IONA

The Iona Women’s Institute was established on June 16, 1909, making it the second oldest branch in the West Elgin District. The Branch had a large membership of about 50 until 1926 when Iona Station Women’s Institute was organized. Only one Tweedsmuir history was created by the Iona WI, being completed between 1962 and 1968. The cover was made from blue Morocco leather, designed by the curator, tooled by a resident of the St. Thomas Hospital and the gold-work by the assistant curator. The branch disbanded on November 14, 1989 after eighty years of service.

This single volume contains a wealth of information on the oldest families of the Iona district, many with numerous photographs to support the histories. Church, farm, school, Institute activities and community histories are included, many with identified photographs

page 001 - 011.pdf
page 012 - 021.pdf
page 022 - 031.pdf
page 032 - 041.pdf
page 042 - 053.pdf
page 054 - 060.pdf
page 061 - 071.pdf
page 072 - 079.pdf
page 080 - 092.pdf
page 093 - 102.pdf
page 103 - 115.pdf
page 116 - 126.pdf

page 127 - 140.pdf
page 141 - 150.pdf
page 151 - 162.pdf
page 163 - 173.pdf
page 174 - 183.pdf
page 184 - 195.pdf
page 196 - 204.pdf
page 205 - 215.pdf
page 216 - 227.pdf
page 228 - 240.pdf
page 241 - 250.pdf
page 261 - 269.pdf
   
 

IONA STATION

This branch was organized on Oct. 18, 1928 and the Tweedsmuir volume contains information up to the late 1970s about branch activities, family histories, pioneer stories, local personalities and more. It is illustrated with many photographs and newspaper clippings. The branch disbanded in 1991.

  page 0001 - 0002.pdf
page 0003 - 0008.pdf
page 0008a - 0012a.pdf
page 0013 - 0014.pdf
page 0015 - 0021.pdf
page 0022 - 0027.pdf
page 0028 - 0034.pdf
page 0035 - 0041.pdf
page 0042 - 0048.pdf
page 0049 - 0053.pdf
page 0054 - 0059.pdf
page 0060 - 0065.pdf
page 0066 - 0071.pdf
page 0072 - 0077.pdf
page 0078 - 0084.pdf
page 0085 - 0089.pdf
page 0090 - 0094a.pdf
page 0095 - 0103.pdf
page 0104 - 0106.pdf
page 0107 - 0108.pdf
page 0109 - 0114a.pdf
page 0115 - 0120.pdf
     
  KENSINGTON CLUB (LAWRENCE STATION)

The Lawrence Station Women’s Institute Branch was known as the Kensington Club. This branch was formed on July 6, 1909 and produced two volumes. While Volume One is available on microfilm in the Elgin County Archives for research purposes, unfortunately, the present location of the book itself is not known. Microfilm is not amenable to digitization, so we were not able to include Volume One in this project. While there are no photographs in Volume Two, it is a diverse collection of articles written about the history of the people and properties of the community of Lawrence Station. It features a reminiscence of the boyhood of Walter Lunn, born in the mid 1800's.
  page 0001 - 0003.pdf
page 0004 - 0009.pdf
page 0010 - 0017.pdf
page 0018 - 0023.pdf
page 0024 - 0032.pdf
page 0033 - 0039.pdf
page 0040 - 0046.pdf
page 0047 - 0053.pdf
page 0054 - 0059.pdf
page 0060 - 0064.pdf

page 0065 - 0070.pdf
page 0071 - 0076.pdf
page 0077 - 0081.pdf
page 0082 - 0083a.pdf
   
 

MIDDLEMARCH

Middlemarch Women’s Institute was organized on February 26, 1918. They began their Tweedsmuir Book project in May, 1944 with a village history. The Middlemarch Women’s Institute branch covers the Talbot Settlement area, located three miles west of St. Thomas on the Talbot Road.

Vol. 1 The first Middlemarch book contains community, military and family histories and historical photographs. Several sections have been written by the late local historian, Dr. James D. Curtis. Dr. Curtis’s autobiography is included at the end of this volume.

  page 001 - 015.pdf
page 016 - 029.pdf
page 030 - 043.pdf
page 044 - 057.pdf
page 058 - 071.pdf
page 072 - 087.pdf
page 088 - 102.pdf
page 103 - 112.pdf
page 113 - 125.pdf
page 126 - 133.pdf
page 134 - 148.pdf
page 149 - 164.pdf
page 165 - 181.pdf
page 182 - 197.pdf
page 198 - 216.pdf
page 217 - 227.pdf
page 228 - 245.pdf
page 246 - 257.pdf
page 258 - 271.pdf
page 272 - 290.pdf
page 291 - 303.pdf
page 304 - 315.pdf
   
  Vol. 2 Entitled “A Book of Lady Tweedsmuir’s Library”, this volume covers the property and house histories of Middlemarch and district to 1983.
  page 001 - 015.pdf
page 016 - 035.pdf
page 036 - 056.pdf
page 057 - 078.pdf
page 079 - 097.pdf
page 098 - 109.pdf
page 110 - 122.pdf
page 123 - 138.pdf
page 139 - 149.pdf
page 150 - 160.pdf
     
