Celebrating Pioneer Days with interesting look at the beginnings

A Steinbach City Councillor took time recently to share some history about Pioneer Days, the annual August long weekend event that includes many activities at the Mennonite Heritage Village. 

Jac Siemens opened a city council meeting by speaking of the value in having a museum that celebrates the people who helped build our community. 

“August long weekend has been the time when we celebrate the heritage of our community,” he said. “MHV has been part of Steinbach and holds much of the Mennonite history since it was incorporated in 1964. It tells the story of Mennonite settlers to southern Manitoba and a museum complex with over 30 heritage buildings monuments, permanent and temporary exhibit galleries and school programs.”

Volunteer Tina Dyck prepares to make biscuits in the stone oven at Mennonite Heritage Village. (Photo Credit: Facebook.com/MHVSteinbach)

Siemens noted that each year, over 50,000 visitors from around the world view the 16,000 artifacts that have been collected. 

One collector of artifacts, John C. Reimer, played an important part in creating a museum for our community. He was a Steinbach teacher and historian with a deep love of history, Siemens recalled. 

“As early as 1934, he would bring artifacts of historical interest to his classes in Blumenort. In 1949, he helped form a museum committee to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first Mennonite migration to Manitoba. In 1951, he purchased his grandfather, Klaas R. Reimer’s old store, restored it to its original state, and it still exists today at the MHV.” 

That store became Steinbach’s first museum. 

“In 1961, a new Museum subcommittee purchased six acres of land north of Steinbach to build a museum. Later, another 34 acres were added to this site. Fundraising for the museum was started by a grant from the town of Steinbach of $50,000 and the city continues to provide a grant each year to its operation.” 

Siemens noted that Mennonite Heritage Village was officially incorporated in 1964 and built a main building, which today is the auditorium and that opened its doors to visitors in 1967. 

One of key features at the museum is the windmill.

The windmill is a popular attraction at the Mennonite Heritage Village.

“A fully operating Dutch windmill was added in 1972. It is similar to the one built in Steinbach in the 1880s. It was rebuilt in 2001 after a fire destroyed the original windmill, and stands as the only functioning windmill in Canada today.” 

Although there have been some changes and improvements made to the museum, one of the things that remains the same is the dedication of people who work and volunteer at the village. 

“The museum relies on over 150 dedicated volunteers each year, and the service and expertise they bring to the work of the museum,” Siemens stated. 

Whether it’s tending to the grounds, working at special events, or operating some of the antique equipment, Siemens says each person contributes something of great value.

In the Printery at MHV, a western Canadian print shop completed with drawers of handset type and platen press that were brought to the district in 1909 and used commercially until 1946. (Photo Credit: Facebook.com/MHVSteinbach)

“While some things stay the same, Mennonite Heritage Village has changed much since its beginning, and today it continues to expand and build upon the vision of its founders. The Province of Manitoba has designated it a signature museum and star attraction. And almost daily during the summer months, visitors to the museum are from outside of the province of Manitoba and outside of Canada. Much credit goes to the vision of its founders, but also to the current and past board members that have continued to make it a tourist destination in Steinbach that is certainly worth seeing, and as community members of Steinbach, is worth volunteering at.”