Manheim

As part of Ron’s publicity campaign he set up a meeting with Stouffville’s mayor, Wayne Emerson. Ron asked for support from the town for his fundraising campaign and also for a letter of introduction to the mayor of Manheim. He hoped for some local newspaper coverage and support from the local historical associations (there are three). Sometimes amusing things happen.

Mayor Emerson had given us a Stouffville town flag and buttons to present in Manheim. We arrived at the town offices to receive a bewildered look from the receptionist. When we asked for the mayor she replied, “Well, he has a job!” It turns out that we had to go to the police station around back to find the mayor. However, as a police constable, the mayor had asked us to excuse him from our visit. Turns out he was busy assisting with the transport of two prisoners who were being released from custody that morning. We’re flexible. We gave the greetings to the mayor’s secretary and went on our way. Similarly we left copies of Ron’s press release with the different historical associations. Here’s some background.

See http://www.manheimpa.com/history.html
‘Founded in 1762, the town of Manheim rightfully belongs in that select list of Pennsylvania towns which antedate the Revolutionary War. Of additional interest historically is the fact that the land on which the town was laid out has a close connection with the family of the colony's founder, William Penn. Explicitly, it was in 1734 that this tract of acres in Donegal Township (1741 in Rapho Township) was given as a gift to Penn's faithful secretary, James Logan, by Penn's widow, Hannah, and her sons. In 1762 this same tract was purchased from Logan's granddaughter, Mary Morris, by Henry William Stiegel and his two business associates, Charles and Alexander Stedman.’ The town was a prosperous place that built it’s reputation on the making of glass.

Specifically Ron’s family came from an area now around the Holland/German border around 1750 and were part of the group seeking to escape religious persecution in their homeland. We understand that the original family of Braunsberger immigrants was likely not Mennonite but did convert sometime in the 1800’s. The Brownsberger farm (sold in 1826) is only three miles from Manheim on the Shumaker Road. The farm is not large and is on hilly land.

The area around Manheim is an interesting mix of the modern ‘country houses‘, ‘English farms’ and Amish or Mennonite farms. It is a pretty area that looks very civilized without many fences and with fields coming right up to the road allowances. It made me think of a favourite poet, Robert Frost, writing ‘Something there is that does not like a wall.‘ It is not uncommon to see horse drawn buggies or mules pulling machinery for the Amish farmers. And where else would you find the town named Intercourse right next to places called Paradise, Blue Ball, Virginville and Fertility? It’s also easy to see why there was an exodus from here for Upper Canada. Even now small farms typically house grandparents, parents and children and are often without electricity. On the positive side one can feel a real sense of peace while driving along these peaceful country lanes.