Rural churches built in the mid and late 19th century provided much more to their participants than a place of worship. In an age that preceded computers, video, television and radio, the country church was the social hub of a rural community. All manner of neighbours mixed for social events, meetings, agricultural club activities, and of course Christenings, weddings and funerals. The local church was the greatest ally in the struggle against social isolation.
Today, isolation is just a tempting option fuelled by often illusory ‘communication’ choices such as net surfing, TV, texting, gaming and twitter. Attending a community event is something that technical innovation has allowed people to easily avoid. Our parents and grandparents were hungry for such contact. Such is the challenge to the existence of the remaining rural churches that dot the windswept hills of our Southern Ontario landscapes.
We’re rising to the challenge. Our old church, extensively renovated in 1996 still provides opportunities for community involvement through theatre, movies, presentations, workshops, concerts and classes. We hope to continue to bring alternative entertainment and education with a focus on environmental self-sufficiency and sustainability. Therein lays our traditional link to the past. Far from being irrelevant, our church venue is providing the community connection to country dwellers far and wide and in so doing is reinforcing the social fabric of rural life.
1917 Name Quilt
We are fortunate to have come by a unique quilt created for the war effort. The World War l effort. The quilt’s centre square reads “Acme Branch, 1917”. The remainder of the squares contain almost 600 names, all hand stitched in red thread for which a donation, usually 10¢, was contributed for the cause. We believe that ‘Acme Branch’ refers to our own local branch of the Women’s Institute based at our old Acme Cheese Factory. The names are a fantastic record of some of the rural population here in the Johnstown and surrounding community. Some of our senior patrons have marvelled that the names appear to jump into their memory because they haven’t been recalled in so long. But they’re not all locals. One name on the quilt is ‘Sir Wilfred Laurier’.
One of our newest volunteers, Karen Salley, helped to create the list you see here. If you see a name that is a relative, tweaks your memory, or even if you know more about the origins of name quilts, please contact us. We would love to get a more complete picture of this terrific artifact.
| Mrs. L. Ketcheson Mrs. F. Mallory Mrs. Alice Best Helena Miller Chas. Dakin Mrs. Edwin Ketcheson Mrs. George Finkle Grace McBrough Wallace Best Mrs. T. Miller Mrs. W. Ibey Mrs. G. Wessels Mrs. G. E. Sine Mrs. M. Hoyle Mr. A. Ford Mr. R. Rush Mrs. F. Spencer Mrs. A. Ford Mrs. A. Parry Mrs. A. Munn Mr. Chas Wickens Mr. Richard Reynolds Mrs. J. Lawrence Mrs. J. Kellar Mr. Harry Moran Mr. Herb Smith Mr. W. E. Windover Mrs. Major Fraser Mr. Lorne Hubble Mr. Marshall Smith Amelia MacLachlan W. MacLachlan Luella Palmer Ruth Riley Mrs. D. Janners Mr. D. Janners Mr. Tom Pimblott Benny Palmer Mrs. D. Van Allen Dulcie Belgrave Mr. T. Hinds Mrs. F. Preston Mr. F. Corey Mr. F. Kellar Mr. J. Benson Mr. D. Vandervoort Mr. F. Bruyea Mrs. D. Frost Mr. Bruyea Mr. O. Huffman Mr. Burt Bush Mrs. L. Dafoe Miss L. Caldwell Miss E. Bush Mr. Earl Bell Mr. Wm. Bell Mrs. H. Young Mrs. C. Herman Mr. C. Herman Mr. W. Weese Mr. J. Barkley Mr. T. Cronkright Mr. F. Windover