1

Mennonite families on the Island often consisted of parents with five or more children. If aging grandparents needed accommodation, they moved in with their children. If an aged couple or individual was unable to fend for themselves, they sometimes lived with their various children by turn. Most Mennonite homes were not large; children needed to sleep two in a bed and often the bedrooms had two beds.

2

Wiebe family
1927
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

3

The Mennonite people had everyday clothing and so-called Sunday (their very best) clothes. In the next photo, see Helene’s black bow (head-covering) worn by married women at that time.

4

Rev. Jacob, Helene and daughter Elsie Epp enjoying a walk on the beach on a summer Sunday afternoon
1927
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

5

Whenever a father packed up his children and took them to the grandparents or an aunt or uncle's home, the children knew that a new sibling would be awaiting them when they returned the following day. A doctor or midwife was then picked up by the father and brought to the family home for the delivery. Widow Anna Wiebe, a midwife, delivered many Mennonite babies on the Island. A young woman was hired for a week or so to care for the children and mother. Babies were nursed by the mother; so-called baby food was unheard of. Several medical doctors lived on the Island by turn during the Mennonite stay there, including Dr. Skipper and Dr. Reece.

6

Siblings Louise, Marion & Neal Dick on their Arrow Racer wagon and clutching their beautiful toys
1935
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

7

Friesen sisters
1937
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

8

Peter Fast with daughters Erna & Mary
1940
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

9

Jacob and Lena Steingart standing beside their car
1940
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

10

Few bedrooms had closets; orange crates and chests were used to store clothing. Mothers washed the family's laundry in wringer washers on Monday morning and hung the laundry out to dry on Monday afternoon.

11

A mangle for wringing and pressing clothes
1930

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

12

The Jacob & Louise Willms family
1942
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

13

Tuesday was ironing day. The Island had no electric power until the mid-forties; irons needed to be heated on the kitchen's stove top. When the first iron had cooled down, it was placed back on the stove top to heat up; the handle was removed and clipped to a second iron heating on the stove top. Meals were cooked on the stove top as well. On Saturdays, Mom would make zwieback, sugar buns, platz, and bread," recalls Gerhard Wiebe. "When we got a propane fridge [in the 1940s], Mom would make 'crispers full' of home-made ice cream."

14

Gerhard Wiebe, Jim Dick, father James Dick, Ken Dick, and Fred Wiebe in front
1948
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association