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11 aaaaamnmmneet t on 0 1 tmscc .. 000 C000 __ _0 j â€" . GRAGE PATTERSON WOMEN‘S INSTITUTE‘S BICENTENNIAL PROJECT, 1984 o THE NAMING OF GRACE C. PATTERSON PARK C O AND ul e t o o THE UPDATING OF THE PICNIC SHELTER The weather was sunny with a chill in the air on September 16, 1984. The grounds had beém ]:»1?;.d1?d k'>y Th‘a.mesford's P?rks Bc?ard. The newly renovated picnic shelter amg the five picnic tables were bright with colour. The cairm stone with its new plague was graced with four potted yellow chrysanthemums. On the river a blue heron winged fit§ way over the water ar.ld seven lazy little turtles sunned themselves on a fleoating leg as thescrowd of over eighty quietly gathered with lawn chairs to take part in the d@edication of the naming of Grace C. Patterson Park and the updating of the picrie sheilter. | &T} â€"oâ€">. ‘Grace Patterson Women‘s Institue l.lad applied for a Bicentennisl grant to the Department of the Secretary of State, Ontario Regional Office, Toronto, just before the deadlinme of March 31, 1984. Mrs. Harold Kerr, Mrs. Roy Ross and Mrs. David Woods had been nom@nated to form the Bicentennial Committee with President, Mrs. Verne McArthur and SecEétary, Mrs. Stanley Weir included. The feeling of the Women‘s Institute memâ€" bers wag to refurbish the picnic area of Allen Street Park with new picnic tables, a Bicentenmmial flag and a bronze plaque relating Thamesford‘s founding, the original idea ang the one contained in the application form. However on May 25, 1984, receiving more in gramt money than requested, 1.:he Bicentennial Committee was able to expand the pr,oj,e,,cfit&' An agreement was reached with the Township of Zorra Council for the Women‘s Institute to go ahead with work plans. &A new céement floor was installed, a new white steel roof and new facer boards replaced the deteriorating ones, and four new allâ€"weather picnic tables were purchased and along with a 1967 one were painted hycinth blue to deter robbery. The Council painted ithe shelter and installed eight reinforced posts around the outside of the shelter to préevent cars from entering. _ Puring the planning stage in committee discussion Mrs. Verne MacArthur brought forward the idea to rename Allen Street Park to Grace C. Patterson Park to honour the memory of Erace Patterson who had died the previous March. The decision was to arrange for a brenzge plaque to be installed on a cairn stone similar to and in keeping with the Terry Fox memorial at the community centre. The Council of the Township of Zorra approved the request.and plan. _ _A boulder was secured from Cold Springs Farm and with their help was brought from their Putnam facility to the park site. The site was readied by David Woods who dug down By backhoe to a solid foundation, then bringing discarded cement slabs from the river @dge, he filled the hole laying a base of gravel on top. When the stone was placéed, & cement foundation was cribbed around the base to complete the project. Mr. & MFS. M@a@éArthur attached the new bronze plaque to the stone. The inscription reads: "Crace C. Patterson Park â€" dedicated to the memory of Miss Grace C. Patterâ€" son, 1891â€"1984 teacher, missionary and friend and our pioneer forefathers who founded (St. Angrews) Thamesford in 1845." It was our Women‘s Institute accomplishment. â€" Ehe dedication ceremony was in charge of Mrs. Verne MacArthur. Honoured sea-}t:s: we.n‘.zng‘:wklfire‘)@fi”f?or Mayor Wallis Hammond, Mrs. Margaret Fleming, President of Oxford North Bist®iet Women‘s Institute, and the Bicentennial Committee to whom a yellow rose corsa@em:mmed with blue ribbon has been presented by the President of Grace Patterâ€" ;gfllewgmtem}@l@,stltue Present were some of Miss Patterson‘s immediate family and Tor@:‘::tz' Eg §fl Mrs Harold Potter, their daughter, Patricia, and their son, Brlar.l o f£ wÂ¥ H‘»'T@fM"rs Jack Yeoman of Woodstock and Frances Harte of London. Councillors â€" Harvey Beaty and Mr. Ted Nancekivell were in the crowd. ’:& Mrs . fP@it‘@g;%i ‘ZgfiiZme gnd a prayer opened the program. Mayor Hammond, Mrs. gl::tt:ling :r'usi teaching, m@gxsse the gathels'lng briefly. Mrs. Roy Ross reviewed Miss fi l<'alrso Wo:m..e:ni;éfffi@éfifi‘lflqnary and community endeavours as well as her connection with the oulr; 1nscr1mg_gb5~‘?hte S:he'gaye a brief history of the founding of'Thamesford and as the C2C*1IPCIOM®â€"@AM‘theplaque was read aloud, Mrs.,Harold Kerr unveiled the plaque. stock @r@‘éi%ignge Mackay, his brother, Ian and their friend, Jim Sharples oflv.\loczdâ€". pllea;sauéié; #4ed a medley of music using violins, a mandalin and a guitar for listening edulc@@@@f@@ "-lf-‘jl‘s'tf?ryoof the picnic shelter was given by Mrs. Verne MacArthur. At its 100 OA the Calithumpian weekâ€"end in 1967, Miss Patterson spoke and in part, e