women were given a theme to which they were to respond to roll call at the next meeting. Often these themes revolved around the domestic sphere such as “A Housecleaning Hint," “Recipes for Supper Dishes,” and “Canning Suggestions.” Other interesting responses included “Jokes on City People,” “Writing your name with your left hand and blindfolded," “Names of allied leaders in the Great War," and ”The worst fright I ever had.”

Many of these topics were also patriotic in nature and many were related to books and authors, reflecting that many women were very well read. Some Responses of the St. Peters South Institute Branch women concerned “A book I have read about another country,” and “Naming a Canadian product." (21) One response of the Goose River Women’s Institute was with “A verse of poetry." (22) Many the responses of the Greenwich Institute Branch where patriotic in nature such as “A stanza from a Canadian Author," “A famous Canadian Woman,” “Naming a Canadian Export," and “Naming a national park in Canada.” (23)

The Institutes held card parties, picnics, pantry sales, concerts, dances, cake lotteries, and sold hooked rugs, and quilts they made themselves to raise money for their Institute. The Cable Head West and Greenwich Institute Branches worked together and purchased an ice cream freezer in March of 1939. They made ice cream, sold it, and in the process developed a unique way to make money. In September of 1939 a sale of ice cream at Clark‘s Store brought in $4.20, and in July of 1941, an ice cream festival and dance held in the Greenwich schoolhouse brought in $13.11. (24)

Money was often donated by the Institute branches to such organizations as the Red Cross, the TB League, UNICEF, Salvation Army, Cancer Fund, and locally to the St. Peters Carnegie Library Fund. A great deal of money the Institutes earned, however, was put right back into their community. Cards, treats, and Valentines were sent to sick members of their community and shut-ins. Candy and treats were brought to the schoolchildren every year at Christmastime.

Of particular significance, however, were the contributions the Institute women made to the improvement of education and health. The input of the provincial government in both fields was minimal in initial decades of the 1900s. The work performed by the Institute women was Crucial in carrying through reforms and improvements needed, and establishing standards which government agencies were later forced to accept"

Like many volunteer organizations, the Women’s Institutes ran its Course. Today, Armadale is the only active Institute branch within the Fire District Area. Many women from the area who were involved with

To see what the Women’s Institutes provided, with respect to the schools within their communities, see the Education chapter.

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