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District Diary Busy in Elgin West Elgin West District is not only looking back at its past achievements with pride but forward to the future with enthusiasm. The County of Elgin is divided into two districts. Elgin West and Elgin East and many activities have been completed with the co-operation of both districts. Many people in Ontario. in fact all ofCanada will know that in 1985 the County of Elgin is to be at the forefront of agriculture in Canada. The International Plowing Match will be held near St. Thomas. The federal Minister of Agriculture. Mr. John Wise farms in the county. The County of Elgin skirts Lake Erie with the City of St. Thomas in the middle. Elgin West District con sists of the townships ofAldborough. Dunwich. and Southwold. There is a diversity of agriculture within Elgin West. including. tobacco, beef, cash crops, some dairying and some fruit and vegetable farms. EIgin West District began in Dut- ton on Feb. 10, 1905 through the in- terest and enthusiasm of Mr. Archie MacColl secretary ofthe Farmers' 1n- stitutc. For the next three years meetings were held regularly with ladies from all over West Elgin attending. Elgin West is located just north of Lake Erie in southâ€"western Ontario. The first District Annual was held on June 12, 1908 with 50 women pre- sent; this meeting was the real begin- ning of Elgin West and by 1913 the thriving group could pay their secretary $20 a year. In 1917. seven branches reported raising $3.384 for the war effort. Mrs. Luke Brown was elected the first Federated Representative for Elgin West in 1920, In 1927. the first Winter Picnic was held at Alma Col» lege. St. Thomas with Emily Guest as speaker, A scholarship fund was begun in 1951 to commemorate the centennial ofElgin County. This is a joint project with Elgin East District to reward an Elgin County girl each year for her outstanding 4-H work. Early projects of Elgin West in4 cluded medical inspection of all schools, area health nurses, St, Thomas Memorial Hospital, Byron Sanitorium. music instruction in schools, public speaking competi» lions. prohibition. and legal rights for women and irru-nigrants. The 14 bran- ches that now make up Elgin West have a fine history to be proud of. Mrs. Helen Saunders of Button and the late Mrs. lda Galbraith of Iona Station. were members of the West Elgin Cancer Society and saw the need for service to cancer patients in the area. In 1960, Mrs. Galbraith. District President of Elgin West W.l. held a tea at her home with Iona Sta~ tion branch assisting. It was a success and funds for the Elgin West Daf» I'odil Auxiliary were begun. In 1965. Elgin West District WI did the plan- ning and each year it has got pro~ gressively bigger and better. Each year one of the 14 branches act as hostess with branch delegates assisting. Helping cancer patients in need, whether at the tea or at Christmas time with food baskets. the Elgin West WI have provided comfort and happiness which is a rewarding accomplishment to each member. The late Mrs. IR. Putt 1_ a former president of FWlt and member of Middlemareh Bran ml the need to establish a leSL 11 is Elgin County in order to presc- our wonderful heritage. She apprt lied the Elgin County Council int :2”. 1y 1950‘s for this purpose at .rs. highly successful. With M I Gowan Young. a former tint Director of FWlO. they 1.6.1 tirelessly toward forming the lgm County Pioneer Museum. The Women‘s Institute mt iers of Elgin East and West alon \'I[lI members ofthe Imperial Order the Daughters of the Empire s ireJ voluntary contributions for [1' Title chase of a building and ground .51 Thomas to become the home th; Elgin County Pioneer Museti The Women‘s Institutes « ll‘»: county and the IODE have con ‘JCIJ to hold fund raising social my each year. Spring teas. 3 Dee bet coffee break, raffles, flea m lets and proceeds from bus tou are turned over to the executive co i111- tee to assist in the operatior. II J heritage from the past of whiclr gin County is proud. When the Elgin Manor Hor lot the Aged, on the outskirts . St Thomas. was still in the pla mg stage the Administrator. Mr tan Patterson called a meeting of 1 av ecutives of Elgin East and Elgin Tail W.1. to discuss organizing at. u.\- diary. The auxiliary purpose uld be to provide extra comforts f the residents, such as bus trips; an ut- nishings not provided by i 311i funds. The Elgin Manor Au; it} came into being in May 1964. t W decided that the auxiliary t 41151 operate a Tuck Shop. Space wa iro- vided in the building for a tiny DIE where residents can purchase c ‘dlfi tobacco products and toilet art les. There is also a small tea room \ “tel? for a nominal sum residents and heir guests can enjoy a cup of tea ot col»