Holland Marsh Dutch Settlers
- Profile
- Images
Location: Holland Marsh, Ontario
Surnames/tags: One_Place_Studies Canada Dutch_Roots
[send private message] and Dr. Ted Vandevis [send private message]
[Holland Marsh Google Map][Holland Marsh Plaque]
[Holland Marsh Wikipedia Profile]
Introduction
Holland Marsh, Ontario is a drained swamp, and once cleared revealed about 7,000 acres of dark black peat muck. It is a wonderful setting for growing vegetables. The swamp was drained about 1929 and 17 original Dutch settlers were invited to buy and clear 5 acres of government sponsored land each, and begin vegetable farming. Early crops consisted of lettuce, carrots, onions, celery and cauliflower. John Snor was the mastermind that brought the Dutch and Canadian Governments and settlers together. The small village of Ansnorveldt on the east side of Hwy 400 gets its name from Snor's youngest daughter. The part of the Holland Marsh that lies on the west side of Hwy 400 is called Springdale. Approximately 1500 residents and settlers have been identified below. If there is someone you would like to see added, please leave me a note.
Original 17 Holland Marsh Dutch Settlers
The original 17 settlers consisted of the following people:
- William Valenteyn; 8 Aug 1897 - 4 Jan 1960
- Jan Rupke; 27 Mar 1888 - 11 Nov 1965
- John van Dyke; 29 Mar 1906 - 1992
- George Brouwer; 1915 -
- Abraham Havinga; 13 Apr 1879 - 22 Aug 1953
- Harm Prins; 6 Oct 1888 -
- Arie Barselaar; 13 Nov 1893 - 18 Jul 1966
- Marinus van Dyken; 15 Mar 1895 - 18 Jun 1981
- Ties Oosterhuis; 26 Jun 1898 - 7 Sep 1966
- Albert Biemold; 13 Apr 1886 - 27 Dec 1963
- Eeltje de Jong; 28 Feb 1894 - 10 Dec 1973
- Louis Boonstra; 15 Feb 1905 - 3 May 1967
- Adrianus (Jack) van Luijk; 9 Aug 1905 - 1976
- Karsjen Miedema; 13 Dec 1888 - 1952
- Simon Winter; 28 Apr 1889 - 29 Jan 1973
- Henry Nienhuis; 1900 - and,
- Jacob van der Goot. 17 Feb 1889 - 1969
The Store
Henry Nienhuis was the first store owner in the Marsh. He and his wife first sold groceries out of their house in The Settlement and then later built an addition on their house for the store likely around 1940. The store had been called Holland Marsh Groceterias when owned by Cor and Marie Radder in the 1950s to 1961. Radders moved to the end of The Settlement when on February 27, 1961 they sold the store to Gerritje and Marinus van de Vis who renamed it Marsh Food Store and grew the business till 1967. Initially Oshawa Wholesale and then later National Grocers supplied the wholesale groceries to the store. Bob Lollinga was the long-time butcher at the store and lived to be over 99 years old. Lucia and John Warnaar bought the store from the Vandevis' in 1967 and held it till the 1970s. Warnaars later opened a variety store in Queensville. The building still stands in its original location but is in very poor condition. Radders moved to Calgary in the 1970s. Vandevis' moved to the Prins house on Bernhart Road in 1967 and then the Jackson farm in Tecumseth Township in 1968.
Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church
The following ministers served the Holland Marsh CRC. They include:
- Rev. Martin Schans 1940-1945
- Rev. John Van der Meer 1946-1951
- Rev. Peter Lagerway 1954-1959
- Rev. John Hanenburg 1959-1966
- Rev. John de Pater 1966-1970
- Rev. Peter Breedveld 1970-1973
- Rev. Max Lise 1975-1981
- Rev. Hendrik Bruinsma 1982-1988
- Rev. Brenny van Daalen 1989-2008
- Rev. Richard Bodini 2010-2019
- Rev. Benjamin Gresik 2020-Present
Springdale Christian Reformed Church aka Westside Community Church
The following ministers served the Springdale CRC/Westside Community Church:
- Rev. Ralph Wildschut-105 1953-1959
- Rev. Peter Kranenburg 1960-1963
- Rev. John Van Stempvoort-1 1963-1969
- Rev. Lubbert W. Van Dellen-118 1969-1973
- Rev. Tony J. Ouwenhand-1 1974-1976
- Rev. James M. Evenhouse 1977-1982
- Rev. Leonard T. Schalkwyk-84 1982-1992
- Rev. Howard McPhee 1993-2010
- Rev. Paul Van Stralen-47 2012-2017
Springdale CRC/Westside Community Church closed its doors permanently in 2017.
An incomplete listing of Marsh settlers and residents of Dutch ancestry follows. If you detect any errors, or omissions, please contact me...Dr. Ted Vandevis and I will fix or add them.
Settlers and Residents of "The Marsh"
- Jacoba Andela Andela-13
- Julia Marshall Andela
- Keimpe Andela-12
- Ken Andela
- Ron Andela
- Sid Andela
- Steve Andela
- Unknown Aukema
- Martha Lollinga Baar-20
- Everett Baker
- Trudy Baker
- Jacob Bakker-2923
- Darlene Barron
- Ann Barselaar-3
- Arie Barselaar-1
- Arie Barselaar-2
- Lenie Bassie
- Betty Beintema
- Bouke Beintema Fokkens-24
- Clarence Beintema-28
- Florence Beintema
- Grace Beintema
- John Hans Beintema-77
- Helen Beintema Metcalfe
- Henry Beintema-27
- Joanne Hoving Beintema
- Johannes Beintema-41
- John Jr. Beintema-31
- John Sr. Beintema-26
- Peter Beintema
- Theresa Dawn Beintema-82
- Adriana Benschop
- Bert Berends
- Fran Berends
- John Berg
- Allan Bergsma
- Dennis Bergsma
- Elaine Bergsma-307
- Frank Bergsma
- George Bergsma
- Jelle Bergsma
- Joan Horlings Bergsma
- Millie Bergsma
- Shirley Bergsma Hoekstra-1084
- Ted Bergsma
- Wilma Bergsma
- Wilma Vander Kooi Bergsma
- Albert Biemold-3
- Eise Biemold-4
- Gertrude De Jong Biemold-6
- Harmke Biemold Van der Heide-74
- Hilbrand Biemold-7
- Hilda Rupke Biemold-1
- Katriena Verrips Biemold-9
- Peter Biemold-12
- Dena Bierling-22
- Dick Bierling-6
- Henry Bierling-5
- Louwe Bierling-8
- Maartje Bierling Bolt-342
- Pieter Bierling-7
- Ann Biersteker
- Claude Biersteker
- Jeff Biersteker
- Julia Biersteker Unknown
- Katharine Bittenbinder Berenz-14
- Phillip Bittenbinder-12
- Gerrit Bloomdal
- JoyAnna Bodini
- Philip Bodini
- Rev. Richard Bodini
- Sherry Bokma
- Judy Bolt
- Ann Louise McCandish Boneschansker
- Anne Boneschansker Rendering-87
- Augustus Boneschansker
- Fran DiCarlo Boneschansker
- Hilda Dykstra Boneschansker
- Jean Boneschansker Miedema
- John Boneschansker-10
- John Boneschansker
- Klazina Boneschansker Meyer
- Robert Boneschansker-8
- Steve Boneschansker
- Anna Boonstra Dykie-1
- Anne Boonstra-142
- Bert Boonstra-146
- Betty De Haan Boonstra
- Henry Boonstra-144
- James Boonstra-147
- James Boonstra
- Lieuwe (Louis) Boonstra-140
- Lydia Guldemeester Boonstra
- Maaike Boonstra-453
- Marguerite Boonstra Mozes
- Marie Boonstra-143
- Tietje Boonstra Mozes-15
- Corrie Bootsma
- Linda Bootsma Tjoelker
- Simon Bootsma
- Ted Bootsma
- Gerrit Borg
- Trudy Borg Geertsma
- Jane Bos
- Titia Boswijk-33
- Kevin Bouwers
- Theresa Bouwers
- E Bowdry
- An Schalkwyk Brandenburg
- Joh Brands-97
- Gertrude Brands Van Luyk-6
- Marian Mankinen Brands
- Michael Brands
- Michele Hovius Brands
- Wendy Vandertol Brands-104
- Winn Rothan Brands
- Edward Breedveld
- Rev. Peter Breedveld-30
- Peter Brooksma
- Unknown Brooksma-2
- Albert Brouwer
- Andy Brouwer
- Casey Brouwer-613
- Christiaan Brouwer-1880
- Coby Brouwer Vanderlinde-732
- Cornelis (Kees) Brouwer-608
- Daniel Brouwer-614
- Florence Brouwer Rothman-141
- Gerben "George" Brouwer-960
- Gerrit Brouwer-1792
- Helena Brouwer Vogel-582
- Jannetje Brouwer-611
- Johanna Toorenaar Brouwer-610
- John Brouwer
- John Brouwer
- Klaas Brouwer
- Mak Brouwer
- Marion Brouwer
- Martha Brouwer
- Minnie Brouwer De Dreu-31
- Monica Brouwer
- Peter Brouwer-612
- Unknown Brouwer Unknown-643094
- Rev. Hendrik Bruinsma
- Eilleen Buys
- Jane Buys Bruulsma
- Jim Buys
- Peter Buys-850
- Peter Buys
- Robert Buys
- M. Claus
- Maria Havinga Colenbrander-84
- Charles Cseh-21
- Dirkje Posthumus De Beer-3528
- Susan Verkaik De Beer
- Johannes De Birk
- G De Boep
- Gay De Boer
- Wilhelmina Winter De Boer-539
- Margaret De Bruyn-792 Flack
- Alex DeGeus
- Harry DeGeus
- Jim DeGeus
- Mitchell DeGeus
- David De Groot
- Hester De Groot
- Tina De Groot
- Diana De Haan Lollinga
- Paul De Haan
- Eric John De Jans
- P De Jans
- Albert De Jong-2946
- Andy De Jong-5001
- Ed De Jong
- Eeltje De Jong-897
- Effie Davison De Jong
- Gilbert De Jong
- Grace De Jong VanderKooi
- Harriet Bierling De Jong-916
- Harry De Jong
- Hendrieka Van Dyken De Jong-901
- James De Jong
- Jane Brouwer De Jong
- John De Jong
- John De Jong
- Kathy De Jong
- Klaas De Jong-1843
- Klaas De Jong-1843
- Klaaske De Jong Vander Meer-416
- Martinus De Jong-898
- Teresa (Tess) De Jong-899
- Marie DeJong-52
- Martha Jane De Jong
- Sidney De Jong
- Siebe De Jong
- Susan Verburg De Jong
- William De Jong
- Alice De Pater-9
- Alice De Pater Teunissen-136
- Bea De Pater-7
- James De Pater-10
- Jan (John) De Pater-8
- Rev. John De Pater-5
- Margo De Pater-6
- Stephen De Pater-11
- Adriana De Ruijter-39
- Amy Budway Devald
- Jack De Vald
- John De Vald-7
- Louis De Vald-3
- Louis De Vald-6
- Maria De Vald Eek-39
- Marie Devald Wyschopen
- Rozal De Vald Fazekas-85
- Ryan Devald
- Sophia Devald Eek
- Theresa Macarenko De Vald
- Kathy De Valk
- Anthony De Vries
- Berend De Vries
- Gerald De Vries
- Hazel De Vries
- Tjitske De Jong de Vries-832
- Allen De Winter
- Doris De Winter Leonard
- Gary De Winter
- Gerda De Winter
- Janet De Winter
- Jennifer De Winter
- John De Winter-382
- John De Winter
- Ralph De Winter
- Sandra Rodrigues De Winter
- Walter Drijfhout-14
- Jane Drost-399
- Raymond Drost
- Wilma Drost
- Anna Dryfhout Geertsma-53
- Anne Dryfhout Stevens-14955
- Dave Dryfhout
- Grace Herrema Dryfhout
- Mary Ann Reynolds Dryfhout
- Sid Dryfhout
- Sjabbe Dryfhout-2
- Bernie Duits
- Avia Eek
- Bill Eek
- Brenda Jardine Eek
- Dave Eek
- Gerald Eek-35
- Gerard Eek-29
- Jill Eek Davy
- Johanna Valenteyn Eek-3
- Johanra Eek Wiegers-55
- John Eek-36
- Mae Eek Kearns-1506
- Marie De Vald Eek-37
- Marlene Stelnick Eek
- Paula Fredericks Eek
- Sandy Matson Eek
- William Eek-6
- William Eek-38
- Albert Eisses-6
- Carl Eisses
- Ed Eisses
- Harry Eisses
- Henry Eisses
- John Eisses
- Larry Eisses
- Ron Eisses
- Jack Elgersma
- Adrian Elzinga
- Catharina de Schutter Engelage-19
- Elsie Engelage Van der Heide-32
- Fred Engelage-85
- Hemmo Engelage-83
- Hemmo Engelage-146
- Hilbrand Engelage-154
- Juanita Engelage
- Margaret Engelage
- Jane Buys Engelage-145
- Trudy Snyder Engelage-155
- William (Bill) Engelage-133
- Elze Van Hemert Essselink-1
- Rev. James Evenhouse
- Johanna "Hannie" Van Dyke Eygenraam-1
- Marianne Faber
- Tim Faber
- Ann Feddema
- Henry Feenstra
- Saapke Nicolay Ferwerda-62
- Wytska "Winnefred" Brouwer Ferwerda-75
- Edith Flach Petrusma-37
- Elizabeth Postma Flack
- George Flack
- Irene Flack
- JoAnn Flack Kight
- Frank Flach-42
- Gea Flach Bos-2226
- Gerald Flach
- Harry Flach-64
- Katrina Flack
- Lynn Flack Lucas-11421
- Margaret Flack de Bruyn-792
- Pamela Tuininga Flach
- Pat Flack White
- Ron Flack
- Tom Flack-1005
- Boukje Beintema Fokkens-24
- Mathelda Franken
- Carl Frankruyter
- Julie Frankruyter
- Bill Geertsma-61
- Don Geertsma
- Ebel Geertsma
- Frank Geertsma
- Harriet Geertsma
- Jack Geertsma
- James Geertsma-54
- John Geertsma
- Nell Geertsma Nieuwland-135
- Rick Geertsma
- Ted Godron
- S Gorter-258
- Janna Goudbeck
- Annette Grencer
- Irene Bergeron Grencer
- Kelly Grencer
- Nicholas Peter Grencer-1
- Rita Grencer VanAlebeek
- Amanda Gresik
- Benjamin Gresik
- Anne Greydanus
- Annie Ash Greyn
- John Greyn
- Mathilda Greyn Van_Der_Reet-2
- Peter Greijn-2
- Peter Jr. Greyn-5
- Wilhelmina Churley Greyn
- Brad Devon Groeneweg
- Annette Grootenboer
- Ruben Grootenboer
- Adrianna Guldemeester-3
- Danny Guldemeester-2
- John Guldemeester-1
- Andy Haak-438
- Bob Haak-436
- Diane Haak
- Gertie Haak
- Gertrude Haak Unknown-641346
- Jacob Haak-426
- Jake Haak-434
- Jake Haak
- Jeanette Bandstra Haak
- Jerry Haak
- John Haak-437
- Kees Haak
- Jean Theresa Tamminga Hagan-1726
- Pat Hagan
- Timon Hagan-425
- John Hamelink
- Agnes Kramer Hamstra
- Dorothy Hamstra
- Frances Hamstra
- Hank Hamstra
- Jacob Hamstra-100
- Lena Weber Hamstra-103
- Shirley Hamstra
- Antoinette Hanemaaijer De Geus-108
- Arend Hanemaaijer-2