Mr. D. Powell Dr. J. U. Simmons Mr. G. Frost Mr. J. Johnson Mr. B. Moran Mr. A. Simmons Mr. G. Spencer Mr. D. E. Coon Evelyn Chapman Mrs. D. E. Coon Rev. W. Chapman Eva Coon (in memory of Grandma Coon) W. T. Coon Raymond Chapman Mrs. Chas. Dakin Laura Chapman Muriel Bush Olive Bush Arthur Bush Ernest Bush Mary E. Vandervoort Mrs. A. Bush Robert Bush Wm. Walt Mrs. Wm. Bush Mr. Wm. Bush Mrs. E. A. Orr Bruce Orr Earl Orr Curt Orr Mr. B. B. Orr Mrs. B. B. Orr Kent Orr Carl Orr Vann Orr Gladys Orr Mrs. C. Ireland Mrs. J. Ferguson Mrs. E. Patrick Mrs. F. Ireland Mrs. Kerr Mrs. E. Orr Isabel Turnecliff Ida Redick Eunice Riley Major Miller Miss Lola Morgan Miss Myrtle Walt Arthur Mattis Earl Brooks Kathleen St. Hilaire Helen Davis Emma H. Rutter Basil Brooks Minnie McCambridge Annie McCambridge Mrs. C. Turnecliff Mr. C. Turnecliff Mrs. A. P. Sutton Mr. A. P. Sutton Geo. A. Riley Wm. Turnecliff Mrs. L. C. Van Allen Bessie Turnecliff Mrs. P. Goldstein Mrs. V. Orr Mrs. M. Bininger Mrs. Ed Stimers Kathleen Stickle Mrs. S. Jenners Mrs. L. Wilkes Mr. L. Wilkes Mrs. A. A. Stickle Mrs. H. McRae Gwendolyn Wilkes Patricia Wilkes Nina Asselstine Mrs. D. Ketcheson Clara Chard John Chard Wm. Moynes Arthur Ferguson Frank Carr Frank McNab Leonard Patrick David Fraser H. J. Gay Mabel Gay Maggie Gay Mary J. Gay James Gay Mrs. J. Gay R. B. Gay Lillian Gay Helen Gay J. F. McMechan Joe Simpson Stella Simpson Nellie Simpson Emma Rutter Fred Meyers Mowat Walt Mrs. D. J. Whaley Mrs. D. Minaker Mrs. N. Hartt Mrs. W. Adams Norma Orr Albert Van Allen Dorothy Peterson Gladys Ellis Bessie Brooks Doris Brooks Edna Lougheed Grace Lougheed Norma Collar Verna Peterson W. S. Westfall Mrs. W. Westfall S. H. Meyers Mrs. S. Meyers E. O. Stickle C. Westfall | E. Harry Mrs. Lougheed Mr. F. Meyers Earl Stickle Helen Jones Maude Munn Mrs. H. Acker Mr. H. Acker Mrs. W. Purdy Wilhelema Morrison Mr. F. Brooks Mrs. F. Brooks Mr. D. Munn Mr. Ross Lott C. Rightman Will Clarke C. Merrill W. Pollard Rev. R. M. Patterson H. Perry Mrs. R. McMurter Roy Brown P. Osterout A. Osterout Mrs. J. Bleeker Doris Hogle Mrs. W. Turner Mr. W. Bush Mrs. A. S. Huffman Mrs. G. Pollard Mr. S. W. Meyers Mr. E. Bush Mrs. F. Carr Mrs. H. Potter Mrs. C. Garrison L. George N. Lawrence R. Nicholson C. P. Rose B. O’Ray Earl Sine C. Applebee E. Burkitt H. Carr Miss I. Bradly Mr. J. McCambridge Mr. H. Post Mr. A. Patrick Mr. Dennis Carr Miss A. Carr Mr. P. Shaw Mr. O. Rightman Mr. A. Beatty Mr. G. Sharpe Arley White Jean White Jimmy Munn John White Bart Westfall Miss J. Reddick Mr. W. Bush B. Jones A. Westfall L. Westfall Evelyn Hogle Albert Jones Mr. A. Hogle Helen Stickle Mildred Stickle Mr. F. Palmer Mr. H. Leonard Mr. K. Fall Dr. J. Rice Clayton Stickle Ethyl Stickle Kenneth Stickle Morris Stickle J. B. Stickle Mrs. J. B. Stickle Glenn Stickle E. O. Stickle Arnold Stickle Annie Stickle Mrs. E. Guiles Mrs. G. Gainsforth Mr. W. Gainsforth Bella Bleeker Mrs. M. Regan Mrs. H. Murray Miss R. Edwards Miss L. Hogle Harry Bleeker Miss E. Fraser Mr. W. Ketcheson Mr. B. Casement Mr. Hubble Mr. Harrington Rev. J. D. P. Knox Miss M. Rogers Mr. E. Bonisteel Mr. S. Hubble Mr. S. Nicholson Mr. S. Badgley Ira Harry Marion Jones Arthur Bush J. White Mrs. W. S. Westfall W. S. Westfall Eva Gamble J. Doige Pauline Drinkwalter I. B. Digby Mrs. C. Collar Mrs. J. L. Collar Mrs. J. Westfall Mr. A. Bowler Mrs. H. Bowler Vera Sweet Lillie Cook Mrs. S. Peterson Mrs. A. Rupert Mrs. J. Elliot Mrs. S. Meyers Mr. J. Little Mr. F. Mallory Mr. D. Coon