Women's Civic League 101 years

Another tangential Braddock Cannon Memorial connection.

Bittersweet.

The Women's Civic League of Winchester

3 June 2016, last official meeting

After 101 years.

Done.

2004 there were 100 members.

Membership dropped quickly since then

.

This group was started 25 March 1915 by Mrs Robert Y Conrad.

Her husband gives the speech for the 266 (2021-1755) year old Braddock Cannon placed at Washington Headquarters on Cork and Braddock 27 May 1915.

There was an Apple Blossom size parade leading up to that speech dedicating that cannon.

He is there for the unveiling of the Confederate statue in front of the 1840 Court House in November 1916.

1918. Her husband is shot in the head on the trenches of WWI in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive which led to the Armistice of WWI. He is grabbed to safety by German prisoners. He dies the next day. He dies 8 October 1918 the same day the famous Alvin York single handedly captures 132 Germans. Future WWII leaders were there in that offensive. Patton, Bradley, etc.

Back to the Women's Civic League started by

Helen Whlie aka Mrs Robert Y Conrad.

Their first mission?

Clean up the flies buzzing around the pigs and chickens who ran in the streets, despite Burgess George Washington's only law authored by him to stop pigs from freely running in the streets of Winchester VA.

According to the Winchester Star article 16 July 2016, "...36 gallons of flies were gathered and disposed of."

The Winchester Star article details some more accomplishments:

1. Dustless Streets, create a Building Code, eliminate Syphilis, a milk fund to nourish the children of John Kerr and Virginia Avenue schools.

2. Tire hazards looked at in 1936.

3. WW II war bonds and old silk stockings for bandages.

4. 1946 softening city water (still not done) , conserving waste fats, beautifying entrances to the city (recent ongoing efforts to that effect), improving public restrooms, clearing the slums, ridding the city of rodents and insects (again).

The Winchester Star states the City had informed the Women's Civic League they had done enough. Hmmm. What does that mean? Were they a nuisance after awhile?

Anyway, the group went on to be philanthropic, raising money for various causes.

Thank You WCL.

101 years.

.