- Agnes Hanemaayer Unknown-643186
- Ann Hanemaayer
- Annette Hanemaayer
- Anthony Hanemaayer
- Arthur Hanemaayer
- Bert Hanemaayer
- Bram Hanemaayer-8
- Catharine Hanemaayer
- Coby Schakel Hanemaayer
- Dave Hanemaayer
- Derrick Hanemaayer
- Dini Hanemaayer
- Ineke Visser Hanemaayer
- Jacqueline Hanemaayer
- Jennie Stevens Hanemaayer
- Jim Hanemaayer
- Kim Hanemaayer
- Peter Hanemaayer-4
- Teresa Aukema Hanemaayer
- Wilma Hanemaayer Bylsma-16
- Catharine (Cathy) Holtrop Hanenburg-5
- Irene Hanenburg
- James Hanenburg
- Rev. John Hanenburg-4
- Rick Hanenburg
- Ted Hanenburg
- Clayton Hare-3253
- Abraham Havinga-29
- Corrie Miedema Havinga-71
- Donna Havinga
- Elsa Havinga-123
- Elsey Sneep Havinga-103
- Fred Havinga
- Jack Havinga-126
- Johanna Klemn Havinga-32
- John Havinga-125
- Michael Havinga-85
- Ralph Havinga-77
- Tena Turkstra Havinga-124
- M. Hay
- Laurenz Heileman-28
- Richard Heileman-29
- Sofia Heileman Dierkes-34
- Adele Helleman
- Alfred Helleman
- Andrea Helleman
- Cornelia Helleman VanEgmond-329
- Corry dePeuter Helleman
- Dick Helleman-50
- Dick Helleman
- Fred Helleman-55
- Hans Helleman
- Kirk Helleman
- Margaret VanDyk Helleman
- Winnie Henstra
- Jean Eisses Hessels-48
- Annette Herrema
- Clara Herrema
- Rudy Heydens
- Fred Hielema-41
- Margaret Hielema Haak-427
- Roy Hielema
- Trudie Hoekstra
- Klasiena Hamstra Hofman-1015
- Brenda De Jong [[Holtrop-104
- Adrianus Hordyk-20
- Anita Sikma Horlings-14
- Ann Horlings-10
- Boele Horlings-82
- Bill Horlings-2
- Brenda Horlings-8
- Catriene Horlings-9
- Celina Horlings Van Dyken-46
- Carolyn Horlings
- Dave Horlings
- Dwayne Horlings
- Elizabeth Horlings Koning-756
- Elizabeth Horlings Verkaik-21
- Elsie Horlings-1
- Elsie Horlings
- Frank Horlings-39
- Gail Horlings Unknown-402668
- George Horlings-13
- George Horlings-59
- Harm Horlings-3
- Harry Horlings-6
- Harry Horlings
- Henrietta Horlings Prins-961
- Henry Horlings-21
- Henry Horlings
- Jane Horlings Maan-8
- Jean de Winter Horlings
- Joan Horlings Bergsma
- John Horlings
- Karen Oosterhuis Horlings
- Ken Horlings
- Kevin Horlings
- Kimberley Horlings
- Kyle Horlings
- Lois Westerveld Horlings
- Michael Horlings
- Monica Horlings
- Murray Horlings
- Ray Horlings
- Richard Horlings
- Rick Horlings-4
- Robert Horlings-24
- Ron Horlings
- Tim Horlings
- Tom Horlings
- Trien Horlings-7
- Veronica Horlings
- Walter Horlings
- Wolter Horlings-5
- Yvonne de Boer Horlings
- Jane Horzelenberg
- Bas Hoving-53
- Bill Hoving-59
- Elaine Hoving Bergsma-307
- Elizabeth Hoving-62
- George Hoving-56
- Harry Hoving-54
- Jane Hoving-60
- Jean Hoving-57
- John Hoving-61
- Markus Hoving-55
- Mike Hoving-63
- Suzanne Visser Hoving-58
- Bob Hovius-7
- Jake Hovius-6
- Jeanette Hovius-9
- Ninka Hovius Storm-865
- Rob Hovius-11
- Sid Hovius-8
- Garyle Huisman
- George Huisman-575
- Kimberly Huisman
- Ron Huisman
- Shirley Ann Huisman Nydam-3
- Ann Louis Huizingh
- Lambert Huisingh-6
- Larry Huizingh
- George Huisman-575
- Alice Hyma-23
- Amy Van Dyken Hyma-4
- Bob Hyma-19
- Dick Hyma-20
- Florence Hyma Adema-163
- Richard Hyma-5
- Rudy Heyden
- Gladys Jager
- Allyson Janse
- Art Janse-231
- Bob Janse
- Doreen Janse-245
- Effie Janse
- Elsie Janse Israels-23
- Frank Janse-229
- Harriet Janse-246
- Jim Janse
- John Janse-232
- John Janse
- Ken Janse
- Marvin Janse-247
- Matthew Janse
- Michelle Carrie Janse De Peuter-37
- Nancy Rupke Janse
- Ray Janse
- Rebecca Janse
- John Jansen-5726
- Sylvia Jansen Visser-4927
- Elizabeth Jansma Struiksma-44
- Harry Jansma-261
- Hendrik Jansma-264
- Hendrika Jansma-262
- Henry Jansma-260
- Patricia Jansma-216
- Pietje Jansma VanderWielen-125
- Stewart Henry Jansma-263
- Betty Jaques
- Ed Jaques-813
- David Jaques
- Gail Jaques
- Helen Jaques Smith-253012
- Jennifer Jaques
- Mary Ann Jaques Coffey-4676
- Nancy Jaques
- Ronald Jaques-809
- Terry Jaques
- Frank Kamstra
- Mary Schoemaker Kapteyn
- Harmina Kiers Katerberg-10
- Matty Engelage Katerberg
- Albert Keep-247
- Elsie Keep Kisteman-1
- Henry Keep
- George Keep-558
- Gerrit Keep
- Gezina Keep Ros-340
- Greta Keep-248
- Stephen Keep
- Carol Kiekover
- Bernard Kiers-21
- Jo-Ann Meyer Kallenbach Kiers-20
- Kars Kiers-14
- Ken Kiers-25
- Nancy Kiers-23
- Richard Kiers-22
- Ronald Kiers-24
- Winnifred (Win) Knight Kiers-16
- Egbert Kleinhorsman-4
- Marchiena KleinHorsman Torenbosch-1
- Tietje Miedema Kloosterman-30
- Emma Knapper-196
- Anita Knibbe
- Darlene Graham Barraclough Knibbe
- Diana Knibbe-115
- Edo Knibbe-106
- Harry Knibbe
- Margaret Commerina Knibbe Boot-439
- Marvin Knibbe
- Norman A. Knibbe-107
- Rita Aalbas Knibbe
- Wilhelmina Verkuyl Knibbe-116
- Leendert Kooij-163
- Cornelis Kooistra-407
- Ed Kooistra-467
- Henry Kooistra-466
- Sid Kooistra-465
- Cornelius Koopman-7
- Gerald Koopman-8
- Walter Koopman-606
- Clara Kooistra Brouwer Koopmans-502
- Albert Kooy
- Annie Streutker Kooy
- Arie Kooy
- Benjamin Kooy
- Bill Kooy
- Brandon Kooy
- Francine Kooy Flach-179
- Francy VanderVeen Kooy-63
- Harry Kooy-61
- Hendrik Kooy-71
- Jackie Dykshoorn Kooy
- Johanna Alburquerque Kooy
- John Kooy-75
- Kees Kooy
- Len Kooy-64
- Lisa Marie Kooy-70
- Margaret Kooy DeVries-4852
- Maria Kooy Bron-193
- Rick Kooy
- Sandra Kooy
- Shannon Kooy
- Will Kooy-67
- Willie Kooy-76
- Louise Korvemaker
- Rev. Peter Kranenburg
- H. Kruisselbrink
- Arendje Kuyvenhoven Doorduin-8
- Cornelis Kuyvenhoven-2
- Maria Kuyvenhoven
- Rev. Peter Lagerwey-1
- Harry Langedoen
- Francois Le Roy-1050
- Arend Lieverdink
- Henry Lise
- Louise Lise
- Ralph Lise
- Rev. Max Lise
- Reny Lof
- Bauke (Bob) Lollinga-1
- Cameron Loopstra
- Chuck Loopstra
- Claudia Loopstra
- Elisabeth Lycklama Tiemersma
- Simon Lycklama
- Simon Lycklama
- Brian Maan
- Irene Maan
- Jacob Maan-30
- Jean Maan
- Johanna Maan-25
- Ralph Maathuis-15
- Alex Makarenko
- Benjamin Makarenko
- Matthew Makarenko
- Nathan Makarenko
- G Marits-4
- Adrianus Markus-324
- Jacobus Markus
- Joanne Emery Markus
- Maria Meyers Markus
- Marianne Bouwhuis Markus
- Peter Markus
- Stijntje Markus de Ruiter-434
- Hedy Van Dyke Matthews-3842
- Jean Matthews
- Rev. Howard McPhee
- Casey Mennega-3
- Clarence Mennega
- C.R. Mennega
- Marie Mennega-8
- Marie Mennega Bousma-3
- Shirley Mennega
- Ann Miedema
- Ann Andela Miedema-278
- Art Miedema-276
- Audrey Miedema-193
- Barb Miedema
- Charles Miedema-210
- Charley Miedema-197
- Charlie Miedema-198
- Corrie Miedema
- David Miedema-213
- Ed Miedema-205
- Elisabeth Miedema
- Erin Miedema-414
- Faye Willeboordse Miedema-190
- Frances Miedema-281
- Frank Miedema-192
- Freerkje Miedema Struiksma-11
- Freertje Miedema-182
- Grace Horlings Miedema
- Griet (Grace) Miedema-200
- Ina Vaandering Miedema
- James Miedema-201
- Jim Miedema
- Jean Boneschansker Miedema
- Jenni Miedema
- Joanne Miedema-199
- Joanne Colangelo Miedema-212
- John Miedema-207
- John Miedema-345
- Karsjen Miedema-214
- Kathleen Miedema-204
- Kenneth Thomas Miedema-273
- Klaske Visser Miedema-236
- Klaaske Vander Kooij Miedema-222
- Mary Ann Miedema
- Marylin Miedema
- Michelle Miedema-206
- Mietje Miedema Van Dyke-547
- Mike Miedema-221
- Rachel Miedema-203
- Sid Miedema-279
- Sid Miedema-308
- Sidney Miedema-189
- Simon Miedema-211
- Terri Mozes Miedema-208
- Thelma Miedema
- Thoma Miedema
- Theo Miedema-202
- Timmie Miedema Dekker
- Tom Miedema-220
- Thomas Miedema-272
- Tom Miedema-332
- Unknown child Miedema-219
- Wally Miedema-228
- Wiebe (Walter) Miedema-188
- Winnie Jaques Miedema-209
- Louis Molenhuis-10
- Theresa Molenhuis Dryfhout-7
- Arie Moor-1259
- Arthur Moor
- Caroline Moor
- G.B. Moor
- Gijsbertus Moor-1267
- Henderika Moor Vanderlinden-918
- Marian-Hedy Moor
- Nellie Johnston Moor
- Patsy Moor
- Rika Moor De Peuter-36
- Ann Mozes
- Edna Mozes Riddell
- Garry Mozes-22
- Gerrit Mozes-23
- Jim Mozes-16
- Tietje Boonstra Mozes-15
- Bertha Hanenburg Mouw-9
- Alice Mulder Snippe-108
- Anne Mein Mulder-2487
- Hendrik Mulder-2496
- Jane Mulder
- Katie Rupke Mulder-679
- Peter Mulder-3083
- Pieter Mulder-1330
- Hendrik Mulder-3087
- Haye B. Nicolay-23
- Peter Nicolay-24
- Edgar Niebuur-4
- Jeanette Niebuur-7
- John Niebuur-1
- Julia Niebuur-8
- Mary Niebuur-5
- Patricia Niebuur-6
- Rita Niebuur-2
- Rita Summers Niebuur-3
- Henry Nienhuis-149
- Unknown Nienhuis Unknown-643095
- Akke Van Dyke Nieuwhof-27
- Gerrard Nonnekes-11
- Alice Forsyth Noordhuis
- Arnold Noordhuis
- Homer Noordhuis-28
- Jane Noteboom
- Rita Biemold Nunnikhoven-2
- Bill Nydam-4
- Charlie Nydam-1
- Elsie Nydam-2
- Hendrika Nydam Hiemstra-359
- Henrietta (Rita) Winter Nydam-6
- Jean Nydam-5
- Shirley Ann Nydam-3
- Klaas Oldenbrock-1
- Allan Oosterhuis-94
- Anne Oosterhuis Unknown-543030
- Gary Oosterhuis-145
- Gertie Van Luyk Oosterhuis-89
- Grietje Oosterhuis Boneschansker-7
- Jack Oosterhuis-144
- John Oosterhuis-280
- Lori Oosterhuis-271
- Ruth Noordhuis Oosterhuis-172
- Stoffer Oosterhuis-92
- Stuart Oosterhuis-93
- Ties Oosterhuis-91
- Rev. Dr. Tom Oosterhuis-143
- Wilma Oosterhuis Van der Goot-12
- Jane Oosting
- Deanna Oussoren
- Hester Oussoren-21
- Jeanette Van de Ruitenbeek Oussoren-19
- Karen Oussoren
- Klaas Oussoren-20
- Maartje Oussoren Slingerland-345
- Piet Oussoren
- Arthur Ouwendyk
- Barbara Ouwendyk Van der Gaag-55
- Bernie Reynolds Ouwendyk
- Christina Ouwendyk Veer-93
- Corry Collings Ouwendyk
- Dora Canavan Ouwendyk
- Hank Ouwendyk
- Hendrikus T. Ouwendyk-1
- Jack Ouwendyk
- Joanne Thorley Ouwendyk
- Joe Ouwendyk-6
- John Ouwendyk
- Lynn Smith Ouwendyk
- Margaret Theresa Vaughan Ouwendyk
- Mary Bakker Ouwendyk
- Nellie Duggan Westbrook Ouwendyk-2
- Peter Ouwendyk
- Rita Koks Ouwendyk-10
- Tony Ouwendyk-17
- Rev. Tony Ouwenhand-1
- William John Parry-3261
- Ian Paterson
- Ted Plantinga
- Grace Post-969
- George Postema-18
- Alice Posthumus
- Anna Posthumus
- Klaas Posthumus-463
- Leni Posthumus
- Daniel Prins-159
- Harm Prins-154
- Henrietta Prins-153
- Henrietta Prins-961
- Herman Prins-156
- Penny Prins
- Winifred Prins-155
- Teena Procee
- Addie Ellens Radder-9
- Andrew Radder-4
- Anne Radder Jansma
- Cornelis Radder-11
- Cornelius Radder-5
- Cornelius Radder-8
- Christina Radder
- Darlene Radder-43
- Diana Radder-3
- Elizabeth Geertsma Radder-37
- Henry Radder
- Leanne Radder
- Leon Radder-23
- Mary VanDyke Radder
- Nancy Radder-6
- Neil Radder
- Patricia Radder
- Paul Radder-7
- Ebe Rauwerda-55
- Johannes Rauwerda
- Kenneth Rauwerda-56
- Peter Rauwerda-57
- Tjitske Rauwerda Unknown-642914
- Joe Reitsma
- Adam Rhebergen
- Allan Rhebergen
- Cody Rhebergen
- Diana Rhebergen
- Evelyn Rhebergen Vander Kooi
- Frances Rhebergen Ellens-79
- Geoffry Rhebergen
- Gerald Rhebergen-62
- Gerald John Rhebergen-68
- Henry Rhebergen
- Pamela Sutherland Rhebergen
- Pete Rhebergen
- Peter Rhebergen-63
- Sarah Rhebergen
- Theresa Visser Rhebergen
- Fanny Roffel
- Gerrit Rol-44
- John Rol-40
- Margaret Rol Viskoper-8
- Marguerite Cseh Rol-43
- Marten Rol-41
- Mary Rol Unknown-641459
- Pieter Rol-39
- Gezina C. Keep Ros-340
- Florence Brouwer Rothman-141
- Jack Rouble-1
- Margaret Rouble Bartlett-15557
- Robert Rouble-3
- Sylvia Rouble Greenside-6
- Tom Rouble-2
- Alvin Rupke-28
- Bill Rupke
- Billy Rupke-170
- Catharine Rupke Rupke-174
- Chris Rupke
- Chris Rupke-176
- Christian Rupke-19
- David Rupke
- Dein Rupke Bos-175
- Dick Rupke-106
- Dirk Rupke-140
- Donald Rupke-29
- Dwayne Rupke
- Erick Rupke-30
- Fran Rupke Johnston-23130
- Garry Rupke
- Gerald Rupke-141
- Gerry Rupke
- Gys Rupke-177
- Helen Rupke
- Jack Rupke-137
- Jan Rupke-26
- Jan Rupke-34
- Jansje Hubertha Rupke Van der Geur-1
- John Rupke-27
- John Rupke
- Joyce Rupke-168
- Linda Rupke
- Marcia Warren Rupke
- Margery Rupke Collings-857
- Margo Rupke Nieuwland-89
- Michael Rupke
- Nellie Verkaik Rupke-86
- Neltje (Nelly) Sneep Brands Rupke-35
- Peter Rupke-165
- Sierk Rupke-25
- Steven Rupke
- Harry Salomons-158
- Vernetta Salomons
- Sylvia Sanderson
- Dina Scerphezeel Geertsma-64
- John Scerphezeel-1
- Kathy Schalkwyk
