14

The Thiessen/Schroeder Home
1940
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

15

Another view of the Thiessen/Schroeder home
1940
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

16

Vin Villa: the Pelee Island Winery at the North End
Circa 1935
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

17

The old Lighthouse, located at the Island's north end, became a favourite Summer Sunday afternoon gathering place for the Mennonite Islanders. The children played in the water and on the beach sand; the adults were happy to visit with their friends and relatives after a busy week on the farm. At 4:30 pm, tablecloths were spread on the beach sand, food was carried from the cars nearby, and everyone sat on the warm beach sand for a Sunday Faspa, the Low German/Dutch word for Vesper. For the Mennonite people, Faspa consisted of a Sunday afternoon meal of Zwieback (double decker yeast buns) baked on Saturday, jam, cold meat such as sausage or ham, home-baked desserts, a jug of coffee and a jar of milk. China dishes and tableware were used; disposable dishes were unheard of.

18

Lighthouse on north-east corner of the Island, known as Lighthouse Point
Circa 1914
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

19

The North End Lighthouse
Circa 2000
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Don Fischer
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

20

Pelee Passage Lighthouse
Circa 1944
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

21

The Mission Hall provided the Mennonite Islanders with their first place of worship. George and Lulu May Pegg offered this Hall to the Mennonites free of charge. Mr. Pegg taught school at the East Side. Until the 1950s the Island had four elementary schools. The North End school offered elementary and high school classes.

22

The Mission Hall
Circa 1930
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

23

Abram Epp and Hilda Klassen get married at the Mission Hall. Rev. N.N. Driedger officiated
23 June 1944
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

24

The Anglican church on the East-West Road soon had several young men of Russian Mennonite background attending, namely Nick Wiens, George Wiens and Henry Fast. What would have attracted these young Mennonites to the Anglican Church? Firstly, the Pastor was an outgoing individual. He had invited Dr. Reece and his family to attend his church even though they were Black. He invited Nick Wiens because he was willing and able to lead the church choir. George Wiens and Henry Fast were both musical people and sang in the Anglican church choir.

25

Anglican Church Choir
mid-1940s
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

26

The Pelee Hotel, which was destroyed by fire in the 1950s, employed several Mennonites during the 1920s, including Anna Wiebe, who worked there before her marriage in 1935. Anna was grateful that Mr. Kahn, an Island visitor from Windsor, Ontario with Russian/Ukraine connections, was able to arrange passage from Ukraine to Pelee Island for Anna's brother Gerhard and Agatha, with children Fred, Hedy and Anna. Anna's brother John Wiebe paid the travel expenses.

27

The Pelee Hotel
Circa 1930
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association