HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-05-20, Page 41Eager to see what Canada offered, Kiss and Anne
Kroesen and their seven children, left Holland in 1954 and
later arrived in Clinton. During the eight day ocean
voyage it stormed and the seas were rough. The Kroesens
had to care for their four boys and three girls, ranging in.
ages from one to 18 years old. Mrs. Kroesen remembers
being so sick that she couldn't eat or drink during the trip.
At the time it was a move that Mrs. Kroesen regretted
making but now she proudly states that Canada's her
home. (photo courtesy of Mrs. Anne Kroesen).
Bright future...
• from page 11
.The girls ode 65 cents and,
hour, the men 75 cents.
There was no provision for
overtime work and many
extra hours had to be spent
preparing the chickens at
Christmastime.
Mrs. Gary Haak, one of the
Greidanus daughters,
remembers that after a year
of working, the family of 13
Ind saved enough money to
make their dream °a reality.
They purchased a farm.
The ambition of most
young Dutch men was to
work on the land, and with
such large families there
was little promise in Holland
of this dream coming true.
Today the fathers,....
mothers, and their children
are happily' settled into the
area and proudly consider
themselves Canadians first,
Dutch natives second.
Many still enjoy ,vacations
to Holland to visit family but
Page 13
like most Dutch -Canadians
living in the . area, Mrs. .
- Hendrik Fidom o Hullett
Township stated, "I like to
visit Holland but I wouldn't
move back."
"If after 30 years Canada's
not your hone then you'd
better go back," she added.
Mrs. Anne ' Kroesen,
another Dutch immigrant
who settled in the area
remembers, "-Holland's
beautiful with flowers in the
streets, in the fields and in
the windows. But when" I
want backI found the streets
so narrow and everything so
crowded."
Mrs. Kroesen seemed to
sum up the view of most
Dutch people living in the
area. In her proud, honest
way, she simply stated her
gratitude and loyalty to this
country by exclaiming,
"Home is Canada."
Congratulations
to the Town of Clinton
on your first annual Klompen Feest
Wishing you continued
success in the future
JAMES RICHA RD`C N & SONS, LIMITED
E;TARLISHE1) 112'7
GRAIN MFF ('IIANTS - TORONTO ONTARIO