Pickardville W.I. Branch History

              PLEASE FILE THIS STATEMENT IN THE A. W. I. BOOK WHERE THE MEMBERS ARE LISTED when Branches
are organized. As HISTORIAN of the PICAHDVILLE BRANCH, I have contacted as many present
and former members as possible since about 1970 when we started preparing for our 50th
Anniversary. In 1 9 8 2 I was fortunate to find the FIRST SECRETARY- TREASURER alive and well
( in her mind) and she has been m< » st helpful in researching our FIRST MEETING.
Our FIRST MINUTE BOOK was destroyed when Mr. Harrison burnt i t , thinking i t was just
one of the children's old scribblers. Succeeding BOOKS until the Branch was dissolved in
1 9 4 9 were said to have been sent to A. W. I, headquarters but I was unable to find them in
the two steamer trunks in A. W. I, headquarters in December 1 9 8 ^,
Mrs. George A. Sylvester ( known as The Duchess because she " dressed for dinner" on
the fara) as Mid- Pembina Constituency Convenor ( in District II) organized this Branch at
a meeting held at the home of Mrs. Henry ( Jean) Hill on the south side of the Correction
Line N. E. of Plckardvllle, ( The postmistress, Mrs. Richardson, told us that was the proper
way to spell the P. O. ) on January 19th 1923*
Mrs. Henry Hill was elected the first PRESIDENT, and
Mrs. Wm. ( isabelle) Drayton the SECRSTARY- THJASURER, Isabelle was 2 2 at the time and
had been married six years. She tells me the Branch was quite active in the community and
had around 20 members during the 2 0 * s . She moved to B. C. for a few years in the late 20* s.
Other ladies who joined at that first meeting and so were Charter Mem^ bers seem to have beeni
MRS, T. P. Gillmore . ISA served at least one tera as Constituency Convenor and took a very
active part in local affairs.
Mrs. Robt. ( Victoria) Hill, sister- in- law to Jean.
Mrs. Tom ( Minnie) Pollard, Mother- in- law to Mrs, J,( Barbara) Pollard who joined in 1961
and was honored with a Branch Life Membership on the occasion of her
60th Wedding Anniversary.
Mrs. Robt. ( Mary) Logue Mrs, C yrille Lambert
Mrs. WM. ( M ) Ellstock
Mrs. T. H. ( Annie) Cower. The Branch gave her a Life Membership in A. W. I, in 1 9 5 6.
Mrs. Bert ( Lily) Sutherland
Mrs, J, Trethywan ( Clara, wife of John)
Mrs. Sam ( Elizabeth) Yeomani, Sr. , Mother- in- law to Mrs, Sara ( Lu) Yeomani^ Jr. who served
as Constituency Convenor years later,
Mrs. Richard Henry ( Maud) White ( Later she was Mrs. Price)
There were several ladies who joined at eavh succeeding meeting as the word got around that
there was a community club for ladles meeting one afternoon a month.
This information Corrected by Mrs. Drayton and supplied in January 1 9 8 5 by Mrs. Roy ( Margaret)
Hanlan, HISTORIAN and Secretary of the Pickardville W. I. ( Member sice Jan. 1957).
When the Branch wad re- organized May 2 1 , 1953. the President was Mrs. Jack ( Charlotte)
Gower , Secretary Mrs, Ted ( Jean) Anhorn.
Other members present at that meeting were Mrs. Emma Riopel, Mrs. Mossi ( Molly) St. Louis,
Mrs. Chas. ( Elsie) Schwanke, Mrs. Doris McColl, Mrs. Irene Marshall, Mrs. Jeanette Valcourt,
Mrs. Eunice Bibroski ( Her name was stroked through in the record book after attending only
two meetings.) The next meeting, there were four more enrolledl Mrs, Art Fortin ( Irene),
Mrs. Omer ( Rose) Victoor, Mrs, Katie Ringuette and Mrs. T. H. ( Annie) Gower,
Eight meetings were held in 1 9 5 3 with an average attendance of ten,
- Margaret A. Hanlan