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Windows to the West Reserve: A Mennonite Heritage Preservation Newsletter

No. 3 - May 2002

Lawrence Klippenstein, Editor (See WWR Contacts for details of those mentioned in this issue.)

Notes from Legacy Links (Vol. 1:2)

From the files of Howard Winkler: In 1881 the CPR began its "Pembina Mountain Brand" line as it was called for several years. It ran, in its first phase, from Rosenfeld to a point half way between the towns of what became Winkler and Morden. In 1882 the line arrived in Morden. For the next 11 years it passed through empty prairies where Winkler is located today. For some years a flag station was located there. In 1898 a CPR station was erected. Mr. W.J.Wells served as the first agent.

David and Helena Schwartz Klassen. David came to Canada at the age of 19 (was born in 1855). David and Helena had nine children. They lived in Altona from 1878-1903 [That would mean the village of Altona, at least for the first years, because the town was not established till 1895 - in fact Altona village was established only in 1880 - ed.]. The Schwarz House [built by Helena's father, John, in 1902 - ed.] is a heritage house [actually now also a bed and breakfast place - ed.] in Altona. The family moved to Winkler in 1903 and settled on Mill street (Park st. now), then still later moved to Glencross near Morden.

A daughter, Justina (Jan 5, 1889-July 23, 1982), was married to a well-known Winkler teacher, John Robert Edinger-Wolkof (1888-1965) in 1909. An excellent photo of Justina and John was provided by an old glass negative found in the George Sawatzky collection (Winkler). A granddaughter, Gladys Klassen, helped to identify the persons on the photo.

The Winkler Community will remember the contribution of its early Jewish families with the unveiling of a cairn on May 26. For further information, contact Abe Suderman.

Legacy Links is edited by Sally Harms. To get copies (for 3.00 per issue) contact her. Irvin Kroeker of Winnipeg chairs the newsletter committee.

The Altona History Seekers completed their recent six-session course on Latin American Mennonites at the beginning of April. Adolf Ens was the coordinator. About 20 persons participated, under the local leadership of Joe Braun and Dave Harms.

The Altona and District Research centre held its Annual General Meeting on May 1. Al Schmidt is director of the Centre. Recent deposits in the archives there include papers from Friesens and the RM of Rhineland. Contact Al Schmidt.

The next Post Road Tour will be held on Saturday, May 25. It will leave the Mennonite Heritage Village and pass through Morris to Fort Dufferin and continue West. Abe E. Ens of Reinland will be the tour guide. Another tour is scheduled for June 19, leaving Winnipeg from the Elmwood MB Church. Contact Conrad Stoesz for further details on both tours.

The Altbergthal Heritage Group is working on three projects: writing a history of the community, renovating the old public school building as a heritage site (now situated in Altona), and cleaning up the old village cemetery. For further details contact Ray Klippenstein.

A Burwalde group is discussing the preparation of a Burwalde community history. For further information contact Ed Hoeppner. Burwalde connected people meet regularly for a Saturday breakfast in Winkler. Their coordinator is Marvin Enns.

The old David Schellenberg farmstead at Cairn Corner near Gretna is being renovated as a bed and breakfast place. The descendants of the family have recently placed the headstone of the senior David Schellenberg at Cairn Corner.

The Village of Chortitz (Winkler) is planning to unveil a cairn at its local cemetery "In Remembrance of our Forefathers". The Date is July 28. For details, contact Mavis Dyck. We are all Invited!

The Henry Loewen family descendants, with connections in the old school district of Silberfeld, as well as Gretna, are planning a reunion at Gretna on July 14 this summer. For details contact Benno Loewen of  Gretna.

The Post Road Heritage Society, based in Emerson, is working on setting up an interpretive trail within the borders of the old Fort Dufferin.  Parks Canada and other organizations are discussing other development aspects related to the Fort.

The Mennonite Heritage Village Museum is planning to install an audio of information in the former Old Colony church building, once located in Chortitz near Winkler, and now to be seen on the museum grounds. For details contact director Gary Snider. Donations are most welcome.

FLASH! FLASH! Plum Coulee Gets Big Heritage Grant FLASH!

Today the town of Plum Coulee received a vacant elevator building from Agricore United. It will be developed as a heritage building, with a restaurant, Wild Plum Cafe, projected to open on the top story of the building.

The project is part of a larger heritage development plan made possible by a donation of about $600,000 by the Saul Bronfman Family Foundation. It is in part a commemoration of important contributions made  by Jewish families to the Plum Coulee community, especially in the early decades of the town. For further information contact Cleo Heinrichs and local people.

Last Updated 11 Feb 2009

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