Village News

To be an historian, one must enjoy looking back in time. While this blog often refers to things from the distant past, on this occasion it is appropriate to reflect on the recent past and share some of the significant happenings at Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) in 2017.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me assure all readers that this article will not question the value of celebrating Christmas.

Our Foundations for a Strong Future initiative has been underway for just over two years now. In September of 2015 we rolled out this capital campaign with a view to accomplishing a number of things.

Steinbach grew up along a brook, but was it stony? Answer: The streams that drain the RM of Hanover into the Manning Canal and then into the Red River are cut into a thick layer of Lake Agassiz clay, so these could hardly be considered “stony”.

Although the outdoor village has closed for the season and activity at Mennonite Heritage Village has quieted down, the winter season signals a busy time for our curatorial department.

As we near the close of another year, some things at Mennonite Heritage Village are in a process of change, while other aspects continue as usual.

Mennonite Heritage Village is not the only organization trying to close the year with black ink on the bottom line. Many organizations end their fiscal year on December 31.

The Barkfield School here at the Mennonite Heritage Village museum is a sample of the kind of one-room school that dotted the Rural Municipality (RM) of Hanover in the first half of the twentieth century.

Mennonite Heritage Village is blessed with a number of wonderful partnerships with community organizations. One of those is with the Steinbach and Area Garden Club.

Within the last ten to fifteen years, the internet has created a revolutionary public service: Online reviews.