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nniversaries Port Elgin Institute, organized on November 17th celebrated its sixtieth anniversary with a banquet and a special programme. More than two hundred Institute members from Centre Bruce district attended. The history of the branch, read at this meeting, showed a fine record of continuous benefit to the community over the past sixty years. Mrs. George Wilson of St. Mary's was guest speaker. North Gower’s fiftieth anniversary celebra- tion was also the occasion for entertaining the grandmothers of the community. Thirty-six grandmothers were in attendance and several former members of the Institute. Miss Ethel Craig was the only charter member present. Guest speaker was the District President, Mrs. J, A. Davidson. Visitors found a great deal of interest in the Tweedsmuir history. Quinte celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a turkey dinner, a local church women’s organization doing the catering, to leave the Institute women free to enjoy the programme. Three charter members attended: Mrs. J. Gar- butt who was the first president, Mrs. F. Benâ€" nett and Mrs. N. Brown. Mrs. Garbutt was honoured with a life membership at this meet- ing. Among the speakers were the District President, Miss Geraldine Mowers, Mrs. F. Perry of the Federation of Agriculture who spoke on coâ€"operative insurance, Mrs. Clarence Holmes a former F.W.I.O. President, and Mrs. M, B. Weese, the oldest member of the Quinte Institute. At Willoughby's fiftieth anniversary tea a display table held flowers from the Willoughby Volunteer Firemen and from the Township Council, all the minute books, the Tweeds- muir history book, a golden coloured anniver- sai‘y year programme, gift books from link Institutes in England and Australia. The daughter of a former member, Mrs. Thomas Morrison, presented the Institute with fifty miniature yellow roses in memory of her mother. Mrs. Roy Williams spoke on “Present Day Thoughts on Institute Work," the county Warden, Mr. Horace Morningstar who is also Reeve of the township brought greetings from the county and township councils; the Dis- trict President, Mrs. I_ Michener, expressed [elicitations on behalf of all the other Insti~ tutes of the district, and Mrs. Jack Houck of Brampton, one of the many guests, told how happy she was to be back in the first Institute she ever attended. When Quinn Institute oflicers began to make Plans for their fiftieth anniversary celebra- tion, they found, as several others have done, that the records and minutes of the first years could not be found. However, from inquiries and from memory they were able to recall some important points, such as that the branch was organized by Mrs, E. Clarke of Tilbury, the first president of the district, Mrs. E. E. Maris, the only charter member at the celeâ€" WINTER 1955 bration cut the birthday cake. Tribute was paid to the only other living charter member, Mrs. Elmer Hornick. The history of the In- stitute's‘fine Work in both war work and community service made an interesting story, A_ clever feature of Mount Albert’s fiftieth anniversary programme was a pageant arrang- ed by the convener, Mrs. H. Harman, Each decade of the Institute’s history was a “living photograph” appearing in a gilt frame, the women wearing costumes of the period, while muSic popular at the time was provided by singers or a pianist. Preceding the presentation of each "picture," a member familiar with the Institute history of the period gave an account of what had been done and of other outstand- ing events that had their influence on the course of Institute work. A birthday cake made and donated by Mrs. B. Rolling and Mrs. C. Rolling and iced by Mrs, W. Cooper was cut by two charter members, Mrs. S. Crone and Mrs. George Ianson. Williamsburg’s anniversary celebrations were held both afternoon and evening and among those who poured tea were Mrs. Oscar Becksted, a director at the first meeting and Mrs. Luther Barkley, president in 1914. Miss Sarah Whitteker cut the birthday cake. Mrs. Leonard Gibson of Kemptville just returned from Ceylon was guest speaker. A history of the branch compiled by Mrs. Walter Whitteker and Mrs. Clair Alguire, revealed that this Institute had twice been disbanded, from 1908 to 1912 and during the war years until 1919. In spite of this it has a creditable record of achievement, especially in such cultural proj- ects as sponsoring a choral society, bringing in travelling libraries, conducting contests in public speaking and painting, compiling a Tweedsmuir history and making a “Canada Quilt." A highlight of Bayham‘s fiftieth anniversary celebration was the planting of a tree on the grounds of the church where the meeting was held, the first sod turned by a charter mem- ber, Mrs. Harry Godwin. The minister’s wife accepted the tree on behalf of the congrega- tion. Early members including Mrs. Goodwin provided part of the musical programme. Over two hundred members from East Elgin disâ€" trict were in attendance. Cedarville had an interesting roll call at its fiftieth anniversary meeting: “The most out- standing happening I recall in my Institute life.” All available minute books, old pro- grammes and pictures of former members were on display and members in old~time cosâ€" tumes sang old songs and put on a skit. Anothâ€" er feature of the programme was a history of the branch and a comparison of prices of goods today and fifty years ago. Mrs. George Sharp, President for South Grey, was guest speaker and Mrs. N. Boyd, a former secretary gave an “In Memoriam” address. The two old- former presidents, Mrs. E. Harris and Mrs, W. Stewart cut the birthday cake. And the cele- brations concluded with a dance in the even- ing. 39