HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-05-08, Page 88�ourney to freedom
By Todd Mowatt
With no hope for the future and nine
mouths ,to feed Katherine and Sidney
Slotegraaf came to Canada with their
faith and hope.
"When we were on the boat . coming
over we recalled our wedding vows, And
he said my presence will give you rest. If
thy presence will not go with me, do not
carry us froi'h here,"'said Mrs.
Slotegraaf, reciting from the Bible, Ex-
odus 33 verses 14 and 15.
Faith carried the Slotegraafs through
many of the trials and tribulations that
they had to endure. The Slotegraafs set
sail with a boat full of other immigrants
coming from Holland to Canada in
search of prosperity and family better-
ment.
The trip dost the Slotegraafs $13,000
and a little bit of their pride as they
described their journey to freedom. They
travelled for about a fortnight until they
came toport In Halifax. From there they
travelled by train. Food was not supplied
on the train and they spent all of their
money on the tri°oYm Holland.
"When we came to Quebec city the
children were hungry so Sidney went
with his brother to get some bread and
milk. The train began to leave before
they came back. The children began to
cry because they thought they. would
never see their father again. Luckily
they jumped on the end of the last car on
the immigrant train. They waded
through the immigrant cars with the
food. The children were happy to see
their father," Mrs. Slotegraaf said.
When the Slotegraafs arrived in On-
tario they went to the home of Mr. Tom
Robson. Mr. Robson sponsored the
Slotegraafs.
"We arrived at the Robsons in New
Dundee .on the Saturday and on the Sun-
day our three eldest sons were going
through the bush. One of our daughters
heard a noise m the forest and ran back
home, through fences and streams. She
came back home and she had her coat
ripped. She told us that she had seen In-
dians," Mrs. Slotegraaf recalled.
"It was hard at first because we
couldn't speak English, we also had to
get used to regular shoes as we were used
to wooden shoes in Holland," Mrs.
Slotegraaf said.
Their family grew to include three
more children. But getting food to feed
the children wasn't a problem in Canada,
according to Mrs.. Slotegraaf.
"In Canada everybody tries to outdo
the other with cakes, pies and all the food
you can eat. There is a lot of variety here
that was not available in Holland. Wjjen
we first arrived they threw a party for us
WELCOME
to CLINTON'S
KLOMPEN FEEST
Friday and Saturday, May 17th & lith
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and°125 o le•ca ea'
everything rom soup to nuts,"
t't Slotegraaf wore "ett a °Rol
far�gr for'seven years an then he went:,
wort a a factory at 75 cents an, hour;
that time the factory supplied
employees with houses. ,
"In the house we received there was no
plumbing, no bathroom and no hot wate
ut that was okay because' those with
plumbing had to pay $.15.000 a month. X
made $37.00 for one week. It was so much
i Toney that mother didn't know how to
spend it," Mr. Slotegraaf said.
Life in Canada for the Slotegraafs
began to take shape and. the scrumping
and saving only lasted a few more years,
Eventually they bought a farm and their
dreams came to life -to own their own
farm and work the land in Canada.
The family grew up and, moved away
and it was then that they realized what
Canada is all about.
"As the children were growing up and
learning, we knew that they had oppor-
tunities here that they would not have
had if we had remained in Holland,"
Mrs. Slotegraaf said,
. The Slotegraafs now live outside Clin-
ton and are retired. They are ap-
proaching their 49th wedding .anniver-
sary and have 44 grandchildren.
Although their children are scattered
across Canada they are very grateful to
Canada and the people who helped them
come to Canada.
SCRUTON TIRE
Tire & Auto Repair
Class A Mechanics
CLINTON, ONT. 48 2-7681