mrs. Rowland Winn of RR 1, Stouffville.
David Mordon Senior, David Mordon Junior, James Mordon, Philip Wideman and
John Castor are other signees who had descendants living in this district for some
time and those surnames are familiar to many. Another signee, Jacob Jones
was probably a forbear of Earl Dowswell, although at the present time the actual
relationship has not been traced. I have been unable to find any trace of the
other signees.
In 1860 the trustees decided to build a frame schoolhouse. These trustees-
Timothy Millard, John Pearson and James M. Forsyth accordingly purchased one
acre of land from James Forsyth for $60.00, and called for tenders.
The contract was let to Mr, Parker for $496.00, Mr. Parker was to receive half
this amount when the school was finished and the balance a year later.
The trustees also paid out $45.00 to Mr, Manley to paint the schoolhouse,
$2.00 for Lawyers' advice, $2.00 for writing the deed, $1.25 to register the deed,
$11.60 for stove pipes, $60.00 for seats and $13.75 for maps,-- a grand total of
$691.60. Expenses to run the school for the year of 1860, including a teacher's
salary of $360.00, totalled $397.57.
Of these first trustees, Timothy Millard had come from Newmarket in 1831.
He purchased 200 acres of land at Lot 3, Conc. 2, Uxbridge from a John Brown,
This land had originally been a crown grant to one Jacob Winn in 1805.
Timothy is the great-grand father of Mrs, Walter Carter, Mrs, Fred McNair,
Mrs. Stan Thompson and Millard Reesor.
I have not traced the descendants of John Pearson although there have been
Pearsons in the community until recently.
James M. Forsyths, the third trustee, was one son of the original settler James
Forsyth. One of his sons, Nathan Forsyth, drew up the Forsyth family tree which
is on display here to-night and which has been very valuable to me in drawing up
this history.
In 1862 the ratepayers voted at the annual meeting to have school attendance
free. Henceforth the school finances would be raised solely by township levy and
government grants.
Eight years after the school was built Mr. John Parker contracted to build a
woodshed 26' x 20', and an entry for $185.00. Mr. Parker at one time had a
store on the northeast corner of Glasgow but the building burned down around
1880. He at one time owned and operated the farm now occupied by Bruce
Lewis.
In 1884 a picket fence was built on the west side of the school ground and a
year later it was continued all around the school and painted.
The building of this fence was evidently the cause of some disagreements
in the community for we find that at the annual ratepayers meeting Charles
Forsyth was instructed to finish the fence and William Forsyth was wanted to
have nothing more to do with it. About this time the trustees also had a gravel
walk made from the school to the road and plank walks from the school to the
privies.
The beautiful maples and pines were set out in 1886. Two rows of maple trees
were planted along the north and west sides and one row on the other sides.
These maples were to be 161/2 feet apart and 6 feet on. either side of the fence.
Spruce trees were planted between the inside row of maples. That same year
Samuel Williams was paid 75¢ to mow the grass, weed the schoolyard and fork
the grass and weeds into the road.
In 1896 some renovations were carried out. The old double desks were
replaced by new double desks with separate seats purchased from Mr. Walker at
Uxbridge for $4.20 each. The old floor was also replaced with a maple floor.
Teachers had a much more difficult time of it than to-day. When Miss Tracy taught
school in 1835 there were frequently 21 year old boys attending school and they
did their best to upset things so that frequently a woman teacher would leave in
the middle of the year if she could stand it no longer. Men teachers were hired
more on their ability to keep order than their ability to teach. In 1890 when
W.A. Henderson taught at Glasgow he walked to and from school from Goodwood
each day, Ira Forsyth better known to his students as Brigham Forsyth used to
keep school by throwing his pointer at an offender. The offender then had to carry
"
"the pointer up to the front of the room and then receive his punishment.
A later teacher used to send a student out to the woodshed and leave him there
for a while before the teacher went out to administer the strap.
If we think our old schoolhouse was crowded last year we should consider the
year 1877 when the records show there were sittings In the schoolhouse for 70.
The annual census shows that there resided in the section 131 children between
the ages of 4 and 21 years. Perhaps It was a good thing that many were not regular
attendants and that 17 did not attend any school.
Among the students still living (1964) who were helpful in compiling this history are,
Mr. Fred Reynolds, Mr. Franklin Baker, Miss Jessie Grice and Mrs. Robt. Hope.
This schoolhouse erected in 1860 was situated on the south east corner of the
Glasgow four corners.
It is interesting to note that since 1885 the job of secretary to the trustees has
been handled by only seven persons. Hiram Kester served from 1885 to 1889,
John S. Latcham from 1389 to 1925, Harry Wellman in 1926, David Crosier from
1927 to 1930, and Walter Davis from 1931 to 1960, Mrs. Donald Hope in 1961
and Mrs. Donald Boake Is the present secretary.
The trustees also served for long periods and the following names appear--
many of them still familiar: George Morden, James Forsyth, Timothy Millard,
Robert McFarlane, Hiram Kester, Henry Widdifield, Charles Forsyth, John Storry,
Vanburen Forsyth, John Latcham, John McDonald, Ira Castor, Chris St. John,
Frank Forsyth, Amos Stover, John Scott, William Stewart, James Slack, John
Forsyth, Levi Forsyth, S. Knight, Louis Slack, Fred Poulekat, Harry Wellman,
Joseph Alsop, David Crosier, Edward Davis, Russell Dowswell, Stanley Slack,
Cecil Latcham and Dudley White. This list of trustees is only complete to 1937.
Teachers changed much more frequently. It is interesting to note that for
40 years the salary of the teacher was consistently around $350.00, except for
the period 1897 to 1899 when it dropped to $225.00. After the turn of the
century salaries rose to $400.00 and then $600.00. In 1922 there must have
been a period of inflation for the teacher's salary jumped to $1,000.00 for three
years but then settled back to $800.00, then $700.00, then $600.00, by
1938.
This school remained in use for 103 years.
In 1963 a new two-room school was built across the road from the former one.
Property was purchased on the south-west corner.
The contractor for the new school was Mr. Mervyn Bunker. The trustees at this
time were Mr. Grant Drewery, Mr. Harry Noble, Mr. Lloyd Wideman.
The Noble family have attended Glasgow school for five generations and four
generations attended the opening of the new school.
This recorded history was given at the opening of the new school,
SONGS - Written and sung by students at the closing ceremonies of the old school.
GLASGOW PUPILS (tune of British Grenediers)
Some talk of Benjamin Parker Who owned the store of course and some of John
Latcham Who shoed many a horse.
Chorus
But of all of Glasgow's pupils, And some of Bert Lewis
The one of greatest fame When he went to army camp.
Is the one with the bag of tricks
ART LATCHAM is his name. CHORUS
Some talk of Walter Davis Some talk of Ida Latcham
And how he plays the horn A twin sister of Art
And some of Bertram Lewis And some of Henry Slack
And how he picks the corn, Who drove a horse and cart.
CHORUS CHORUS
Some talk of Willie Eckhardt Some talk of Annie Noble
Who sawed logs into planks Who to her children sang
And some of Hazel Forsyth And some of Delia Davis
Whose forefathers we give thanks. Before she became a Spang.
CHORUS CHORUS
Some talk of Pearl Davis Some talk of Magnus Mowat
How she cancelled many a stamp Who ran the store for gain
"
"GLASGOW PUPILS (cont)
And some of Amos Stover
Who made flour from the grain
CHORUS
DEARIE
Dearie, Do you remember when Dearie, do you remember when
Ellen Tracy taught at the school Slates were used instead of books
My, weren't the winters cool? And boys hung hats upon the hooks
Carryin' cordwood for the box stove Stone inkwells and
feathers for pens
Evr'y winters day And desks were made for two.
Test your memory, My Dearie Test your memory, my Dearie
Do you recall when Do you recall when
' Lisha Miller kept the hotel Fire destroyed the Parker store
And the livry stable as well? That sold supplies to the settlers of yore?
Chorus Dearie, do you remember when
DEARIE, life was chilly, Hich'ry sticks kept the rule
In the good old days gone by And the teacher was nobody's fool
Do you remember? The paths out back led to one seaters
If you remember, Where Eaton's catalogues were read?
Well, DEARlE, You're much older than I, Test your memory my Dearie,
Do you recall when
Children slid on Granny Reid's hill Or skated on the pond by the mill?
Added (1976)
The fate of the old school was undecided for awhile. Later it was offered for sale.
Mr. Earl Dowswell bought and tore down the building. The land was sold to
Dr. Vale who owned the surrounding land.
Education continued in the new school until June 1972 when it was closed and the
students bussed to Webb School. Grades seven and eight had been attending
Goodwood school prior to this.
The school remained empty until 1975 when a group sponsored by Western
University took occupancy. This group interested in archaeology were involved
in a ""dig"" of an ancient Indian Village at Atha.
"
\"CEMETERIES IN THE ALTONA WOMEN'S INSTITUTE DISTRICT
Cemeteries are usually places of sadness to one who has gone to visit the last
resting place of their loved ones. For me, who was gathering facts for the
""Tweedsmuir History"", they were interesting and I learned various things there.
There are five cemeteries In this area; two at Glasgow, two at Altona and one
at Atha. In rural areas we note that usually where there was a church, there was
also a burying place near by.
I shall begin with the two at Glasgow. At the time I visited these, ""Century City""
seemed to be a progressing project and I thought that I should get there ahead of
the bulldozer. I had no doubt but that the cemeteries would be spared in some
way, perhaps as the ones in the path of the St. Lawrence Seaway have been.
The north Glasgow Cemetery is a fair-sized one, located immediately north of the
Harry Noble property. It is well cared for by Mr. Noble. There was a hall at one
time just south of Gerald Noble's home which was used for religious services and
other meetings. This cemetery may have started from this, or It may have started
from a need in the area for a burying ground. Glasgow in early days had a store
and other small businesses and was no doubt considered a small, rural village.
The south Glasgow Cemetery is a small one and located in the church yard of a
Methodist Church. Only the cemetery remains. It is known as the Forsyth
Cemetery. The Forsyth family figured prominently in this church and many of the
stones bear their names, though there are others buried here too - no doubt
members or adherents of this church. This present generation of Forsyths see
that it is cared for. Older stones that had become cracked or fallen were
relocated in cement to preserve them and put in a row at the back of the cemetery.
The cemetery at Altona, near the four corners in the Mennonite church yard,
is around three sides of the church which stands in the front centre of the area.
Services are still held regularly here by the Mennonites and a few burials take place
from time to time in this cemetery, though mostly by families who a long time ago
acquired a plot. I presume that there isn't too much vacant space and its
location does not lend itself for any enlargement. Christian Stouffer donated one
acre of land for this church and cemetery. At first, a school house stood at the
north end of the cemetery. This was used also for preaching services.
A Mr. Daniel Kreider ministered the Word here in 1825. The date on the present
church is 1835 and a stone in the cemetery, that of Elizabeth Stouffer, bears the
same date so it is logical that this cemetery began then.
Another Altona Cemetery, that possibly many do not even know exists, is the Yake
Cemetery. It cannot be seen from the highway and is located on the
Pickering-Uxbridge townline, on the Pickering side. It is a little south and
east of what was once the Fred McNair property. A family by the name of
Speice purchased a parcel of land immediately north of it- The driveway to
their property was also the entrance to this burying ground. A few years ago
Pickering Township council decided to care for the ""uncared for"" cemeteries
in the township. Mr. Speice's son was hired to care for this one.
It is on a hill that I presume at one time was unworkable. The Yake
farm was immediately to the south, though the entrance to their farm was
from another road. I presume that a goodly number of the folk buries there
are early members of this family. Some stones date back to the early 1800's.
No burials have taken place here for some time.
A fifth cemetery is on the 8'th Concession of Pickering, east of Atha. It Is known
as the Gostick Cemetery. A Baptist church was located on the north corner
of the Gostick farm. First a small, log building was used and later a wooden
frame building. It is said that this frame building is now the rear Sunday
School area of the present Claremont Baptist Church. Soon after the first log
church was built here and services were being held, there was a death and a
need for a burying place. Mr. John Gostick gave a half acre of land, which was
at the end of the field, for this purpose. One dollar was paid to Mr. Gostick
for the land. Later he donated another half acre as more was needed.
The earliest stone is dated 1835 - erected for a young lady in her 20th year.
Two burials were known to have taken place befor this one but there are no
stones nor a record of them.
When this cemetery was started, members of the congregation named It
Machpelah, pronounced ""Mac-feela"" . The reason for this is most interesting.
In Genesis 23, it tells of Abraham's wife Sarah, who was 127 years old, dying
at Hebron in the land of Cannaan. Abraham mourned and wept for her.
He stood up before his dead and spake unto the sons of Heth saying,
""I am a stranger and so-journer with you, give me a possession of a burying place
with you that I may bury my dead-11 The sons of Heth replied, ""Thou art a mighty
prince among us, in thy choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead."" Abraham said,
""Entreat for me to Ephrom that he may give me the cave of Machpelah,
which he hath, which is at the end of the field, for as much money as it is worth.
"" Ephrom insisted that he take the cave of Machpelah as a gift but Abraham
would not have it this way, Abraham paid Ephrom 400 shekels of silver.
