Brian Winter's H içtorical Ul Whitby %Wd W .k MRS. GEORGE ROSS In today's world, with the advent of Women's Liberation, women are seeking a more meaningful role in society and are trying to get away from the old image that "a woman's place is in the home." Not all women of earlier times were confined to the domestic life of the home, as can be seen by the life of Mrs. George A Ross, who devoted her efforts to public service in the Town of Whitby in a time when few women were so deeply involved in community affairs. Mrs. Ross, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Josephine French, was born at Brockville, Ontario, Aug. 28, 1865, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles French. At the age of 17 she was sent to Whitby to attend the Ontario Ladies' College, and this move resulted in her becoming a citizen of Whitby for 58 years. Miss French was a brilliant musician and graduated from the Ontario Ladies' College in 1886 in.vocal and instrumental music. She won a gold medal for instrumental music and a silver medal for piano, and gave the recital at her graduation exercises for the entire school. After her graduation, she spent two years at the college as a music teacher. - In 1888, Miss French married George Alexander Ross, a Whitby merchant who kept a tailoring and dry goods store on Brock Street with his brother Hugh. The Ross's lived in a home called "Rossmore" at the north-west corner of King and Dunlop Streets. In 1899 the second Women's Institute in Canada was formed in Whitby and Mrs. Ross became a member. She later served as President and during her term in office, she was one of the founders of the Victorian Order of Nurses in Whitby in 1914. The VON was very active in the First World War, and was centred in Whitby for many years before moving its headquarters to Oshawa. Mrs. Ross's only son, Charles R. Ross was a member of the armed forces during the First World War, and she became active in the work of the Whitby War Relief Society which sent gifts to the soldiers and money to various relief funds in Europe. WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978, PAGE 7 Mrs. Ross kept a close association with the (uario Ladies' College arfl hti giaduaion, and participated in the reorganization of the college's alumnae association in 1906. At that time, the association became known as the Trafalgar Daughters, and provided funds for various projects at the college. Mrs. Ross was also a member of the college's Board of Directors for many years. For 21 years prior to Church Union in 1925, Mrs. Ross was organist for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and after Union, joined the Whitby United Church. Mrs. Ross's home was a centre of meetings and hospitality during her life in Whitby and she became involved in many community projects. She lent her talents to every worthy cause and was in constant demand. She had a host of friends, and had a gracious and winning personality. After her husband's death in 1936, Mrs. Ross spent the winters with one of her daughters at Atlanta, Georgia. It was when she was about to embark on one of her winter trips that she died on November 9, 1946 at the age of 81. At ber funeral one of the speakers was the principal of the Ontario Ladies' College from which she had graduated 60 years before. Mrs. Ross will be remembered by a number of older Whitby residents as a woman who devoted ber life to community service and did much to serve th- tuwn in which she lived. Bin ~~ Bylines Hello Neighbours!, Well with spring comes the Brooklin Spring Fair. Plans have been growing and excitement is starting to spread like wildfire. Group '74 is once again organizing the parade for the fair weekend and if you want to enter into the fun, here are the catagories to choose from; Fancy Dress Frolic, (children and adults), Best decorated bike and rider, and Best decorated baby transportation. Entry forms will be available at the schools by'May 16 and and there will also be forms at the library, Cosgroves, and Batten's General Store Ashburn. This year's theme is going to be, 'Once Upon a Time'! Entry forms for floats are obtainable from Mrs. Linda Tripp at 655-4993. This year there will be five prizes of $30.00 for, Most Representative of Theme, Most Beautiful, Most Humorous, Most Original and a new catagory, Best Commercial. Now for more news about the fair. The Brooklin Spring Fair Dance will be hosted by the Group '74, again this year. The dance last year was well attended and proved to be very successful. Brooklin