Chris Sumner, PembinaValleyOnline, October 5, 2024
The Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society is organizing two unique events that will give you an on the ground perspective of the 150th anniversary of Mennonite settlement in the province. October 10th and 22nd, tours of the East and West Reserve respectively will be taking place, with Ernie Braun leading the East event and Conrad Stoesz the west.
“This year is the 150th anniversary of Mennonites in the province, and there’s conferences and there’s books and there’s a film that’s coming out, but there’s still something unique about being there on location where some of these things happen,” explained Stoesz. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to take a a bus tour, and see if there’s interest. To show people some of the areas, and get a different sense of the story when you’re there in location.”
The West Reserve tour (Oct. 22nd) will include stops at Fort Dufferin, Edenburg cemetery, former Neuanlage village, and the national historic site of Neubergthal. The East Reserve Tour (Oct. 10th) will visit Mennonite Memorial Landing Site, Chortitz Church, Shantz Sheds Cairn, and former Bergfeld village.
Tours to be mix of storytelling and exploring
“Sometimes there is nothing left to see, but we can say, ‘In this area this happened,'” he said. “Other times we’ll say, ‘Look, there is something left in the ground here. You can see where this well was dug,’ or we’ll see this monument or here is the junction of the Red and Rat Rivers or Fort Dufferin where our people got off, and started their journey in the province.”
Stoesz offered a couple of the stories and locations he’s particularly looking forward to sharing with participants.
“On the east side, there’s a story about a well being dug,” he started. “The Mennonites get to the landing site, and then go to the Shantz Sheds and they don’t have water. You don’t last long without water, so they managed to decide to dig a well. They’re down, you know, 20 to 30 feet digging away and then the well caves in on them. The two guys are covered with dirt, and thanks to fast thinking, Mr. Redekop, they are saved. That depression where that well was dug is still there. You can still see where that is.”
In the West Reserve, Stoesz pointed to a couple.
“Fort Dufferin is a hidden gem,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being there again, and the whole Post Road thing. I started doing tours when I was doing research for the Post Road, and that was 25 years ago when we were celebrating the 125th anniversary, doing the research about the Post Road, and the different stops along the Post Road. Going along that again, I’m looking forward to that.”
The cost is $60 per person per tour, and you can do that online by clicking here.
You can listen to our entire conversation with Conrad Stoesz, below.