Stoney Creek in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Erland Lee Home and the First Women’s Institute
La Maison Erland-Lee et le premier institut féminin
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 4, 2026
1. The Ethan’s Lee Home and the First Women’s Institute Marker
This 19th-century farmhouse is the birthplace of the Women's Institutes (WI), an organization that played a vital role in thousands of small communities. Inspired by domestic science reformer Adelaide Hoodless, and supported by her husband Erland, Janet Lee drafted the constitution of the Stoney Creek Women's Institute here in 1897. From these roots emerged a movement that spread throughout Canada and the world. In meeting halls across the country, the WI brought women together to learn diverse skills and to promote civic reform, helping them break the grinding isolation of rural life.
Cette maison de ferme du XIXe siècle fut le berceau des Instituts féminins, une organisation qui joue un rôle clé dans des milliers de petites communautés. Inspirée par la réformatrice de l'art ménager, Adelaide Hoodless, et épaulée par son mari Erland, Janet Lee rédigea ici l'acte constitutif de l'Institut féminin de Stoney Creek en 1897. Ainsi débuta un mouvement qui se répandit au Canada et dans le monde. Les Instituts
this page online
Erected by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Women. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location. 43° 12.422′ N, 79° 43.327′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Stoney Creek. It is on Ridge Road 0.4 kilometers west of Tapleytown Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 552 Ridge Road, Hamilton ON L8J 2Y6, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Golden Horseshoe, in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area, and specifically in the Toronto Metropolitan Area. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 4, 2026
2. The Erland Lee Home and the First Women’s Institute Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Erland Lee and His Wife Janet (a few steps from this marker); First Women’s Institute 1897 (a few steps from this marker); The Erland Lee Museum Chicken Coop, c. 1930 (within shouting distance of this marker); Augustus Jones (C. 1757-1836) (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); The Turning Point - June 6th, 1813 (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); The Battle of Stoney Creek (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); The Battlefield of Stoney Creek (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); Their Fame Liveth (approx. 3.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.
Also see . . . History (First Women’s Institute in Canada).
The Women’s Institute movement and organization grew from humble rural origins into one of the leading advocacy networks in the world. The first Women’s Institute was founded in 1897 in Saltfleet (now Stoney Creek), Ontario, where Erland and Janet Lee invited a group of(Submitted on May 5, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)women to hear Adelaide Hoodless speak on the importance of women engaging in formal domestic education and organizing a unified voice to advocate in the areas of education, family health and community service to improve the lives of their families, the families in their communities, and families across Canada.
3. Erland Lee ca 1920Public domain
Adelaide’s loss of her own young son, John Harold at just 14 months old, gave rise to her mission to organize and educate women and mothers around the world about food safety ensuring every woman was trained in homecare and domestic science. She routinely travelled across North America to deliver her message of the importance of domestic education to the success of a family, and the nation. Eventually, she became an internationally recognized speaker and advocate for family education.
4. Janet Lee ca 1900
Public domain
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 4, 2026
5. The Erland Lee Home National Historic Site, 1926
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 25 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 5, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
