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to ship farm produce to larger markets. The station was an integral part of community life until trucks and cars began to appear on the scene. Prime Minister Diefenbaker stood on the platform to give one of his election campaign speeches. A runaway train left the tracks and collided with the station's freight shed on another occasion. Young men who went off to Europe to fight in world wars departed from its platform. There is a lot of local history tied to the station and its restoration is the first step in safeguarding the preservation of this historical information for future generations. RYLSTONE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE The Rylstone Women's Institute was organized on February 14, 1924, at the home of Mrs. Herbert Spencer. Mrs. J. Brown, of Bonarlaw, conducted the meeting outlining the aims and objectives of the or­ ganization. The membership was 34 and they met at 2 p.m. on the first Thursday each month. Mrs. S.G. Meiklejohn was the first president and the first secre­ tary was Mrs. F. M. Rutherford. Through the years, we have had guests from Money Concepts, Ontario Hydro, genealogy groups, doll col­ lectors, Clean and Green Recycling and Teddy Bears of the World. We've hosted "Remembering Rylstone as a little boy" with the late Roy Bamum, dairy prin­ cesses, nurses, gardeners, firemen and a speaker from the Weavers Guild. We have had tatting, quilting, em­ broidery, scrapbooking and other crafts. Our Institute also has displays of many interests as well as short courses on tailoring, gardening, and photography. We visited an Alpaca farm, the Dart Plant in Camp- bellford, the OPP Station, Schoolhouse Gardens, the Kokimo Candle Factory, Harold Carlaw's War Muse­ um, people who raise Angora Goats, and Kleinburg. Bus trips have been fun times; we visited the Metro Toronto Zoo, the Experimental Farms in Ottawa and the Stirling Theatre. Slides presentations of the Grand Canyon, Scotland and many other subjects are interesting. Of course, we have pot luck dinners with a Victorian Tea being our celebration for years. Roadside garbage is collected for "Pitch in Canada Week," card parties are held to make a little money for charity donations to the Food Bank, Salvation Army, Heart and Stroke, Cancer Society as well as small gifts to selected seniors from our community, music festivals, hospital auxiliary, Big Brothers and Sisters, and museums. We have also had line dancing, we sponsor 4-H Clubs, we've had fashion shows, we cater at Hoards Livestock Sale Barn and give to the Adelaide Hood­ less and Erland Lee Museums. Our Rylstone Branch has catered to the Hoard's Livestock Sale Barn twice a year, provided lunch after funerals when needed, sent cards to the sick, and held other celebrations etc. We have given dona­ tions to many charities including the Salvation Army, Northumberland Music Festival, Festival of Sacred Praise, Campbellford Memorial Hospital Auxil­ iary, Adelaide Hoodless and Erland Lee Museums, F.W.I.O. Headquarters, Food Bank, Ferris Park, Pen­ nies for Friendship, Children of Chernobyl Relief, Sleeping Children Around the World and others in need. Card parties were started and they raise a little money that can be donated to charities in need. Our branch is small, compared to the early days, however, with most young women working outside the home, as well as in the home, there often just isn't enough time. The Women's Institute has done well to be around for over 100 years. Let's keep it going strong and hopefully it will be here for another 100. THE STIRLING-RAWDON HISTORICAL SOCIETY by Lewis Zandbergen The society continues to work on the preservation of Stirling's landmark, the historic Grand Trunk/Ca­ nadian National Railway Station. This is not the old­ est building in Stirling, but it has come to symbolize the Society's dedication and willingness to persevere. From initial efforts to prevent the almost certain de­ molition of the building in the mid-1980s to the res­ toration work continuing today, Society members are proud of what they have achieved. We realize most of the accomplishments of the last half decade are The Stirling-Rawdon Historical Society was formed in 2001, rejuvenated by several former members of the Stirling Historical Society. The society wished to reflect the newly amalgamated municipality of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon. Its aims and goals are the preservation of the Stirling Railway Station (1879), the education of the public in regard to his­ torical and heritage matters and the preservation of artifacts and documents relating to the history of the community. 180