- Leonard Schalkwyk-85
- Alida Eisses Schaly-1
- Arie Schaly-7
- Bert Schaly-5
- Hank Schaly-4
- John Schaly-9
- Lynn Schaly-6
- Maria Schaly-2
- Tys Schaly-8
- Walter Schaly-3
- Grace Schans Post-969
- Rev. Marten Schans-6
- Allen Schenk
- Carol Schenk
- Rene Schoenmaker-128
- Bill Scholten-868
- Brooke Scholten
- Cheryl Scholten
- David Scholten
- Evan Scholten
- Grace Hoving Scholten
- Hollie Scholten
- Jill Scholten
- Joshua Scholten
- Karen Proctor Scholten
- Pat Scholten Haak-425
- Ralph Scholten
- Ron Scholten
- Scottie Scholten
- Johanna Barselaar Schouten-634
- Trudy Schuringa-36
- Aaron Sikkema
- Ben Sikkema
- Bryan Sikkema
- Ed Sikkema
- Ian Sikkema
- Joanne Sikma-21
- Joe Sikma-7
- Johanna De Jong Sikma-19
- Margaret Simonse Sikma-18
- Melissa Sikma
- Riek Van Mazyk Sikma-6
- Lawrence Simonse-52
- Gerarda Maria Slykhuis Verburgt-17
- Gerrit Slykhuis-6
- Clarence Smit
- Margaret Smouter
- Anne Vandekuyt Sneep-8
- Jantje Herman Bierling Sneep-4
- John Sneep-9
- Neil Sneep-5
- Tony Sneep-3
- Ann Ardill Snor-2
- Cora Snor Schweitzer-1222
- Helen Sutton Snor-3
- John Snor-1
- Marie Kott Snor-5
- Clarence Snyder
- Geert Spartel-1
- Katarina Spek Unknown-642202
- Rudolf Spek-73
- Frank Speziali-1
- Jim Speziali-4
- Linda Speziali-2
- Nancy Speziali-3
- Art Stam
- Bill Stam
- Dick Stam
- George Stam
- Gertie Stam
- Gertie Stam De Haan-1169
- John Stam-579
- John Stam-593
- Len Stam
- Nick Stam
- Rita Weening Stam
- Ted Stam
- Tom Stam
- Sieuwkje De Jong Stapert-13
- Albert Stevens-5191
- Annette Vandevis Stevens-5190
- Art Stevens-11210
- Rick Stevens-11211
- William (Bill) Stevens-6605
- Cornelia Maria Steyn Unknown-642850
- Hendericus Alburtus Steyn-4591
- Ralph Storteboom
- Sjoerd Struiksma-42
- Hendrikje Struiksma Ferwerda-171
- Lijsbet Jans Struiksma Dijkstra-287
- Pieter Willems Struiksma-12
- Keith Sullivan
- Betty Tamminga
- Louis Tamminga-52
- Heidi TeBrake
- John TeBrake
- Annechien Tienkamp-36
- Bert Tienkamp-6
- Bill Tienkamp
- Dientje Tienkamp-32
- E Tienkamp-29
- Geert Tienkamp-31
- Geessiena Tienkamp Luchpenberg-1
- Harmtien Tienkamp-34
- Hindrika Tienkamp-33
- Loyis Tienkamp Routery-2
- Mavis Tienkamp Needham-3212
- Robert Tienkamp
- Sara Tienkamp
- William Tienkamp-30
- Yan Tienkamp-35
- Ann Tjepkema Vlas-1
- Betty Tjepkema
- Christine de Faria Tjepkema
- Dorothy Farrell Tjepkema
- Gary Tjepkema
- Henny Popadynec Tjepkema
- Janie Whiteman Tjepkema
- John Tjepkema-20
- Sam Tjepkema-25
- Sidney Tjepkema-17
- Trudy Tjoelker
- Nellie Toorenaar-5
- Willem Toorenaar-1
- Jacob Uitvlugt-2
- Jacob Uitvlugt
- Kitty Uitvlugt
- Peter Uitvlugt
- A Valenteyn
- Alice Valenteyn
- Jean Valenteyn Ditty-394
- Joanne Valenteyn
- John Valenteyn-2
- Johnny Valenteyn-6
- Karen Valenteyn
- Marie Ash Valenteyn
- Patricia Valenteyn
- Tanya Raso Valenteyn
- William Valenteyn-1
- Jane Barbara Florence Valk Williams-125797
- Juliana Valk
- Matt Valk-208
- Phil Van Andel
- Terri Van Andel
- Ed Van Bolhuis
- Janice Van Bolhuis
- Rev. Brenny VanDaalen-1
- Bert Van Dellen
- David Van Dellen
- Evelyn Van Dellen Hendriksen-334
- Geneva Van Dellen
- Rev. Lubbert Van Dellen-118
- Lambert Vanden_Berg-5344
- Brian Vanderby
- Dictus Vanderby-2
- Jane Vanderby De Vries-3859
- Ann Van der Goot Nauta-139
- Eelkje van der Goot-7
- Grace van der Goot Faber-856
- Jacob van der Goot-6
- Jacob van der Goot
- Linda van Voorst van der Goot
- Ted van der Goot-8
- Wilma Oosterhuis van der Goot-5
- Elsje De Jong Van der Heide-32
- Harmke Biemold Van der Heide-74
- Arie Van der Kleyn-2
- Bart Van Der Kleyn-5
- Angie Vander Kooi
- Kevin Vander Kooi
- Nancy Vander Kooi De Beer
- Wilma Vander Kooi-101
- Adriana Vander Kooij De Ruiter-39
- Andrea Vander Kooij
- Arie Van_der_Kooij-86
- Audrey Van_der_Kooij
- Chris Van_der_Kooij
- Cynthia Boonstra Vander Kooij
- Corrie Van_der_Kooij
- Gwendolyn Vander Kooij-459
- Harry Vander Kooij-1
- John Van_der_Kooij
- Leni Vander Kooij Posthumus
- Mark William Vander Kooij-458
- Margaret Mosterd Van_der_Kooij
- Neeltje (Nelly) Van Hemert Van der Kooij-87
- Peter Van der Kooij-431
- Peter John Vander Kooij
- Rita Bydevaate Van_der_ Kooij
- Sara Vander_Kooij
- Unknown daughter Vander Kooij
- Coby Brouwer Vanderlinde-732
- John VanderMeer
- Rev. John Van der Meer-174
- Klaaske De Jong Vander Meer-416
- Edith Vander Naald
- Ray Vander Ploeg-256
- Helen Vander Sleen
- G Vandersluis-256
- Limke Rupke Van der Veer-35
- Klaas Vanderwal-701
- Geraldine (Gerry) Noordegraaf Vandevis-10
- Marietta Stevens Vandevis-15
- Marinus van de Vis-11
- Dr. Theodore (Ted) Vandevis-11
- William (Bill) Vandevis-12
- John van Dijk-2155
- Tity Kooistra Van Dijk
- Wiert Van Dijken-82
- Arnold Van Doormaal-7
- Cora Van Doormaal-8
- Cornelius Van Doormaal-11
- Joanne Van Doormaal-12
- John Van Doormaal-10
- Marie Van Doormaal Unknown-642228
- Mary Van Doormaal-13
- Theodora Van Doormaal-8
- Audrey Van Dyk-301
- Bill Van Dyk
- Boddy Van Dyk-1583
- George Van Dyk-1585
- Gerda Van Dyk Unknown-643375
- Nancy Van Dyk Unknown-643374
- Albert Van Dyke-366
- Albert Van Dyke-1631
- Allen VanDyke-1624
- Andrea VanDyke
- Andrew Van Dyke
- Andrew VanDyke
- Anthony VanDyke-1623
- Albert Van Dyke-366
- Albert Van Dyke-1631
- Alice VanDyke Ellens-78
- Bob Van Dyke-369
- Danielle Bullee VanDyke
- Debbie Van Dyke-411
- Eleanor Van Dyke-368
- Faye Van Dyke-410
- Glenda Van Hemert Van Dyke-367
- Gordon VanDyke
- Hannie Van Dyke-382
- Jack Van Dyke
- Dr. Janice Van Dyke-343
- John Van Dyke-1368
- John George Van Dyke-1606
- Kenneth VanDyke
- Kevin Van Dyke-412
- Linda Van Dyke
- Linda Barrow VanDyke
- Linda Brouwer VanDyke
- Liz Williamson VanDyke
- Maaike Weening VanDyke
- Mary VanDyke-85
- Patricia Parry VanDyke-1634
- Robert VanDyke-1629
- Treesa Moor VanDyke
- Gloria Van Dyke-1601
- Henrietta Flikkema Van Dyke Miedema-424
- Karen van Woudenberg Van Dyke-729
- Kenneth VanDyke
- Trevor VanDyke
- Mark Van Dyke-1602
- Minnie Hare VanDyke-1635
- Patricia Parry VanDyke-1634
- Richard Van Dyke
- Sid Van Dyke-342
- Terry Van Dyke-371
- Tetje Van Dyke Kuiken-12
- Wally Van Dyke-370
- Walter VanDyke-1633
- William (Bill) Van Dyke-730
- Wopke Van Dyke-364
- Betsy Van Dyken-40
- Beverly Van Dyken
- Billy Van Dyken-44
- Brenda Van Dyken
- Celina Horlings Van Dyken-46
- Debbie Van Dyken
- Don Van Dyken
- Ed Van Dyken
- Edward Van Dyken-43
- Frances Van Dyken
- Hendrieka Van Dyken De Jong-901
- Jake Van Dyken-64
- John Van Dyken-41
- Linda Van Dyken
- Lynn Van Dyken
- Marinus Van Dyken-34
- Marvin Van Dyken-39
- Mike Van Dyken
- Murray Van Dyken-42
- Murray Van Dyken
- Peter Van Dyken-38
- Shirley Grace Van Dyken Simmerson-17
- Susan Lise Van Dyken-47
- William Van Dyken-44
- Joanne Tulp Van Gelderen
- Ann Van Hart Hoekstra-869
- Anna Van Hart Nieuwland-90
- Betty Ann Galama Van Hart
- Diana Schurm Van Hart
- Gordon Van Hart
- John Van Hart-18
- Joyce Van Hart
- Leonard Van Hart
- Margaret Flood Van Hart
- Ron Van Hart
- Wendy Rutters Van Hart
- Willy Van Hart-21
- Alex Van Hemert-22
- Audrey Van Hemert-18
- Avery Lynn Van Hemert-207
- Christine Van Hemert
- Elza Grada Van Hemert Esselink-16
- Harry Van Hemert-24
- Irene Van Hemert-20
- Jacobus Van Hemert-23
- Jim Van Hemert-15
- Jonathan Van Hemert
- John Van Hemert-25
- Kristin Van Hemert
- Nellie Van Hemert Van der Kooij-87
- Nelly Van Hemert-19
- Reina Van Hemert Vandersteen
- Sara Van Hemert-21
- Jacob Van Kessel-140
- Arend Van Loenen-112
- Art Van Loenen
- Audrey Rupke Van Loenen
- Carolyn Rupke Van Loenen
- Jeannie De Vries Van Loenen
- Jenny Van Loenen Warnaar-68
- John Van Loenen
- Adrianus (Jack) Van Luijk-2
- Adrian Van Luyk-1
- Anita Brouwer Van Luyk
- Art Van Luyk-13
- Brad Van Luyk
- Doug Van Luyk
- Gary Van Luyk
- Gertrude Van Luyk-6
- Greta van Luyk
- Irene van Luyk
- Joanne Van Luyk Kerkhoff
- Kim Van Luyk De Peuter
- Laura Van Luyk
- Monica Van Luyk
- Peter van Luyk-2
- Peter Van Luyk-8
- Peter Van Luyk-12
- Trudy Van Luyk
- Peter Van Manen
- Doreen Hainsworth Van Mazyk-3
- Janet Van Hemert Van Mazyk-2
- John Van Mazyk-1
- John Anthony Van Mazyk-4
- Bill Van Rooyen
- Ann Van Schepen
- Dave Van Schepen-21
- Greta Van Schepen Unknown-642083
- Jacob Van Schepen
- Joanne Van Schepen
- Peter Van Schepen
- Dale Van Stempvoort
- Janice Van Bolhuis Van Stempvoort
- Jeff Van Stempvoort
- Rev. John Van Stempvoort-1
- Mark Van Stempvoort
- Myra Van Stempvoort Brink-2454
- Randy Van Stempvoort
- Sharon Hartholt Van Stempvoort
- Rev. Paul Van Stralen
- Aart Van Veld-3
- Barend Van Veld-5
- Evelyn Van Veld-7
- Franklyn Van Veld-9
- Geurtje Van Veld Hall Unknown-571831
- Henk Van Veld-8
- John Van Veld-10
- Rien Van Veld-6
- Timothy Van Veld-11
- Teunis Van't Veld-2
- Rita Van Westenbrugge-5
- Rena Van Zuiden-20
- John Veenstra-981
- Diane Veer
- Grietje Veer-96
- Jan Veer-95
- Luktje Van Dyken Veld-15
- Cor Verhage
- Hetty Verhage
- Trudy Verheul-35
- Gerritje Vandevis Verhoog-2
- Anne Verkaik-97
- Arlene Kooring-Murray Verkaik-71
- Anthony Verkaik-69
- Arie Verkaik-57
- Charlie Verkaik-58
- Carol Weening Verkaik-64
- Debbie Vos Verkaik-70
- Doug Verkaik-52
- Elizabeth Verkaik-21
- Erin Verkaik-65
- Gary Verkaik-63
- George Verkaik-62
- Gerald Verkaik-101
- Gerald Carl Verkaik-100
- Jack Verkaik-53
- Jacob Verkaik-50
- Jacqueline Verkaik Jermelow
- Jason Verkaik-102
- Jeremy [[Verkaik-68]
- Jessie Verkaik Unknown-642077
- Jim Verkaik-99
- Joanne Verkaik-54
- Kelly Bellar Verkaik-67
- Laurie Verkaik-59
- Lena Israels Verkaik-96
- Linda Verkaik Unknown-573413
- Margaret Verkaik Miedema-347
- Marvin Verkaik-55
- Nicole Vroom Verkaik-66
- Paul Verkaik-56
- Pieter Verkaik-26
- Trish Verkaik-61
- Trudy Verkaik
- Victoria Verkaik-60
- Wilhelmina Verkaik Maan-38
- Wynda Verkaik-51
- Martin Verkuyl-5
- G Vermeulen-2025
- Al Verrips-8
- Dick Verrips-36
- Helen Verrips-35
- Agnes Visser Visser-4910
- Alice Visser
- Bas Visser-1937
- Bastian Visser
- Bastiaan Visser-1715
- Brian Visser
- Carol Visser Miedema-236
- Cynthia Visser
- Detje Visser Sipma-75
- Ed Visser
- Elizabeth Van Dyken Visser-1935
- Harold Visser-4846
- Jacob Visser-4912
- Jan Visser-4911
- Jean Hoving Visser-4909
- Jeltje Visser Van Schepen-26
- Jim Visser-3772
- John Visser
- Leo Visser-4934
- Lisa Visser-874
- Mike Visser-3775
- Peter Visser
- Rick Visser-4049
- Rita Visser-4048
- Sam Visser-868
- Simon Visser-4052
- Susan Visser
- Taeke Visser-1936
- Taeke Visser-873
- Tena Visser
- Valerie Visser
- Walter Visser
- Wayne Visser
- Zoetje Visser Van Elderen-2
- Helena Brouwer Vogel-582
- Bob Voorberg-2
- Caroline Voorberg
- Chris Voorberg
- Elizabeth Voorberg
- Emmy Voorberg Rauwerda-53
- Hetty Verhage Voorberg
- Hilda-Ann Voorberg
- Grace Voorberg Kilwinger-1
- Marinus Voorberg-6
- Mary Martens Voorberg
- Mike Voorberg
- Robert Voorberg
- Ron Voorberg
- Ron Voorberg
- Shirley Voorberg
- Trevor Voorberg
- Vanessa Voorberg
- Cindy Bodini Vording
- Richard Vos
- Stacey Vos
- Trudy Wallinga-26
- Harry Warnaar-11
- Johannes (John Sr.) Warnaar-8
- John Jr. Warnaar-13
- Kim Warnaar-14
- Lucia Warnaar-15
- Lucille Warnaar-12
- Marten Wassink-179
- William Wassink-177
- Unknown Wassink
- Adrian Weening
- Amy Brown Weening
- Andrew Weening
- Carrie Kooy Weening
- Deborah Baber Weening
- Doug Weening
- Elaine Van Dyk Weening
- Frank Weening-95
- Fred Weening-94
- Fred Weening-99
- Fred Weening-122
- Grace Buisman Weening
- Jeff Weening
- John Weening
- Jon Weening
- Marian Wilcox Weening
- Martin Weening
- Peter Weening
- Rita Weening Stam-573
- Ron Weening
- Sid Weening-97
- Sylvia Weening de Beer-3517
- Trudy Weening
- Walter Weening-96
- John Westerveld
- Albert Wierenga-56
- Arendina Wierenga-120
- Yvonne Wierenga-57
- Jake Wierenga-58
- Karl Wierenga-154
- Michelle Wierenga-60
- Richard Wierenga-59
- Idso Wiersma
- James Wildschut
- Joan VanDerHeide Wildschut
- John Wildschut
- Mary VanDerHeide Wildschut
- Rev. Ralph Wildschut-105
- Randy Wildschut
- Stella Wildschut De Jong-5048
- Geertruida Willemze Kool-615
