Broomhill, in southwestern Manitoba is a small community that hasn’t had a post office since 1964, but they have had a WI until recently. The Broomhill Women’s Institute kept the community’s identity alive and well, but after over 70 years, the WI decided to call it quits last November.
Throughout her years of service and dedication in the community, Sylvia Hall has held office as either, president, secretary or treasurer. “At one time or other, I took on the role of one of these positions during the time I was with the Women’s Institute,” says Halls. “We made a final decision on Nov. 3, 2021 to disperse our assets to groups and organizations we supported for many years.”
The Broomhill Women’s Institute was founded in 1950 by a woman named Marion Talman, who moved to the district from Saskatchewan. When she had organized members to join the Institute, it was at that time called The Homemakers. The name was later changed to Broomhill WI where members would have their general meetings in the community centre in the summer and take turns congregating at people homes in the winter.
“We were very active as a community and we always worked together to keep things well maintained and taken care of. We even made a gate for the entrance of the cemetery, which we felt was an essential structure,” says Halls.
She has served her community as a teacher and has worked to preserve its history. “I also taught school at Stonehill, Huston, Hathaway and Little Broomhill, which were all within the Broomhill district. We also placed rocks at these sites in recognition of where they once stood.”
One of the community treasures is a cookbook that the WI created.
“We… got every family in the district to write up their favourite cooking recipe and in doing so created a 2001 Broomhill Cookbook. It is definitely a book I will always cherish to remind me of the families that stuck together in our dedicated community.”
In 2009, Sylvia Halls’ husband unveiled a bronze cairn in recognition of the community of Broomhill, Manitoba. “We needed to erect a monument in remembrance of our community that we were all a part of and after 64 years of being a member, it was hard to let go,” states Halls.
“I certainly have enjoyed the time I spent in the district and hope the history of the community will always be available for future reference.”
Historical highlights
Located on highway 345 between the communities of Bede and Tilston, Broomhill was named for the abundance of Broom plants that were seen growing in the sand hills. All that remains of the Broomhill village are decaying buildings and two occupied family farms. The Kilkenny store along with its Post Office was at the centre of the community until it closed in September 1964. There was also an Implement Agency and Service Garage that occupied the north end of town. Broomhill suffered a fate similar to other farming communities in the prairies, and all that remains are decaying buildings and two occupied family farms.
The Broomhill School District was established in January 1899 and a building was erected at NW12-5-28W in the RM of Albert, which is now called the Municipality of Two Borders. The first school building was destroyed by fire in June 1936 and a new structure was built and ready to resume classes that fall. It closed in June of 1957 and merged with the Hathaway School which was located in the same district. It then became Broomhill Consolidated School and the former school building was moved to the town of Broomhill to be used as a community centre. In 1963, local trustees purchased a temporary classroom from the Antler River School Division, moved it to the site, and renovated it with indoor washrooms and electric heat.