This was considered by the congregation as equal to one dollar.
Chapter 25 tells us that Abraham was also burled in the cave of Macphelah.
Mr. Frank Gostick cared for this cemetery while he lived there, until he moved
to Stouffville. Pickering township now pays someone to care for It.
The ""Sacred Acre,"" as they are sometimes referred to, very often, was on the
brow of a hill. I have my own ideas as to why this might have been, no doubt
because of the drier ground.
Burials are not frequent at any of these cemeteries now.
I wondered as I walked in these ""sacred areas"" if the larger, fancier stones
meant that those buried beneath had probably been more prosperous than others.
Then I observed that
"
"CEMETERIES IN THE ALTONA WOMEN'S INSTITUTE DISTRICT - con't.
largely the style and size of stones belonged to a certain era. The style of stones
changed with the years just as with other things. The inscriptions on the stones
have changed with the times also. Some of the early ones very much expressed
the feelings of those who laid their loved ones there. Dates also tell a story of
several in one family having passed away within a few days of each other,
particularly of children, whom I presume had contracted a disease usually fatal
until the discovery of the vaccination and preventive shots.
This is where I learned who the really early descendents of the district were.
The dates on many stones are still well preserved.
In addition to these five cemeteries, no doubt there are many, small private ones
no longer known by any mark or person. Sometimes a deceased was interred in a
little, private spot on the property. The casket and box, also the head marker,
often was made by the hand of a loved one.
Compiled by L.E. Byer, 1972.
The graveyards of our early pioneers seem to have been designed as places to
visit. Folk strolled through the burying grounds, and grave markers were meant to
be read and thought about.
It was an age when babies were born at home and sometimes mothers died in
childbirth. Too often diseases, now under control, snuffed out the lives of several
children of a family within a few days. Little tomb stones or the names and ages
of the deceased recorded on a parent or grandparent's stone bear witness of this.
Diphtheria or small pox were two diseases that took their toll quickly,
The earliest markers were of wood and made by members of the family or friends,
as were the boxes the bodies were to rest in. We can imaging the heartbreak
as a father worked quickly out in the driving shed to prepare a wooden box for
the deceased loved one. Those who died of highly infectious diseases were
buried quickly.
The first stones were rectangular slabs, white and had a rough sugary looking
surface. There usually was some carving of flowers as there is yet. Names and
dates were more precise then than now. They often including the time, the day,
and the month of passing.
These early stones most often bore ''Epitaphs"", a sentence or a little
verse in addition to times and dates. The messages were varied.
Some were a message to the living, others were a eulogy to the deceased.
Some are sentimental, others express a quirky personality of the deceased.
Many of these early stones are deteriorated due to the elements of weather.
An air moss seems to like their texture for growth.
Some Epitaphs in the Glasgow South Cemetery are:
While on earth I did remain, My sudden death proclaims aloud
I suffered much with grief and pain. To you my dying friends
But when the Lord, He thought it best, To be prepared to meet your God
Took me to His heavenly rest. When He the summons sends.
Friends and physicians could not save, Let our sudden exit from earth
This mortal body from the grave. Cause thee for heaven to prepare.
Nor can the grave confine it here,
When Christ our Saviour doth appear.
All Is peace - then do not weep, Death is not an endless sleep.
Loves chain is not forever riven,
We shall meet again in heaven.
Jesus has called our mother home
Her flesh lies mouldering in the tomb.
Poor child her days on earth were few, God grant her offspring may be blessed
She passed away like morning dew. And meet her in Eternal rest.
A little flower of love That blossnmed but to die Transplanted now above To
bloom with God on high.
"
Institute.
"The Erland Lee Museum Home
85th Anniversary Luncheon in honour of the founding of the Women’s Institute in Ontario
GALAXY BALLROOM – CONSTELLATION HOTEL
Thursday, August 12, 1982 – Rexdale
12:00 noon
1897 –1982
PROGRAMME
CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Keith Hiepleh
President, Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE GRACE
We thank Thee, Father of Thy care
Food, friends and kindliness we share;
May we forever mindful be
Of “Home and Country” and of Thee
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
GREETINGS
GUEST SPEAKER
Mrs. Ziny Westebring-Muller,
President, Associated Country Women of the World
THEME
”From a flicker to a flame”
Attended by Audrey Feasby and Bernice Andrews
"
"Jan. 22, 1983
Well-known couple mark 64th wedding anniversary
On Saturday, Mr and Mrs Stan Lewis, Vivian Road, Whitchurch-Stouffville,
celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Dozens of friends called to offer
congratulations. Mr and Mrs Lewis have two sons, Harold and Bob;
seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Stan and Adah (Reesor)
were married in 1919 at the present home of Dr. and Mrs Donald Petrie, Stouffville.
Their honeymoon was a trip by train to Toronto. –Jim Thomas.
April 6, 1983
Drugs, alcohol, women’s rights
To probe issues
Women’s Institute (WI) members across the province are taking a look at some
controversial issues this year.
Women’s rights, women’s use and misuse of drugs and alcohol, and microtechnology’s
effect on women in the workplace and in home, are only some of the suggested topics.
These topics, prepared by provincial conveners and executive members, are being
sent to branch conveners in a factsheet to help them plan 1983-84 meetings.
Each WI branch can decide which topics or sub-topics it is interested in developing,
Co-coordinating this effort is Joyce Canning, former home economics supervisor of
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF).
Canning says her new post as OMAF’s co-ordinator of rural women’s groups
strengthens the ministry’s tie with the 86-year-old WI.
”The ministry has always held a close tie with the Women’s Institute.
But this is the first time the ministry has been involved in developing specific
programming.”
The objectives of the WI, founded in 1897 by Erland Lee and Adelaide Hoodless,
remain unchanged. The WI encourages sound homemaking skills, develops women’s
leadership skills, identifies problems and needs in the community, promotes resource
materials and develops happier, more useful citizens.
Canning says stronger programs, using these suggested topics, reinforces these
objectives and may give the WI a united voice on some issues. The WI is one of the
largest women’s organizations in Ontario, boasting a membership of more than 26, 000.
Last year, 1,311 new members joined the group. But Canning hopes stronger programs
focusing on key women’s issues, will attract many more new members.
WI members
Jim& Viola McCreight 60th anniversary June 27, 1983
"
"Dale Pascoe, Greenwood Mrs. C. Warren, Ont. S. Pres.
Scholarship winner, 1983
County Picnic, Uxbridge Park July 1983 --
Bea Wideman, Bernice Andrews, Winnie Harris, Lillian Byer, Edna Ratcliff,
Merle Dickinson
--
Back row- Vi McCreight, Mary St. John, Bena Hodgson, Leone Wagg, Lillian Byer,
Bernice Andrews, Bea Wideman, Jean White, Merle Dickinson.
Front row- Luella Lewis, Grace Hoover, Edna Carruthers, Irene Slack Thena Davis,
Audrey Feasby –
Altona WI meeting Sept. 1983 Apron Parade Display at Summary Day for short course
at Goodwood Nov. 29/83 leaders were Grace Hoover and Gertrude Kerswill
--
Grace Hoover, Marion Jensen, Margorie Fretz, Irene Slack, Jean White –
Altona WI Pres. Edna Carruthers with Australian Visitor
"
"W.I. Activities
Bi-Centennial Wall Hanging
Presented by Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario to the Province of Ontario
June 11, 1984
On display at The Legislature, Queen’s Park, Toronto
Photo by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food –
Altona W.I. display for Quilting Summary Day Uxbridge, May 31, 1983
--
Ont. Co. picnic Uxbridge July, 1986
(R) Scholarship winner, 1986 (L) Prov. Bd. Director Luella Lewis –
McKercher Scholarship winner 1984, Roxanne Buckle, presented by Charlotte Johnson,
FWIO Pres., with Marion Wiseman Area Pres., Helen Hunter 1st Vice Pres, and Myrtle
Bradley, Sec. Treas., at Area Convention, Royal York Hotel. –
Ont. South Dist. Curators at Tweedsmuir Tea Sept. 1985
--
Sonya receives Women’s Institue honor
Sonya Meek is the reciepient of the 1984 Ontario County Women’s Institute scholarship.
The “Ethel Chapman” award recognizes her accomplishments in 4-H activities at
Standford. Sonya’s now attending the University of Waterloo in the Honors Geography
Co-operative program. She was pictured along with pets “Sambo” and “Taffy” while
home at the family farm, Sunday. –Chris Shanahan
MRS ROLPH DAVIS
Service was held Tuesday from the O’Neill Funeral Home for Mrs Rolph Davis of
Stouffville following her passing, July 25 in Scarborough Centenary Hospital,
Mrs. Davis, the former Bethena Brown, is survived by two sons, Norman and Donald;
one daughter, Marion Gibbons; two sisters, Velma and Verna and a brother Percy.
Interment was made at Stouffville Cemetery. 1986 –
Bena Hodgson, Bernice Andrew, Irene Slack, Win Harris, Luella Lewis, Jean White.
T.H. Display 1984 --
June ’83. On Wednesday, members of the Goodwood Women’s Institute were guests
of the Altona Institute. Mrs Paul Wellman of Claremont presented the enjoyable session
at the Stouffville Public Library. The Goodwood Institute wishes to thank Altona for this
visit.
--
MAKE DONATION Oct. ‘85
The Altona Women’s Institute made a donation to The Yellow Brick House in Aurora,
after hearing details of its operation from guest speaker Sue Wakling, at a meeting
Oct. 9, held in the home of Mrs Harvey Feasby, Stouffville. The Yellow Brick House is a
temporary place of refuge for abused wives and their children. Opened in 1979,
more than 100 wives and mothers have sought shelter there.
"
"1784 1984
BICENTENNIAL
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
THIS IS IN RECONITION OF THE CONTRIBUTION
MADE BY
Altona Women’s Institute
TO AGRICULTRE AND ITS RELATED INDUSTRIES
DURING ONTARIO’S BICENTENNIAL YEAR, 1984.
ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
AND FOOD, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO AWARD YOU
THIS CERTIFICATE AND EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS
FROM THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.
Dennis Timbrell
Minister
"
"ONTARIO BICENTENNIAL
QUILT CONTEST
This Ontario Bicentennial quilt has been hand made by some of the members of the
“Altona Women’s Institute” which has been on display at the Agricultural Museum, Milton,
Ontario. There were 163 entries and were judged in June and were on display until
August 31.
The prize winning quilt will be presented to the Queen on her visit to Canada in
September.
This project was sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food for
individuals and organizations to exhibit. This quilt was made according to
specifications to depict the “Ontario Bicentennial Theme”.
This quilt will be for sale, for further information (if interesting) please call –
640-3141 or 640-1618
--
Sept. 1984
LOVELY QUILT ON DISPLAY
An Ontario Bicentennial quilt, handmade by the Altona Women’s Institute,
is currently on display at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Library. The project was
sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. This quilt was one
of several on display at the Agriculture Museum near Milton. There were 163 entries.
It was made according to exact specifications to depict the Ontario Bicentennial Theme.
--
At Milton Display W.I. bus trip July 1984
"
"Tweedsmuir workshop attracts 100 curators
--attended by Luella Lewis
by Rena Cunningham
FWIO Public Relations Officer
One hundred district and area Tweedsmuir Curators of the Federated Women’s
Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) attended two days of workshops in Toronto in February.
FWIO Provincial Curator, Mrs. Ian Heales from Campbellford co-ordinated the four
workshops. Her session included information and discussion on assembling material,
what to include, and how to enter this in the book. She stressed that as many community
people as possible be involved when compiling information.
In another workshop, the delegates were addressed by Mrs. Hugh Reid, who explained
methods and materials to be considered when compiling family trees and house logs.
Mrs. Reid listed addresses of many resource centres where information may be
obtained or checked.
The next workshop, convened by Mr. Leo Warmski, outlined the wide scope of resource
materials that are available from the Ontario Archives, Toronto. He also commented on
the pros and cons of microfilming particularly in the areas of storage, preservation and
retrievability.
Following this, Mr. Poulin from Conservation Services, Heritage Branch, Ministry of
Citizenship and Culture, Toronto described home care for the Tweedsmuir Histories.
He talked about the proper methods and precautions to be taken when these books are
displayed, stored, carried, viewed or used for research. Delegates also received the
latest information regarding approved conservation methods and materials which they
should use when compiling historical data. Did you know that white cotton gloves should
be worn when handling paper of invaluable books or documents?
Within the next few months, expect to hear about local Tweedsmuir workshops convened
by the district and area curators who attended these sessions. Feb. 1985
--
Curator Workshop for Ont. N. and Ont. S. at Brooklin Apr. 22, 1985.
Luella Lewis, Isabel Annis, Kathleen Maye
--
Tweedsmuir Tea – Brooklin, Sept. 1985.
Ontario South Curators
"
"Altona W.I. 75th Anniversary, June 5, 1985.
Table set for Altona’s 75th Anniversary cake made by Theresa Lewis
--
Luella Leis receives Life Membership from Edna Carruthers, Br. Pres. (Viola McCreight)
quilt belonged to Audrey Feasby
--
W.I. anniversary
1985
By Jim Thomas
STOUFFVILLE—In honor of their 75th anniversary, members of the Altona Women’s
Institute hosted an entertaining and educational program, June 5, in the lower auditorium
of Stouffville United Church.
