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Happy 56% birthday to Saitfleet w I The S'altfleet Women's Institute had plenty to celebrate last Wednesday evening at the Erland Lee Museum Home but they began their agenda of events with a big happy birth- day wish to themselves. Along .with celebrat- ing their 56th birthday, the group also joined to- gether in commemorat- ing the 10th anniversary of the Erland Lee Museum Home, the 85th birthday of the Women's Institue which was first formed in Stoney Creek in 1897, and the 100th an- niversary of ED. Smith. Llewellyn S. Smith Jr., whose great- great -- grandmother, E. D. Smith, was first pre- sident of the Women's Institute, was guest speaker for the evening and Mayor Bill Sears was on hand to bring greetings from the town. After the women g a , Smith, E, D. Smith's great - grandfather, ar- rived from New'JefseY in orderto remain loyal to the Crown shortly after the American Revolution. He was given 200 acres just east of present day Winona. Throughout the years the companyhas passed from Smith to Smith. first being E. D. Smith who built *an extensive fruit tami around his parents' homestead. His fruit - shipping venture began in 1382 and he quickly earned the nick- name "the fruit king" "Throughout the years we've tried t0 keep it a family envir- onment, not a factory- We've tried to set an en- v1ronment'of trust," said Mr. Smith. He also spoke of downfalls and blessings throughout the years concerning the busin- ess. He said how fortun- the business in meg & agenda out of the w - they sat back and wet entertained by storic from Mr. Smith, wt. spoke of his life in th E.D. Smith famil business. And a "family" busir ess it is, stressed Mr Smith. "It's a family - nu business and people as] me if that's good. I say ,5 and my family says that continuity is hall ' the battle," said Mr Smith. "" And E. D. Smith cer- tainly has had contin- uity. The Smith's Cana- v dian heritage goes back to 1787 when Silas ' I'~_4_ ate it was that each gen-- eration was blessed with a son, each of whom de-- cided to go into the family business. "I grew up in the 60's and I think I was very lucky. It was a time of anti - establishment and I feltI had a real advan-- tage over everyone else. I knew where I was go- ing and that started at home. No one ever said, 'you have to work here' - -- I wanted to," said Mr. Smith. . He went on to say how he remembered it as a period of fun which he attributed to the em- ployees and the environ- ment of E. D. Smith. Stories of water fights and cherry throws brought chuckles from the audience. Mr. Smith also touched on where the company is today and where it's heading. He said," We see ourselves *-- 4--4.." my T: Many APPY BIRTHDAY SALTFLEE ' SETS on hand to help the Saltfleet Women 5 Institute celebrate their 56th birthday last Wednesday evening including, from left, as being uniqu first and foremost. In \life now, everything isa number. We look at Where the "It all goes back to roots and what you stand for. We've learned good lessons and ones mainstream'é going and we will always remem- we go the other way. her. We're grateful to Mayor Bill Sears, hostess Hilda Beachin, secretary Marjorie Kott and Llewellyn S. Smith, executive vice--president of ED. Smith. the community and our intentions are to remain in Winona and to main- tain our head office there. We feel that if we maintain good corpor- ate citizenship within the communityuwe can participate in ttus env1r- onment for many years to come," said Mr. Smith.