Fonds - Mill Creek (Odessa) Women's Institute fonds

The Mill Creek Women’s Institute, located in the Town of Odessa, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario, was founded on February 24, 1926 with Mrs. Nelson Smith as the first President. This branch was a part of the Lennox District Women’s Institute. Twenty-four members attended the first meeting. The branch disbanded in April of 1981, due to low membership. The original branch name was Odessa Women’s Institute, but it was renamed Mill Creek on February 2, 1961, in honour of the original name of the town of Odessa. The objectives of Mill Creek branch were to promote educational projects for the Women’s Institute and to assist any worthwhile community need. An example of a popular community event that Mill Creek branch hosted was frolics for kids on Hallowe’en. They also had opportunities for all community members to benefit from, such as a number of “Short Courses”, one of which was in First Aid and Nursing. Beyond local activities, Mill Creek branch strived to broaden their horizons by making donations to worthy causes overseas and corresponding with a Women’s Institute branch in Australia. Mill Creek branch raised funds by hosting tag days, concerts, euchres, bazaars, dances, and bake sales. They bought a wheelchair for a local child, provided a bank book for new babies, made layettes for babies to be sent overseas, served tea at the Napanee Fair, made Christmas baskets for local families in need, and helped families who were victims of fire. They made donations to local schools, Cancer Society, Heart Foundation, Mental Health, C.N.I.B., Salvation Army, Adult Rehabilitation Centre, and March of Dimes. For many years, they were associated with the Local Council of Women in Kingston and worked with the “Home and School Club”. During World War II, Mill Creek branch sent parcels, maple sugar candy, quilts, and warm clothing to the local boys serving overseas. At the end of the war, the branch extended a welcome to the War Brides by hosting a meeting for their benefit. The major undertaking of the Mill Creek branch was running the local library. The Women’s Institute was given the building by Lady Margaret Breden Sharp in 1928, which they renovated, including the reading room and apartment for the librarian. Over the years, Sharp often corresponded with the ladies and sent books for the library from her personal collection. On a number of occasions, the branch dedicated all of their spare funds to the library. By 1972, Mill Creek members felt they were too old to continue running the library, so the library joined the municipal library system. The past Women’s Institute Presidents of Mill Creek were: Mrs. Nelson Smith (1926-1929), Mrs. Stanley (Annie) Sproule (1929-1931), Mrs. Leo (Alice) Crowe (1931-1933), Mrs. J.B. (Eva) Smith (1933-1936), Mrs. E. Gilbert (1936-1940), Mrs. Roy (Helen) Graham (1940-1941), Mrs. Clark (Annie) Boyce (1942-1944; 1946-1948; 1950-1951), Mrs. W.J. (Pearl) Snider (1944-1946), Mrs. Robert (Bernice) Baker (1948-1949; 1951-1954), Mrs. Dean (Laura) Babcock (1949), Mrs. Milton Jeffrey (1949-1950), Mrs. C. (Doris) Polley (1954-1957), Miss. Keitha Babcock (1957-1959), Mrs. Clinton (Ena) Baker (1959-1960), Mrs. W.A. (Mildred) Smith (1960-1963), Mrs. H. (Lillian) Patterson (1963-1964), Mrs. Harry (Jean) Hambrook (1964-1965), Miss Willanna Clark (1965-1968), Mrs. Bruce (Hazel) Johnson (1968-1970), Mrs. Murray (Mary) Fowler (1970-1972), and Mrs. Delbert (Mary) Simmons (1972-1981).