The ceremony included presentation of a Life Membership by President Edna
Carruthers to Luella Lewis. Mrs Lewis’ association with the Altona W.I. goes back 39
years.
A beautiful 75th Anniversary cake, decorated by Theresa (Mrs Tom) Lewis of Uxbridge,
was cut by Viola (Mrs Jim) McCreight, an Institute Life Member.
Guests were present from a wide area including- Brooklin, Claremont, Greenbank,
Kinsale, Shirley, Whitby, Honeydale, Goodwood, Bethesda and Stouffville.
Messages of congratulations were read by branch secretary, Marion Jensen from Murray
Wagg, Past-Master of Richarson Masonic Lodge, Stouffville; Jack and Mary Chambers,
Stouffville I.G.A.; Ross Stevenson, Provincial Minister of Agriculture; Eleanor Bunker,
a former member now living near Minden and Eileen Junkin, Provincial Director.
Guest entertainers included soloist Dorothy Reesor accompanied at the piano by Bertha
Souffer, and Louise Leonard, a specialist in “Napin Folding”,
A skit entitled “When Ladies Meet” included a cast of twelve –Edna Carruthers, Luella
Lewis, Lillian Byer, Audrey Feasby, Marjorie Fretz, Doris MacAloney, Marion Jensen,
Winnie Harris, Irene Slack, Bena Hodgson, Jean White and Grace Hoover.
On Wednesday afternoon, members of the Altona Women’s Institute celebrated their
75th anniversary with a special program in the lower auditorium of Stouffville United
Church. A highlight of the event was the presentation of a Life Membership Certificate
to Luella Lewis, (left), by Altona W.I. president, Edna Carruthers.
"
"Life Member cuts anniversary cake
Viola McCreight, a Life Member of the Altona Women’s Institute, cuts the 75th
anniversary cake at a special meeting held in the lower auditorium of Stouffville
United Church. Representatives from several Institutes in the area attended.
For story and additional photo see Page A-12. June 5 1985.
"
"Altona Women’s Institute 75th Anniversary
June 5, 1985
Name – Branch; Name – Branch
1 Dorothy J. Petch – Galedon: 32 Isabel Turner - Goodwood
2 Joan Tinker – Altona : 33 Vera Melton – Honeydale
3 Audrey Feasby – Altona: 34 Jean Carnochai – Honeydale
4 Doris MacAloney – Altona: 35 Flassii Thompson –
5 Luella Lewis – Altona: 36 Clara Warren – Honeydale
6 Marjorie Fretz – Altona: 37 Thelma McCreight – Honeydale
7 Irene Bacon – Bethesda: 38 Marion Young - Kinsale
8 Edna Carruthers – Altona: 39 Isabel Gregg - Claremont
9 Bethena Paris – Altona: 40 Sadie Ratcliff – Bethesda
10 Ruth Anne Cowan – Altona: 41 Dora Crawford - Brooklin
11 Jean White – Altona: 42 Muriel Wattin - Shirley
12 Marion Jensen – Altona: 43 Patricia Mielson - Shirley
13 Sylena Hamblyn – York East District: 44 Hazel Coates - Shirley
14 Florence Symes – Claremont: 45 Della Paisliy - Bethesda
15 Hilda Arnold – Stouffville: 46 Gladys Slack – Honeydale
16 Edna Allen – Stouffville: 47 Irene Philys - Honeydale
17 Helen McKean – Greenbank: 48 Margaret Lauren –
18 Bea Donneral – Greenbank: 49 Marion Wiseman – Bowmanville
19 L. Aldine Evans – Claremont: 50 Myrtle Bradley – Maple Grove
20 Annie Porter – Claremont: 51 Muriel Hoover –
21 Mary Davidson – Stouffville: 52 Edith Bacon –
22 Doris Marton – Claremont: 53 Laura Wagg –
23 Lauren Reynolds – Claremont: 54 Susan Anne Cogar – Altona
24 Bernice Andrews – Altona: 55 Karen Hunt – Visitor
25 Dorothy Reesor – Guest
26 Alma Johnson – Stouffville
27 Evelyn Jones – Claremont
28 Grace Hoover – Brooklin
29 Pearl Burnell –Goodwood
30 Elva Symes – Goodwood
31 Rita Parrall – Goodwood"
"Name – Branch
32 Albena Hodgson – Altona: 64 Ruby Sonley - Brooklin
33 Pat Macdonald. S/T – York East Dis.: 65 Marion Hall - Brooklin
34 Violet Drew – York East Dis.: 66 Jenenie Murdoch – Port Perry
35 Dorothy Wagg – Guest: 67 Pearl Gostick - Honeydale
36 Ruta Forsyth – Stouffville: 68 Lena Ogden - Altona
37 Laura Logan – Stouffville: 69 Viola McCreight - Altona
38 Annie Neal – Stouffville: 70 Eileen Young - Brooklin
39 Rachel McMillan – Greenbank: 71 Royce Irwin - Brooklin
40 Muriel Gibson – Greenbank: 72 Nora Walker - Brooklin
41 Margaret Couperthwaite – Greenbank: 73 Mildred Reeds – Reaboro
42 Alice Pradie – Claremont: 74 Eileen Junkin - Dunsford
43 Maeda Harding – Stouffville
44 Mary Hill – Claremont
45 Lillian Gauslin – Claremont
46 Dorothy Britton – Claremont
47 Ruby Bryant – Port Perry
48 Mule Wilkinson – Altona
49 Bertha Stouffer – Guest
50 Elaie Boland – Goodwood
51 Sabel Greenlalyh – Goodwood
52 Irene Tindall – Goodwood
53 Fern Keith – Bethesda
54 Dorothy McCausland – Fern’s sister
55 Velma Rauson – Stouffville
56 Win Harris – Altona
57 Isabel Nigh – Bethesda
58 Alva Thompson – Scugog Island
59 Maud Still – Kinsale
60 Rachel Griffin – R.R. Leusthill
61 Isabel Annis – Kinsale
62 Bessie L.M. Cosway – Brooklin
63 June Degeer – Shirley
64 Ruth Rodeny – Bethesda
Lillian Carr – Bethesda
Tune-“Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet”
On the old farm house verandah
There sat Sary and Miranda
Thinking of the long ago.
“Sary, I remember when
The Institute was first begun
And how we always had to go.
You could meet just everyone
And have yourself a lot of fun
75 years today since we were there.”
Then Miranda’s dim eyes brightned
And dear Sary’s heart it lightened
”Weren’t we then a sprightly pair”
Chorus:
Put on your new dress and hat
With the feather at the back
For we must be getting on our way
A looking might pretty
At our Institute to-day"
"FWIO Executive
FWIO President Charlotte Johnson is pictures with the 1984-85 executive. They are:
(back row from left to right) Isobel Taylor, southern area vice-president; Marie Johnson,
secretary; Margaret MacPherson, eastern area vice-president; Janet Hiepleh,
past president; Rena Cunningham, PRO. In the front row are: (left to right) Ruby
Robertson, western area vice-president; Mrs. Johnson, president; Elaine Williams,
treasurer. –
1985 F.W.I.C convention June, 1985 at London, Ont. U. of W. Ont. Delegates –
Luella Lewis, Eileen Junkin (Bd. Directors)
--
Here are the first year FWIO board directors. In the front row, from left to right,
are Wyn Allary, Dorothy Harnden and Eva Tuck. In the back row are Luella Lewis,
Evelyn Bothwell, Jeannie Butcher, Betty VanPatter, Thea Sinninghe and Winnie
Wilson. 1984-5 --
F.W.I.C. executive, Mrs. Noblitt at lecture
--
Central area Convention, Nov. 1985
Myrtle Bradley, sec. Treas.; Charlotte Johnson, Pres. FWIO; Isobel Taylor, Bd. Director;
Margaret Rellam, 2nd Vice. Pres.; Luella Lewis, Bd. Director; Dorothy Petch, Bd.
Director; Marion Wiseman, Pres.; Agnes Foster, P.R.O.; Eileen Junkin, Bd. Director;
Helen Hunter; 1st Vice-Pres. --
Some facts about Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada
Did you know Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada (FWIC)
* has a membership of about 50,000 women from coast-to-coast
* is completely nonsectarian, non-partisan and non-racist
* has a quarterly newsletter called Federated News
* offers scholarships for continuing education and prizes for various competitions
* prepares resolutions, briefs and submissions to promote changes in Canadian
legislation
* researches current issues and problems related to families and society
* is a constituent society of the Associated Country Women of the World.
For more information on FWIC, write to 251 Bank Street, Suite 606, Ottawa,
K2P 1X3, 613 234-1090.
H & C April, May 1988
"
"W.I. Hall, Milton, taken 1986 --
June 1/85
Women’s Institutes losing members
BRANTFORD (CP) – The Women’s Institutes of Ontario, unable to attract younger
women, are apparently on the way out as several branches with predominantly older
women disband. In the Brantford area alone, three of the rural-based organizations
have folded since January.
Marcie Johnson, provincial secretary of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario,
says the trend started when members failed to attract younger women into their groups
devoted to promoting family life and good citizenship.
”Certain branches have not changed with the times to include modern programs like
computers, women’s pensions and wills.” She says. “They don’t keep current and
haven’t been progressive enough to invite new programs and members.”
Johnston of Listowel estimated there are about 25,000 members across Ontario
who range in age from 30 to older than 90. She says the provincial executive does
not keep records of how many institutes in the province have disbanded.
Through the years, the focus of some institutes has evolved from primarily farming
concerns to more general topics. Many institute officers viewed these efforts as the
lifesaver of their organization, but the changes have not been enough to stave off
competition from other groups and the growth of such family-related activities as
minor sports.
--
Rural Organizations Specialist Ann Hankinson (left) presents 4-H Leader Awards to
Uxbridge’s Charlene Davis (5-Year Leader’s Certificate), Jean Stachow, Myrtle
(1st Year Leader’s Pin) and Helen Johnson, Bethesda Reach (1st Year Leader’s Pin).
Durham West 4-H participants gathered for an achievement program at Brooklin
My 3. 1986 – Chris Shanahan --
Co. picnic July 1985 scholarship (Bd. Director L. Lewis), winner Sherri Morris
--
The 79th District annual meeting of Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO)
was hosted by Egypt’s W.I. at the Church of the Nazarene on May 15, 1986.
The seven district W.I.s were well represented at the day long session.
In the picture Phyllis Storey, district president; Norma Smockum, Egypt president;
Margery Johnson, Belhaven president; Mary Hutson, Roches Point president;
Barbara Wright, Queensville president; Beth Brown, Sharon president; Esther Clark,
Union Street vice-president; Jeanette Jordon, Mount Albert president. Sixty-one
delegates attended. (YORK NORTH)
79th District W.I. meeting
The Tweedsmuir History book of Belhaven Women’s Institute incorporates much of
local W.I.’s interesting past. The Branch was chartered in 1927. In the picture,
charter member Blanche Pegg is seen explaining details to Mrs. Harold Lewis,
provincial board director, Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario at the annual
79th district meeting hosted by Egypt W.I. at the Church of the Nazarene May 15, 1986.
"
"WI Scholarship review
There are six different kinds of scholarships administered by the Women’s Institutes
in Ontario. The majority of them are handled at the provincial level with the investment
of money which has been raised at the branch level.
1. The Macdonald Entrance Awards (Adelaide Hoodless Memorial Fund) established
in 1947 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Women’s Institute.
The original investment was $19,000 and the amount of the award is $100. In 1985,
15 awards of $300.00 each will be offered.
2. The Dorothy Futcher Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship established in 1963.
The Florence P. Eadie Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship established in 1963.
The Sixtieth Anniversary Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship established in 1979.
The Hoodless Lee Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship established in 1981.
Each of the above four scholarships is worth $200 and is awarded annually to a 4-H
member for post-secondary studies. The scholarships rotate each year among the
four regions –east, west, north and south.
3. There are 27 district, county and area scholarships awarded annually with money
invested, in trust, by the provincial treasurer. Twenty-five of these are ratified at the
spring semi-annual board meeting and two at the annual board meeting in November.
The current amount of each award is $200. They are as follows:
Spring Ratification
- Bruce County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Cochrane-Timiskaming District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Dufferin County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Elgin Country Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Grey County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Flora Durnin)
- Huron County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Kingston Area Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Annie G. Haggerty)
- Lambton County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Leeds East District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- London Area Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Maryn Pardy)
- Manitoulin District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Middlesex County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Northern Area Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Northumberland West District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Ontario County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Ethel P. Chapman)
- Ottawa Area Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Oxford County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Peel County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Perth North District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Jean Scott)
- Simcoe Area North Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Simcoe Area South Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Thunder Bay District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- Wellington South District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
- York County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Anna P. Lewis)
Fall Ratification
- Algoma District Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship (Lillian Petty)
- Prince Edward County Ontario Women’s Institute Scholarship
4. The Helen M. McKercher Scholarship, established in 1976, is awarded annually to
a graduate in Home Economics from a Canadian university of college who is
continuing her studies at a higher level. The amount of this award in 1985 is $1100.
Half of the award is granted at the beginning of the course and the other half upon
completion.
