Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Wilton Women’s Institute was founded by Mrs. K. N. Storms of Wilton who, upon hearing the good work other W.I. groups were doing, invited the Lennox District Officers to Wilton to organize a branch on June 16, 1925. There were 18 women who received membership cards at this inaugural meeting. The Wilton W.I. were very keen on having their members educated in the proper techniques of housekeeping and all that it entails and hosted classes on the following topics throughout the years: science classes, first aid classes, sewing classes, millinery classes, cooking classes, made and donated layettes, home care for the sick. The group also held bazaars, field days, picnics, lawn socials, and events on St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween festivities to raise money, as well as offering a social outlet to the oft times scattered families in the community. Over the years, the Wilton W.I. has been very active in raising money for a multitude of events and activities including: relief to needy families, sponsored a travelling library, donated ‘Wilton’ signs to be posted at each entrance of the town, gave First Aid kits to all five local schools, bank accounts for babies, 4-H Club, Girl’s Club, fire victims, Angada and Sick Children’s Hospital, Salvation Army, Santa Claus Fund, British War Victims, War Service Fund, honey and jam for overseas, C.N.I.B., Disaster Relief, Save the Children Fund, Milk for Korea, Ceylon Fund, Tractor for Greece, Adelaide Hoodless Fund, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, March of Dimes, European Flood Relief, Mental Health, Annie G. Haggerty Scholarship, Pennies for Friendship, UNESCO, Christmas baskets to shut-ins, and an Armistice Day wreath. In the 1970’s, it also donated money towards the Adelaide Hoodless and Erland Lee Homes project. During World War II, Wilton area women made 525 quilts, as well as hundreds of gloves, mittens and other sewn and knit items which were sent overseas to needy families as well as the troops. They also provided all returning service personnel with signet rings and sponsored 2 children in Hong Kong. Initial Institute meetings were held in the various members homes. After a time, the meetings were moved to the Grange Hall, but in 1941 a decision was made to return to offering the meetings at individual member’s homes, most likely as a result of a tight budget and to offer a more welcoming and cozy atmosphere. However, after the closing of Wilton United Church in 1968, the W.I. took over the church building and it is now known as the W.I. Hall. The group renovated it, equipped the hall with chairs, dishes, and silverware, added a kitchen and now holds all meetings there, as well as bazaars, elections, wedding receptions, showers and other meetings. The Wilton W.I. hosted the District Annual meetings in 1926, 1950 and 1971. As of 2009, the Wilton Women’s Institute is still active.
Some of the past Women’s Institute Presidents of Wilton W.I. were: Mrs. (Catherine) Walter C. Snider (1925-1944); Mrs. (Gertrude) B. M. Davey (1944-1954); Marion Huff (1954); Mrs. (Helen) Arthur Burt (1954-1956); Mrs. (Florence) Harold Babcock (1956-1959); Mrs. (Mona) Tom Hare (1959-1965); Mrs. (Corrine Simmons) Russell Simmons (1965-1967); Mrs. (Blanche) C. Peters (1969-1971); Mona Hare (1971-1976); Edith Scouten (1976-1980); Barbara Cookman (1981); Maria Berghout (1981-1990); Lucille M. Burt (1990-1997); Maria Berghout ( 1997-2002); Nina Reece (2002-).
Wilton W.I. disbanded on July 31, 2013. It ran from 1925 to 2013. The group owned Wilton Hall from 1969 until 2013 when they sold it for a $1 to Loyalist Township. This transaction was registered on July 10th, 2013.