- Hendricus C. Willemze-5
- Jim Wilms
- Anne Winter-6292 Verkaik
- Arnold Winter-5812
- Helen Winter Elgersma-22
- Bill Winter-5811
- Charles William Winter-6323
- David Brian Winter-6325
- Dorothy Miedema/Middel Winter-1739
- G Winter-7893
- Glenda Winter-6326
- Gloria Jean Winter-6324
- Jacob Winter-4905
- Jeanne Winter
- Linda Makarenko Winter-7820
- Rita Winter Nydam-6
- Simon A. Winter-1740
- T Winter-7892
- Wayne Winter
- David Witt
- Shirley Witt
- Helen Wouters Schurer-53
- Jan Wouters-397
- John Wouters-399
- Shirley Gorter Wouters-401
- Siebe Gorter-278
- Tjeerd Wouters-398
- William Wouters-400
- Jane Wyngaarden
- Cor Zevenbergen
- Fran Zevenbergen
- John Zondag
- Mynie Zondag
- Arnold Zwart
- Janna (Janny) Hinderika Zwart Slopsema-1
- John Zwart
- Margaret Bos Zwart-507
- Alice Zweep
- Alice Zweep Tjaykes-1
- Bill Zweep
- Bob Zweep
- David Zweep
- Dorothy Zweep Martin-84952
- Harm Zweep-26
- Harm Jr. Zweep-26
- James Zweep
- John Zweep
- Kenneth Zweep
- Peter Zweep
- Sue Zweep
- Susan Vonk Zweep
- William Zweep-20
The Marsh and the Pyramids
An autobiography of Teddy Vandevis' childhood growing up in The Marsh from 1961 to 1968. This poignant memoir chronicles Teddy's story as he goes from playing pranks to working diligently in his parent's store and on an epic 14 km paper route during the harsh Canadian winters. Follow his journey of growing up in the Canadian village of Holland Marsh.
For copies, please go to: https://www.lulu.com/shop/teddy-vandevis/the-marsh-and-the-pyramids/paperback/product-22130947.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Vandevis, Teddy. (2015). The Marsh and the Pyramids. United States. Lulu Press.
Holland Marsh
In 1791 Samuel Holland, a major in the British Army and Surveyor General of Upper and Lower Canada, came to survey the area northward from Toronto. The region contained a water route from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay via Lake Simcoe, with a portage west of present-day Aurora. Holland’s name came to be associated with the river that originally drained about 20,000 acres, including the area of the marsh, flowing into Lake Simcoe. The river had a landing at the southeastern boundary of the marsh. Although a corduroy road (logs laid crosswise) and a floating bridge were built between Holland Landing and Bradford in 1824 by Robert Armstrong, the area did not attract early settlement. In places the river’s course was barely discernable from the marsh reeds, which were flanked by swamps and hardwood brush on the higher elevations. John Galt of the Canada Company, a venture attempting to open former crown land to settlement, observed that the area was “a mere ditch swarming with mosquitoes, flies, bullfrogs and water snakes.”
A number of early settlers ventured onto the marshland and attempted to partially drain sections. Peat from such drained areas was used for fuel, or as rich soil for agriculture, but the area remained too wet, so these efforts were abandoned. Still, the idea of using the bog persisted. The plan that came to be favored called for lowering the Washago outlet of Lake Couchiching, north of Lake Simcoe, thereby lowering the water levels of Lake Simcoe and the Holland River, which would allow the Holland Marsh to drain. But shoreline property owners on Lake Simcoe, who anticipated great damage from such a scheme, prevented this idea from progressing beyond the talking stage. The first significant industry on the marsh developed after 1880 with the harvesting of grass and reeds. The hay was much in demand in Toronto and other urban centers as mattress stuffing. Initially strong hands and scythes were used. Later horse-drawn mowers did most of the work. Horses were ferried across flooded areas in flat-bottomed scows. To prevent the horses from becoming mired in the soggy ground, flat boards were strapped across the bottoms of their hoofs. With these the horses could step along, much like someone on snowshoes. This haying business reached its peak about 1915.
A few years previous to this, David Watson, a young farmer from the Scotch settlement, a hamlet just west of Bradford, of which only a Presbyterian church remains, sparked renewed interest in draining the marsh. He was convinced that large parts of the Holland River Valley could be developed into agricultural land once it was drained. He invited William Henry Day, a professor of physics at the Ontario Agricultural College (now the University of Guelph) to do some testing in the marsh to ascertain the feasibility of draining. About 1910, after carefully examining the marshland and surrounding watershed, Day concluded that draining some of the marsh was possible without lowering the water level in Lake Simcoe.
Watson’s enthusiasm for the project had a contagious affect on Day. The next year Day built up a small plot of land from one to two feet and planted it with produce. He reported, “All the vegetables matured, the quality being excellent, the celery carrying off the prize at the local fall fair.”
He found that the black muck and organic material was almost identical in composition to the well-known onion lands of Point Pelee, south and east of Windsor, Ontario; the celery land at Thedford, Ontario (west and north of London); and the well-known celery fields of Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a result of these satisfactory results, he was able to form a development syndicate that purchased about 4,000 acres of marshland. In spite of his enthusiasm, Day was not able to convince the nearby municipalities to become involved. When World War I began, the effort was shelved. In 1923 Day resigned from his position at Guelph and moved to Bradford.
He began an energetic campaign to interest the townships of King and West Gwillimbury (the Holland River is their common boundary), the Village of Bradford, and the owners of over 7,000 acres of land in the vicinity in draining the marsh. Following the circulation of a petition, the proposal to drain the marsh was approved under the province’s Municipal Drainage Act. On 16 April 1925 a contract amounting to $137,000 was awarded to the Toronto firm of Cummins and Robinson to drain the marsh. Initial calculation indicated that the cost of the work would be $21 per drained acre. Key to the effort was the digging of a drainage canal around the project area. Plans prepared by Alexander Baird, an engineer from Sarnia, called for a canal 17.5 miles long, with an average depth of 7.5 feet and a width from 38 feet to 70 feet. Excavated material was to be dumped on the marsh side of the canal, wide enough to carry a road. As with many major projects, there were unforeseen complications, and delays were time consuming and costly to overcome. Furthermore, the early economic ill effects of the Great Depression took a toll. But in 1930 the canal project was complete.
During this same time an area of about 200 acres, known as the Bradford Marsh, was diked and drained. Also in 1930, Day had thirty-seven acres under cultivation, on which he had grown lettuce, celery, onions, carrots, and parsnips. These sold for a total of $26,000, or an average gross yield of $702 per acre. These were striking numbers and boosted the professor’s optimism. He had two acres of lettuce maturing each week for eleven weeks and looked forward to the time when Holland Marsh would supply head lettuce for all Canada during the summer season, rather than having to be imported from California and other places in the United States. But, due mainly to complex land entanglements with the ownership syndicate, depressed agricultural conditions due to the economy during the Great Depression, and the general lack of experience of the landowners in muck farming, little progress was made in dividing the land and developing farms. Within a few years many of the plots had been abandoned or taken for tax arrears (non-payment of taxes).
Even before the drainage work promoted by Professor Day began in 1925, the marsh was widely known throughout Ontario for its production of “swamp whiskey.” Police raids rarely ended in arrests, as the moonshiners knew the ways of the swamp and were able to escape the pursuing police officers. Marsh stills reached their peak production period between 1923 and 1928 when all legal sale of liquor was banned in Ontario. In spite of the numerous police raids and eighteen liquor-related deaths, people still came from miles around to buy a jug.
In 1930 John Snor became sufficiently interested in the marsh, so much so that he came to visit Bradford and some people who had started farming. At that time Snor was the representative of the Netherlands Emigration Foundation. Among the Foundation’s mandate was investigating potential settlement locations for Dutch emigrants. During the 1920s several Dutch families had come to Canada. Some had settled in the Hamilton and Chatham areas, where they had found seasonal farm work. As the Great Depression took root, however, such work became scarcer and those who were not naturalized citizens were in danger of being deported if they continued to be a financial burden. Snor sought ways to avert such deportations. Under the federal settlement program and in association with some major landowners he developed a plan to relocate immigrant families to the marsh.
In 1933 he arranged to have 125 acres of undeveloped land subdivided into five-acre parcels and further divided the strip in Concession and King Townships into lots with 50-foot frontage and set aside for houses the settlers would build themselves. He further arranged financing—with each family getting $200 from the federal government, $200 from the provincial government, and $200 from the Dutch government. With this $600 the settlers could make new beginnings. Each would spend $200 on material for a house, a two-story frame structure measuring 16x20 feet; the material was just enough to complete the shell without insulation. Another $200 was used as a down payment to acquire the five acres which was considered a normal-sized market garden in those days. The remaining $200 was set aside for living expenses for the first twenty months. The remainder of the $500 land cost—$95 per acre plus $25 for the house lot—would be paid in the years following.
Snor enrolled fifteen Dutch families, an Englishman, and a German. In June 1934 the men arrived to start developing the land and building their houses. One of the men moved a 20x20-foot hen house section to the marsh from Hamilton, and it became the communal living quarters for about a dozen men, most of who slept on the floor. There were no conveniences; the men used the canal to bathe and wash their clothes. The building materials provided included eleven 8-foot cedar poles for each house which enabled the men to build their dwellings three feet above ground level, a precaution against possible flooding. In the fall the houses were completed to the point where the families could move in. None had running water, which was carried by pail from a community artesian well; an outhouse was built in each backyard.
That first winter was cold and harsh, so cardboard and other materials were used to cover the cracks in the walls to reduce drafts from the cold winds that swept across the open terrain. Stoves were kept red hot by burning tree roots that had been plowed up from what must have been a forest on the site many years earlier. The residents in nearby Bradford were relieved on cold winter mornings when they saw smoke rising from the chimneys of the settlers’ houses.
With spring came the field work. The settlers also decided that their colony needed a name. It was agreed to name it Ansnorveldt—a combination of the Dutch words “aan,” “Snor,” and “veld;” meaning “on Snor’s field.” In a ceremony to mark the official naming, they raised Canadian and Dutch flags and spoke a few words.
