W.I. Members Reminisce at the Sundre Museum School House

Source: AWI Collection

Transcript: SUNDRE ROUND UP WED., JULY 8, 1998
W. I. members reminisce at the Sundre Museum school house
by Carol Brown,
Cultural Convener of
Eagle Valley W. I.
The school house at
Sundre Museum was a tea­house
Sunday afternoon
complete with cozy wood
fire on a cold rainy day. Over
thirty people signed the guest
book and enjoyed visiting,
viewing exhibits and remi­niscing
about days gone by.
It is amazing how those pic­tures
and programs of DEL,
Sundre, Eagle Valley,
Westward Ho W. I.' s and the
Girl's Clubs they created
brought back so many mem­ories
- the room was buzzing.
I tried to eavesdrop here and
there to get a feel of how it
was like back then.
First on the agenda was
the official presentation of
the Plaque of honor Sundre
W. I. Pioneer Women for their
work. When they decided to
disband in 1969 and sold
their hall they donated
$ 1,000 to start the construc­tion
of the two storey build­ing.
There was a picture in
the local paper then of the
cheque passing to the
Historical Society. ( They
also donated $ 100 to the
arena fund.) There are plans
to have a permanent W. I. dis­play
on the second level of
the building.
Come and visit and read
through papers and programs
to get a sense of our History.
Next to the DEL scrap-book
of their 60th
Anniversary was returned to
the Sundre Museum as
requested by former member
Elsie Peksie and Carol
Brown Provincial W. I.
Cultural Convener.
Then Eagle Valley donat­ed
the guest book given by
Constituency Covenner Fern
Carlson in 1962 and used
until 1997 at our display at
the Sundre Museum during
our Centennial year of W. I.
in Canada. We had also
donated a flat, black cash box
used many years ago. If any
one knows the history of it,
please contact the museum.
Also, a picture scrapbook
marking the 66th
Anniversary of Westward Ho
W. I. at an event in Sundre
will find a home in this dis­play
beside many trophys
and awards ladies of that
club received for their handi­work
and such.
And last but not least
Bessie Ellithorpe donated a
spoon given to her mother
Mrs. Heaton for at least two,
four year terms as Secretary
Treasurer of Sundre W. I..
Lola Mastin shared mem­ories
of her mother Mrs.
Stern who was President of
Sundre W. I during the 50' s.
And Frank Overguard
enjoyed visiting with the
" old timers" too. We even
had a visitor sign the guest
book from a W. I. in Ontario
where we celebrated 100
years last year.
All in all, a most enjoy­able
day, one that will be
repeated.
Guests enjoy an afternoon of tea and conversation at the Sundre Museum. The
event was held to discuss a number of issues related to the Women's Institute, and
its activities in the community.