  PAYNE'S MILLS

Originally formed on Feb. 21, 1946 when membership of the Talbotville branch (formed 1927) grew too large, Paynes Mills WI remained active until 2007. Community life in Paynes Mills is well documented in close to 300 pages of photographs, farm and family histories and much more.

  page 0001 - 0006.pdf
page 0007 - 0014.pdf
page 0015 - 0024.pdf
page 0025 - 0029.pdf
page 0030 - 0038.pdf
page 0039 - 0048.pdf
page 0049 - 0057.pdf
page 0058 - 0065.pdf
page 0066 - 0073.pdf
page 0074 - 0081.pdf
page 0082 - 0087.pdf
page 0088 - 0094.pdf
page 0095 - 0101.pdf
page 0102 - 0109.pdf
page 0110 - 0114.pdf
page 0115 - 0119.pdf
page 0120 - 0126.pdf
page 0127 - 0132.pdf
page 0133 - 0140.pdf
page 0141 - 0148.pdf
page 0149 - 0158.pdf
page 0158a - 0164.pdf
page 0165 - 0173.pdf
page 0174 - 0181.pdf
page 0182 - 0189.pdf
page 0190 - 0198.pdf
page 0199 - 0207.pdf
page 0208 - 0217.pdf
page 0218 - 0225.pdf
page 0226 - 0229.pdf
page 0230 - 0239.pdf
page 0240 - 0247.pdf
page 0248 - 0254.pdf
page 0255 - 0263.pdf
page 0264 - 0273.pdf
page 0274 - 0282.pdf
page 0283 - 0287.pdf
page 0288 - 0298.pdf
     
  RIVER ROAD

The River Road Women’s Institute was organized on April 21, 1921. The community of River Road is located in the Township of Southwold, “over Kains Hill in a southwesterly direction from St. Thomas….The name undoubtedly was given by the fact that the first road followed the course of the Kettle Creek…. The community is comprised of land lying between and along Bush, Mill and East River Roads running somewhat parallel in a southerly direction from the Bush road. The easterly road joins the road leading west from Highway No. 4; the central one joins Mill Road, while the western joins a side road joining the second River Road.”

Tweedsmuir histories were started in 1946. The branch disbanded on April 30, 2011, after ninety years of service to their community. Five volumes of Tweedsmuir histories were created, however Volume 4 has not been found.

Vol. 1 The first volume for River Road is not very large, but contains the details surrounding the branch’s organization, school history and a community overview in 1945, with photographs.

 

page 001 - 015.pdf

page 016 - 027.pdf
   
  Vol. 2 River Road’s second volume includes community history, deaths and marriages, cemetery information, family histories and branch activities and biographies of members, with photographs.
  page 001 - 015.pdf
page 016 - 030.pdf
page 031 - 045.pdf
page 046 - 060.pdf
page 061 - 075.pdf
page 076 - 100.pdf
page 101 - 120.pdf
page 121 - 137d.pdf
   
  Vol. 3 This volume is dedicated to farm and property histories. Black and white and colour photographs of the properties are included.
  page 001 - 020.pdf
page 021 - 045.pdf
page 046 - 075.pdf
page 076 - 094.pdf
   
  Vol. 5 This volume focuses on the activities of the River Road WI with biographies of the members, photographs of their outings and their programs from 1996-2005. Also includes community events and participation.
  page 001 - 015.pdf
page 016 - 030.pdf
page 031 - 045.pdf
page 046 - 060.pdf
page 061 - 075.pdf
page 076 - 105.pdf
page 106 - 120.pdf
page 121 - 135.pdf
page 136 - 150.pdf
page 151 - 163.pdf
     
  SHEDDEN

The Shedden Women’s Institute branch was organized on May 31, 1913, in the village of Shedden. Four volumes have been compiled. The Shedden Tweedsmuir histories cover the village of Shedden and the surrounding rural area. The Shedden Women’s Institute remains active.

Vol. 1 Volume one began as “Lady Tweedsmuir’s Village history of Shedden” in 1948. The volume was completed in 1978, and includes the history and activities of the Institute, community, church, farm, military, agricultural fair, library, industrial and school histories. Several pages are devoted to the Institute’s involvement in the establishment of the Elgin County Pioneer Museum.

     
  page 001 - 014.pdf
page 015 - 029.pdf
page 030 - 042.pdf
page 043 - 055.pdf
page 056 - 068.pdf
page 069 - 080.pdf
page 081 - 093.pdf
page 094 - 106.pdf
page 107 - 117.pdf
page 118 - 126.pdf
   
  Vol 2. Book 1 This book was compiled between 1973 and 2010 and covers branch activities, advocacy and programs, history of local businesses, churches and the library.
  page 001 - 020.pdf
page 021 - 040.pdf
page 041 - 060.pdf
page 061 - 085.pdf
page 086 - 103.pdf
page 104 - 125.pdf
page 126 - 150.pdf
page 151 - 169.pdf
page 170 - 190.pdf
page 191 - 211.pdf
page 212 - 232.pdf
page 233 - 255.pdf
page 256 - 276.pdf
page 277 - 290.pdf
page 291 - 307.pdf
page 308 - 321.pdf
page 322 - 340.pdf
page 341 - 358.pdf
page 359 - 375.pdf
   