5. The International Scholarship was established in 1962 with a sum of $50,000
raised over a period of four years. This money is used to train young women from
underdeveloped countries so they may go back and teach their own people.
The most recent recipient is Libbylu Allen of Jamaica, who is accomplishing some
excellent work in that country.
6. Self-administered County/District/Branch scholarships
- Dorcas Grier Memorial Scholarship ($110) Pineridge W.I. in Simcoe North.
- Bereniece Ballentyne Women’s Institute Scholarship – Frontenac District W.I.
- Prescott County W.I. Scholarship – Prescott County W.I.
- Kent East W.I. Scholarship – Kent East W.I.
- Thunder Bay Rally Committee Runner-up Scholarship ($25)
- T.B. Rally Committee.
At the provincial level, the scholarship committee is composed of the President, Past
President, Secretary, Treasurer, a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year Board Director and the Rural
Organizations Coordinator, OMAF. This committee meets twice a year at the time of
the annual and semi-annual meetings.
For more background information on scholarships, see the Ontario Women’s Institute
Story, pg. 53, 56, 113-115.
P.s. 90th Anniversary scholarship for furthering a WI member education.
Information compiled by Joyce Canning, ROS Branch. Home & Country Winter 1985
--
FWIO 90th Anniversary Scholarship is just being established. These scholarships will
be available to WI members who are planning to reenter the education field to update
or further their education. There will be four scholarships awarded annually – one for
each region – beginning in 1987 on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the
Women’s Institute.
"
"Area Convention, Nov. 1, 2, 1986 – Head Table
L. Lewis (missing), Bd. Director; Agnes Foster, PRO; Margaret Kellam, 2nd Vice
Pres; Eileen Junkin, Bd. Director; Myrtle Bradley, Sec. Treas.; Pat Ferraro, Speaker;
Marion Wiseman, Pres.; Charlotte Johnson, FWIO Pres.; Helen Hunter, 1st Vice Pres.;
Dorothy Petch (missing), Bd. Director
--
The Audience (about 300).
--
OIL CITY – Written by a former Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario board
director, the poem is called We’re Going To Show You…and that’s just what members
of Central Enniskillen Women’s Institute did to this reporter for daring to suggest
WIs are “on the way out”.
We’re going to show you
As well as we can
How the world sees the women
Who make up our clan
Women’s Institute members
Are normal, you know,
But the way the world seems us
Is not always so.
There’s a terrible image
We must put to rest
That we’re all nearing ninety
And way past your best
We’re seen as the grandmas
Who drink lots of tea
And talk of the way
That the world used to be.
Home & Country, Fall 1985
--
WHITE- James H., November 9, 1996
Jean E., February 13, 2005.
Though your smiles are gone forever,
And your hands we cannot touch,
Still we have the memories,
Of the ones we loved so much.
We think of you in silence,
We often speak your names,
But all we have are memories,
And your pictures in frames.
Your resting places we visit,
And put flowers there with care,
But no one knows the heartache,
As we turn and leave you there.
Frank, Marie, Norma, Brad, Ken, Marilyn and families.
--
In loving memory of James Henry White of Stouffville; beloved husband of Jean Bielby;
Dear father of Frank & Marie of Lemonville; Norma Jean & Bradford of Oakwood;
Kenneth & Marilyn of Port Perry; Beloved grandfather of 12 grandchildren & 15
great-grandchildren. July 21, 1913 – November 9, 1996
Jean- Altona WI member
--
Jean, Jim White 50 years, March 30, 1986
--
Yesterday is gone forever,
Not one step can we recall,
It has joined the endless ages
Leaving memories – that is all!
Let past failures not defeat us,
Nor our victories beguile,
Not spend our days in idle musing,
Time is passing all the while.
We must sponsor many projects,
In cooking, crafts and fair work too.
We will assist and cheer the aged and lonely
And to our motto, let’s be true.
The convenors work so faithfully,
To cover every phase,
With papers, speakers and much more
To fill our busy days.
So courage, sisters, let’s go forward
Following the Hoodless light,
That we in dedicated labors
Will prove Institute a beacon bright!
The future days await our action,
In promoting things worthwhile,
Ever serving Home and Country,
Just embracing all mankind!
Mrs. L.H. Janes
White Lake W.I.
"
"Open houses planned at homesteads.
Why not venture through The WI Triangle? 1986
Few of us would want to venture through he Bermuda Triangle, but how does the
prospect of an excursion through The WI Triangle grab you?
Chances are, you’ve already passed through parts of The WI Triangle without even
realizing it. Afterall, there’s been little publicity to promote tours through Ontario’s own,
unique geographic triangle.
But all that will be changing in the near future as the Federated Women’s Institutes of
Ontario, in conjunction with the Ontario Agricultural Museum (OAM) in Milton, circulate a
brochure encouraging groups to visit the three historic WI sties which make up the
points of The WI Triangle as part of a special one-day tour.
John Wiley, general manager of the OAM – which houses the Women’s Institute Hall –
says 50,000 copies of the brochure will be distributed through WIs and through the OAM,
the Erland Lee Museum in Stoney Creek and the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead
in St. George.
The Women’s Institute Hall at the agricultural museum in Milton dates back to 1838
when it was used as a school, community hall and union church in Trafalgar Township.
From the 1870s until the 1890s, the hall (formerly known as the Sheridan Community
Building), took on the new role as a Temperance Hall. It was later used for storage
purposes and as a workshop and was moved to the OAM for reconstruction in 1976.
When the OAM opened in 1979, the old community hall had taken on yet another new
role as the Women’s Institute Hall. The time frame decided upon for restoration of the
building was 1919-1929.
The WI Hall features displays depicting the history of the organization and some of the
group’s achievements over the years.
While at the Ontario Agricultural Museum, you may also wander through 32 hectares of
scenic landscape, with a clear view of the magnificent Niagara Escarpment.
In addition to the WI Hall, you may visit historical farmsteads and chat with the farmer,
blacksmith or weaver as they perform their trade. Discover early recipes at the open
hearth and let your imagination journey back in time as you explore the restored
buildings on the site. Special events and demonstrations highlight the museum
season with antique cars, sheep shearing, entertainment and crafts.
The Erland Lee (Museum) Home, situated at 552 Ridge Road, Stoney Creek,
is home of the co-founder of the world’s first WI. The home is now owned and
maintained by the FWIO.
Erland Lee was a prominent, public-spirited, broad-minded farmer and followed
his ancestors in mixed farming with purebred Jersey cattle, fancy dairy butter,
maple syrup and fruit.
In the autumn of 1896, Mr. Lee attended a meeting of the Farmers’ Experimental
Union, held at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, where he heard a stirring
address given by Adelaide Hunter Hoodless of Hamilton. Inspired by her ideas and
enthusiasm, Erland Lee invited Mrs. Hoodless to speak at a ladies’ night of the
Saltfleet Farmer’s Institute.
“The Erland Lee Museum in Stoney Creek (top) and the Women’s Institutes Hall at the
Ontario Agricultural Museum in Milton (inset) form two corners of The WI Triangle.”
The following week, Mr. Lee and his wife traveled the roads of Saltfleet Township
encouraging all women to attend a meeting in Squire’s Hall, Stoney Creek on
February 19, 1897. It was at that meeting the first WI in the world was organized.
The Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead, birthplace of the founder of the WI,
is located near St. George – one kilometre west of the junctions of Highways 24
and 5 East on Blue Lake Road.
It was purchased by the FWIC in 1959, and was restored as the rural home in which
Addie Hunter resided from 1857 until 1881, when she married John Hoodless.
Adelaide Hunter Hoodless beloved that rural women could discuss their problems
and work together through WI to improve their standard of homemaking and
citizenship. A natural leader and forceful speaker, Mrs. Hoodless introduced the
teaching of domestic science into Ontario schools and obtained funds for the building
of the MacDonald Institute at Guelph.
Incidentally, plans are underway for some special events to take place at both the
Adelaide Hoodless Homestead and the Erland Lee (Museum) Home during the winter
season.
A Christmas open house at the Hoodless Homestead on December 9 will feature an
exhibit of heritage Christmas decorations, carol singing, holiday treats and tea.
Christmas at the Lee will be celebrated December 4 and 5 with old-fashioned
decorations and festivities with a heritage flavor.
And be sure to mark your calendar for February 17, 1986 when the third annual
Heritage Day open house will take place at the Hoodless Homestead.
The event is a combined celebration of Heritage Day (the third Monday in February),
the anniversary of Mrs. Hoodless’ birthday (February 27, 1858) and the 89th
anniversary of the formation of the first WI (February 19, 1897).
Displays and demonstrations of heritage crafts by local artisans will be featured.
"
"1986 – Rest Area at Royal Winter Fair Nov. 1986 – new Prov. Pres. Mrs. Margaret
Munro, and FWIC Pres. Mrs. Bea Reeves, taken at Prov. Bd Meeting Nov. 1986 –
FWIO Executive for 1986-7.
Leanne Schmidt, Thea Singinghe, Elaine Williams, Treas.; Marcie Johnston, Sec.;
Isobel Booker, Charlorre Johnson, Past Pres.; Margaret Munro Pres.; Rena Cunningham,
P.R.O. –
Emily J. Guest – June 9, 1985
W.I. activist Hall of Fame nominee, Her life…
Miss Emily Guest was born on a farm near Birr, on April 27, 1871 in Middlesex County.
She attended the University of Toronto and received her M.A. in 1901. She taught high
school in Parkhill and Belleville in the early 1900’s.
She was impressed by the high ideals of Adelaide Hoodless, and being a lover of the
country and country people, she could see a great future for rural women through the
medium of the Women’s Institutes. She organized branches in Parkhill and Belleville as
well as Birr. During this time she initiated medical inspection in schools in Middlesex
County. In the oncoming years she visited every District in Ontario, and left her mark by
her leadership in program planning.
The First World War had a traumatic effect on Miss Guest. She volunteered her services
to Great Britain, and upon her arrival there in 1916 was appointed the Canadian
representative with the British Red Cross. In 1917 she was asked to join the staff of the
Agricultural Organization Society to assist in the food conservation program by
organizing Women’s Institutes in association with Mrs. James Watt. Scotland was
Miss Guest’s assignment. She spent her time lecturing and helping to organize
Women’s Rural Institutes. When Miss Guest returned to Canada in 1919 she was
presented with a special jeweled pin from the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.
Upon her return to Canada she devoted the rest of her life to writing, and to Women’s
Institute work in the Administrative Department of the Parliament Buildings, Toronto.
Miss Guest died in 1936. After her death the jeweled pin was presented to the Birr
Women’s Institutes to be worn by each President in turn.
"
"Life Memberships – Sept. 1986
Grace (Bielby) Hoover, Gertrude Keswill
--
For safe-keeping at Town Library
St. Tribune Apr. 8/87
The Stouffville Liberal Women’s Association was active in town from 1920 to 1973.
The last president was Mrs. Elva Boyd. The last secretary was the late Mrs. Viola
McCreight. On Friday, the records were turned over to the Town. They’ll be maintained
at the Library and the Museum. Holding the last record book is Mrs. Boyd along with
Councillor Jim Raw. Members in the Association’s final year (1973) were –
Vi McCreight, Elva Boyd, Myrtle Watson, Millie Hynes, Lillian Byer, Peggy Lynde,
Lena Stanbury, Elizabeth Kamps, Janet McBride, Helen Dewitt, Lucy Sandersan,
Agnes Wallace and Anne Lehman.
--
York North District Women’s Institutes held its 80th anniversary meeting at Mount
Albert United Church on Monday, May 11, 1987. It was an appropriate location as
the Mount Albert Branch was also celebrating its 80th birthday. Representatives
attended from Belhaven, Egypt, Mount Albert, Queensville, Roches Point, Sharon
and Union Street. Seen in the picture at centre Mrs. Irv Wagg, President Mount Albert WI,
flanked by (left to right) Mrs. Harold Lewis, federated Women’s Institute of Ontario
Board Director; Mrs. Frank Jordan, District President. --
Altona WI members.
"
"Weekender, July 11, 1987
Book inspired by genealogy
By Denise McDonald
Louise Hope’s genealogy studies have unearthed historical family information that
might have otherwise remained lost in time.
”Genealogy traces a family’s lineage, its background and explains such
characteristics as why they moved and what they did,” the R.R. 3, Claremont
resident explained. “You just start out by questioning everyone in the family,
look into old bibles and newspapers and go back into records left behind in archives.”
According to Mrs. Hope, her life-long interest in the family was spurred on by an uncle
who gave her information on her own family before he died,
“I set out in 1970 not knowing much about it,” she said. “After visiting many cemeteries
and libraries, I thought I had completed my family tree. It wasn’t until later a fellow
teacher at Markham District High School introduced me to genealogy.”
While Mrs. Hope’s endeavors in tracing her own family’s roots were successful,
she admits they weren’t without their difficulty.
”I couldn’t find out anything about one of my grandfather’s first cousins who lived in
the next township,” Mrs. Hope noted. “It turned out our family was Scottish Presbyterian
and when he married a Catholic, they wrote him off. I didn’t discover him until I found
the clue in some probate records in North Dakota.”
She also claimed to have discovered another cousin who was famous, having founded
a university and newspaper in China.
