THE 4W'S - WALTON WONDER WOMEN WISHing Clue #1

Description

Médias

Image

Type d'élément

Photographs

Description

EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT COMES FROM ORDINARY PEOPLE
“Almost at the inception of the movement to build a memorial hall in Blyth, the Women’s
Institute purchased the grounds on which the hall is erected, showing rare judgment in
their selection of a suitable site…” (The Blyth Standard, June 17,1973 - reprinted from 1921)
While many towns erected statues as cenotaphs to commemorate the special young
men who lost their lives in WWI, ladies from Blyth Women’s Institute wanted a “living
memorial”. They paid $300 for the land on Queen Street to build the Blyth Memorial
Community Hall. These ladies rallied other local organizations, churches, and
businesses in the community to raise the funds needed to build the hall. Residents of
Blyth and the surrounding townships of Hullett, East Wawanosh and Morris were
canvassed to raise by voluntary subscription the $25,000 necessary to build this
structure. There is a plaque on the building that states: “When the hall was completed
in 1921, it was the largest community fund-raised building project in North America”.
When the Blyth Memorial Community Hall was dedicated on Sunday, June 5, 1921, it
housed a 500-seat auditorium upstairs, a meeting hall downstairs and the town firehall
at the rear of the structure underneath the stage area. The highlight of this service
was the unveiling of the tablet that contained the names of the 30 men from Blyth and
area who made the supreme sacrifice.The words “In Grateful Memory….Their Names
Liveth for Evermore” inscribed on the tablet express the hope and purpose of this
Memorial Hall. This tablet, along with others containing the names of those lost in
WWII, still flanks the cenotaph which is actually the stage of this beautiful edifice.
Blyth and area residents hope to return to the auditorium this year for their annual
Remembrance Day Service after a two-year absence due to COVID-19.
The Women’s Institute was still raising funds in 1925 to pay off the mortgage which had
a debt remaining of $3,000. In May 1925, local newspapers printed the following
advertisement: “The Sunbeam Concert Trio, graduates of the Ontario School for the
Blind - Miss Gladys Stay, soprano soloist and reader; Miss Greta Lammie, A.T.C.M.,
violinist; Miss Kathryn Sells, A.T.C.M., pianist and accompanist; will present a program
under the auspices of the Women’s Institute in Memorial Hall Blyth, on the evening of
Wed., June 3rd. Proceeds in aid of Memorial Hall Fund. Admission adults 35¢ children
25¢” (The Blyth Standard, May 29, 1925)
Over the years, the Blyth Memorial Community Hall has undergone many upgrades and
additions. The Blyth Women’s Institute continued to contribute, especially for projects in
the lower hall and the kitchen, until the group disbanded in 1991.

Photo: Jason Essery in a WWII replica uniform infront of the Blyth Memorial Hall,

Notes