Harrowsmith Women’s Institute Recruiting New Members

Sep 20, 2012

Photo: Long time members of the Harrowsmith Women Institute- Joyce Watson, Jerry Babcook and Helen Lamb with Helen’s dog Lulubelle

Like many service clubs who are experiencing a decline in membership these days, the Harrowsmith Women’s Institute is eagerly looking for new women to join their ranks. I met recently with three long-time members of the HWI, Joyce Watson, Jerry Babcook and Helen Lamb, to discuss the group’s history in the community and their hopes to recruit new members at their upcoming meeting on September 25.

The group formed in 1924 and had at that time 53 members, but have since shrunk to less than half that number.

Eva Stewart was the group’s first president and one of their first undertakings was to form a library committee. The required $200 was raised for that purpose and a room was secured. One of the first fundraisers for the library committee was the showing of motion pictures (in 1925) in the Harrowsmith town hall, where the group held their meetings until it burned down in 1972. The group also sponsored plays by local groups with proceeds going into the library fund.

The HWI’s next big undertaking was the cleaning up of the local cemetery and numerous work bees were held. A caretaker was hired to look after the grounds prior to the province legislating townships to take on that responsibility.

Education has long been a focus for the group and in its early days members were appointed to liaise with local area schools. The group purchased a trophy cup that was presented to the school that scored the most points at the local fair. Today the group still recognizes the importance of education and annually gives a cash award to a graduate of Sydenham High School. They also provide financial support to one child in the community in need of funding.

Music always played a large part in the group’s early meetings, which featured numerous recitals by local players and in 1934 the group passed a motion to see that music was taught in all of the local area schools. They also sponsored well-known speakers to travel to Harrowsmith to speak on various topics. Nursing and health topics were popular in the early years and the group helped raise funds to provide treatment to those in need in the surrounding community, as well as donating items to the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto and the National Institute of the Blind.

During World War 2 the HWI donated maple syrup and sugar to the Navy League and shipped their home-made jams to soldiers serving overseas in Britain. At this time they also formed the Soldiers’ Comfort Club, which sent care packages to the soldiers overseas as well. The group assisted the Red Cross with their sewn and knitted items and also served food at regular blood clinics. They also made contributions to the Milk and Baby Food For Britain Funds.

The Harrowsmith Women’s Institute was responsible for getting street lights in the village of Harrowsmith, updating the township hall, and they also acquired a piano for it. Over the years they also sponsored numerous courses and seminars for their members.

Currently, along with their annual education bursaries the group continues to support the community by making annual donations to the churches of St. Paul’s and Trinity United and the Fairmont Home for their annual Christmas baskets. They also support Interval House, an emergency women’s shelter in Kingston.

The members also regularly arrange special day trips out into the community. These special events have included trips to the Lavender Gardens in Picton, Lily Farms in Prince Edward County, Kingston Nurseries in Harrowsmith, The James Reid Funeral Home in Kingston and trips to the theatre in Gananoque. It is perhaps the long lasting fellowship that continues to keep members coming back. As Joyce Watson pointed out. “The group is a wonderful way to get involved in the community and meet women from the area that you otherwise might not get to know.“

The Institute meets regularly on the last Tuesday of the month at St. Paul’s United Church in Harrowsmith. They usually meet at 7:30pm but on Tuesday, September 25 they are meeting at 6pm as they will be carpooling to visit the alpacas at Evergreen Farm. They would like to extend an invitation to anyone who is interested to join them for the outing on the 25th.

(The history of the Harrowsmith Women’s Institute was compiled by Joyce Watson. Thanks to Joyce for allowing us to use it in this article)