Although Mrs. Hope never formally taught genealogy during her 17 years as head of
the Family Studies department at MDHA, she has passed on her knowledge through
night courses at the high school and Centennial College.
”I mainly teach people how to get started, where the records are how to use them and
keep track of the resulting information,” she said.
Taking her interest in genealogy one step further, Mrs. Hope became involved with the
Ontario Genealogical Society 13 years ago and has since become director of the
Halton, Peel, York, Toronto chapter.
”The Society’s main goal is to promote genealogical research, good standards and
ethical practices,” she explained.
”After all, you’re dealing with a lot of touchy family matters.”
Mrs. Hope’s future goals include writing a genealogical textbook which she hopes to
begin next October.
“I’ve got the idea pretty much in mind,” she said. “I’ve taught it so many times.
I know exactly what people don’t know.”
Stouffville-area resident Louise Hope plans to devote more time to genealogy
following her recent retirement as long-time head of the Family Studies department at
Markham District High School. Altona W.I. member
--
W.I.s celebrate anniversary with contest
Feb. 18, 1987 Caledon.
The rich treasury of Canadian crafts practiced by Women’s Institute members across
Canada will be tapped this spring in a contest that honors the 90th anniversary of the
W.I.s in this country.
W.I. members are invited to submit a craft of their own design, using any material,
together with up to 200 words underscoring the craft’s history and significance to the
craftperson. Deadline for entries I March 31, and prizes will be awarded at the W.I.’s
regional conference this summer.
Jointly sponsored by the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario, and Hands,
the Canadian crafts magazine, the contest was devised by Hands Publisher Isobel
Warren as a memorial to her mother, Minnie Warren Lewis, a life-member of the
Seymor West W.I. in south-eastern Ontario.
”Crafts are the wrap and weft of Canada’s cultural heritage,” Ms Warren explained.
“And the women’s institutes over their 90 years of service, education and fellowship
to Canadian women, are surely the loom upon which our finest craft traditions have
been created and preserved. The W.I. has always offered craft instruction to its
members, ensuring the survival of techniques that otherwise would now be extinct.
Now that crafts are enjoying a revival across Canada, it’s appropriate to give the
W.I. its due, reminding both the institute and the public at large of the rich contribution
the W.I. has made to Canadian crafts.”
Noted Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester, a keen craftsperson, will act as contest
judge, together with Gina Brown of Calgary, hostess of TV’s Creative Hands, and
Grace Campbell, of Iona Station, Ontario, a W.I. life member and accomplished
person in many media.
Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50, the opportunity to be published in Hands
Magazine and a chance at the grand prize, the Minnie Warren Lewis Award of Merit,
are offered.
The contest is open to any Canadian member of the W.I. The institute welcomes any
Canadian woman, whether city or country dweller. Fees range from $3 to $10.
For information on joining the W.I., write to Women’s Institute of Canada, 46 Elgin
Street, Ottawa, Ontario. K1P 5K8.
For contest entry forms and rules, write to Women’s Institute Contest, Box 340,
Station L, Toronto, Ontario M6E 4Z2. --
conducted and displayed winners at North Bay FWIO conference by Luella Lewis
1987 –
Are You Ready?
Deadline for Entries: March 31
Hands join hands with the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario in a contest
open to crafters anywhere in Canada. Join the W.I. *submit your craft entry, and
compete for cash prizes and international recognition.
Entry must consist of a hand-made craft of the W.I. member’s own design, together
with pattern, step-by-step instructions and a description (maximum 200 words) of the
craft’s history and significance to the crafter. Entries that reflect Canada’s heritage
and multicultural motifs and methods are encouraged.
Winning entries will be published in Hands Magazine.
Contest deadline is March 31, 1987.
Award of Merit: in addition to cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50. Hands Magazine
will donate a special prize, the Minnie Warren Lewis Award of Merit, to the W.I. life
member whose entry is selected by the judges. The award is dedicated to all W.L. life
members and named in memory of a valued life member of Seymour West Women’s
Instisute in Ontario.
The decision of the judges shall be final. Entries will be returned to competitors,
upon request, following announcement of winners.
Contest is open to any member of the Women’s Institute in Canada. W.I. membership
fees range from $3 to $10 and any Canadian woman, whether town or country dweller,
is eligible to join. For address of your nearest Women’s Institute, write to National
Headquarters, Federated Women’s Institute of Canada. Room 28, 46 Elgin St.,
Ottawa, Ont. K1P 5K6.
Watch future issues of Hands for entry forms and more contest information.
--
1987 He comforts kids
By Leila Whitcombe
STOUFFVILLE – On Wed., May 13 at 2:45 p.m., Stouffville, Bethesda and Altona
Women’s Institute members will have an opportunity to see and hear Murray Dryden at
Parkview Village auditorium.
In 1970, this unique gentleman, with a $3,000 contribution of his own money, began
distributing bedkits to needy children around the world.
The project was meant to ensure that these kiddies would not sleep on the cold,
unprotected ground.
A donation of $28 provides a child with one mattress, two pairs of cotton sheets,
one pillowcase, two pairs of pyjamas, one rubber sheet, one blanket and one
mosquito net.
After the basic bedding, surplus money is used to purchase washers and soap.
To keep costs down, the bedkits are manufactured in the countries where they’re
distributed. This practice also provides employment for needy people.
The program is called :”Sleeping Children Around The World”. Mr. Dryden and a
dedicated team of volunteers, pay all their own expenses as they travel to distant
countries distributing their kits. Photos are taken of the recipients so donors can be
certain their money has been used in a proper way.
As late as last December, Mr. Dryden traveled to the high Himalayas and there,
working around-the-clock, ensured 2,000 children they’d be sleeping warmly.
In his words, “enjoying the love, God is showering on his little ones.”
Murray Dryden is well-known in Whitchurch-Stouffville. He operates a Christmas
tree farm in the area of McCowan and Vandorf Roads. Famous sons, Ken, (Montreal
Canadians), and Dave, (Buffalo Sabres), are remembered by all local hockey fans.
They and sister Judy are enthusiastic supporters of their father’s work.
The Institute ladies and their friends will meet for a desert luncheon at 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Dryden will arrive at 2:45.
All residents of the community are invited. Those present will be afforded an
opportunity of contributions a bedkit or any amount of money they wish to donate.
"
"FWIO – Hands Craft Contest
Hands Magazine and the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario are sponsoring a
craft competition. Any WI member can enter a hand-made craft article of their own
design. Accompanying the article must be an explanation of the pattern and step-by
step instructions, as well as a 200 word (maximum) history of the craft and its
significance to the crafter. Entries which reflect Canada’s heritage in multicultural
motifs and methods are encouraged.
A profile of the winner and her craft will appear in Hands Magazine. All entries
should be sent to Hands Magazine, Canadian Crafts Project, P.O. Box 340,
Station L, Toronto, M6E 4Z2 by March 31, 1987. First prize is $100, 2nd prize is $75
and 3rd prize is $50. Twenty-five runners-up will receive subscriptions to Hands
Magazine. A special Minnie Warren Lewis Award of Merit will be given to a WI life
member whose entry is selected by judges. – Contest Entries at FWIO 90th
Anniversary at North Bay July, 1987. – Display of contest entries --
The Winners WI/Hands contest draws exciting array of crafts --
WI Contest Judges Announced
Judges for the 1987 craft contest sponsored by Hands Magazine and the Women’s
Institutes of Ontario has been announced.
Gina Brown of Calgary, an outstanding craftperson in many media and hostess of the
half-hour weekly TV show, Creative Hands, will join Grace Campbell of Iona Station,
Ont., an expert craftperson and long-time member of the Women’s Institute to judge
entries. Maureen Forrester.
Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded. Entries must consist of a hand-made
craft of original design, together with its pattern and instruction for making, along with no
more than 200 words describing the craft’s history and significance to the crafter.
Winning entries will be published in Hands Magazine. Deadline for entries is
March 31, 1987 and official entry forms will be published in the January issue of Hands.
Entrants must be W.I. members. For address of nearest W.I., write Federated Women’s
Institutes of Canada, Rm. 28, 46 Elgin St., Ottawa, Ont. K1P 5K6. – Hands, Nov/Dec /86
--
FIBRE CRAFTS were favorites of W.I. contestants. Above, the three winners were a
gossamer-soft felted top in iris motif by Michaela Welti, of Pemberton, B.C.,
traditional macramé wallhanging by Miriam MacLean-Mackenzie of Westville, N.S.
and crocheted sweater-jacket by Stella LaRocque of Fruitvale, B.C. Life member
award goes to Mabel Franklin of Dryden, Ont. For her carved ‘bushkin’.
"
"Happy 90th birthday, Women’s Institutes!
Katherine Garwood
On Monday, July 6, 1987, women from all over Ontario headed to the 90th Anniversary
Convention of Women’s Institutes in North Bay.
Building for Tomorrow was the theme. It is difficult not to keep looking back at past
achievements of the Women’s Institute with great pride. However, the over 1,000
members celebrating in North Bay were constantly encouraged over the four days to
look ahead to the great challenges facing the Institute in the future.
R. Alex Sim of Guelph, sociologist and rural specialist on the “new rural community”,
addressed the convention and brought to their attention the death of many rural
communities across Canada. Local schools are being closed and children bussed
further away; local churches are reporting dwindling congregations; local roads are
being widened and straightened; local farm land is being divided up at an accelerating
and frightening rate for multiple housing. Mr. Sim felt it not too strong to say that “the rural
community is a raft being swept down the river of change.” He pointed out the
importance of the family and the community to a healthy existence. Without these he
feared a break down of the very fiber of society. Mr. Sim appealed to the many branches
of the Women’s Institute to become the strong voice actively resisting the erosion of their
individual communities.
A very special guest, delighting the women, was Libbylu Allen of Jamaica. Libbylu had
received a scholarship from the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario to complete
en education in early childhood training. The FWIO now pays her salary in Jamaica to
work together with the Jamaican Federation of Women toward the improvement of rural
pre-schools in Jamaica. Libbylu gave a very eye-opening report on the poor rural
condition, the unsanitary facilities, and the lack of teaching aids. The reported the
successes since her involvement with these schools and expressed sincere
appreciation to the FWIO for their continuing support. (For anyone who would like to
contribute teaching aids, clothing and/or money to enhance the work Libbylu is doing,
send it to the Jamaican Federation of Women, 74 Arnold Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica,
West Indies.)
During the convention, addresses and greetings were given by Dr. Ellen McLean of
Nova Scotia, president of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).
Dr. McLean spoke of the assistance given to rural women throughout the world.
She reminded her audience of the power nine million women (the membership of
ACWW) have to effect change, speaking in one voice. Greetings were also given by
Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada (FWIC) President Beatrice Reeves and
FWIO President Margaret Munro.
Members attending the convention learned the Key to Success from Rosalie Wysocki,
a leader in the field of personal development and one of Canada’s foremost speakers
on the subject. They attended a variety of workshops (see pages 14 and 15).
And many members toured Lake Nipissing on the Chief Commanda II while others
toured points of interest in North Bay, such as the home of the Dionne quintuplets.
There was also entertainment at the New Arts Centre in North Bay, as members from
across Ontario joined together to present 90 years of fashion, song and skits.
This evening closed with a magnificent eight-foot cake facsimile, highlights with
colored lights, being wheeled onto the stage, followed by over 50 ladies parading
down the aisles and onto the stage with sparklers held high.
The convention ended with a banquet for 900 at the Memorial Gardens Arena in
North Bay. There, members celebrating from their 65th year to their first year as
members of the Women’s Institute, from big and small rural communities across
Ontario joined together to reflect on the wonderful achievements of the past 90
years and to look to the bright achievements of the future.
Katherine Garwood is the public relations officer for Halton WI.
--
A fashion show, depicting the styles through the last 90 years, was part of the 90th
birthday celebrations. Above Velda Thompson models an outfit she made herself.
Alex Sim (above right) spoke to the convention participants about the changing rural
scene. And, a creative way to illustrate some years of WI history was presented by
Louise Long (left) and Lois Urstadt. (90th anniversary photos by Carol Stewart-Kirkby.)
"
"90th Anniversary North Bay July 1987 -
North Bay July 1987 -
Dr. Ellen MacLean: Pres. ACWW; Velda Thompson: Hostess; Mrs. Beatrice Reeves:
Pres. FWIC -
Beatrice Wideman: ALtona WI; Dr. Ellen MacLean: Pres. ACWW; Luella Lewis: ALtona
WI; Attended by MArion Jensen: Altona WI, Bernice Andrews -
Anna P. Lewis: EWENS; Libby Lou Allen: Jamaica; Margaret Munroe: Pres. FWIO;
Education supposrted by FWIO"
"W.I.’s in the NEWS
Women’s Institute Elections – April 1987
By Doris Lounsbury
Violet Wagg was elected president of Mount Albert Women’s Institute at the April
annual meeting. Other officers are Vice Pres. – Shirley Wheeler; Secretary – Helen
Harrison; Public Relations Officer – Doris Lounsbury; Programme Co-ordinator
Jeanette Jordan.
A delicious luncheon with guests 4-H leader and District President, Dorothy Jordan.