An important question that faced the settlers was education for their children. The Glenwith Public School was two and a half miles away, over a road with steep hills, and there were also concerns about their children getting lost in snowstorms, so a school was built on a one-acre lot at the north end of the settlement (today a youth center is on the site). The land was donated and most of the work was done by volunteers. It was completed in time for the start of the school year in September 1935. William Mulock, Postmaster General, was one of the guests present at the official opening of Public School S. S. 26.
For the men in the henhouse in the summer of 1934, Sunday had been a welcome day of rest. In keeping with their Calvinistic background, they adhered to the biblical instruction “six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God, on it you shall not do any work.” And so, for as many as had transportation, they would return to their respective communities. Those who stayed behind conducted their own church services by reading a prepared sermon and singing hymns.
After the houses were completed and the families had moved in, the residents gathered in their homes each Sunday to worship; each home hosting the worship service, in turn. This arrangement came to be known as the “traveling church,” with each person old and young alike required to bring his own chair. That first winter some fifty people crowded into the small houses twice each Sunday, attending services where the men took turns reading Dutch sermons, since they had not yet sufficiently mastered English.
When the floors in their houses began to sag from the weight during the meetings, they knew something had to be done. They did not have much money but, after many collections, a cash balance of $75 was on hand and a loan of $175 was secured with the signatures of a dozen or so men who had little other security to offer. They constructed a 20x20-foot church building on a vacant lot at the south end of the settlement and, on 21 June 1935, dedicated it to the Lord’s service, with Rev. John Balt from Hamilton officiating. The first wedding, on 17 October 1937, was that of Tony Sneep and Nelly Rupke. Sneep was the carpenter of the community; he had taught the men the basics of construction for their houses and was the only worker paid in the building of the school and the church.
In 1938 the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church was organized with a membership of eighty-eight people. In 1940 the congregation received its first pastor, Rev. Martin Schans, who had previously served the Christian Reformed Church in Redlands, California. The Holland Marsh church played a cardinal role in the development of the marsh as a community. While difficulties abounded, its members found comfort and courage in the Bible and in the congregation’s fellowship, especially on Sundays; all wrestled with similar problems. Once a year they forgot about work and loaded into trucks and whatever vehicles they had and traveled to Innisfil Beach, on Lake Simcoe, for a picnic, games, and fellowship.
As the community grew, so did the number of children attending the local public school. The public school board included members who did not have the same Christian perspectives on education as the founding members. When enlarging the school building to accommodate growth was to cost the local taxpayers $5,000, some of those in the Reformed faith decided to establish their own school. It would offer the same basic education but with a fundamental difference: it would be Christian rather than public. Most of the adults in the settlement had attended Christian schools in the Netherlands and they desired to have the same spiritual care for their children. A school society was established and in 1942, for $150, a three-acre lot was purchased. Due to the wartime shortage of building materials, however, they could not obtain a building permit. They then obtained permission from the church to rent the consistory room and on 15 February 1943 the school opened with nineteen children. Since that time and several buildings later, the school has grown to about 275 students.
Some have called 1947 the year of the great invasion of the marsh, as in June of that year the first wave of post- World War II immigrants arrived. Ten or more families settled in the marsh as farm help. I was among them—with my parents, one brother, and five sisters. We came over on the Waterman, a troop carrier with no conveniences for family travel. But it was an exciting experience for an eleven-year-old boy wearing coveralls and wooden shoes. Dad, who had been a self-employed market gardener in the Netherlands, went to work in the fields of his sponsors. I also went to work in these fields together with a group of kids ranging in age from ten to fifteen years. We crawled up and down the 2000-foot-long rows of onions and carrots, pulling weeds. When the foreman gave us a break at the end of the row we often engaged in wrestling matches or would see who could jump across the ditch if we were near a wide one.
In 1949 my dad bought one of the original settlement houses which had been enlarged but still stood on its raised foundation of cedar posts. A modest down payment made him the owner of a $2,600 house to accommodate the family which had grown to nine children. During the following years, while he worked for other growers, Dad rented some land which we worked in the evenings. In 1953 Dad thought the time was right to start his own business; he rented fifteen acres. Much of the work was done by hand, his and those of the many other capable members of the family. That year I had a full-time job in the local grocery store (Holland Marsh Groceterias), which provided just enough cash to pay for the family’s groceries. A bumper harvest in the marsh that first year led to very low prices and made for a poor start. The farm income was just enough to pay for the rent, seed, custom work, containers, and other items. Dad returned to his former employer for work during the winter.
Early in 1954 my father bought thirty acres of excellent land without a down payment. This was a very large parcel for that time and it kept us all very busy during daylight hours. In early fall there was a lot of rain which made harvesting very difficult. Then, on Friday, 15 October 1954, everything came to a sudden stop when remnants of Hurricane Hazel roared in and flooded the marsh. The rainfall of more than seven inches was too much for the surrounding canals, which also collected the runoff from the surrounding highlands. The rain, together with the strong northerly winds, prevented the water from its normal flow into Lake Simcoe, causing sections of the dike walls to washout. By late evening, attempts to sandbag and close several gaps were abandoned; all night long the water kept pouring in. People were evacuated and others moved to the second floors of their homes to be rescued by boat the next day. The depth of the water ranged from about two feet at the east end of the marsh, where we lived, to about the ceilings of the houses at the west end. Fuel tanks, crates, outhouses, wagon platforms, houses—anything that could float did. The De Peuter family and our family, then with twelve children, were startled when our houses began to float. To keep the houses somewhat level, we kept running from the low areas to those rising in the bobbing houses. After a few miles’ journey the house lodged against Highway 400. That same night, after bringing my parents and siblings to Bradford, I returned to our house with my buddy who worked for us. We went to bed upstairs, since all work was abandoned. The next morning I looked out and saw a tranquil lake under a bright sunlit sky. The only thing wrong with the view was that houses, barns, trucks, and farm equipment were sticking out of the water.
The big cleanup began shortly after the closing of the breaches in the dike. Pumps were brought in and with twenty-five of them in place, running constantly, they moved 200,000 gallons per day. On 17 November, after nearly four weeks, the marsh was cleared of water. Everyone got involved with cleaning and repairs. Busloads of Mennonites from the Kitchener area tackled some of the toughest jobs. The beautiful late fall weather was ideal for the cleanup and repairs. By spring everyone was ready to get on with the task of working the fields and the relatively normal process of seeding and harvest resumed.
Life goes on in the Holland Marsh, which is the richest vegetable-growing land in Ontario (referred to as the salad bowl of Ontario). Just one acre of this good organic soil will produce nine hundred 50-pound bags of onions, or 1,200 bushels of carrots, or 25,000 heads of lettuce. It has come a long way from the time that Professor Day harvested his first crop and won a prize for his celery at the local fall fair.
With his family, Harry vander Kooij immigrated to Canada in 1947 and the Holland Marsh region became his home. Now retired and living in Barrie, Ontario, his career was with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. This work was first published in the 2006 Volume XXIV - Number 2, "Origins"
My Canada... Growing up in the Holland Marsh
Another biographical story is now told by another resident of the Marsh:
LIFE My Canada... Growing up in the Holland Marsh By Walter Prokopchuk, Special to the Bradford Times Monday, April 17, 2017 2:12:13 EDT PM
You could say that my parents were pioneers, for like many of the other original settlers in the Marsh, like the Kanyos and the Verkaiks, they acquired their farmland and developed the virgin soil into a thriving family business.
This was manual, back-breaking work, for most of the immigrants could neither afford the cost of the the then “modern machinery”, nor was that equipment nearly as efficient as today's technology.
The farmhouse that our Dad built fronted on a back road – which meant that my brother and I had to walk across the 1,500' long field (half a kilometre) to catch the school bus on Canal Road. In winter, we walked on metre-high snow drifts. During spring and summer we trudged through mud. We waiting on the road's shoulder with our Gorecki and Jagodics neighbours, and our bus driver was Webb Orr.
During those 13 years that I rode that same bus piloted by that same driver, we slid off the road once on an icy hill on the 5th Line, with no injuries to anyone. Back then, there were no modern phenomenon like “snow days.”
Our elementary school was Scotch Settlement No. 4, located in the country at the corner of Line 5 and 10 Sideroad. The one-room, 8-grade school house was organized and disciplined by our teacher, Dorothy Turner, and kept heated and clean by neighbouring farmer John Lloyd.
On warmer days we walked home before the bus was scheduled to pick us up. Our course took us eastward along Line 5, stopping along the way to gorge ourselves on the apples in Clarence Baynes' orchard – cutting south through the abandoned gravel pit, crossing the canal over the rickety Sutherland bridge, finally walking westward for the remaining 4K along Canal Road to home.
Indoor plumbing was not yet affordable in our neighbourhood; our outhouse accommodated our toileting needs. Every Saturday afternoon witnessed my brother and I quickly have our weekly bath, in a 1 metre diameter round steel tub in the middle of the kitchen floor. Mother drew the water from the outside well and warmed it on the wood stove. Being I was the younger brother, I was always second to share the same bathwater. Thankfully, we had upgraded to electricity, from kerosene lamp light.
We were in the Township of West Gwillimbury. In the Village of Bradford, Holland St. was gravel, and the occasional pothole revealed the underlying corduroy (log ) road. Holland was the main street,where most of the commercial shopping was located in “downtown” Bradford, when Joe Magani was its first elected Mayor.
Mother drove us to Town to shop for the next week's groceries at Compton's IGA, medicine at Ritchie's Drug Store, tools and nails at Barron's Hardware, other items at Bannerman's 5¢ to $1 Department store.
Law and order was maintained by Police Chief Jim Hastings and Constables John Dudgeon and Jim Thompson. The Fire department was made up entirely of resident volunteers like Ed Gapp and Roy Saint.
Doctors Gilbert Blackwell and Stephen Hecking looked after our medical needs. Charlie and Brock Evans ran the local lawyers' office, and Ken Tupling looked after our insurance. Ruth Yarmoluk and Rita Alebeek were two of the tellers who served the customers at the Bank of Commerce.
Next to the current Village Inn was Rees' Theatre. We could purchase our 10 cent movie ticket from Linda Spence. Once inside, another dime could get us a box of popcorn, or an ice cream bar or pop from the refreshment concession – our parents' occasional reward to us for working in the fields during our summer school break.
1954 brought us Hurricane Hazel. Like most families, we were forced to abandon our house in the Marsh to reside on higher ground in Bradford. The Willis family generously took us in and made us feel right at home. Eventually, we were transferred to our own accommodations in the trailer camp, on the current site of the Bradford Community Centre on Simcoe Rd.
For me, those were the “good old days.” We were trained to work hard and respect our elders; we learned the value of a dollar and knew how to behave in public. We survived without fancy toys and gadgets – and one pair of pants either sufficed for the entire school year, or was outgrown – and yes, I wore hand-me-down shirts and shoes, and learned to ride on my brother's old bicycle.
We are now known as the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury and, sadly, most of the above mentioned folks are deceased – but not forgotten, because it was the unrelenting determination of the people of that day that built the foundation of this area. Their children and grandchildren have honourably accepted the torch of responsibility, to keep our town both a safe and economically-thriving community. We pay tribute to those residents in the name of our parks, arenas, streets and other landmarks. Fuller Heights. Bob Fallis Sports Centre. Langford Blvd., and more. We thank them all, past and present.
The First Holland Marsh Settlement
by Ina and Stewart McKenzie, Editors & Publishers of The Bradford Witness. 1957
A group of Dutchmen, with their families, came to the marsh in the autumn of 1934 to become the first year-round settlers on the area. Their little settlement was named Ansnorveld and comprised a row of small houses. The pictures of those first homes, which formed the first settlement, and of the first little church, built a couple of years after the arrival of the settleers, tell their own story.
John Snor, representative of the Netherlands Immigration Foundation, was instrumental in arranging for this settlement and naming it.
The Holland Marsh Garden Development
by Ina and Stewart McKenzie, Editors & Publishers of The Bradford Witness. 1957
The Holland Marsh garden development is a story of progress which, during a period of less than one-quarter century, has advanced the living conditions of its residents from pioneer existence, comparable to the life of Bradford's first settlers, to prosperity and the ultimate in modern living, and has transformed thousands of acres of marshy waste land into the finest gardens in Canada. Because this transition took place within less than thirty-five miles of the world's fastest growing city, and beside broad highways leading to and from that city, because it was accomplished by people of varied racial origin, Dominion wide interest has been aroused in the enterprise.
The Holland Marsh borders two sides of Bradford, and through it winds the Holland River. Until less than thirty years ago this land produced only marsh hay, frogs and mosquitoes, and of these only the hay was a marketable crop. In the late 1800s and the early years of this century marsh hay was cut, curled, dried and shipped for mattress-making. The horses drawing the mowers to cut this hay wore snow-shoe like boards tied to their feet, to carry them over the bog. Mattress-making was a small industry in Bradford during the early 1900s, when this curled marsh hay was used to fill the mattresses.
The story of marsh hay is now obscured by the Holland Marsh vegetable gardens, and the industries associated with marsh vegetables, which today have made this former waste land famous across the continent.
As early as 1910, Wm. H. Day, Professor of Physics at Ontario Agriculturual College, Guelph, became interested in the then wilderness of swamp, but before any action was taken regarding his ideas, the outbreak of war in 1914 interrupted progress. Professor Day did not forget and, with the war over, he resumed his investigations and in 1923 he resigned his position at the College, moved to Bradford, and began an energetic campaign to interest municipal councils in a drainage scheme for the Holland Marsh. Two years later his efforts were rewarded when the council of Bradford, in which the late Denis Nolan was reeve, the council of West Gwillimbury township, with the late J. F. Hambly as reeve, with councillors L. A. Neilly, Percy Selby, W. J. Dales and the late Herman Lennox, and the council of King township, signed a contract for the drainage of the Holland Marsh. The late T. W. W. Evans Q.C., was legal advisor for the transaction.
The first crop on the drained marsh land was grown in 1927 on the section of the marsh located within Bradford's boundaries. In 1930 a triumphant Professor Day reported to the councils that a $26,000 crop had been sold off thirty-seven acres of marsh garden land. Thus began the Holland Marsh garden industry, which during recent years has calculated its acres under cultivation in the thousands, and the sale of vegetables in the millions of dollars.
The Holland Marsh Drainage System
by Ina and Stewart McKenzie, Editors & Publishers of The Bradford Witness. 1957
The Holland Marsh drainage system serves two purposes - it drains, and it irrigates. The beautifully cultivated fields on the marsh are bounded by ditches which drain into the drainage canals. This network of ditches serves a twofold purpose. The huge pumps, which control the water levels, pump the water from the canal and ditches in periods of heavy rain; and in seasons of drought, these same canals and ditches irrigate the soil when water is pumped into them.
Land values on the area have soared, the price per acre now frequently reaching the thousand dollar mark.
Early Settlers on the Holland Marsh
by Ina and Stewart McKenzie, Editors & Publishers of The Bradford Witness. 1957
Winter was early the first year; the snow was deep, and the little settlement was frequently isolated. Those fine people were strangers then and the winter was grim. Wood was their only fuel and it was green and wet. Independence and pride caused them to withhold an account of the hardships of that winter, but today these well established, successful and esteemed folk recall sitting up all night to keep the fire stoked, and shovelling their way throught deep snow to come to Bradford for supplies. Bonds of friendship were established that winter, and during the following few years , when the number of settlers increased rapidly, and those friendships created a loyalty and friendly understanding which laid the sound foundation on which the marsh gardens developed. Among the settlers who followed those first Dutch Canadians to the marsh were representatives of practically every country in Europe. The outbreak of World War II found representatives from all countries at war in Europe living in peace, side by side, on the Holland Marsh.