Memorial Arena will be the place on Saturday, June 3, from 8 p.m. till 1 a.m. Music will be provided by D.J. Otto Kameka, and there will be a buffet lunch, door prizes, and bar privileges. Tickets are $8.50 per couple. Better buy yours now and avoid the rush, or the disappointment of not getting one! So hurry and call either Maureen martinsfat 655-4635 or Dian Berkers at 655-4536, for tickets and information. Dian Berkers, zone commander for the Brooklin area Canadian Cancer Society, would like to express her thanks to everyone who participated in the campaign this year particularly area canvassers and team captains. Marg Andrews and Mary Forbes. Area residents responded generously to this years appeal. Again this year Group '74 will present to the community their "Arts & Crafts Program'. They are looking for ideas as to what you would like to learn, as well as teachers. If you have a special talent in 'Arts & Crafts' and would like to share it with the community please contact Evelyn Spratley at 655-4518 or Cathie Neely at 655-3245. The would be able to give you al the information you would need, about how to register as a teacher or just answer your questions and take your ideas. LIFE SAVER r v « 1 a t,, i Fire & Smoke Detector Several Types in Stock $39.50 Ths Week Only 10% off MITCHELL BROTIERS I.. BROOKIN 6ssawi q The winners of the Kinsmen draw, on Monday April 24 are; Claire Hewson who won the $1200. trip of the month, Soley Vipond who won a weekend trip for two worth $100.00 and a Toronto Resident Larry haber also won the weekend for two. The girls of the 2nd Brooklin Guides would like to thank all those who came out and gave support at their recent bazaar. You all made it a successful event. Don't forget that Saturday may 13 is the paper drive. Please have your papers out on the curb by 9 a.m. Tuesday May 16 is the date for the Mother and Daughter Banquet-This'is the night when the 'Dads' do'all the work. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. in the United Church in Brooklin. This evening is for the Guides and Brownies, and is an annual event. The Whitby District Annual Church Parade will be held on Sunday may 28. Formation will be held in the Henry Build-All in Whitby, at 1:30 p.m. The parade will start at 2 p.m. and will march down Brock Street to Centennial Park where there will be an outdoor service. Hope the good weather holds out! The 1st and 2nd Brooklin Guides and Brownies will be making a trip to the African lion Safari in Rockton, Ontario on Saturday, may 13. Hope you have nice weather girls! A wild goose never laid a tame egg. Marie 655-3061 Brown's Drop-off Sea cadets have on board weekend Twenty-five mnembers of the Whitby Sea Cadet Corps spent an "on-board week- end" at the cadets' head- quarters on Brock Street North last weekend,-simulat- ing actual life aboard a ship. the cadets were issued actual armed forces rations and had to plan their own meals and activities from 9 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday. Revellie was at 6 a.m. and there was a full program of events each day. Thursday, Friday and Saturday the cadets were conducting their annual tag day in Whitby. Saturday they swam at the The $69500 Iroquois Park Pool and there was a dance in the evening. Sunday they participated in church parades to All Saints' and St. John the Evan gelist Churches, and the Le ion's Battle of the Atlantic parade. Actual naval routine was observed throughout the weekend, with' the cadets taking their turn at watch, and carrying out other func- tions that would happen aboard ship. At the end of the weekend, each cadet was asked to write an assessment of the food, the instruction and the program. plus installation Repairs to all makes of freezers refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers. We clean & service residential and commercial air conditioners Repairs to Ali Makes Freezers - Refrigerators - Air Conditioners We Recharge Automobile Air Conditioning 20 QUEN STREET BIROOKLINO ONTARIO 655-3233 Corpets & Upolstery CLEANING ultimate in STEAM CLEANING by KLEEN-RITE SERVICES Nobody - but nobody cleans like KLEEN-RITE Phone 723-5491 (Out of town call collect) Serving the Durham Region WHAT CAN WE KLEEN-RITE FOR YoU TODAY? FISHER REFRIGERATION SERVICE LIMITED SUPPLY TWO TON CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS 1I bounce, curl and direction to straight hair with a permanent or eut your hair in one of the new geometrie styles. LA CONTESSA BEAUTY LOUNGE 119 Green St., Whitby 668-9262