Reports of year’s meetings were presented. Plans were made for hosting the District
Annual Meeting, May 11, in the United Church and for catering for Clara Lumau’s sale,
Saturday, May 9. --
Uxbridge Times-Journal, Wed, November 19, 1986
School board bands smoking
By Wayne Geen
Following on the heals of the Region of Durham, the Durham board of education has
decided to ban all smoking in its buildings by Sept. 1, 1988, but not before a lengthy
debate. The region has banned smoking in all of its buildings as of July 1, 1987.
“The Durham board of education can’t be a leader in this motion, but it can be an
eager follower,” said Vice-chairman and Whitby Trustee Ian Brown.
Before the Sept. 1, 1988 date was reached, however, a 12-member committee
said the no-smoking date should be a year later, 1989.
“I think trustees should be reasonable and go along with the original date,” said
Oshawa Trustee Cathy O’Flynn.
Mr. Brown added that the board should make it clear that “what we teach in health
class is what we believe in.”
“Every day 300 Canadians sit in their doctor’s office and are told they have cancer,”
said Gary Kitchen, an Oshawa trustee, about the cancer rate.
--
4-H Winner – June 1988
Tracy Andrews of Ballantrae received the prestigious Anna P. Lewis award recently
at a meeting of the Nobleton Women’s Institute. The Stouffville District Secondary
School student completed her 18th 4-H project at the meeting. Making the
presentation was Anna Ewing (nee Lewis), the former Ontario director of home
economics for the Women’s Institute. --
W.I. Luncheon
By Elsie Boland
GOODWOOD – Ladies from Claremont and Sandford joined Goodwood Women’s
Institute for a successful Valentine meeting at the Community Centre Feb. 2, 1987.
W.I. members enjoyed a beautiful luncheon during the gathering, which was chaired
by Elva Symes in place of Mary Elson. Elsie Boland led a program on the topic of
‘Being a W.I. Member’, and each group was asked to do her part.
Sandford members delivered readings which provided a good laught or two, while a
Claremont representative demonstrated exercises designed to keep you living and
loveing longer.
Mary Fierheller and Pat Redwood sang a duet commemorating the 25th anniversary
of the U.C.W. organization.
Mrs. Redwood also displayed some of her impressive painted art work.
One gentleman was present at Monday’s session but he he slept though the entire
proceedings.
As the meeting came to an end, everyone concluded that we learned much while
enjoying a good day. --
Altona Institute member at provincial convention – 1988
Concern for the environment , concern for the future of rural Ontario, concern at the
needless waste of garbage and the thought that something must be done now by the
women of rural Ontario led over 400 women mainly Women’s Institute members to
attend a Conference dealing with these topics.
Titled Educate/Initiate the three day Conference organized by the Federated
Women’s Institutes of Ontario, held at Queen’s University Kingston, May 13-15
provided those who attended the opportunity to learn many of the aspects of Waste
Management and Recycling. As well the workshops helped the members gain new
skills so they can go out into the community and help promote the various ways that
our garbage can be better utilized.
The key note speaker on the Saturday evening was the Honorable Jim Bradley,
Minister of the Environment for Ontario. On the panel discussing ways that our
garbage can be used effectively were: Al Symmonds, Assistant Regional Director
of the Environment, Kingston; John Hansen, Executive Director Recycling Council of
Ontario; Pat Salter, Deputy Reeve Township of Peel and a Women’s Institute Member
and Elizabeth Munt, Co-ordinator of Conserve Kingston.
Among those who participated in the Conference was Luella Lewis, a member of
Altona Women’s Institute and Central Ontario Area Co-ordinator. --
A follow up: “Waste management” was the topic discussed at last week’s
Goodwood Women’s Institute meeting. A pamphlet entitled Let’s Practise the Four
R’s of Waste Management were distributed.
They are – Reduce, Re-use, Recycle and Recover. Everyone can participate in the
plan to alleviate the garbage problem. It is hoped a recycling depot can be set up in
Goodwood village. --
Altona WI member Bernice Andrews also attended.
--
Institute marks 75th milestone – St. Tribune Aug. 3, 1988
PINE ORCHARD – The 75th anniversary of Pine Orchard Women’s Institute was held
June 29 at the original Friends’ Quaker Church. The president, Mrs. Dike was in the
chair. Mrs. Mereweather served as secretary.
Mayor Fran Sainsbury was in attendance and brought greetings from the Town.
She presented the branch with several lovely sketches.
Durham-York MPP Bill Ballinger was represented by Linda Irving. She presented the
membership with an engraved plaque on behalf Premier David Peterson and the
Province of Ontario.
Several congratulatory messages were received from former members and
representatives from other branches. These were read by Mrs. Mereweather.
The memorial, accompanied by a lovely poem was read by the program co-ordinator
Mrs. Vanderkleyn.
Several beautiful vocal selections were sung by sisters Mrs. Ron Preston, Mrs. Dale
Baranieski and Mrs. Jim Glass.
Mrs. Rae McClure and Mrs. Frank Blackmore each read a poem composed over 40
years apart describing the community past and present.
The refreshments that followed included a lovely cake decorated in the Institute’s
colors of blue and yellow. It was made and decorated by Mrs. Herb White.
Presiding at the tea table were two branch Life Members, Mrs. Rae McClure and
Mrs. Walter Johnston.
The branch has one Charter Member, Mrs. J. Hope. She joined at the meeting the
Institute was organized in 1913 and has remained a loyal member since that time.
--
Pine Orchard WI 75 years old – At. Sun July 6/88
For 75 years, the Pine Orchard Women’s Institute has been working for home and for
country.
The group celebrated its diamond anniversary Wednesday, bringing together its
12 present members with delegates from other women’s institutes in the area,
and former members.
The organization actually began in Stoney Creek, Ontario, and celebrated its 90th
anniversary in province last year in North Bay.
Membership in the Pine Orchard club was a high as 25 at one time with 24 the year
it was formed. One charter member is still living – Murial Hope, 94, of Newmarket,
who was unfortunately unable to attended the special celebration.
Pine Orchard Women’s Institute president Beth Dike says members meet once each
moth to participate in programs in different members homes, or to go on a trip.
Members also work on preserves, needlepoint and cooking. And different clubs have
made a mark on society by sending resolutions to government for changes in policy.
Another important function of the institute is the Tweedsmuir histories. Without them,
the past of many hamlets such as Pine Orchard would be lost forever.
But Mrs. Dike, a 25-year member of the group, says the group seems to be on its way
out.
”The majority of members are more than 50 years of age,” she says. “I’m hoping it
won’t fold, but new women in the community just don’t seem interested or have the
time. Their way of living has changed.”
The group, open to women from 16 years of age and up, is an important part of that
hamlet and should continue – helping create better homemakers and better
communities.
"
"Parkview Village complex praised as 500 attend official opening – Stouff.
Tribune Oct. 22, 1986
Residents cut ribbon to open $7.78 million complex for seniors
Parkview Village, the 124-unit seniors’ apartment complex in Stouffville,
was officially opened Sunday afternoon. Residents Clifford and Ada Winger (top photo)
cut the ribbon to open the $7.8 million complex. Mr. Winger was a long-time Parkview
board member. Parkview officials were praised by government officials for their work
in building the unique facility. Pictured (below) with the key to complex are (from left)
York-Peel MP Sinclair Stevens, Parkview administrators Sheila Jones and Joe
Nignswander, board chairman Glenn Steiner and York North MPP Greg Sorbara. –
Jim Mason photos
Mr. Joe Nighswander is a resident of Altona. Many of our local former residents now
reside here. --
Reunion – Oct. 1986
ALTONA – Former residents, many from a distance, will return to the 133-year-old
Altona Mennonite Church, Sunday, Oct. 5, for a service of Thanksgiving and
Remembrance.
Time of the worship is 3 p.m. Rev. Daniel Nighswander will bring the message.
The building, erected in 1853, has been declared an historic site under the
Ontario Heritage Act. It was regularly used for worship until 1974. Commemorative
services have since been held in 1980, 1982 and 1984.
The church’s location is immediately south of the Four Corners of Altona, two miles
east of Stouffville. –
A contribution of $100 was given to this church toward a new roof by the Altona
Women’s Institute Jan. 1987.
--
COUPERTHWAITE, Mary Janet – At Centenary Hospital, Scarborough on Thursday,
December 17, 1987. Mary Cowan of Stouffville in her 86th year. Beloved wife of the late
Russell Couperthwaite. Loving mother of Norman of Myrtle, Margaret (Mrs. Gorman
Dixon) of Newmarket, and Murray of Stouffville. Dear grandmother of 8 grandchildren
and one great-grandchild. Sister of Alex Lindsay, predeceased by Jim and William.
Rested at O’Neill Funeral Home, Stouffville. Service was held in the Chapel on Sunday
at 2:30 PM. Interment Melville Cemetery, West Hill.
--Member 1942 – 1964, 1965 – 1983
"
"Help OMAF to celebrate!
1988 is the centennial of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The ministry’s
affiliation with rural women’s groups, particularly the Women’s Institutes, stretches back
into those past 100 years. Our front cover photos are from historic files kept by the
ministry’s Communications Branch. They represent a few of the activities/programs
the ministry has offered rural women in the past. Clockwise from the top right, the
photos depict a dress fitting workshop in 1954; (a millinery and clothing short course in
1922-23) a visit to Queen’s Park by the Halton participants of a short course in 1926;
and a short course on leather work in 1947. – OMAF celebrates 100 years of service
--
Murray Dryden, father of two NHL goaltenders, spoke to the Jean Scott Junior WI about
an organization he started called Sleeping Children Around the World. This organization
seeks finances to make beds for children who don’t have them. Pictured above is a bed
the Jean Scott JWI supported, and its recipient. – Also contributed by Altona WI 1987
--
Nineteen resolutions passed – Nov. 1987
A total of 19 resolutions were sustained by the board of the Federated Women's
institutes of Ontario at its annual meeting in November.
Topics covered by the resolutions were:
1. recycling newspaper, glass and tin
2. the needs of the hard of hearing
3. prohibition of war toys
4. increased number of female students under the CIDA program
5. labeling of irradiated food
6. controls on human and animal research
7. simplification of income tax forms
8. inclusion of houseworkers in the Canadian Pension Plan
9. three-point type seatbelts mandatory by 1989
10. support for rural mail delivery
11. investigation of the proposed damming of James Bay
12. screening of immigrants for AIDS
13. OHIP coverage for lightweight casts
14. the development of Project Lift services for rural communities
15. implements of the 911 telephone number for the whole province
16. meeting the needs of all disabled adults in Ontario
17. influential nature of some violent children’s games
18. legitimacy of retail sales tax on federal services
19. recycling of outdated telephone directories
For more information on any of these resolutions contact an FWIO Board Director or
Charlotte Johnson, FWIO Resolutions Convener (addresses on page two).
--
ACWW President is Hall of Famer
Dr. Ellen McLean, President of Associated Country Women of the World,
was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame on Nov. 15 at a ceremony
at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Dr. McLean is one of three inductees in 1987
and is described as “an ‘ambassador’ for the agricultural industry and those involved
in it, particularly farm women.” Dr. McLean lives on a farm in Nova Scotia.
Dr. Donald Shaver and Thomas Hays were the two other inductees.
"
"Women’s Institute and OMAF link
S. Lynn Campbell
In recognition of the centennial of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food,
the following history of OMAF and FWIO was prepared. In this issue, learn about
activities around the turn of the 20th century. The article will be continued in the next
issue of Home & Country.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Women’s Institute movement
have enjoyed a close, working relationship over the past 91 years. From the very
beginning of the WI movement, these two organizations have co-operated to achieve
their common goal, as described in the Ontario Women’s Institute Story,
“the consideration of any problem or the carrying on of any line of work which has as
its object the uplift of the home or the betterment of conditions surrounding community
life”.
The first meeting of the Women’s Institute was held on Feb. 19, 1897. One of the motions
carried at that meeting was that a “Women’s Department of Domestic Economy in
affiliation with the Farmers’ Institutes” be organized. To this end, Erland Lee wrote to
J.I. Hodson, Superintendent of the Farmers’ Institute Branch of the Ontario Department
of Agriculture, for government cooperation and support.
At a second meeting on Feb. 25, 1897, a letter was read from John Dryden in which he
agreed to provide support for this new organization in the form of grants and affiliation
with the Department of Agriculture through the Farmers’ Institute Branch.
The Department of Agriculture’s support of this new organization was only natural given
the fact that is was aimed at rural women and its express purpose was the betterment of
rural home life. This was clearly laid out at the second meeting of the organization
when it adopted as it objective the following:
to promote the knowledge of Household Science which shall lead to improvements in
household architecture with special attention to home sanitation, to a better
understanding of the economic and hygienic value of foods and fuels,
and to a more scientific care of children with a view of raising the general standards of
the health of our people.
Given this objective, the department’s commitment to all of rural Ontario, plus the
precedent established with this department’s support of the Farmers’ Institute,
it was logical that the department help this new organization in any way it could.
For their part, the WI founders realized the department could offer them many
advantages. These varied from such concrete item as funding and organizational
leadership to more intangible things such as the support of this large, important
branch of the government and its many rural contacts.
The department was quick to help this new and expanding organization. In 1899,
several women were hired as speakers and organizers to promote this new
movement. One of these women was Laura Rose, formerly a dairy instructor at the
Ontario Agricultural College. Miss Rose helped organize the second WI Branch at
Whitby in June 1899 and numerous other institutes over the next several years.