The war brought Bradford and Holland Marsh residents into closer relationship. The marsh residents wanted to assist with Red Cross work. Each autumn, a banquet served to the men of the marsh, and their ladies, and catered by Bradford ladies, was followed by an auction sale of fruit and vegetables donated by the growers. These occasions provided wonderful opportunities to get acquainted; and the Red Cross usually benefited by over a thousand dollars on the night. The arrangements for these occasions were made by the Holland Marsh Ratepayers' Assoication, which was the first organization formed by the growers themselves, and which accomplished tremendous results in opening up the marsh.
Vegetable and Pre-Packaging Industry Brings Prosperity
by Ina and Stewart McKenzie, Editors & Publishers of The Bradford Witness. 1957
The post-war years were rewarding ones for agriculturalists. The marsh garden population grew rapidly and prospered. Farmers on the high lands received good returns for their labour, and these satisfactory conditions were reflected in Bradford where business expansion began to be noticeable.
Holland Marsh vegetables have never been excelled, and have seldom, if ever, been equalled. The producing of quality produce has never been a problem. The growers' problems revolve around marketing their vegetables, and this is a game requiring shrewd business ability. Some of the growers possess that business instinct and these have become dealers and packers of marsh vegetables, and the wise grower has learned to valuate his own business ability. If he finds marketing his vegetables difficult he sells to the dealer and packer and confines his energy to growing. The need for cold storage, to permit vegetables being placed on the market in good condition throughout the early winter months, resulted in the erection of the Bradford Co-operative Storage in 1946. The same year the first big vegetable pre-packaging plant, Holland Rover Gardens Co. Limited, was built, ready for the harvest season. This plant washed, packaged in individual packages ready to place on the green grocer's counter, and iced the beautiful Holland Marsh vegetables. The idea was an immediate success and other plants were built in rapid succession - Federal Farms Ltd., Superior Packers, Hochreiters, Bradford Shippers, Dominion Fruit, International Fruit Distributors Ltd., United Farms, Molokachs, all located in Bradford, while such pioneer growers as the Verkaik brothers, the Davis brothers, the Rupkes, Wm. Horlings, and many others carry on the preparation of vegetables for the retail market on their marsh properties, as well as owning their own storgage plants. Every new idea in making vegetables more attractive, and in preserving quality is adopted here and local vegetable processors lead all Canada in modern ideas and equipment.
An example of this leadership was the installation three years ago of two vacuum cooling plants in Bradford. The idea was experimented upon in California the previous winter. The alert local processors who went to see the southern plant in operation were "sold" on the idea, and at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars two such plants were erected here - the first vacuum cooling plants in Canada. Cooling by vacuum is the best process known for cooling and preserving leaf vegetables, such as lettuce, celery and spinach. The former wide open spaces fronting on highway 11 and backed by the C.N.R. tracks have become a continuous row of industrial buildings, with loading platforms on either side of each building, one for loading refrigerated cars on private railway sidings, and the other for the packing of vegetables into the huge refrigerated trucks. The value of shipments from Bradford has soared into the millions as Holland Marsh vegetables have gained fame for excellence of quality.
Local vegetable processing plants, though rivals in business, have sensibly adopted a business pattern. For example, the two earliest plants, Holland River Gardens Co. Limited and Federal Farms Ltd., vary in type of business. Holland River Gardens specializes in variety and is an experimentor in new ideas. It pre-packs practically every variety of vegetable grown on the marsh and in addition has such features as peeled potatoes and sliced potatoes, ready for potato chips, all treated against discoloration, and these are in big demand for hotels and restaurants. These processes making use of the high quality undersize and oversize potatoes from the graders, make marketable what would otherwise have been waste in quality vegetables. Federal Farms specializes in volume with emphasis on potatoes, carrots and onions. A picture of what volume means in the vegetable business can be estimated by the fact that during the period of heaviest marketing, the shipments from this plant total an average of two hundred and fifty tons per day. To estimate average gross shipments for the entire marsh area and the associated dealers and pre-packagers is impossible, but it is known that long lines of refrigerated railway cars, and a parade of refrigerated trucks, leave Bradford, daily, for points across Canada, and in the United States, to deliver "garden fresh" vegetables from Canada's big vegetable garden.
Church and Social Life on the Marsh
by Ina and Stewart McKenzie, Editors & Publishers of The Bradford Witness. 1957
Dutch Canadians comprise nearly one-third of the Holland Marsh population and of these a big proportion are members of the Christian Reformed Church. The Roman Catholic parish church is the third church building on the marsh, and Rev. F. R. McGinn of Holy Martyrs church, Bradford, serves as its priest.
A public school was built in Ansnorveld in the thirties, the first teacher being Miss Aileen Nolan, (now Mrs. E. Grise of Midland). Mr. Dan Blake of Bradford is the present teacher. When the Christian Reformed Church congregation became large enough to support a school, the church people of that congregation built a private Christian school for the education and training of their children. Mr. Jacob Uitvlugt was, and still is, the principal. The four room school in Ansnorveld is too small for the attendance and during the past few years Springdale too, has had its own Christian school. A new, and larger, Christian school is being built in Ansnorveld this year. The children of the Roman Catholic church attend St. Mary's school in Bradford, travelling by bus.
For a number of years the marsh residents had their own hall, or community centre, in Ansnorveld. This building was in almost continual use and served as a happy, social meeting place. The weakness of this arrangement was that it inclined residents of the neighbourhood to isolate themselves from Bradford socially. When the plans advanced for Bradford District Memorial Community Centre, the good people of the marsh area joined wholeheartedly in assisting with its cost, and sold their own hall.
Pictures of a few of the beautiful homes on the Holland Marsh today indicate the prosperity enjoyed by a big percentage of the growers. The homes are equally as attractive within as without. Furnishings and all conveniences are as lovely and modern as would be found in a new city home.
Many of the residents of the marsh have beautiful costumes, perculiar to the land of their birth, which they don for special occasions when requested. They are talented people and, though loyal Canadians, enjoy to entertain with the cultures for which their particular motherland is famed, and to wear the dress which is customary in that land. The same young men and women wear Canadian styles with a distinction which would do credit to stylist models. An example of this occurred this year when at the Sportsman's Show, a young lady from the Holland Marsh, and a former "Holland Marsh Vegetable Queen" was chosen "Miss Outdoors Girl of Canada." The Holland Marsh and the Holland Marsh people are regarded with pride and affection by the residents of Bradford.
A History of Ansnorveld
For a history of Ansnorveld (Holland Marsh) see: http://archives.bradford.library.on.ca/index.php/history-of-ansnorveld
Historical Sketch of the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church
by Rev. P. Lagerwey, B.A., Th.M.
It is almost a quarter of a century ago that members of the Christian Reformed denomination held their first religious service in the Holland Marsh area. The date was July 15, 1934; the place, the only building then available, a chicken house; the attendance, four persons, with the late Mr. A. Havinga in charge. The beginning was small, but it was marked with a sincerity of faith, a humbleness of heart, and a profound love for the Almighty God revealed unto men through Jesus Christ. Their mistakes and sins were without a doubt many, but forgiveness and grace were always found in abundance with their heavenly Father. From a chicken house the meeting places became the various homes of the growing group. With a Bible in one hand and a chair in the other, they went for worship now to this home - then to that. This practice gave it the name of "The Travelling Church." October 21 of 1934 showed the membership to be forty-seven individuals. The first celebration of the Lord's Supper was in December of 1934, conducted by Rev. J. Balt, and the first baby to be baptized was Ted Vander Goot in the Vander Goot home.
The first regular church building which the group erected was very simple. It was 20 by 20 feet, consisting a total of $185. on material, with 554 man hours donated by the members of this nucleus. The pews were donated by the Methodist church in Ancaster, Ontario, and the hydro consisted of one Coleman gas lamp near the pulpit. The doors were opened Jun 21, 1935. Organization of the group as a congregation took place on March 23, 1938 with sixteen families, thirty-six communicant members, and fifty-two baptized members, a total of eight-eight souls as charter members. The first pastor to serve this congregation was the Rev. M. Schans, who came in July of 1940. The Rev. J. Vander Meer served from 1946 to 1951. The present pastor is Rev. P. Lagerwey.
Three times the church building has been enlarged to meet the demand for an expanding congregation. Though fifty families left the group in May of 1952 to form the Springdale Christian Reformed Church, there is at present again a demand for more room. Plans are being made for the eventual construction of a new building. In this centennial year of Bradford, the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church is also celebrating the centennial year of the Christian Reformed Church as it has come to exist in North America. Thanks are due to God who through humble beginnings has done great things. May He give this part of His Church the grace to be of spiritual blessing to this its Canadian community.
The Christian Reformed Church and The Bradford Centennial
by Rev. R. Wildschut, B.A., B. Th.
The year in which Bradford was founded marks the beginning of the Christian Reformed Church. Having its roots both in the Protestant Reformation and in the spiritual awakening which swept Europe in the early part of the ninteenth century, the Christian Reformed Church was established on American soil in 1857.
A lack of religious tolerance in their native Holland, long known as a cradle of liberty and democratic thought, led a number of people to immigrate to the United States in 1846 and 1847. One group chose Michigan, settling in the forests and swamps on the east shore of Lake Michigan. Another group chose the bleak, but fertile prairies of Iowa. In the years that followed, wave upon wave of immigrants caused the Dutch communities to grow rapidly. Pushing towards the West, American-born persons of Dutch descent and newly-arrived immigrants acquired homesteads in Southern Alberta. The first Christian Reformed churches in Canada were organized in 1905, shortly before Alberta was admitted into the Dominion as a province. The growth of the denomination in Canada was gradual, but not spectacular in the first twenty-five years. Apart from the congregations in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver, the Christian Reformed Church was a rural church.
It was not until about 30 years ago that the Christian Reformed Church came to Ontario, with a congregation being established in Hamilton in 1928. The early members of the Holland Marsh and Springdale congregations were originally affiliated with the Hamilton church, with additions from Chatham and Windsor.
The Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church was organized as an independent congregation in 1938. Its first regular pastor was the Rev. M. M. Schans, who came from Redlands, California. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. Vander Meer, formerly a missionary among the Navaho Indians and an army chaplain with the U.S. forces on the European front. The present pastor is the Rev. P. Lagerwey who was ordained in the Holland Marsh Church in September 1954.
The Sprindale church was built in 1952, when the building of the Holland Marsh congregation became too small to accommodate its members. After the Springdale church was completed in April of 1952, the congregation was organized with some forty-five families as charter members. This organization took place on October 30, 1952. In July 1953, the Rev. R. Wildschut arrived to become the first minister of this new congregation. Both Marsh churches have seen a steady growth and together have over 850 members. A daughter church organized at Newmarket in 1955 and numbering 40 families, expects to call its own minister this summer.
The Christian Reformed churches have grown with Bradford and the surrounding townships, keeping pace with the development of the Marsh as Canada's "Vegetable Basket" in the same way the Christian Reformed Church is growing with Canada. Nearly one hundred and twenty-five new congregations have been established throughout Canada, from Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island in the past ten years.
A STUDY OF HOLLAND MARSH – ITS RECLAMATION AND DEVELOPMENT – AUGUST, 1949
Prepared by: Evelyn Brownell and S. Gordon Scott
Immigration Branch, Department of Planning & Development, Province of Ontario
INTRODUCTION
“A mere ditch swarming with bullfrogs and water snakes,” John Galt of the Canada Company wrote when he first glimpsed the Holland Marsh area in 1825. Today [1949], this mere ditch, consists of 7,000 acres of fertile marsh land valued at from $600 to $800 an acre which will produce in 1949 a crop with an estimated sales value of $5,500,000. This is greater than the 1948 production value of either the Lakeshore, Wright-Hargreaves or Kerr-Addison mines. The story of this remarkable transition is one of great vision, enterprise and endless labour.
Holland Marsh is the river valley of the Holland and Schomberg Rivers which flow into Lake Simcoe about fifty miles north of Toronto. The name “Holland Marsh” is not attributable to the extensive settlement of Netherlands farmers in the area, but it takes its designation from Major S. Holland, the first Surveyor General of Upper Canada. Contrary to popular opinion, that section visible from Number 11 Highway is part of the village of Bradford and is only a small part of Holland Marsh, which in its entirety comprises about 20,000 acres. As indicated on the attached maps there are two distinct divisions in the Holland Marsh. Section l of this study applies to the 7,000 acres south-west of the Canadian National Railway line and Number 11 Highway, which have been reclaimed and which will be referred to as the “Marsh.” Section ll refers to the undeveloped “New Marsh”, 13,000 acres in extent, which lies north-east of the Highway.
This is the story of the reclamation of Holland Marsh, the problems that confronted the pioneers in the development, the legislation that was passed to overcome the difficulties, the problems which still exist and most important of all, the story of the remarkable success of the reclamation, as well as its possibilities for the future.
SECTION NUMBER ONE
THE RECLAMATION OF THE MARSH
Early Development
Marshreed stimulated the first real industry on Holland Marsh. Twisted into reed cord, it became the first saleable product. Later, several authorities suggested the possibility of partially draining the swamp in order to claim the peat for fuel purposes. Records indicate that in 1852 it was suggested that Holland Marsh be reclaimed by lowering the Washago outlet of Lake Couchiching, thereby dropping by 4 feet the water levels of Lake Simcoe and the Holland River. Opposition from the towns bordering Lake Simcoe forced the abandonment of this scheme. However, it was not until the 20th century that an enterprising young Scott N. D. Watson, really sparked the development of Holland Marsh. As a grocer in Bradford, he became convinced that the Marsh’s agricultural potential was great and he persuaded Professor W. H. Day, a lecturer in physics at The Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, to investigate possibilities.
In 1912 Professor Day formed a syndicate including Mr. D. Paul Monroe, later M.P.P. for South Wellington and Judge R. L. McKinnon of Guelph, and this syndicate purchased 4,000 acres of the swamp. The prime mover for the development of the Marsh, Professor Day advocated the drainage scheme for agricultural purposes and advised that the Government had made provision for such development under The Municipal Drainage Act. He made tests with piles of marsh soil and found it remarkably free from acid. Celery, lettuce, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, beans and even oats grew to perfection. However, with World War l and the subsequent depression it was not until 1924 that serious steps were taken to implement Day’s plan.
Drainage – Legal Aspects
In 1924, on petition of over two-thirds of the landowners in West Gwillimbury, the township council passed a by-law approving the scheme of draining the Marsh. The village of Bradford also passed a similar by-law and a petition for the project was forwarded to the Provincial Government. The Township of King did not subscribe to the scheme and appealed against it, but when the Drainage Referee of the Province of Ontario found the scheme sound under The Municipal Drainage Act of 1910, the Township of King was forced to cooperate and assessed its landholders for this purpose. The actual reclamation started in 1925, but lack of a coordinated plan and lack of expert direction prevented its being reasonably near completion until 1930. Because of this haphazard development, in 1929, many of the Marsh landowners, being thoroughly dissatisfied with the way in which their interests were being promoted, formed a Marsh Land Owners Association in order that they might make their wishes known to the municipalities. With Professor Day as its President, the Association suggested the formation of a Holland Marsh Drainage Commission with full power under The Municipal Drainage Act to manage the Drainage Scheme. The municipalities passed by-laws to this effect and the first commission was comprised of the Reeves of the three municipalities. Later on, this commission was broadened to include Mr. P. Verkaik, Mr. G. Horlings and Mr. C. Davis, who still remain as the largest landowners on the Marsh [1949].
