HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1970-04-09, Page 5THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1970
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
PAGE FIVE
A CORNER OF CANADA THAT TAKES YOU BACK - A common sight in the farm communities
of Ontario's Perth and Waterloo counties -- Old Order Mennonites riding to church in their topless
buggies while the world speeds by all around them. The Canadian province has more than 40, 000
Mennonite inhabitants, its first settlers emigrating from Pennsylvania in covered wagons 180 years
ago. (Photo by Ontario Dept. of Tourism and Information)
A Corner of Canada That Takes You Back
A drive through the farm com-
munities of Ontario's Perth and
Waterloo counties redeems a
little sweetness from a spme-
times sourin& world.
Summer visitors come in
droves primarily to see Shakes-
peare played in Canada's "other"
Stratford and to shop in Kitchen-
er's famous market. But, by
exploring further, they can be
whisked into an era even sent-
imental oldsters have forgotten.
In this unique pocket of the
Canadian countryside somberly -
attired men in broad, black hats,
some with Old Testament beards,
shun conventional ways and try
to live as did their ancestors
300 years ago.
Their women wear coal -scut-
tle bonnets and plain, ankle -
length dresses. Their children
are their exact replicas. And,
Bundled in shawls, they ride
imperturbably in topless buggies
while the world speeds by all
around them.
These strange people, basic-
ally Swiss- German and German -
Dutch in background, comprise
a large segment of Ontario's
more than 40, 000 Mennonites,
its earliest settlers emigrating
from Pennsylvania in covered
wagons 180 years ago.
There are 17 separate groups
among, the province's Mennon-
ites, 12 different branches in
Waterloo County alone. And
while most of the county's 14,
000 members no longer conform
entirely to the strict doctrines
of their faith, the peace -loving
Amish and conservative Old
Order Mennonites continue to
spurn everything modern.
If they buy farms with well-
appointed houses they tear out
electric wiring and bathroom
fixtures, remove oil furnaces
and telephones. They won't
own a radio or a TV set. They
don't go to movies and will turn
their backs on a camera. They
won't even own a tractor be-
cause for them the only mode
of transportation is the horse and
buggy.
Though they pay taxes they
refuse old -age pensions and
family allowances. They won't
vote in federal or provincial
elections. They have conscien-
tious scruples against particip-
ation in military service or vio-
lence of any kind. Instead, they
go all-out in raising money for
world-wide relief.
All they ask is to be left alone
and find everlasting security in
their faith, their families and
their prosperous farms.
The best areas in which to
see these simple folk at their
daily tasks are at Wellesley and
St. Mary's, east and west of
Stratford, respectively, and
north and west of thetwin cities
of Kitchener and Waterloo, not-
ably at Elmira where a major
maple syrup festival is staged
every spring.
Kitchener is just 76 miles
west of Toronto off super High-
way 401, while Stratford, farth-
er west, is 98. Both axe within
easy driving distance from the
Buffalo and Detroit gateways.
An ideal summer weekend
outing is to overnight in Kitch-
ener on the Friday, visit its
NOTICE
ZURICH HYDRO -ELECTRIC SYSTEM
has applied to the Ontario Hydro Com-
mission for approval to adjust its retail
rates for electrical energy.
These new rates will become effective on all bills
rendered on and after June 1, 1970
WATCH FOR FURTHER NOTICES
ZURICH HYDRO -ELECTRIC SYSTEM
renowned Mennonite market on
the Saturday morning, tour the
farm communities north of there,
then head for Stratford, just 24
miles distant, for an evening
performance in the Stratford"
Festival Theatre.
The Kitchener market tour
is a must. The tangy, tantal-
izing aromas that fill the air
come straight from the kitchens
of the Mennonites. Succulent
meats , luscious apple butter,
strudles, pickled corn -on -the -
cob and many other German -
Dutch delicacies are among the
foods you can buy at this well
patronized market. German is
so freely spoken here that ven-
dors than you with a "danke
Schon" and bid you "auf wieder-
sehen."
Another trip highlight is to
visit an Old Order Mennonite
meeting (church) house on the
Sunday, where all parishoners
arrive by horse and buggy. (There
is even a "buggy factory" in the
district, )'
Mennonite moderates, who
dress similarly and worship in
the same type of meeting house,
traditionally of wood and paint-
ed white, permit the use of cars
but encourage their adherents
to choose somber colors and
paint the chrome trim black to -
de-emphasize evidence of lux-
ury, ornamentation and pride.
Just how long the Mennonites
can hold out against the prevail-
ing pressures of culture is any-
body's guess. Ironically, the
unpretentious clothing they wear
is part of their continuing quest
for obscurity, but now this is
making them more and more the
subject of attention in an always
changing society. For the time
being, however, their commun-
ity still is one part of the world
that truly takes you back and
worthy of a visit if only for the
sake of nostalgia.
For A11 Your
SI' ' BNG NEEDS
Contact
D. E. GIBSON
LONDON -- 434-0370
Middlesex Aluminum
Products
71 Richmond Street
STRATHROY
12,tf
PURE PORK
SAUSAGE
BSH
EEF LIVER 1
ROUND
TEAK I
RIB OR LOIN—VA-LB. AVERAGE
9(
D of PORK Ib 79c
SCHNEIDER'S 1-L13. PACKAGE
ED HOTS Ib. 55c
LAPORTE
MEAT MARKET
PHONE 236-4962
LSMFT
Spring Has Sprung . .
Our cars are more expensive than some ... And
certainly better reconditioned than most ... Buy a
'64 or '65 or '66 model now with new paint and
running like new.
This week we offer the finest
dollar value in the area
1965 OLDSMOBILE DYNAMIC 88
Convertible, V-8, automatic, power
steering, power brakes, radio, J84655 '99500
1966 FORD Custom 6 standard, one owner, 500
J58797 995
1964 FORD GALAXIE 2 -door hardtop, 2 -tone,
power steering, power brakes, radio, $795"J 16821 1 79 J
1965 FORD CUSTOM 4 -door, 6 -stick, radio, '195"one local owner, J69481
1966 GALAXIE 500 4 -door sedan, 390 V-8, S 00
automatic, radio, J56759 1195
1966 FORD GALAXIE Stationwagon, 2 -tone, 5119500
red and white, V-8, automatic, X13855
1964 RAMBLER American, 6 automatic, '649"lovely red, J18910
1964 BUICK 4 -door, V-8, automatic, power SU �'4900
steering, power brakes, J58543 7
See Our Weekend
Truck Specials
We Have Discounted Each and Every
One of Our New and Used
Trucks
On -The -Spot Financing
Snip -'r Motors
L IMI TED
EXETER 235-1640
LONDON 2274191
Huron County's Largest Ford Dealer
t