The other women hired at this time included Miss Blanche Maddock, Mrs. A. Kinney,
Miss J.L. Smith, and Miss A. Hollingsworth. These women were directly responsible
for organizing 16 of the first 50 Women’s Institutes.
--
The next Superintendent of the Farmers’ Institute Branch was Dr. G. C. Creelman.
His enthusiasm for the Women’s Institutes prompted him to circulate a letter to
interested women in Ontario, declaring the department’s support both monetarily
and philosophically for the formation of WI Branches. Official histories of the WI
movement in Ontario credit these efforts by the department, particularly the organizers
and the grant money, to a large degree for the growth of the movement.
In 1902 the Women’s Institute position within the Department of Agriculture was
given legislation recognition. This legislation marked the department’s wholesale
commitment to the WI movement. In the same year the department began to publish
handbooks for the Women’s Institute along with example programs and lists of topics
for study. The department also helped sponsor the first Women’s Institute convention
in 1902 held at the Ontario Agriculture College. In this case, the department’s help
consisted of supplying the meeting space at the college and many of the speakers.
Financial support from the department increased dramatically in 1903 when a new
grant program was initiated. Starting in this year the department gave every Women’s
Institute in the province an annual $10 grant with the only provision being that a
matching sum be received from the local municipality or the Farmers’ Institute. --
A speaker service was also initiated by the department in 1903. A number of
different individuals – doctors, nurses, teachers, dieticians, experts in horticulture,
dairying, poultry and beekeeping, were hired on a per diem basis to speak to
interested rural groups. The department paid the speakers’ fee while the local institute
provided their accommodation and paid their traveling expenses. The speakers were
usually engaged for the Summer Series of Meetings of the Women’s Institutes or at
joint winter meetings held with the Farmers’ Institutes. --
This year also saw the release of the first Women’s Institute publication. In 1905, the
department secured three to five pages in a Canadian household magazine,
The Canadian Home Journal, to act as the official organ for the group. This section
of the magazine featured papers written by or for Institute members as well as
Women’s Institute new items. The magazine was offered to Women’s Institute
members at a reduced rate to encourage them to subscribe.
"
"FWIO Conference, Ottawa 1988
FWIO Display Board -
Ruth Halbert; Bd Director -
FWIO Executive at conference -
Doris Dunn; Jeanette Jordon; Luella Lewis (Altona)"
"Former FWIO president Hall of Fame inductee
Dorothy E. Futcher, president of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO)
from 1947 to 1950, has been accepted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The vision of Mrs. Futcher is very evident in the work of WI today. It was in her term of
office that Lady Tweedsmuir, the wife of the then Governor General, approached the
Women’s Institutes suggesting that they be the group to record the history of rural
communities. These books came to be known as the Women’s Institutes Tweedsmuir
History books – a valuable source of rural history today.
Leadership training was also important to Mrs. Futcher. She started the first provincial
training conference for Women’s Institute officers. This legacy of training our leaders is
till an important part of WI today.
As a member of the Middlemarch Branch in Elgin West District, from 1923 until her
death in 1984, she is remembered as the driving force behind the establishment of the
Elgin County Museum. It was through the efforts of the Women’s Institutes that the
museum was established, and WI members continue to be involved in the museum
today.
Mrs. Futcher was a member of the board of directors of the Ontario Agriculture College,
and as a result of her contribution to agriculture, she was awarded the Ontario Agriculture
Medal. Mrs. Futcher was appointed by the province to the Archeological and Historic
Sites Board and she also served as a director of the women’s division of the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair Board.
Manitoba will remember Mrs. Futcher, because in 1950, the money raised for the
Manitoba Flood Relief by the Ontario Women’s Institutes was designated by
Mrs. Futcher to be spent in rural relief work.
In 1955, she was on the committee created for the purpose of reviewing the
administration and services of Ontario Agriculture College, the Ontario Veterinary
College and the Macdonald Institute.
Mrs. Futcher was made a life member of Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada
for her work as a Women’s Institute member, but especially for her work at the
Associated Country Women of the World Conference held in Toronto in 1953.
Provincially her memory will remain with rural youth as one of the four FWIO provincial
scholarships has been named the Dorothy E. Futcher Scholarship in her honor.
June 1988 --
Other Inductees
At the June 5 Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame unveiling, five other nominees
will be inducted, along with Dorothy Futcher.
Duncan O. Bull
- Sponsored by the Ontario Jersey Club
Charles A. Drury
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Joseph Fleury Jr.
- Fleury Family Board
Helen McKercher
- former staff of the Home Economics Branch, University of Guelph
Gerald N. Ruhnke
- Ontario Agricultural College, Class of 1938
The induction ceremony takes place at 2:30 p.m. at the Ontario Agricultural Museum
in Milton. If you would like more information, call 416 878-8151.
H & C April, May 1988
"
"Central Ontario Area Women’s Institutes
Eighty-sixth Convention
Royal York Hotel, Toronto
Monday and Tuesday
October 24th and 25th
1988
Theme:
”Reaching out – Educate – Initiate”
--
Officers 1987 – 1988
Past President – Mrs. Melville (Marion) Wiseman, 29 Church St., Bowmanville,
L1C 1S4
President – Miss Helen Hunter, 20 Bigwin Dr., Aurora, L4G 3C5
1st Vice-President – Mrs. J. E. (Margaret) Kellam, 7050 Major Mackenzie Dr., R.R. 1,
Kleinburg, L0J 1C0
2nd Vice-President – Mrs. Archie (Isabel) Taylor, R.R. 4, Grand Valley, L0N 1G0
Secretary-Treasurer – Mrs. Robert (June) Petch, R.R. 1, Gormley, L0H 1G0
Public Relations Officer – Mrs. George (Agnes) Foster, 6 Gram St., Maple, L0J 1E0
Program Co-ordinator – Mrs. Harold (Luella) Lewis, R.R. 3, Mount Albert, L0G 1M0
(Altona WI member)
Resolutions – Mrs. Stanley (Jean) Stewart, Box 101, Norland, K0M 2L0
Tweedsmuir History Curator – Mrs. C.J. (Jean) Agnew, 7100 Jane St., Concord,
L4K 1A6
Auditors – Mrs. Paul (Linda) Draper, R.R. 1, Stouffville, L4A 7X2
Mrs. Bruce (Mary) Davidson, R.R. 1, Stouffville, L4A 7X2
Song Leader – Mrs. Hugh (Roberta) Baird, R.R. 5. Sunderland, L0C 1H0
Pianist – Mrs. William (Betty) Stone, R.R. 5, Sunderland, L0C 1H0
Reception Committee
Mrs. Milton (Dorothy) Petch, Caledon, Ontario, L0N 1C0
Mrs. Marion Thompson, R.R. 1, Bailieboro, Ont., K0L 1B0
Mrs. Morley (Doris) Dunn, R.R. 4, Stouffville, Ont., L4A 7X2
Registration Committee
Monday A.M.
Mrs. Harold Belrose – Dufferin South
Mrs. James Coates – Ontario South
Mrs. Bruce Snider – York West
Monday P.M.
Mrs. Howard Bradley – Durham West
Mrs. Olive Nye – Victoria East
Tuesday A.M.
Mrs. A. Tunney – Peel North
Mrs. D. McCallum – York North
"
"Central Ontario Area Women’s Institutes
Eighty-sixth Convention
Royal York Hotel, Toronto
Monday and Tuesday
October 24th and 25th
1988
Theme:
”Reaching out – Educate – Initiate”
--
Officers 1987 – 1988
Past President – Mrs. Melville (Marion) Wiseman, 29 Church St., Bowmanville,
L1C 1S4
President – Miss Helen Hunter, 20 Bigwin Dr., Aurora, L4G 3C5
1st Vice-President – Mrs. J. E. (Margaret) Kellam, 7050 Major Mackenzie Dr., R.R. 1,
Kleinburg, L0J 1C0
2nd Vice-President – Mrs. Archie (Isabel) Taylor, R.R. 4, Grand Valley, L0N 1G0
Secretary-Treasurer – Mrs. Robert (June) Petch, R.R. 1, Gormley, L0H 1G0
Public Relations Officer – Mrs. George (Agnes) Foster, 6 Gram St., Maple, L0J 1E0
Program Co-ordinator – Mrs. Harold (Luella) Lewis, R.R. 3, Mount Albert, L0G 1M0
(Altona WI member)
Resolutions – Mrs. Stanley (Jean) Stewart, Box 101, Norland, K0M 2L0
Tweedsmuir History Curator – Mrs. C.J. (Jean) Agnew, 7100 Jane St., Concord,
L4K 1A6
Auditors – Mrs. Paul (Linda) Draper, R.R. 1, Stouffville, L4A 7X2
Mrs. Bruce (Mary) Davidson, R.R. 1, Stouffville, L4A 7X2
Song Leader – Mrs. Hugh (Roberta) Baird, R.R. 5. Sunderland, L0C 1H0
Pianist – Mrs. William (Betty) Stone, R.R. 5, Sunderland, L0C 1H0
Reception Committee
Mrs. Milton (Dorothy) Petch, Caledon, Ontario, L0N 1C0
Mrs. Marion Thompson, R.R. 1, Bailieboro, Ont., K0L 1B0
Mrs. Morley (Doris) Dunn, R.R. 4, Stouffville, Ont., L4A 7X2
Registration Committee
Monday A.M.
Mrs. Harold Belrose – Dufferin South
Mrs. James Coates – Ontario South
Mrs. Bruce Snider – York West
Monday P.M.
Mrs. Howard Bradley – Durham West
Mrs. Olive Nye – Victoria East
Tuesday A.M.
Mrs. A. Tunney – Peel North
Mrs. D. McCallum – York North
"
"L. Lewis
Let’s Practice the 4Rs of waste management
Women’s Institute 1988 Project Theme
Ontario residents throw away 7,000,000 tons of garbage each year. This represents a
waste of many resources, energy, money and an uneconomical use of land for waste
disposal. Land filling is a potential source of environmental damage and pollution of
ground water.
Solutions will involve action by government, industry and you, the public. GOVERNMENT
to provide funding and services. INDUSTRY to commit to buying recyclable materials.
PUBLIC to participate by reducing and sorting domestic wastes.
1 Reduce need for landfill sites, energy use, expenses of waste disposal. It’s necessary!
2 Re-use packaging and other articles whenever possible. It’s profitable!
3 Recycle materials that can be reprocessed. It’s easy!
4 Recover energy or compost by processing solid wastes. It’s important!
"
"Pioneer tackled sanitation standards to save infants – Farm life Section Jan. 17/89
“Milk laden with bacteria is always more or less unwholesome, and may to infants be
actually and actively poisonous, giving rise to vomiting, diarrhea and gastro-intestinal
disturbances. I would not unduly alarm, but to read statistics of the mortality of infants,
and to see the great number of deaths said to be directly attributed to bad milk, makes
one shudder at what is going on. It appears like murder without intent.”
Writing in Guelph, Ont. in 1911, Laura Rose was in the forefront of the movement for
better sanitation standards. She became, in 1988, the first “lady instructor” in dairying
at the Ontario Agricultural College. She headed the department there until her
marriage 14 years later. Her book Farm Dairying deservedly became the standard
text for the subject and ran through four editions. Very readable and practical in all the
technical aspects of the trade, it also preached the virtues of cleanliness and
preservation of milk products.
Common Sense
The pages are full of common sense, charged now with nostalgia. For instance, “…
milk often becomes bad after it is received from the milkman, because it is not
properly cared for in the home. Too frequently the milk is put into a jug or pail which
has only been rinsed since being emptied of milk. All milk vessels must be scalded.
Laura Rose was born in Georgetown, Ont. in 1866. In her late teens she went to North
Dakota to keep house for an older brother. In addition to the many tasks of a pioneer
woman, she taught in the local school for three years. In the summer she traveled by
horseback; in the winter, in temperatures sometimes minus 30 to 40 degrees F, in a
“jumper” drawn by two horses.
Graphic picture
Here Laura came in contact with the realities of farm life. One of her many columns in
Home Magazine a rural journal, paints a graphic picture of the harsh, barren conditions
which pioneers faced in the western states and provinces.
The result of this experience was her decision to do what she could to improve the lot
of farm women.
She returned to Ontario and then spent several summers touring England, Scotland
and France, observing agricultural practices and rural life. Later she attended the first
dairy course given at the Ontario Agriculture College.
On graduating, she was appointed to the staff.
Her direct experience with conditions on dairy farms led to the practical, down-to-earth
advice in Farm Dairying.
”The milker’s hands should be clean and free of disease. Do not milk with wet hands.
Some milkers have the bad habit of moistening the hands with the first streams of milk.
The first streams should neither go on the hands nor into the pail. The milk in the
udder proper is practically free from germ life, but as the cow lies down on the
never-too-clean floor, bacteria of the worst form find their way through the opening
at the end of the teat, and in the milk in the teat canal they gloriously thrive and multiply.
This is the milk that should go into a small tin for the barn kitty. While bad for the milk
supply, I have never known it to kill a cat.”
