Excerpt from L.M. Montgomery’s journal, including a photograph of her at an Old Tyme Nite Concert party, 1927. Click on the image for more details.

While living in Norval, Montgomery was very active in the local community. As the minister’s wife, she was expected to lead and take part in many church and community events. And although she was very busy with writing, she still had many other interests to fill what little spare time she had.

Norval Women’s Institute

Women’s Institutes began to operate in 1897 and spread across Canada, including in Norval. The organizations were formed to support domestic education and advocate for many different causes.

The Norval Women’s Institute began in 1906 and had been underway for twenty years when Montgomery joined. She would occasionally host meetings and social events for the Institute at the manse. Montgomery would also make trips to other local Institute’s to give readings or presentations.

Women’s Missionary Society

The Union and Norval Presbyterian chapter of the Women’s Missionary Society (W.M.S) was organized by a former minister’s wife in the early 1890s. Within a month of moving to Norval, Montgomery was already involved in the W.M.S and hosting meetings. In December 1926, she became president and remained an active member until moving away in 1935.

Georgetown and Esquesing Humane Society

Montgomery was a lover of animals. She cherished her cats, Luck and Pat, almost as much as her children. After learning of a terrible event involving a cat and a local boy in 1927, Montgomery joined the Georgetown-Esquesing Humane Society and was an active member on its executive.

Reading

“Tonight for the first time in months I had a cosy, undisturbed evening of reading in one of my comfy new reed chairs in the library corner. It was delightful to have a “good read” again, with that heavenly feeling of leisure and tranquility which has been lacking so long” L.M. Montgomery’s journal, March 9, 1926

Montgomery was an avid reader and the proud owner of a robust personal library. While living in Norval, she collected and read many books. She signed many of the books in her personal library with a black cat doodle. She read many classics, such as Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and several works by Mark Twain. She was especially a lover of Agatha Christie’s mystery novels.

Books from L.M. Montgomery’s personal library including the front cover and inside inscription of Tish Plays the Game, and the cover of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Click on the image for more details.

Some of the books Montgomery read or acquired for her personal library during the Norval years include:

• Mary Rose by J.M. Barrie
• The Admirable Crichton by J.M. Barrie
• Charlotte Brontë by E.F. Benson
• From Chart House to Bush Hunt by Charles W.L. Bryde
• The Way of all Flesh by Samuel Butler
• Death in the Air by Agatha Christie
• Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
• Murder in the Calais Coach by Agatha Christie
• Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
• Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie
• Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
• Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush by Ian Maclaren
• Lost Sir Massingberd: A Romance of Real Life by James Payn
• Tish Plays the Game by Mary Roberts Rinehart
• Three Plays for Puritans by George Bernard Shaw
• The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope
• Roughing It by Mark Twain
• Beau Geste by P.C. Wren

Writing

Despite her many duties as a wife, mother, and leader in the church and community, Montgomery still found time to write. She published six novels while living in Norval:

• The Blue Castle (written while living in Leaskdale)
• Emily’s Quest
• Magic for Marigold
• A Tangled Web
• Pat of Silver Bush
• Mistress Pat
Montgomery also began writing Anne of Windy Poplars in 1935 in Norval, and it was published the following year when she had moved to Toronto.

Theatre

A fan of theatre, Montgomery enjoyed both attending productions and producing her own. While living in Norval, she helped produce many plays and concerts, primarily as part of three organizations:

Old Tyme Nite

Montgomery helped organize and direct annual theatrical performances that involved all three of the Norval churches known as Old Tyme Nite or Old Tyme Concert. The events typically involved old-fashioned costumes, songs, and readings – and “old timer” actors (Montgomery explains in her journal: “the older married folk” of the community).

Union Dramatic Club

At Union Presbyterian Church, Montgomery dedicated many of her evenings to play practices for the church’s own dramatic club. She helped produce and direct many different plays over the years and was quite proud of her troupe of actors. When she left, the club gifted her a pen and ink-stand.




Advertisement run in the Georgetown Herald for the Union Dramatic Club’s performance of “After You I’m Next” under the direction of L.M. Montgomery, March 27, 1929. Click on the image for more details.

Young People’s Guild

Old Tyme Nite originally grew out of Montgomery’s participation with the Young People’s Guild (sometimes called the Young People’s Society), which put on their own play and concert performances throughout the year. She served on the executive of the guild and helped with many of their performances.