In order to understand the means of financing the drainage of Holland Marsh and also to comprehend future litigation, it is necessary to refer to The Municipal Drainage Act (1910, revised1914-37). The Act prescribes that two-thirds of the owners of the land within the area must approve the plan – Municipal Drainage Act 2(3).
“The provisions of this act shall apply and extend to every case where the drainage work can only be effectually executed by embanking, pumping or other mechanical operation, but in every such case the Municipal Council shall not proceed except when upon the petition of at least two-thirds of the owners of lands within the area described in subsection 2.”
The actual cost of the project was paid by the landowners benefitting by the drainage as assessed on an acreage basis, while the municipalities guaranteed debentures. However, under the Provincial Aid to Drainage Act (1910, revised 1914-37), the Province can and did provide financial assistance. Chapter 70, Section 2(b) provides:
“For any work for the purpose of rendering more effective a drainage work by embanking or pumping or other mechanical means where the cost of such work including the cost of all pumping machinery installed exceeds the sum of $10,000.”
Drainage – Engineering Aspects
The original contract was given to the firm of Cummins and Robinson, 70 Lombard Street, Toronto. From an engineering standpoint, the problem was to create an inverted island, i.e., an area roughly 9 miles by 2 miles and lower than the natural water level. Around the entire marsh above the narrows, as shown on the attached map, a canal 17.5 miles long and 7 feet in depth was dredged. All the natural drainage from the head waters of the Schomberg River and from the side hills is caught by this canal and carried around and past the Marsh. Then the earth from the canal was thrown up to form a dike embankment wide enough for a roadbed. In order to drain the water from the land inside these dikes, open ditches (approximately 6 feet deep and 2 feet wide), were dug usually along property boundaries connecting with the old river bed. Eventually, there were 400 of these sub channels. Across the narrows and connecting the dikes a dam 450 feet long was constructed to hold back the waters of Lake Simcoe. Pumps were installed on the dam to pump water from the river into the main canal and these now control the water level in wet seasons. In dry seasons, the Marsh is irrigated by siphoning or pumping water into the ditches from the drainage canal.
Numerous technical difficulties were encountered in the reclamation. The most serious of these were the dike cave-ins and scow groundings. Finally, it was decided to consult a Dutch expert suggested by the Netherlands Government who was a specialist in this unique field of engineering.
Today [1949] certain drainage inadequacies still harass the growers. For example, in one section of the West Gwillimbury area, precautions were not taken to face the dike with clay and as a result water seeps through the dike soaking a valuable section of the Marsh. This year additional pumps are being installed in the south-west section of the Marsh. This has been found necessary because the south-west area is higher than that to the north-east and when the level of the water-table is such that the higher section has an adequate water supply, the lower north-east plots are partially flooded.
In the future some thought might be given to the advisability of straightening the Schomberg riverbed to shorten the length of the river which must be dredged periodically.
Although Section 86 of The Municipal Drainage Act provides for a Drainage Commission to operate and maintain the drainage scheme, in actual fact this Commission is limited to being an advisory body to the initiating township, West Gwillimbury, which solely appoints the members of the commission. In effect, this means that there is virtually no competent authoritative body to manage and direct the practical operation of the drainage scheme, such as controlling water levels, regulating irrigation and supervising ditch cleaning.
Another defect in the present [1949] arrangement is that although the Commission is composed of men vitally concerned with the drainage operation, it can only spend up to $800. on its own initiative and beyond this, an engineer’s report must be prepared and the expenditure supported by a township by-law. A serious emergency such as a break in the dike could result in the Marsh being immediately submerged under four feet of water, which would stop all production for more than a year. It is imperative that the Commission should have authority to meet any emergency and have at its disposal and under its control a reserve fund to use as deemed advisable.
It would appear that the Commission should include some representative democratically elected by the growers themselves. Its administrative authority over the operation of the drainage scheme should be enlarged and clearly defined. Finally, it should have authority to retain the full-time services of a competent drainage engineer, with specialized knowledge of the Marsh’s drainage system, who is always available to handle day to day drainage problems as well as emergencies.
Township and Tax Difficulties
In 1932, Clifford Case, Progressive Conservative member for North York charged that the syndicate formed by Professor Day obtained sanction for the Holland Marsh Drainage Scheme by submitting to the townships concerned a petition in which many of the petitioners were not landowners. It must be remembered that under The Municipal Drainage Act, two-thirds of the landowners had to support the project. It was charged that these men securing 4,000 acres at prices from $2.00 to $6.00 per acre had hoped to realize a giant real estate scheme worth a million dollars. The townships also charged that the syndicate was $30,000 in tax arrears. Professor Day, in answering these charges, stated that the syndicate was in arrears of taxes only to West Gwillimbury and this because West Gwillimbury had not lived up to its obligations in respect to reclamation. The evidence in this litigation was confused and as the original petition had been lost, Judge C. H. Widdifield who was conducting the probe, dismissed the case in March of 1932. However, because of the arrears of taxes, much of the syndicate’s land was transferred to the township of West Gwillimbury.
There is one clear conclusion that may be drawn from this confused affair. Manipulative speculation was not proven in this case, but it was also too clearly shown in developments of this nature and magnitude, that some supervision by an impartial land-controlling authority is essential.
During the early years while the land was being made productive, the growers were hard-pressed to clear enough profit to meet their tax assessments. Considerable difficulty had also arisen because the tax records were inaccurate and confused. It was alleged that monies raised by debentures for financing drainage works were in fact not used for that purpose, but diverted by the townships and used for other expenditures. There were several lawsuits where judgments were made in favor of the growers who held that they were wrongly taxed under the assessments fixed by the drainage engineer to offset the costs of debentures, when actually the money had not been spent by the township on drainage works for the benefit of their property. The whole tax position became so obscure that both the growers and the townships were in some cases unable to determine the extent of their tax liabilities.
To clarify the whole tax picture, the Province of Ontario, in 1939 passed The Township of King Act confirming the township’s authority to adjust its tax rates and to seize land where taxes were three years in arrears. A similar act applying to West Gwillimbury was passed in 1941.
POPULATION AND LIVING CONDITIONS
The reclaimed Marsh was at first mainly farmed by Canadian born farmers. However, by 1934, the early dreams of easy wealth faded and many of the original workers were giving up the struggle. Plot after plot was deserted and others were taken for arrears in taxes.
In 1931, some farmers from Holland had come to the Marsh and these had achieved a relatively great success. One man, Mr. J. J. Snor, Canadian Representative of the Netherlands Immigration Foundation saw in the Marsh a chance for Dutch settlers who had failed elsewhere in Ontario and in 1934, eighteen families then on relief rolls were moved in from the Hamilton-Toronto area. Each family was given $600 – this outlay to be borne equally by the Federal Government, Provincial Government and the local municipalities. Ultimately these Dutch families were to repay $475 of the original $600. When the municipal government was unable to give its share, Mr. Snor appealed to the Dutch government who supplied this $200 portion. These families formed the nucleus of the present Dutch village of Ansnorveld.
Population Today [1949]
Today, more than one-third of the 500 growers on the Marsh are of Dutch origin. In 1948 the Immigration Branch of the Province of Ontario settled numerous Netherland families in the area. There are also East Europeans, Italians and Germans, as well as a few Japanese. The lack of Anglo-Saxon names on the Marsh is most noticeable and significant.
Why did a large proportion of the Canadian-born settlers fail while the Dutch and other non-British stock have succeeded? The answer seems to be that the latter are used to working on farms where soil is counted in inches and not in acres. Moreover, they are prepared to work the long hours necessary for successful marsh farming. They fully realize the need for keeping all the water channels clean, the importance of specialized machinery, and the necessity for restorative fertilizers. The Marsh had clearly shown the need for a selected type of settler to work reclaimed Marsh land.
The many national groups living on the Marsh, the highly competitive nature of the work as well as the on-the-hour marketing necessary in selling the highly perishable crops, have engendered a spirit of individualism rather than one of friendly cooperation for the good of all. This spirit is slowly being worn down, but many of the benefits of full cooperation among the growers are yet to be realized.
Living Conditions
Living conditions on the Marsh could be much improved. Because production is mainly confined to eight months of the year, there is a large floating population and this is particularly true of the West Gwillimbury area. Such a floating population tends to produce poor housing standards and many of the dwellings are suitable for summer occupancy only. Undoubtedly the living standards of the Dutch are the highest on the Marsh. Most of these live in King Township and since they live there all-year around, their housing is better and they have invested their assets in the community and have built a school, a church and stores.
It is undeniable that the whole marsh area lacks many of the conveniences which are rapidly being accepted as necessities in other areas. Because of the small holdings, the area has a higher density of population than other rural areas, yet sanitation and indoor water facilities are lacking. Telephone and hydro services could be extended and shopping facilities are limited.
The Marsh owners are fortunate in having an abundance of drinking water from artesian wells. The wells are drilled to a depth of between 200 and 300 feet and they flow freely at a height of 5 feet above the level of the canals. These wells make living on the Marsh possible and the growers should conserve their good fortune by controlling the location and size of new wells and the rate of flow from the old ones.
It is regrettable that is some areas small groves of trees were not preserved. Planting of trees and bushes along the roads would make windbreaks and provide cover for birds as well as give some variety to the landscape. The Marsh “growed like Topsy,” and today [1949] although community improvement is desirable, the cost will be considerable, whereas these improvements could have been integrated into a comprehensive overall community plan.
Education
There are two schools on the Marsh. S. S. No. 26 King, erected in 1935, is a regular public school, teaching in accordance with the Ontario Public School curriculum. As such it can claim a legislative grant from the Province. Section 6A of “Regulations, General Legislative Grants,” provides for such an assessment area:
“A grant equal to 45% of the approved cost.” In 1943 some of the Dutch established the Christian Reformed Church school (Holland Marsh Christian School) in Ansnorveld. Since the school is not supervised by the Department of Education, it is not eligible for financial assistance and the costs are borne by the church members [and parents of the students]. However, friendly relations exist between it and the public school and good standards are maintained.
With the increasing population on the Marsh, there is developing an urgent need for a high school. At present [1949] secondary education is obtained in Bradford, Newmarket or Aurora, but it is becoming increasingly evident that some total community planning will have to produce a secondary school on the Marsh.
ROADS
From the very beginning of the development, roads became one of the most serious problems confronting the growers. The road pattern in the Marsh was complicated by three main factors. First of all, the road on the top of the dike embankment which follows the interior perimeter of the drainage canal surrounding the area; secondly, the original land surveys of the area which were made in 1819 and 1852, and thirdly the layout of the drainage scheme, including the Schomberg river, the drainage canal and the interior ditches. Some of the difficulties which have arisen had their origin in the fact that the service roads were laid in accordance with the land surveys and follow the old concession lines, rather than in coordination with the layout of the drainage scheme. In some locations this pattern has been satisfactory. In other locations, if the service roads had been built to run at right angles to the dike roads, with a ditch on either side, it would have provided better road drainage, permitted most of the travelling to be done along the dike roads (which are the driest), and shortened the travelling distances within the interior of the area. This plan would also have reduced the maintenance costs and would have rendered the roads usable without injury early in the spring.
Intense cultivation of the land produces a heavy crop of highly perishable vegetables. From the growers’ point of view, it was imperative that there should be reasonably good roads over which this produce could be quickly transported to the big markets, and over which supplies could reach the growers. However, owing to the road plan, the heavy traffic and the soft nature of the sub-soil, the construction and maintenance of these roads were extraordinarily extensive. This meant that too large a proportion of the taxes raised from the township as a whole was being spent on the relatively small marsh area. Soon the farmers on the highlands protested bitterly to their respective townships saying that it was most unfair that the extraordinary burden of the building and maintenance of the Marsh roads should be borne by the general taxpayers, not resident on the development. Successive deputations came to the Ontario Government protesting against this unjust tax situation and considerable hard feeling developed against the Marsh residents.
The only fair solution seemed to involve a special levy on the growers who benefitted by the road outlay. However, the townships of King and West Gwillimbury were confronted by a dilemma. The Highway Improvement Act, R.S.O., 1937, Chapter 56(2) provides that:
“Upon receipt of such statement, declaration and petition and the approval thereof by the proper officer of the Department, the Minister may direct payment to the county treasurer out of the Fund an amount equal to 50 percentum, or in the case of a bridge or culvert an amount not exceeding 75 percentum of the amount of the expenditure which is properly chargeable to road improvement and in all cases of doubt or dispute the decision of the Minister shall be final.”
In plain language the Province can give the townships a rebate of 50% or over on road improvements. However, the Act also states in Section 19 that:
“No expenditure towards which a special contribution has been made or may be made from any source shall be included in a statement submitted under Section 18, except with the consent of the Minister.”
If the township made a special tax levy on the Marsh growers, they became ineligible for the road grant with respect to this special assessment. In 1941 the townships tried to circumvent this difficulty by arranging voluntary contributions from the growers to cover the difference above normal road maintenance. Here human nature stepped in. Several of the growers defaulted on their special donations and thereupon the remainder refused to contribute to the scheme.
Finally, the Province of Ontario faced the inevitable and actively participated in Marsh affairs. It passed The Holland Marsh Roads Act 1944, which created a special road improvement area within the dikes and where a special tax levy could be taken from the growers. The most important Sections (5) and (6) provide that notwithstanding The Highway Improvement Act, the Province would pay the proportionate subsidy on the special assessment as outlined in Section 18 of the Highway Improvement Act. Whereas this Act solved the immediate difficulty and resulted in the roads being laid and improved, it is now said to be a hardship on the growers because although they pay higher taxes than the rest of the taxpayers in the township, they must bear the cost of the maintenance of their roads, normally a charge on the township as a whole.
The problem of roads in the Holland Marsh spanned nearly 20 years and the crux of the difficulty was that the highlands’ farmers resented supporting the roads in the lowlands. In retrospect the whole issue over the roads seems illogical when we consider the fact that the reclaimed marsh area is now far more valuable than the larger surrounding highlands, and is a major source of revenue to the township.
SOILS, CROPS, MECHANIZATION, RESEARCH
Soils
The drainage from the highlands on both sides of the Schomberg and Holland rivers helped create the Holland Marsh. Prior to reclamation, the Schomberg River was surrounded by a swampy expanse and abounded with marshreed, semi-aquatic flowers and wildlife. Further away from the river was tamarac swamp and beyond this hardwood bush. The soil of the reclaimed land varies as you leave the centre of the development. In the centre it is nearly 60 feet deep, reddish brown with little decomposition, and is extremely fibrous and sponge-like. Away from the centre the soil is mostly peat, while the marginal area containing a high percentage of clay is the most difficult to work, giving the poorest results. Fertility deficiencies common to the entire marsh are copper, boron, phosphates and manganese, while nitrogen is abundant. Actually, the marshland is not “soil.” It is a vast fibrous sponge with a remarkable ability for absorbing and holding nutrients and fertilizers forced into it by man. Submerged decayed trees contribute highly to the valuable fibrous nature of the soil, but without man’s assistance and ingenuity, the area would have little fertility.