During her years at OAC, the first Women’s Institute was organized. Like Laura Rose,
the organizers were concerned about infant mortality caused by unsanitary dairy
practices. Miss Rose took an immediate interest and was responsible for the
organization of the second Institute in Whitby, Ont. in 1899. She went on to found
others in five provinces and in 1930 was the Canadian delegate to the first
international conference of Women’s Institutes. She was also responsible for the
Institute’s motto and crest design.
She came to be recognized all over Canada as an authority on farm dairy work,
and lectured cross-country at fairs and institutes. She also was a prolific writer or
articles for the leading agricultural newspapers and magazines.
Institute leader
In 1911 she married W.F. Stephen. Secretary of the Canadian Ayrshire Breeders
Association, of Huntington, Quebec, and subsequently adopted two children.
Although retired from professional teaching activity, Laura Rose remained a
leader in Women’s Institute work and the dairy industry throughout her long life.
In Farm Dairying she foretells improved standards and techniques. At the turn of the
century she wrote:
”The ingenuity of man is such that a day will shortly come when there will be a milking
machine that will do the work effectively, preserve the quality of the milk, and not to
be too expensive or complicated.
Another prophecy involves marketing practices.
”When we see oysters, ice cream, etc.. carried in paper pails, the paper milk bottle
may come into use in the near future. It certainly would do away the dread of badly
washed glass bottles.” Laura Rose’s book cost $1.35. It was well worth the price,
considering the chapters on butter making, cheese making, homemade paints,
the treatment of common animal diseases and recipes for dairy dishes.
The remarkable woman with her strong desire for social improvements,
her intelligence, determination and energy, well deserved her appointment to the
Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1983 – only the third woman to be so honoured.
--
W.I. offers safer way to clean your home – Uxbridge Times Journal Mar. 28, 1990
The theme of Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario for 1988-89 was Waste
Management-Recycling and the theme for 1989-90 is Women and the Environment.
This is the handout from the Warwick W.I. branch (Lambton County) with ideas that
anyone could use.
For more information about this handout contact Mary Janes, RR8, Watford,
Ont. N0M 2S0:
Here are some easy-to-prepare household products:
All-purpose Cleaner: ½ cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, ¼ baking soda, ½ gallon water.
Furniture Polish: 1 teaspoon lemon oil, 1 pint mineral oil, Apply with rag
Wall Cleaner: ¼ cup washing soda, ½ cup household ammonia, ¼ cup vinegar,
1 gallon warm water.
Bleach: Use borax instead.
Silver Polish: 1 quart water, 1 tablespoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon salt, boil all
ingredients. Drop silverware into it and boil for 3 minutes. Polish with a soft cloth.
Insecticide: Mist leaves with soapy water.
Pesticide: 1. Rhubarb Spray – for aphids, June bugs, back spot, and rust. Steep 6
rhubarb leaves in 2 – 3 quarts boiling water. Strain and spray. 2. Garlic Spray – for
chewing and sucking insects, as well as fungicide for mildew, leaf spot, and spore
diseases. 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon very hot pepper, 1 quart water, Blend and
steep for 10 minutes. Strain; then mix with water in 1:4 ratio.
Drain Declogger: Toss 2 handfuls of bicarbonate of soda into drain, followed by ½
cup vinegar. Let set for 1 hour, then run water through.
Air Freshener: Leave an opened box of baking soda or a dish of vinegar in the room.
Other hints: 1. Add a little vinegar to the dish water to cut grease on dirty dishes. 2.
Never mix chlorine and ammonia. Deadly fumes are produced. 3. Never mix chlorine
with vinegar or toilet bowl cleansers. Deadly gas is produced. 4. If a thermometer is
broken, use the mercury droplets together into a glass bottle. Drop it off at the dentist’s
He usually recycles mercury. Phone first to find out.
"
"Workshops
Karen Brooks-Earley gives media tips to W.I. members – 1989
By Sandra Campbell ROS.
”People Power”, a communications workshop is being held March 21 at Trinity United
Church by the Ontario County District Women’s Institutes. The workshop starts at 9:30 a.m.
and includes topics such as listening skills, effective writing for your organization, media
relations, and estate planning.
Carol Meek, law clerk with Fowler and Davies, Port Perry, will speak on estate planning and
wills, and address issue that everyone should understand.
Effective writing for your organization is important. Writing a press release, a feature story,
and advertisement, and a letter to the editor, will be areas that Karen Brooks, a reporter from
the Stouffville Sun, will address.
In the afternoon, Gregg Lubianetzky, senior reporter, CKVR TV., Barrie, will provide some
insight on presenting your organization to the media.
He will explain how to prepare for an interview, and will share some tips.
Registration is $9.50 which includes lunch, register by calling or visiting the Uxbridge Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food office by March 31.
--
Women’s Institutes of Victoria County hold workshop - Lindsay 1989
”How to be a sensational secretary-treasurer” was the theme for a workshop sponsored by
Victoria East and Victoria West Districts of the Women’s Institute, held in the Lindsay
Agricultural office on Nov. 17. Both districts were well represented and it proved to be a
sensational day of fun, fellowship and facts.
Margaret Brown, president of Victoria West District Women’s Institute chaired the
meeting.
The day began with food and fun, then Anne Hankinson ROS, read a contract and asked
the ladies to sign and date it. She proceeded to develop goals for the day – skills required,
concerns and rewards.
After group activates, the following were developed. A good secretary must be able to
communicate well (listen, write, spell and speak well), and have the necessary time to
perform her duties as outlined in the blue “Handbook”.
Her rewards, and also that of the treasurer are: satisfaction of a job well done,
compliments of her peers and a small honorarium to recognize the time involved.
The treasurer must keep neat, accurate, up-to-date financial records in a suitable book.
She does the banking, keeps all bills and receipts, fills in the fee sheets and presents her
books to the auditors at the end of the year. The old financial report is no longer required
by the district because a grant is no longer available. Any dependable person with some
organizational skills can learn to be a treasurer.
After a noon lunch the ladies had a very interesting panel presentation. Margot Brown
acted as moderator with a panel made up of: Laura Bennett, secretary-treasurer Victoria
West, and Myrtle Griffin, past secretary-treasurer of Victoria East District.
All stressed the importance of following the Handbook, use of proper record books
(hard-covered for durability), file folders for district area and local things, suitable
stationary and office supplies, white out and “headache pills”.
The treasurer suggested notifying anyone in arrears of fees.
A lively question and answer period followed. The ladies then divided into two groups.
Group one dealt with filling fee sheets, and was chaired by June Petch, secretary-treasurer
of Central Ontario Women’s Institute. Group two dealt with program planning and was
chaired by Luella Lewis, program co-ordinator of Central Ontario.
Both workshops were very explicit and helpful. There should be no excuse for incorrect
reports this year. The program co-ordinator should keep a file for three or four years.
Audrey Thrasher, president of Victoria East, gave the closing remarks. It was a very
profitable and enjoyable day.
A Tweedsmuir History workshop is being planned. Don’t miss it. You do not need to hold
office to attend.
Christine Duklow, Carol Pupo, Nancy Larmer, Eileen Junkin.
Bernice Andrews, Marlene Werry, Ann Hankinson, Luella Lewis.
--
Deaths
ST. JOHN, Howard M. At Centenary Hospital, Scarboro on Saturday, March 11, 1989.
Howard St. John of Stouffville in his 80th year. Beloved husband of the late Mary Crosier.
Loving father of Gary of Stouffville and Diane (Mrs. H. Horvath) of Ajax. Dear grandfather
of Jill, Jacqueline, Julie, Jannette, Jeannie, Sharon and Heidi and great grandfather of
Stephanie, Samantha, Robin, Gary and Luke. Brother of Vilma Lawson of Stouffville.
Rested at O’Neill Funeral Home, Stouffville. Service and committal was held in the chapel
on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Spring interment Stouffville Cemetery.
"
"Stouff. Sun Jan. 4/89 – 1911 Women’s picnic
We look back to days gone by, and warmer temperatures, this week. Pictured is the
Stouffville Women’s Institute in 1911. The scene was their annual picnic held at the farm
of Mr. And Mrs. Elias Hoover, now the Bruce Harper farm at the south end of O’Brien
Avenue.
--
HISTORY
Adelaide Hoodless’ accomplishments show that one woman can make a real difference
to society. During her brief 52 years of life while raising a family she founded or helped
to establish the following: the Young Women’s Christian Association; the Victorian
Order of Nurses; the National Council of Women; Macdonald Institute at Guelph; the
School of Household Sciences at Macdonald College; St. Anne de Bellevue affiliated
with McGill University and the Women’s Institute.
After her son’s death in 1888, Hoodless went to work to find out why so many children
were dying. She discovered that the reason there were many deaths was due to
contaminated milk. She then decided to do all she could to help bring within reach
of all women, the education necessary to prevent similar tragedies.
In 1897 at Stoney Creek, Ontario, Hoodless founded the first Women’s Institute.
At her suggestion the motto For Home And Country,” was adopted in Ontario and is
used worldwide today.
Their objective was the promote the knowledge of household science with special
attention to home sanitation and a better understanding of economic and hygienic
value of foods, and to raise the general health standards of all people.
A motion was carried to organize a “Women’s Department of Domestic Economy in
affiliation with the Farmer’s Institutes.”
Erland Lee a charter member of the Farmers’ Institute gave his support by writing John
Dryden, the Ontario Minister of Agriculture and asked for government support and
co-operation.
As its second meeting a letter was read from Dryden in which he agreed to provide
support for the new organization. The link between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and food and the Women’s Institute position within the department was given legislative
recognition.
The idea spread rapidly across Canada and a National organization was formed,
the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada, in 1919. It now embraces 3,350
branches with more than 72,000 women.
The environment meeting begins at 7:30 tonight at Wesley United Church,
Aurora Sideroad and Woodbine Ave.
--
The topic – “International Affairs” was addressed by three members who attended the
“Associated Countrywomen of the World” (ACWW) triennial convention in Kansas
City, Missouri, last September, 1989.
This is a world organization where 2,000 women from 23 countries shared common
visions and concerns. Edna Meyers very capably shared her experiences and
information received.
Many workshops addressed current world conditioned, AIDS, quality of health and
food, the international marketplace, our resources and man’s dependence on energy.
This was a special diamond jubilee celebration year for ACWW. Doreen Brethour
and Barbara Evans showed slides and pictures of the conference and lovely social
events and trips. W.I. members were proud of our own Dr. Ellen McLean from Nova
Scotia, the outgoing president. The new president is from Australia. The next triennial
is in New Zealand in 1992.
Bethesda-Reach W.I. received a certificate in recognition of active participation in
the summer employment program for Canada’s students from the federal government
signed by M.P. Ross Stevenson.
Barbara Evans and Corinne Croxall have worked hard to organize and run the on farm
child care program. This service is available again and students are ready to give
child care to local farms. --
Luella Lewis, Altona also attended ACWW conference.
"
"Some Women’s Institute topics
Altona W.I. Sept. 5, 1989.
Sleeping Children Around the World
From the desk of Murray Dryden.
We thank you very much for your donation to SCAW. It means a lot to the children.
Unfortunately one of your pictures did not turn out, please accept this grey picture
showing some grateful children on the Philippines distribution. Thank you again for
thinking of me. -- KTY a volunteer. –
W.I. hosts meeting on learning problems
STOUFFVILLE – The March meeting of the Bethesda Women’s Institute will be held
in the auditorium of Parkview Village, 70 Ninth Line South, Stouffville.
The date is March 9. The time is 1 p.m. 1988
Guest speaker will be Gwen Mann, Special Education Administrator for York Region.
Gwen has worked for many years with children experiencing severe learning disabilities.
Gwen was one of the first teachers in the Metro and York Region areas to use Bliss
Symbols to open the world of reading to these little ones. She has written some of the
earliest texts for this purpose.
The Bethesda W.I. is inviting members of Women’s Institutes from Stouffville and Altona
branches to attend; also parents and teachers associated with learning disabled
children.
Following her address, Gwen will answer questions from the audience. --
Uxbridge Times-Journal, Wed., March 14, 1990.
Tweedsmuir records local family histories
Anyone wishing to record a local birth, marriage, family tree, or house log in the
Zephyr Tweedsmuir Book please call Caroline McGillivary.
Tweedsmuir is named for Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of a former governor general.
She believed all areas should have their history recorded.
This book is very interesting as you could spend many hours looking through it. --
Multiculturalism in schools --
Rural child care --
protest logging
The W.I.s of Ontario are asked to share in the concerns of the loss of valuable
virgin forests.
Temagami has the last standing old growth of eastern white pine.
These forests cannot be replaced once cut by the logging companies.
Forest depletion affects our world in so many ways that this irreplaceable
heritage should be preserved.
Write your letters, not much time is left, a road has already been cut into the forests
ready for spring logging.
Write Bill Ballinger M.P.P., Ontario Minister of Environment and Ontario Minister of
Natural Resources. --
Old-fashioned quilting party
The November meeting took the form of a handicraft workshop discuss Christmas
treats to area residents confined to home or hospital. --
Agriculture in the classroom --
The theme of the program will be “The events of today are tomorrow’s history”. –
Environment – Social Delicious refreshments --
Trips
W.I. members celebrate Christmas with visit to Cullen Gardens – Jan. 11, 1989.
"