Feature Article April 22, 2004
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Godfrey Women's Institute disbands after 88 years
It is with great sadness and regret, after 60 years as a Life Member of a great worldwide organization whose motto is "For Home and Country", that I announce the disbanding of Godfrey branch due to aging, declining membership and rising costs.
The late Mrs. A. W. Sirett of Kingston organized the Godfrey branch in the village of Parham in 1916. Before T.V. became popular, husbands and children attended the meetings, the men playing cards and the children playing somewhere while the women tended to the business of the meeting, as all looked forward to a delicious lunch that always followed. All the history prior to 1942 was lost to fire at the home of Etta and George Harper in 1950/51.
Some of the accomplishments of Godfrey Institute over the years: In the war years tins of jam and boxes of clothing were sent to Great Britain, socks were knit, maple sugar and syrup sent to boys overseas. An honour roll in honour of these boys was written by the late Mrs. Winifred Kennedy and gifts and a banquet given to those who returned. Woollens were collected, sent to Winnipeg and returned as blankets to be given to fire victims. In 1950 fifty yards of flannelette were sent to be made up into baby clothes for European Relief, followed in 1953 with donations of money and clothing sent to Korean war victims. In 1942 quilts were quilted for $1 as a way to make money, the flower fund was established that year and the surprise package in 1963. In 1957 our Tweedsmuir History book was purchased and has since been micro-filmed and kept up-to-date by curator Elizabeth Peters, who took it over from the late Ella Hamilton.
Sister Institutes were often invited to our meetings as were District Presidents. New members were presented with Institute pins and those belonging 25 consecutive years awarded with a certificate and Life Membership badge.
The Institute provided many materials for the Township Hall at Piccadilly, such as silverware, dishes, a piano, stove, etc, even providing stove wood in earlier years.
The Godfrey branch has catered many events over the years, and along with the Parham Institute (which also was forced to disband last year), catered at the opening of the new Hinchinbrooke Township Office and Garage in 1974. We catered the opening of the North Frontenac Arena in 1976. In 1979, a plaque was erected near Verona by Godfrey Institute where the first District Annual was held May 21,1921 in the form of a picnic. We also hosted several District Annuals when our turn came up..
Over the years Godfrey provided three District Presidents: Mrs. Wm. Clark, Mrs. Winifred Kennedy and Mrs. Irene (Reynolds) Abrams, who have all passed on to a higher reward. Heather Fox also served one term as District Secretary.
.Finally the Godfrey Institue donated money to many causes over the years, including: European Relief, Sick Children's Hospital, C.N.I.B., Ontario British Flood Relief, Manitoba Flood, Needy and Fire Victims, Arc Industries, Sydenham High School Band, Minor Hockey at North Frontenac Arena, Hinchinbrooke Public School
Library, Playground Equipment, Godfrey Pee Wee Baseball, Dairy Princess Competition, Fairmount Home, Kennedy Rink, Unicef, Flower Fund, Central Frontenac Concerned Citizen's Group, Mental Health, Parham Agriculture Society, Save the Children Fund, Pennies for Friendship, A.C.W.W., Erland Lee and Adelaide Hoodless Homes, sick and bereaved, Christmas treats for shut-ins, Fire Department, North Frontenac Arena, Annie Haggerty Scholarship, sponsored 4 H, provided video tape on agriculture for Hinchinbrooke Public School, Villages Beautiful, Kingston Fair, supplied paint and members painted fence at Piccadilly Cemetery.
To quote Life Member Doreen Howes when Parham was forced to disband last year, we pose the same questions: Did we neglect something? Did we not make ourselves known well enough? Was it inevitable, and will WE be missed?
Disbandment Of Godfrey Women's Institute 2004
by Jean Campbell
Adelaide Hoodless had a dream
For women to form a groupTo advertise and educate
They called it the Institute.Colors were chosen
Royal blue and goldFor Home and Country, the theme,
The Ode and Collect added inAlong with the crest and pin.
The plan caught on and branches were formed,All over the globe they spread
Our branch joined in by 1916And for 88 years went ahead.
Times have changed for a faster paceWhich has taken its toll, I fear.
What used to be, will be no moreThe things that we hold dear.
No friendly meetings to attendWith others to discuss
The needs in our community,Which meant so much to us.
The larger groups will carry onAs we no longer can.
Long live the Women's Institute!Disbanding was not in the plan.
God bless the Women's InstituteFor the work that they have done.
May others thrive and carry the torch
As when it was first begun.
