The Go Get ' Em Gals Clue #1

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A Sunday morning outing to look for WI signs. We found a very informative one of Middlemarch historic sites. In the picture is our team consisting of Chrissy B., Mary Jane P., Anna L , and Margie P.

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A Go Get ' Em Gals’ Field Trippin' Adventure : Discovery Of The Middlemarch Historic Sign

Howdy ! By way of introduction we are Margie P., Chrissy B., Anna L. and Mary Jane P. ( fondly known as M.J. ). In our parts of the province we're locally known as " The Go Get 'Em Gals ". We are famous for our fascinatin' pronunciation of some words due to some of us gals having close relatives who arrived in this grand 'ol country of Canada from the U.K., Scotland and Ireland.

When not attendin' W.I. meetins', we're gardenin' , savin' stray cats, sippin' tea ( wink, wink ) together, or field trippin'. W.I. you ask ? Well, that's some energetic women workin' to make this world a better place. We couldn't be prouder to be one of them W.I.'ers.

While field trippin' in February one windy winter morn, quite a distance from our homes, we came across an interestin' sign. We decided to pull over at the corner of John Wise Line and Fingal Line, in Elgin County,to do some investigatin' while takin' a hot tea break. M.J. reminded us to take out our cat carriers in case one of them stray cats crossed our paths while out searchin' for some warmth.

Well gosh darn golly, on takin' a closer look, we " Go Get ' Em Gals " discovered the sign standin' bigger than life before us had the blue and gold " For Home And Country " logo shinin' back at us. Our hearts skipped a beat as we realized our W.I. sisters in this Middlemarch location had been hard at work preservin' and honourin ' history.

In keepin' with our " Institute Ode " , our little group of " Go Get ' Em Gals " stood " in a friendship's circle bright " as our gaze fell upon images of collected photographs of this historic time period and area. M.J. excitedly read aloud the listed essential services and personnel that once called Middlemarch their home, includin' a Blacksmith Shop, Wagon Maker , plus Garage and Service Station.

Margie P. marvelled at the fact that the very corner at which we were now standin' had been a " centre of essential services between the Talbot Settlement and St. Thomas on the Talbot Road". Anna L. was ecstatic as she realized that this very place , also known as Smoke's Corners, had once been bustlin' with a " Post Office ( 1876 ), Apple Grove Grange Hall ( 1880 ) for farm and social meetin’s and the Pere Marquette Railway Station ( 1901 ) for passengers, sugar beets and other farm products. " Upon further readin', Chrissy B. discovered that yes indeed The Middlemarch Historic Sign had been sponsored by The Middlemarch Women's Institute.

We lifted our teacups and tea mugs in acknowledgement of the time, effort , research and creativity put forth by our W. I. sisters in their pursuit to recognize , through this amazin’ sign, the historical significance of this rural location in our great province of Ontario. A picture was snapped to remember this occasion.

After takin' one last look at our field trippin' find, our happy little group of " Go Get ' Em Gals " collected up our teacups and cat carriers. With heads held high we made our way through the deep snow, knowin' that any passer-by would see big smiles on our rosy-cheeked faces , as our parting cheer of " Way to go W. I. ! " , rang out through the frosty air.

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