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| Stewart Memorial Health Centre - 1951 |
History Of Stewart Memorial Health Centre Ladies Aid
(This early history of the SMH Auxiliary was prepared for the
PEI Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries in October 1978)
PEI Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries in October 1978)
On January 3, 1950, the Ladies Aid of Stewart Memorial Health Centre, or Institute Hospital Aid Committee as it was then called, came into being at a public meeting held in Tyne Valley Hall to bring the public up-to-date on the plans to build the Health Centre.
The Trustees and Institute Committee then met together on March 13, 1950 and decided tenders should be called for the construction of a hospital at its present site.
Through all of the early years of the existence of Stewart Memorial Health Centre much of the funds for new equipment were raised through tea parties. These were annual events which were looked forward to by all the community. The first tea party held for the benefit of Stewart Memorial was in the summer of 1950. The proceeds amounted to $1,707.27 plus a donation of $10.00.
Although the Ladies Aid was in charge of these events, the Women’s Institutes of the area deserve a great deal of credit. If it had not been for their help and support the teas wouldn’t have reaped such profits. At the teas there was always much variety available and sometimes a lady would bake a cake and tickets would be sold on it, or an afghan might be ticketed off.
On May 24, 1951, the Stewart Memorial Health Centre officially opened with some 400 people present to witness this ceremony.
1955 saw many fund raising events held. On March 4th a Carnival was held at Mount Pleasant Rink. On July 27th the annual tea party and dance were held at the Mount Pleasant Airport resulting in $1,389.65 in profits. On September 7th a dance was held at Ellerslie Legion with Bolgers Orchestra as accompaniment. So the funds were really drifting in.
In 1955 the decision was made to purchase an X-Ray Machine although it wasn’t received until 1956. On September 20, 1956 the X-Ray Equipment was presented from the Aid as well as an incubator and croupette from the Department of Health. At this ceremony, Mrs. J.A. Stewart (wife of the late Doctor for whom the Centre is named) represented the Ladies Aid. Mrs. Stewart expressed sincere appreciation to the Department of Health and to the residents in the districts who had made it possible to obtain the new equipment.
At the first regular meeting twenty members enrolled with the membership fee being 25¢. The first officers were:
President - Mrs. J.A. Stewart
Vice-President - Mrs. Sidney Enman
Secretary-Treasurer - Mrs. Lorne Burleigh
We are happy to have Mrs. James Milligan, one of the charter members, still active.
Over the last twenty-eight years the Ladies Aid has slaved long hours in order to provide the Centre with needed items. It has provided an unbelievable amount of financial aid for a small group. In the span of 4 years (from 1964 to 1968) the Ladies Aid contributed a total of $3,497.40 in materials to the Health Centre. This kind of loyalty and support is of utmost importance to a small public institution as this.
In addition to our Annual Christmas Tea, we raise some of our funds through the baby cupboard, pantry sales, lotteries and auctions.
The women of Stewart Memorial Health Centre Ladies Aid have worked together and this co-operation and fellowship has added a great deal to each one of our lives and made us better citizens in serving both home and community. Our organization has stood the test of time well. Membership at present is thirty-three.
We are extremely proud of our aid, knowing it has been kept together all those years and feel with continued co-operation on the part of everyone, it has a bright and prosperous future.
Dr. J.E.B. Madigane and Dr. Roy Montgomery are presently the Physicians and Doris Gorrill is the Matron.
The present officers are:
Past President - Mrs. Stuart Montgomery (Orell)
President - Mrs. Eric Barlow (Verna)
Vice-President - Mrs. James Burleigh (Pauline)
Secretary - Mrs. Herman Ramsay (Marilyn)
Treasurer - Mrs. Winston England (Blanche)
The following is a list of Charter Members:
Mrs. J.A. Stewart
Mrs. James Milligan
Mrs. Richard Found
Mrs. Oswald Yeo
Mrs. Sidney Enman
Mrs. Charles Frost
Mrs. Clark MacQuarrie
Mrs. James Livingstone
Mrs. William Maynard
Mrs. Angus MacLennan
Mrs. Spurgeon Dyment
Mrs. Athol Colwill
Mrs. Henry Maynard
Mrs. R.R. Logie
Mrs. Reginald Birch
Mrs. Ivan MacLean
Mrs. E.S. Burleigh
Mrs. Lorne Burleigh
Mrs. Ira Banks
Mrs. Thomas Grigg
