HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-23, Page 6312
vaee"There's only one old country"
While Herman Van Baaren
and his wife Anne are well-
established Canadians, there
them
will always be a part to their
which will belong
native Holland. home,"
"Holland is stillmy Baaren.
declares Ann Van
"There's only one old country."
On April 29, 1949, with four
small children, two suitcases
and the clothes on their backs,
they boarded a crowded army
boat bound for Qthey had Prior
to immigrating,
ab-
solutely no knowledge of
Canada - only that it was a
country with opportunity - and
an attractive escape fof
rom ost-wae
grinding poverty
r
Holland.
Thirty-seven years later, the
Clinton area couple
eehas retired ti ed
from farming,
g the
operation to their son John.
Return to Holland
reveals
phenomenal change
They've also raised a family of
eight in Canada. earning for
To satisfy the�he couple have
the old country,
travelled back to their native
Giessendam, a southern
Holland town comparable in
size to Goderich, on six occa-
sions to visit relatives. In fact,
Mrs. Van Baaren n Feest KLM
win-
ner of the Klomp to Holland in
draw for a trip
1983.
Phenomenal Change
They've found the change in
the small European country
has been phenomenal since
their departure on April 29,
.,..,, They find the coon
1949. the country is
not as nice as it once was. The
based farming society
has given way to the hustle and
bustle of urban life.
"When 1�Pe left in 1949
had bicycles
everyone only ,
now everyone has cars.
Everything is so expensive
there now. It would be so hard
to buy a house there," said Mrs.
Van Baaren.
"Homesick"
But, the past is still alive in
their memory - especially the
hardships and uncertainty of
coming to Canada. What they
recall most about the upheaval
in their lives after the immigra-
tion to Canada was the all per-
vasive feeling of homesickness,
loneliness and isolation they en-
dured at the time.
"We came here with four kids
Turn to page 13 •
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