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Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner |
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History of Landmark, Manitoba |
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factory was built. Many of the farmers had more cows than they needed for their own use so they took the surplus milk to the factory where cheese and butter was made. In 1946 hydro came to this district, which was the biggest single economic improvement as it led to many manual chores being eliminated or made easier .Telephone service had been available for many years but it was rather unreliable for many years. Sports are something the young people have taken to with enthusiasm. The Landmark Dutchmen once made headlines and today there is interest in a wide variety of sports. Landmark celebrated the 1967 and 1970 centennials with enthusiastic activities at the Landmark Park and hopes are growing for an arena. Most of the earlier social activities were connected with the church -sewing circle, bazaars, weddings, young people's activities. Since the collegiate was built the auditorium there is used for films, chamber of commerce banquets and other social functions. Mennonite families from other parts of Manitoba and some from Europe began settling in the community a few years later and following this influx a store and post office were built. C. K. Plett was the owner. He had a farm besides, which had to be cleared and worked but together with his wife (a daughter of pioneer Rev. H. R. Reimer} and an occasional hired man, they managed the store, post-office and farm. The post office was Landmark, later transferred to Lorette but now back at Landmark. Schools were a major concern, for there were many children. The first teachers taught in the church until a school was built. In 1920 a church building was purchased and moved into this community. The people in three school districts, Landmark, Linden, and Willow Ridge came to this church and the community as a whole was given the picturesque name of Prairie Rose. This church group did not include everyone but the majority belonged to it and today it is known as the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Prairie Rose. Over the years, many changes have come about. Land is all under cultivation, with only an occasional line of trees along a fence. The beautiful homes and farms reflect the good times and the general prosperity is a monument to the first settlers. Though the Landmark area received its first settlers around 1907 as stated in the preceding story, the main influx did not begin until just after the First World War. It was at this time that a few families living in the Blumenort area found they were short of sufficient land for expansion and fathers with growing boys began wondering where their sons would be able to find a livelihood. One day church elder P. Dueck asked Minister H. R. Reimer why he didn't investigate the "Eakbusch -Heistap" (oakbush hay field) northwest of Blumenort to see whether it wouldn't be worth developing into plough land. To H. R. Reimer, who had been interested in this area since 1896 this suggestion was an answer to prayer. Supported by church elders, he immediately began making plans for the new settlement. In 1918 the land in question was thoroughly checked over. Referred to as the "Brettensteppe" (half-breed steppes) because it had been originally reserved for the French half-breeds, the land was low and swampy and many of those coming out to see it turned up their noses at the morass. Others, however, who knew they could not afford to buy the expensive land further to the west, contacted the owners and then made the final decision to begin anew life in this area. The settlers weren't only from Blumenort and Blumenhoff but from various other Mennonite communities as well. There were Abram and David Plett with their growing sons; Cor. Kroeker, H. W. Reimers and Giesbrechts from Steinbach, Frank Goertzen and sons from Schoensee, and John and Jak. Koop and Rev. H. R. Reimer, Clearsprings and Neuanlage. The Penners, (Peter, Aron and Abram) mentioned in the preceding article, who had already settled in this area a little further north, were very pleased that brethren of the same faith, had decided to settle in the same vicinity. The first few years were hard ones and the going was pretty rugged because the land was frequently far too wet. But as year after year went by the settlers gradually improved the drainage and as the little community began to blossom somebody got the idea of calling it Prairie Rose. And that was where a little mix-up began that has continued ever since. The settlers had to get their mail from somewhere so C. K. Plett, one of the settlers, was chosen as postmaster and he organized a post office area to which the government attached the name Landmark. Then a school was formed and a name had to be chosen for it. Somebody suggested Linden and Linden it was. Later the post office at Landmark was discontinued in favor of a rural mail route operating from Lorette, the nearest railway station. Thus the settlers found themselves living in a community which was known at various times to various people by four different names: Prairie Rose, Landmark, Linden and Lorette. The four names still persist but in later years more and more people agreed on Landmark. A good deal of credit for putting an end to this confusion belongs to the Landmark Chamber of Commerce. The modern community of Landmark today in no way resembles the low marsh that greeted the first settlers at the turn of the century .Today, hard work and an effective drainage system has turned Landmark into one of the most fertile and prosperous mixed farming areas in the province. The community's youthful and energetic businessmen have converted Landmark into a beehive of commerce, little short of astounding for a community of its size. Its places of business have an annual turnover volume that is greater than that of a good many older and larger areas. Undoubtedly, youthful vigor accounts for a good deal of commercial acumen which is in evidence as one travels lip Landmark's main street. A share of the credit also belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Reimer who had a hand in the initial stages of at least two of the businesses. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reimer (nee Caroline Penner) had a keen interest in new enterprises and set the stage for the village proper to grow when they opened a grocery, hardware and electrical appliance store and a small plumbing business. Johnny Plett, owner of Landmark Motors, made his first move to locate his business next door to the Reimer's for their mutual benefit. Several years later, the Reimers relinquished their business interests, and the businesses flourished in enlarged proximate premises. At the south end of the business section is Lincoln Sales and Service which was established in 1958. Well known owner Lincoln Penner has served the community as municipal councilor for 22 years and has been on the Bethesda Hospital Board for 10. Also at the end of Main Street is the Allan Penner Lumber and Hardware Co. Though the offices of this firm burned down in January, 1971 and plans at the time of this writing are not for rebuilding, the business has played an important role in the community's history. In a way, this is Landmark's oldest business because it dates back to Mr. Penner's father, Abram Penner, who, with his sons, operated bush lumber camps as well as a lumber yard. The business instinct ran strong in the Penner family. At the early age of 20 Allan was already in the road construction business with his brother Aaron, who was 23. When the boys' father passed away in 1953, they took over the lumber yard in addition to their road construction business. The youthful partners received a staggering blow on Aug. 1, 1955 when a fire swept through and completely destroyed their lumber yard. In the spring of the following year, however, Allan, this time operating alone, rebuilt the office and yard. To help finance this venture, he sold his interest in the construction business. The firm had grown to become one of the largest in the community at the time of the January, 1971 fire. Driving down the street, the next business is that of the Landmark Feed Mill. One of the most vital services offered in this farm centre, the plant was built in 1954 by the Wohlgemuth brothers, Jake and Ben. A passer-by viewing this substantial and solidly constructed mill would find it difficult to believe that only 16 years back, this land was a sugar beet field. As the surplus of Canadian wheat continued to pile up in vast unwanted quantities at the Lakehead and in elevators in the 1950's farmers in the intensive farming area at Landmark turned increasingly to dairy cattle, poultry, and hogs, as their source of livelihood. The true value of this trend, in terms of community service, may possibly never be fully measured. Through the services offered by this mill, farmers can have their grains converted into balanced rations and enjoy one of the best quality services in the country. Possibly the best known of Landmark's businesses is Landmark Motors, which began in 1947. Owned and operated by John Plett, its reputation for prompt service and reliable dealing have spread far beyond the immediate community. Key to its success is perhaps the character of its owner, John Plett. Mr. Plett was still a boy when he got into the repair business; besides being a born mechanic, he is a pilot, businessman and hunter. The Landmark General Store, a modern, air-conditioned building serving the larger community, is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kroeker. The Kroekers had purchased it from Archie Plett, who had bought it from Ralph Reimer. Ralph had purchased the business from Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Reimer and built a new store at the present location. Mr. and Mrs. Kroeker have been the owners since 1957 and have built a larger, more convenient store since then. Up until they purchased the store, the Kroekers farmed 80 acres close to Landmark and Norman supplemented their income by working at the Vulcan Iron Works in Winnipeg. Archie Plett is the oldest businessman in Landmark with his plumbing and heating enterprise. After going into this business in 1957, his first undertaking was the sizeable chore of placing all Landmark's residences and businesses on a water pressure system. Landmark Plumbing and Heating now employs eight or nine full time people and has accepted work in many areas of the province. |
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On a warm afternoon in the spring of 1907 a large wagon pulled by two tired horses and loaded high with household goods drew to a stop three miles south of the Dawson trail. The horses were tired but the driver seemed as full of energy as a colt just released from a winter's confinement. Here at last was his new farm -- a brand new start. As he sprang from his wagon he called enthusiastically to his wife and at her listless response beckoned to the three lads perched on the boxes. Together they entered the shack standing there. Judging from their exclamations, it was home fit for a king. The goods were deposited in the rough shelter and a temporary home set up. This family then, my grandparents, the Peter M. Penners, was among the first group of settlers in the Landmark area. They had come from Alberta a few months back but had stayed in town until arrangements were made about the 'land. Now at last they were on their own farm but without roads, hydro, telephone, and other conveniences we regard as essential today. Great difficulties were encountered by these early settlers. They were pioneers in the true sense of the word. They had land to clear of trees and bushes though some of it was grassy and easier to work with. The soil was good and readily yielded crops. Transportation was no real problem; they knew they could not go far, so they did not try. They used their horses and buggies (or trailers) in summer and the same horses and sleighs and cutters in winter. They were six miles from the Lorette railway station and from there they could go anywhere - if they had the money. Roads were improved as the need arose and in 1929 a cheese |
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This article was written as a grade 12 assignment by Mrs. Caroline Loewen in 1952. It was later updated and published in Reflections on our Heritage, pp. 343-346. Reprinted with permission from the author.
A History of Landmark |
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Early Landmark residents. Front: Maria and Peter M. Penner with son David F. Penner. Back right: Abram M. Penner. Dec 1903. Peter and Abram with their families settled one mile northwest of Landmark in 1907.Abram’s original house still stands today. |
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