Fonds - Cloyne Women’s Institute fonds

The Cloyne Women’s Institute located in the Township of Addington Highlands (formerly Angelsea) in Lennox and Addington County was founded on February 14, 1935. As the first Minute Book is not within the fonds, official details about the first President and the number of members that attended the first meeting are unknown. The branch disbanded officially on March 29, 1983, likely due to low membership and a lack of interest in executive positions. The Cloyne branch worked hard for the betterment of their community by raising funds and providing opportunities for growth. The favoured fundraising tactic was making quilts and selling tickets for them. The Cloyne branch enriched their community by participating in public activities, such as hosting exhibits at the Centreville Fair and the Denbigh Fair. The branch made many contributions to the community in monetary and voluntary forms over the years. They sponsored an open bus trip to Lanark and Perth, purchased a flag to fly in a prominent spot in the community, contributed to the Santa Claus Parade in Kaladar, donated Christmas gifts to the County Children’s Aid Society, bought a fence and gate for the cemetery, and made a donation for a bus to drive local children to Sunday School. They also donated to the Children’s Christmas Cheer Fund, Cancer Clinic Fund, Scholarship Fund, and Minor Hockey League. In 1948, they promoted and approached the Township about getting electric lights for the village. Over the years, the branch gave money to victims of fire in the community. Community groups banded together to create a stronger advocating force; the Women’s Auxiliary and the Cloyne branch acted as a support system for each other. The schools received a lot of support from the branch through a donation of tea towels, supplies for the First Aid kits, sponsoring contest for safety posters, donations to the school band, providing candy at school concerts, and helping at a polio clinic. On a larger scale, the Cloyne branch made contributions to the Red Cross, British War Victims Fund, Winnipeg Flood Relief Fund, Junior Red Cross, Salvation Army, Cancer Society, and the Amputee Fund. During the latter years, this branch concentrated on spending their funds locally in order to best support their community. During World War II, the Cloyne branch hosted a dance to support the navy, and they sent gum and socks to the local boys serving overseas. They also sent boxes to needy people in Britain. This branch recognized the benefit of teaching leisure topics in addition to practical topics. Workshops were well attended by members, since they were on topics of interest, such as dried flowers and crewelwork. Some of the “Short Courses” given were Spotlight on Bread, Canning Food, Indoor Gardening, Summer Millinery, and Interior Design within Your Budget. The Tweedsmuirs of Cloyne are mostly stored at the Cloyne Pioneer Museum in Cloyne. The fonds contains one original Tweedsmuir (1978-1982) and one copy at the Lennox and Addington Museum and Archives. These Tweedsmuirs consist largely of newspaper clippings featuring the Cloyne Women’s Institute. It also contains information on the North Addington Education Centre, and therefore the community, including highlights of sports, awards, graduations, plays, special events, and obituaries. Some of the past Women’s Institute Presidents of Cloyne were: Mrs. M. (Irene) Storie (1940), Mrs. John (Edna) Meeks (1940-1942; 1943-1944), Mrs. Rutland (1942-1943), Mrs. L. Levere (1944-1948), Mrs. J. (Edna) Ormson (1948-1949), Mrs. (Alma) McCallum (1949-1951), Mrs. A. (Roxie) Bauder (1951-1955), Mrs. George (Beatrice) Perry (1955-1958), Mrs. Percy (L. Val) Nowell (1958-1962), Mrs. Eric (Eleanor) Nowell (1962-1964; 1966-1970), Mrs. William (Kay) MacDonald (1964-1966), Mrs. E. (Aileen) Ball (1970-1974; 1980-1981), and Mrs. Jean Carey (1981-1983).