Submitted by Pearl Watson
The Culross Copper Club celebrated its 75th anniversary in July 2024 at a luncheon in Elm Creek Cafe. A display of memories was set up, including copper plates which had been given to 25-year members of the Club. The three scrapbooks of all 75 years of activities were also displayed.
It all started in 1949. During wartime, many women got together to sew quilts or knit heavy gloves and socks for overseas and for people in the armed services. The ladies enjoyed visiting with each other, as farm women did not get out much during our long, cold winters. When the war was over, the ladies wanted to keep meeting together. A meeting was held at the Culross school (Castleton) to form a group to do something worthwhile for the community and beyond. A club was formed with 12 ladies present. Soon after, there were 25 members in the Club. Members suggested a name for this Club and chose the three C’s: Culross Copper Club. A copper collection was taken at each meeting at roll call. This continued throughout many years until the copper penny was discontinued. However, the Club continued collecting silver coins at each meeting. The membership fee was 50 cents a year, which has never changed. A twenty-five-year member became a Life Member and was presented with an engraved copped gift. Any Club member leaving the Culross area was also presented with a copper gift.
In 1966, the school at Culross closed and the Club needed to find a new meeting location. The school had been a community centre, even serving as the location for the United Church services. With larger farms, fewer families in the area, and people retiring and moving away, Culross became a hamlet. However, the N .M. Paterson grain elevator is still operating today.
The Culross Copper Club continued and met in the homes of its members. Meetings were held the second Wednesday of each month, except for July and August. During the summer months, club members would plan outings to interesting places, and go to parks, museums and shows. The Christmas dinner was also a special event. Enjoying a festive meal at a member’s home or, later on, at a restaurant was a highlight of the year. Throughout it’s 75 years, the Culross Copper Club has made many donations locally to the Elm Creek curling and skating rinks, the Elm Creek school and Elm Creek’s Heritage Manor. Over the years, donations were also given to the Carman Christmas Cheer Board, the St. Claude Pavilion for Seniors, Boyne Lodge and Towers, layette items for Portage Child & Family Services and gifts to children at the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg. These contributions have left a lasting impact on our community, and we are proud of the Culross Copper Club’s role in making our community a better place.
To raise money for these worthy causes, the ladies held local teas and bazaars and even at the Hudson Bay store in Winnipeg. Back in the 1950s, the Club sponsored three one-act plays with the help of other men and women from the Culross Community. The Club sold lunches at community Auction sales, weddings, and funerals. However, the most profitable fundraiser was publishing three cookbooks. The Yellow, Red, and Green Culross Community Cookbooks were sold all over Canada. Over 10,000 copies were printed.
During the Club’s early years, the rural newspapers mentioned the activities of many rural school and community clubs. Now the only one that remains is the Culross Copper Club, which represents the area once covered by Castleton and Giltedge Schools. Now in our 75th year, the membership is just seven ladies: Ellen Poulsen, Pat Tkachyk, Marion Stangl, Jean Poulsen, Pearl Watson, Helen McKay, and Melissa Dureault. As most of our members are now in their 80’s and 90’s, it is becoming more difficult to get together. Our time of community service has come to an end, and so our Culross Copper Club is disbanding. We look back with nostalgia and respect for the legacy of the Culross Copper Club, and we know that good memories and lifelong friendships will continue!
Standard Photo Submitted