Mr. J. Rose Mr. W. Simmons Mr. E. Harry Jack Stevens Wm. Kerr Mrs. Purnecliff Mrs. Sweet S. H. Meyers Mrs. Meyers B. Spafford Mrs. B. Stafford Fred Meyers J. Thompson Iva Harry Jas. A. Harry Cecil Harry Elleen Harry Harleigh Hamilton Mrs. E. A. Harry Wm. S. Harry John McPherson Will Jeffrey Charles Aikens Ernest Burkitt J. F. Burkitt Katie Burkitt Arthur Burkitt Mr. Leo Burkitt Mrs. Leo Burkitt G. B. Burkitt J. M. Burkitt Alice Mannly Margaret Bush Helen E. Mallory Eva Coon Maurice Mallory Raymond Mallory F. R. Mallory Mrs. F. R. Mallory Mrs. C. Sine Lottie Gross Mrs. T. Ketcheson Mrs. Spear Eva Rose Helen Rose Alta Rose Gerald Rose D. I. Rose J. E. Anderson Mrs. D. I. Rose Mrs. Southard Dr. J. W. Rice Luella Maybee Miss R. Edwards Miss E. Fraser Mr. A. Parish Mr. G. Little Mr. L. Ketcheson | Mr. A. Munn Mr. M. Foster Miss O. Moynes Mr. M. O’Malley Mr. G. Rogers Gladys Curry Rev. G. Ross Mrs. Hazelton Mrs. Carr Ella Brooks Roy White H. Combs A. Combs L. Norros (?) Mrs. Pelky Mr. J. Reid Mr. G. Rose Miss M. Higgins Miss T. Higgins Mr. P. Moyle Mr. J. McLaren Mr. A. McAllister Mr. K. McDonald Mr. M. Seward Mr. G. Seward Garnet Grills J. W. Hess Richard Eggleton Helen Hess Mabel McPherson Aletha Westfall J. Carl Harry Mrs. Lougheed Annie Henderson Mrs. Latta Margaret McArthur Mary McArthur Hugh McArthur Mrs. H. McArthur Emma McArthur Kathleen Rolfe Mrs. G. A. Ketcheson C. Powell Will Rolfe Mrs. W. Rolfe Louise Wright Helen Welbourn Wilmot Welbourn Jack Welbourn Mrs. A. Gross (Grass?) Mrs. J. Philips Mrs. H. Ketcheson Harry Bush Mrs. W. E. Welbourn Mr. W. E. Welbourn Mrs. J. Mulvihill Alvira Mulvihill Lena Mulvihill Marguerite Mulvihill Mr. J. Hadley Mr. John Casement Mary Mulvihill Mrs. Wm. Patrick Mrs. Blake Ketcheson Mrs. Martin Smith Mr. Ed Farr Mrs. C. Patrick Mr. H. Foster Mr. D. Lalonde Mr. M. Applebee Mr. B. Harrison Mrs. V. Malone Mr. F. R. Mallory Mr. G. E. Sine Mrs. E. Rogers Mary White Grace Westfall H. St. Hilaire Jack Little Marjorie Latta Irene Russell Frank Westfall Harold Stickle Nina Stickle Gladys Westfall Jacob Thompson Mr. Burrows Mr. Reynolds Byron Harder Mrs. W. Morrison Douglas Harder W. S. Harder W. S. Harry Mrs. Reynolds Mrs. Burrows S. J. Jenners W. Hyde Mrs. E. Carr Mrs. F. Patrick Mr. J. B. Stickle Mrs. J. Megginson Grace Westfall Mrs. Vann Orr Roy Westfall Urvin Turnecliff Mrs. G. A. Bonesteel Mrs. W. J. Sharpe Mrs. N. A. Bonisteel Charles Bonisteel P. E. Bonisteel Vera Bonisteel Mr. C. J. Massey Mrs. C. J. Massey Sig. C. L. Massey Kenneth Massey Mr. Guiles Mr. Wm. Bush Mr. Ross Turley Mr. W. Latta Mrs. D. Windover Miss G. Clark Mrs. O. Hough Mr. J. Ford Mr. Ray Turley Mr. W. Carter Edith Bell Grace Ford Mrs. Harry Bush Kate McCauley Anna Nelson Effie Spencer Jessie Smith Cecil Welbourne Lela Meyers Lenna Perry Eva Stickle Edna Mikel P. W. Mikel Mr. A. Bailey Mrs. G. C. Stickle Mr. G. C. Stickle Mrs. Blakely A. Blakely Mr. C. Weaver Dr. J. Rice Mary St. Hilaire Hugh St. Hilaire Luella Palmer Kenneth Palmer Sir W. Laurier Hon. Borden Henry Stickle Sim Rombough Jack Simmons Don Simmons Mr. Wilbur Coon Mr. Morley Davidson Mr. W. McColl Mr. Laurie Casement Mr. Ezra Mott Mr. Bert Mott Miss Edna Ketcheson Mr. Jim Smith Mr. Jack Simmons Mr. Harry Potter Mr. J. White Edna Reid Mrs. W. Potts Barton Westfall Mrs. H. Hess Miss Knox Mrs. S. Ketcheson Blanche Barr Victoria Hess Mrs. Russell Mr. A. Cowen Mr. P. Sine Mr. C. Hendrick Mr. W. Weston Mrs. C. Fox Mrs. Rombeau Mr. G. Bowman Mr. E. Nicholson Mr. N. Potter Mr. E. Ketcheson |
