BRAGG CREEK LADIES AUXILIARY. 35th ANNIVERSARY: BY Joan Merryfield.
With the formation of the Bragg Creek Community Association in Aug. 1959 it seemed necessary to form a Ladies Auxiliary to assist our parent organization, hence the Ladies Aux. of the Bragg Creek Community Assoc. was establish within a few months.
In Feb. 1960 a small group of ladies- seven in all met at the home of Mabel Stinson to discuss ways in which the group could assist the Comm. Asso. in putting on social events and fund raisings. The Bragg Creek Ladies Aux. was established as a result of our meeting. The original members were as follows. Margaret Sanders, Pres. Mabel Stinson, Joan Dunford, Eva Fullerton Sr., Mary McLeod, Jacqueline Robinson and Joan Merryfield.
The need for a Community Hall was urgent us the original Comm. Hall was destroyed by fire in 1939. It was located across from Wake Siah Lodge and was constructed from logs (of palisade style). With the loss of the hall at the time that the 2nd war was declared, construction was not considered again until 1960. At that time our local population was on the increase and it was time to rebuild a new Community Hall on land which was acquired from the Foothills School Division.
Fund raisings centred around social gatherings and dances with the Ladies Aux. serving and donating coffee, sandwiches and cakes for each event.
The Ladies Aux. garden party and tea became an annual event and was held for some years in the garden at Joan and Jack Dunfords or Muriel and Ray Dingmans. Our guests included the vacationing cottage owners, along with friends from Calgary, Millarville and Springbank. Some of these teas raised as much as $100.00 which was jokingly called “a disgraceful profit” by some of our menfolk. Our funds were squirreled away until the big day when we could spend the money on hall furnishings, a kitchen range, pots, pans, dishes, coffee urn, cutlery and on and on.
With much help from district residents, summer cottagers- financial and physical, the Pioneer Hall construction was completed in 1968. This made it possible for further fund raisings to take place in the hall. Ladies Aux. fund raisings have included bake sales, fashion shows, pancake breakfasts, the printing of a local cookbook, making quilts for raffles, and catering. Donations of baking and food preparation has been our contribution at Comm. Assoc. social events and work parties for the past 35 years.
Here are some of the quantities of food prepared for the annual barbecue. The menu included 25 gallons of beans, 2 1/2 gallons of ketchup, 60 ozs Mollasse, 3 lbs brown sugar, 1/2 lb. dry mustard and a lot of elbow grease. The salad consisted of 40 lbs of cabbage shredded, 4 lbs. carrots, 20 doz. buns, 15 lbs. butter and a case of horseradish was served with dozens of corn cobs and pounds of barbecued beef.
Membership in Ladies Aux. has fluctuated over the years. From a membership of seven in 1960 we grew to a membership of 50 in 1975-76. A large crowd attended our Christmas dinner that year.
The need for services and donations supplied by the Ladies Aux. is as important today as it was 35 years ago. We have seen rooms completed or redone within our Comm. building, the completion of two kitchens a recent project of both organizations. As the never ending need for building improvements continue, our strength is in our membership – essential in adding the “Ladies Touch” to our Community endeavours.
A celebration to commemorate the Bragg Creek Ladies Auxiliary 35th anniversary will be held on June 17th- 1995 at the hall. The Ladies Aux. are presently compiling a list of all former and present members. Any former members are asked to call Joan Merryfield 949-3643 to assist in registering your name for the invitation list. At this time all members and former members are cordially invited to attend the June 17th reunion which will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bragg Creek Community Association.