After the reclamation the land gradually became divided into small parcels, some only five acres in extent. These excessively small lots have had a far- reaching effect. With such small acreage the growers cannot afford to rotate their crops, let the land lie fallow, or plough in a field of clover periodically, so as to replenish the fibre in the soil. This practice, as well as the harmful custom of burning roots taken from the earth, instead of crushing them and plowing them in, is rapidly exhausting the fertility of the land. There is a serious need for an overall land policy which would include the checking of this dangerous trend.
In the early days of the development, the black muck soil was highly prized and all growers tried to increase their holdings of this type of land. Later on, it was realized that the lighter peat land in the centre of the Marsh area was far more productive and immediately interest shifted. In burning piles of roots on this peat land, the danger of fire should not be overlooked. Fires in peat land rapidly spread underground and are extremely difficult to check. The preservation of this soil from fire, and the facilities for fire protection on the Marsh should bear serious consideration.
Crops
In 1930, Professor Day made an encouraging report on his first marsh crops to the townships of King and West Gwillimbury. He indicated that he had a return of $350 per acre on 37 acres. However, the same report showed that operating costs nearly equaled the profits gained. Today [1949] there are 5,698 acres actually bearing crops worth $1000 per acre.
The five major crops are onions, lettuce, potatoes, carrots and celery. The Marsh is a veritable lettuce paradise and over 15% of the acreage is reserved for lettuce production. This is partially explained by the fact that marsh temperatures are usually 12 degrees [F.] below the Toronto level, for the cold weather settles in this hollow. Lettuce is a cold air crop and it thrives in this low temperature pocket.
Mechanization
To maintain its high production, Holland Marsh is one of Canada’s most mechanized agricultural districts, a horse being a novelty. A recent survey on a sample section of 430 acres revealed that there were 190 pieces of operating machinery and that this included 27 tractors, 13 garden tractors, 16 ploughs, 14 cultivators and 23 discs.
This immense investment in machinery is partially explained by the on-the-hour harvesting required in market gardening, which precludes the sharing of equipment in the communal manner prevalent in grain growing. However, it is also because these 5,698 acres are being worked by 500 growers. This division of the Marsh soil into small plots means that machinery working on one holding is wastefully duplicated by a separate grower working on the adjacent plot.
Research
To provide growers with advice on soil preservation and crop rotation and to conduct experiments the Ontario Agricultural College has established a research station on the Marsh under the direction of Mr. C. Filman. In time it is hoped to solve some of the problems peculiar to production on reclaimed land.
MARKETING Early Marketing
Until recent years, rugged individualism was the keynote of marsh farming and marketing. Every grower was in competition with his neighbor and beneficial cooperation was practically unknown. It was considered shrewd dealing to try to harvest one’s own crop a day ahead of the majority and then to race a truck to the Toronto market to capture the highest price.
This spirit of competition produced many evils. It compelled every grower to try to be an expert on drainage, production and marketing to the detriment of all three. The growers, lacking cooperative shipping and storage facilities were entirely dependent on local markets and this meant selling their produce in wayside stands or through the commission houses in Toronto. Both had their disadvantages. The wayside markets were in most cases dilapidated buildings where marsh produce, ungraded as to quality or price was poorly displayed. Moreover, these stands and the parking areas around them (as well as the storage and processing plants) utilized precious acres of productive marsh land. In being located on a busy highway they were a serious traffic hazard. On the other hand, the growers were faced with serious difficulties in selling through the commission markets. Having their total assets dependent upon the sale of a perishable crop they could be made or ruined in a day by market fluctuations. It was felt that the commission houses selling on a 12.5% commission had nothing to lose. Either a grower accepted their terms or he was thrown back on the remaining limited market. Anyway, there was always another competitive grower willing to sell for prices offered. The inevitable result was that they lived in an insecurity which tightened the vicious circle of cut-throat competition, limited markets and low prices.
This method of marketing is still the subject of better feelings on the part of the growers. Recently the price at which lettuce was sold on the commission market varied from $0.75 per crate to $3.50 per crate within a few hours. Another result of non-cooperation was the lack of effective publicity to make the excellence of Marsh produce known, and to secure additional and more distant markets.
Marketing Today [1949]
In 1946, there was a definite swing away from harmful competition to cooperation. The Bradford Co-Operative Storage Limited was formed by 150 of 500 growers and it built a large cold storage plant. Of this cost the growers contributed 40%, the Federal Government gave 30% and the Province loaned the remainder under the provisions of The Co-Operative Marketing Loan Act. This only provided cooperative storage for a limited number, but provisions were made for future expansion. Cooperative marketing was still for the future, but the trend was definitely to cooperation. The plant can store for example, 50,000 crates of celery in cold storage, and celery, which previously had to be shipped to the almost monopolistic Toronto market, now finds a ready market from Halifax to Saskatoon.
Last season [1948] for the first time the Bradford Co-Operative offered facilities for cooperative marketing, although the practice of cooperative purchasing had been adopted earlier. Each of the members had the option of having his produce graded and sold by the management, and those who participated were enthusiastic about the success of the plan. However, this is but a step in the right direction.
The Holland River Gardens Co.
Also, in 1946, the Holland River Gardens Company, an ice-packing plant commenced operation. This new venture enabled the shipment of Marsh vegetables in a “garden fresh” condition to far distant centres where prices were most favourable, thereby easing the cut-throat competition inherent in restricted local markets. The success story of this enterprise is of the highest significance for it provides a proven pattern of production and marketing that could be most profitably applied to the entire Marsh.
The three Horlings brothers arrived on the Marsh in the lean years of the 30’s with only $600 in their combined pockets, and now they own this ice packing plant worth half a million dollars. They worked on a system which has proven to be a huge success – cooperation and specialization. Painful experience had shown that the efforts of each grower to be authority in both growing and marketing produced dismal results. Therefore, they cooperated, dividing their labours with each becoming a specialist in his own field. Thus, one brother was in complete charge of production and mechanical equipment, another in charge of personnel, and the third devoted all his efforts to efficient marketing. Prosperity proved the merits of their system, and by 1940 they were the largest landowners on the Marsh. They began to look beyond the local markets.
George Horlings, the youngest brother and the marketing expert, became convinced that somewhere in Canada there was always a good market for Marsh produce. He believed success would crown any enterprise which could facilitate transportation of their vegetables “harvest fresh” to dinner tables across Canada. This would free them from the uncertain profits of the Toronto market. The other brothers became converted to this conclusion and in 1946 the Horlings risked their life savings in building their modern ice packing plant. Now their produce, packed in powdered ice, would stay fresh until it reached the distant market.
The results exceeded their highest hopes. Within two years their ice packed vegetables were on sale in every province across Canada, in the Eastern States and even Hawaii. Their faith was confirmed for wherever they shipped, the consumers preferred “Marsh” produce. Today [1949], for example, in New York City, Marsh lettuce earns a premium of $0.50 a case over the best American lettuce.
Where are the market limits? The marketing expert of the Holland River Gardens Company has the answer – “Our problem is not over production, but under production. This company has a standing order to supply Detroit with 1500 cases of lettuce per day, when and if we can guarantee shipment. Then there is New York City – we could ship a trainload of vegetables a day to this huge consumer market equaling that of all Canada. It is only 22 hours trucking distance from the Marsh, whereas our nearest big competitor – California, is 3000 miles away. Here again, lack of continuous supply is the obstacle. With sufficient production, our markets are unlimited.”
Here is a potential export trade which cannot be over-emphasized in a country in need of American dollars.
New Trends
The new highway crossing the west side of the Marsh will soon afford the growers easy access to the markets of southern Ontario. A large cooperative wayside market with adequate parking space should be planned for this highway, but it should be located on the highlands, not on the valuable marsh land, and planned for easy access without danger from fast moving traffic.
The Holland River Gardens Company could be but the mere forerunner of diversified industries creating new outlets for marsh produce. Deep-freezing might give North America garden fresh greens all year around. The reduction in bulk and the assurance of cool freshness would enable this produce to travel by air to far flung markets. Canneries would offer another field for Holland Marsh vegetables, for this form of easy storage is every popular with the housewife. Finally, the world is seeing an increased use of palatable dehydrated foods and this processing form might well offer another market outlet to growers of the Marsh.
More attention to marketing aids will add to the Marsh’s future. Packing and packaging will play their parts in presenting the Marsh produce to the public in attractive, sanitary and convenient form. Consumer packaging will make deliveries directly from the Marsh to the retail store possible. The Horlings brothers’ cellophane wrapped, shredded vegetables, all ready for the salad bowl is typical. Advertising will make its products known all over the continent. Increasing knowledge of good nutrition will create greater demand for its vitamin rich vegetables.
If the markets are expertly exploited, Marsh produce can compete anywhere. To quote George Horlings “The Marsh can grow greater quantity and better quality for lower costs than any competitive area on the continent.”
INVESTMENT RETURN
Any judgement upon the wisdom of developing the Marsh must finally rest on cold figures. The following calculations are based on careful and conservative estimates. These approximations offer an outstanding proof that the original development cost of $137,000 defrayed by township debentures has certainly reaped a golden harvest and correspondingly great credit is due to these municipalities for their foresight and courage in underwriting the scheme.
As mentioned, in 1949 gross production value of the Marsh has been estimated by the Department of Agriculture at $5,500,000 on 5,698 acres. Even assuming the original $137,000 outlay finally grew to $300,000, this indicates that on an original investment of $50 per acre by the townships, there is now a gross yearly return of approximately $1000 per acre to the landowners. Over the period of 20 years since the reclamation, the gross production value of the Marsh has been at least $40,000,000.
Taking the township records of West Gwillimbury, as being representative of the whole development (and not including the taxes collected to reduce the debenture issue) the increase in tax revenue over the years is remarkable. In 1920 this Marsh area was assessed at less than $1.00 per acre. Today [1949] it is assessed at well over $100 per acre. The Marsh yields more than twice as much per acre to the tax rolls as does the highland acreage. The tax yield per acre on Marsh land is $2.80 per acre, whereas on the highlands it is $1.16. In contrast to 1929 when the entire Marsh paid only $800 in taxes to the township, it now pays $16,000 or twenty times as much.
Aside from the immediate tax return, the reclamation of the Marsh has been a tremendous factor in the rejuvenation of a wide area from Barrie to Aurora. It has provided employment and wages for a large agricultural labour force, both permanent and transient. Bankers and professional men have found a new outlet for their services. The retailer in Newmarket, Aurora, Bradford and Barrie has benefitted by supplying the grower with his varied needs. The townships as a result of this new and increasing tax income are in a sound financial position. Even the Provincial and Federal Governments have reaped additional revenues from the prosperity of the Marsh.
THE FUTURE
The future of the Holland Marsh rests in the hands of the growers. The maintenance of the present value of production and the future growth of this remarkable area will only be fully realized through the landowners acknowledging their common problems and using their combined operating intelligence to solve them. The trend toward cooperation should continue and the growers should realize that by pooling some of their efforts and resources they can all benefit.
An active and progressive growers’ association, supported by a large majority could achieve wonderful results in many fields. It could promote the use of sound agricultural practices to conserve the fertility of their land, such as the rotation of crops, the use of fertilizers and the conservation of the fibre in the soil. It could support research to combat crop pests and blights, develop new strains of vegetables and new methods. It could promote cooperative storage and marketing and support market research into new products, new markets and new merchandising methods. It could develop new industries. It could establish a contributory fund to purchase expensive mechanical equipment for common use, and it could hire the services of experts on drainage, production and marketing. Finally, it could finance research, advertising and public relations.
In short, the growers with their vision and cooperation can protect their investments and increase their assets.
1973 LANDOWNER SURVEY BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Country of Origin , Number of Owners, % of Total
Dutch 82 24.3%, Yugoslavia 45 13.3%, Ukrainian 41 12.1%, Polish 32 9.4%, Hungarian 28 8.3%, Slovakian 22 6.5%, Italian 18 5.3%, Chinese 11 3.2%, English 9 2.6%, German 8 2.3%, Portuguese 8 2.3%, Romanian 6 1.7%, French 6 1.7%, Russian 4 1.1%, Greek 4 1.1%, Austrian 4 1.1%, Japanese 3 0.9%, Jewish 3 0.9%, Czechoslovakian 2 .06%, Lithuanian 1 .03%, Total 337 100% Prepared by: J Greig
1974 Black Magic Video
- [[1]]
- www.ontario.ca/archives
- http://archives.bradford.library.on.ca/uploads/r/bradford-west-gwillimbury-public-library-and-cultural-centre/2/3/a/23ae4b830db1b147690a4afb93ff9fda117ae21574aebe059a3df4b0189d174f/Marsh-development_BW-17Nov1965V100N46p5.pdf
Dutch Roots Project
See also: * Dutch Roots Project
Sources
- Bradford Times. My Canada: Growing up in the Holland Marsh, Bradford, Ont, Canada.
- Brownell, E., Scott, S.G. (1949).A Study of Holland Marsh, Its Reclamation and Development. Immigration Branch, Department of Planning & Development, Government of Ontario.
- http://archives.bradford.library.on.ca/index.php/springdale-9?page=1&sort=lastUpdated&sf_culture=pt&onlyDirect=1&sortDir=asc&listLimit=10
- Lagerwey, Rev. P. (1957). Historical Sketch of the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church, Holland Marsh, Ont, Canada.
- McKenzie, I & S. (1957). Bradford, 1857-1957, One Hundred Years in Picture and Story. Bradford Witness Publishing Co. Limited, Bradford, Ont, Canada.
- Oosterhuis, Rev. Dr. Tom (2021) Personal Recollections of over 100 Marsh residents facilitated contextual familial relationships.
- Prokopchuk, W. (1957). My Canada...Growing up in the Holland Marsh, Bradford, Ont, Canada.
- Vander Kooij, Harry, (2006). Holland Marsh, Origins, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
- VanderMey, A. (1994). And the Swamp Flourished. Vanderheide Publishing Co. Ltd. Surrey, British Columbia, Canada..
- Vandevis, Dr. Ted, (2014). Trent Lakes, Canada.
- Vandevis, T. (2014). Personal Recollections. Trent Lakes, ON, Canada.
- Vandevis, T. (2015). "The Marsh and the Pyramids" United States, Lulu Press.
- Vandevis, T. (2023). Personal Recollections. Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
- Wildschut, Rev. R. (1957). The Christian Reformed Church and the Bradford Centennial, Springdale, Ont, Canada
- www.calvin.edu/
Memories: 2
- #OnePlaceWednesday showcase: Holland Marsh, Ontario May 2, 2024.
- Login to edit this profile and add images.
- Private Messages: Contact the Profile Managers privately: One Place Studies Project WikiTree and Dr. Ted Vandevis. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
- Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)
Sorry it took a while but I started a G2G for the Sticker for you now ;) wishing you a very happy and healthy 2019 and see you this weekend eeh :)
Bea x
Not sure if there are many profiles who where Marsh Settlers, but perhaps you would like a Sticker you can add to those profiles linking to your free space page and perhaps a category for Marsh Dutch Settlers ?
Greets,
Bea :)
