Schomberg

This picture, in the early days of the Institute, was taken at the farm home of Mrs T Ellison (standing in the centre wearing striped blouse) Lot 25, Concession 8, King. Mrs E Marchant, President, wearing black dress is seated and Mrs G Atkinson, Secretary-Treasurer, is in the front row, second from the right.

The first Schomberg WI meeting was held on February 14, 1911 at the home of Mrs Chas Davis. Like the other WI branches across Ontario, the ladies worked with the Red Cross to provide supplies for soldiers during World War One. The Masonic Lodge provided rooms, free of charge, for the women to use in this work. Schomberg WI inspired the organization of the Schomberg Horticultural Society in 1935.

“Off to the Institute meeting” Mrs W Marchant (left), Mrs E Marchant (driving) and Mrs Hague leave for a meeting in 1928.

In those days, the WI members worked on many projects including: music instruction in Schomberg and Lloydtown schools, petitioning for a cinder path or sidewalk to be built from the bridge to the school (a safe route to school was completed 20 years later in 1957), short courses, packing of baskets for needy in the community, collecting of clothing for bales to be sent to Northern Ontario, and making quilts. To read more about the work, check out the materials in the King Archives.