  Vol 2. Book 2 This portion of volume 2 was created between 1986 and 2010 and includes community histories, specifically focusing on the building of the medical centre, community centre, as well as sports, “Rosy Rhubarb Days”, community tributes, biographies of notable citizens, “now and then” photographs of buildings, maps and property history.
  page 001 - 019.pdf
page 020 - 031.pdf
page 032 - 043.pdf
page 044 - 055.pdf
page 056 - 067.pdf
page 068 - 081.pdf
page 082 - 100.pdf
page 101 - 115.pdf
page 116 - 130.pdf
page 131 - 147.pdf
page 148 - 163.pdf
page 164 - 184.pdf
page 185 - 210.pdf
page 211 - 230.pdf
page 231 - 242.pdf
page 243 - 260.pdf
page 261 - 280.pdf
page 281 - 287.pdf
   
  Vol. 3 This volume was put together between 1985 and 2010 and focuses primarily on Institute anniversaries, activities and programs through newspaper articles and photographs. Involvement with the Shedden Public Library is also included.
  page 001 - 012.pdf
page 013 - 025.pdf
page 026 - 035.pdf
page 036 - 053.pdf
page 054 - 064.pdf
page 065 - 080.pdf
page 081 - 095.pdf
page 096 - 115.pdf
page 116 - 130.pdf
page 131 - 137.pdf
page 138 - 149.pdf
page 150 - 161.pdf
page 162 - 170.pdf
page 171 - 185.pdf
page 186 - 195.pdf
page 196 - 210.pdf
page 211 - 225.pdf
page 226 - 240.pdf
page 241 - 252.pdf
page 253 - 270.pdf
page 271 - 295.pdf
page 296 - 310.pdf
page 311 - 326.pdf
page 327 - 337.pdf
page 338 - 350.pdf
page 351 - 369.pdf
page 370 - 385.pdf
page 386 - 408.pdf
page 409 - 435.pdf
page 436 - 460.pdf
page 461 - 475.pdf
page 476 - 487.pdf
   
  Vol. 4 Volume 4 is a compilation of property histories of the village of Shedden and surrounding area. The listings include the street address as well as the emergency number. Information includes former owners, residents, property size and photographs. Although this volume was started in 1985, it was updated where possible to 1999.
  page 001 - 030.pdf
page 031 - 060.pdf
page 061 - 090.pdf
page 091 - 130.pdf
page 131 - 170.pdf
page 171 - 210.pdf
page 211 - 250.pdf
page 251 - 290.pdf
page 291 - 339.pdf
     
  TALBOTVILLE

Talbotville WI was formed on Apr. 29, 1927. Many women on the membership roll were from the neighbouring community of Paynes Mills and in 1946 the group split into two separate branches. Talbotville’s Tweedsmuir Histories, consisting of two volumes, were started in 1945. Both Volumes 1 and 2 have a balanced mix of photographs, newspaper clippings and many articles of life throughout the history of Talbotville, from its founding to the mid 1960's.

  Volume 1  
  page 0001 - 0005.pdf
page 0006 - 0011.pdf
page 0012 - 0014.pdf
page 0015 - 0021.pdf
page 0022 - 0031.pdf
page 0032 - 0038.pdf
page 0039 - 0044.pdf
page 0045 - 0049.pdf
page 0050 - 0055.pdf
page 0056 - 0061.pdf
page 0062 - 0067.pdf
page 0068 - 0074.pdf
page 0075 - 0080.pdf
page 0081 - 0089.pdf
page 0090 - 0097.pdf
page 0098 - 0103.pdf
page 0104 - 0111.pdf
page 0112 - 0120.pdf
page 0121 - 0128.pdf
page 0129 - 0132.pdf
page 0133 - 0138.pdf
page 0139 - 0141.pdf
page 0142 - 0145.pdf
page 0146 - 0148.pdf
     
  Volume 2  
  page 0001 - 0007.pdf
page 0008 - 0011.pdf
page 0012 - 0017.pdf
page 0018 - 0022a.pdf
page 0023 - 0026.pdf
page 0027 - 0032.pdf
page 0033 - 0038.pdf
page 0039 - 0042.pdf
page 0043 - 0045.pdf
page 0046 - 0048.pdf
page 0049 - 0051.pdf
page 0052 - 0058.pdf
page 0059 - 0068.pdf
page 0069 - 0075.pdf
page 0076 - 0085.pdf
page 0086 - 0090.pdf
page 0091 - 0094.pdf
page 0095 - 0099.pdf
page 0100 - 0107.pdf
page 0108 - 0115.pdf
page 0116 - 0120.pdf
page 0121 - 0124.pdf
page 0125 - 0129.pdf
page 0130 - 0134.pdf
page 0135 - 0141.pdf
page 0142 - 0146.pdf
page 0147 - 0152.pdf
page 0153 - 0155.pdf
page 0156 - 0160.pdf
page 0161 - 0165a.pdf