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Event Date : Saturday, August 22, 1953
Event Type : Death

Description : A pioneer settler and highly esteemed resident of the Holland Marsh, Mr. Abraham Havinga, passed away at Newmarket Hospital on Saturday, August 22, following a long period of failing heart. Born at Kielwindeweer, Holland, in 1879, Mr. Havinga, with his wife and family, came to Canada in 1930. Four years later in 1934, they settled on the Holland Marsh as members of the first little community of Dutch Canadians who pioneered the development of the gardening project which today is known across the continent. He was one of the little group who built the first small church on the Marsh and the members of his family were among the pupils of the marsh's first school and assisted in the care of the books which comprised their little church's first library. One of the early deaths on the Marsh was Mrs. Havinga, leaving her husband and a family of ten sons and daughters. Ten years after the death of the mother of his family, Mr. Havinga visited his native Holland where he remarried on January 27, 1949, in Groningen He is survived by his second wife and his family of five daughters and five sons, namely Miss Elsa Havinga, R.N., of New York; Mrs. Peter Turkstra (Tena)of Hamilton; Mrs. A.C. Klemn (Joan) of Toronto; Mrs. T. Miedema (Cora), R.R. 2, Newmarket; Mrs. C.M. Sneep (Elsey), Chatham; John Havinga, Granum, Alberta; Jack Havinga, Granum, Alberta; Fred of Toronto; Ralph of Windsor, and Michael of Toronto. A most devout member of the Christian Reformed Church, Mr. Havinga's funeral was from his Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church with the newly appointed minister of the Springdale Church, Rev. R. Wildschut, conducting the services. Internment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were members of the early families of the Marsh, namely Messers. John Van Dyke, E. De Young, A Biemold, Walter Horlings, L. Boonstra and H. Prins.

Event Date : Wednesday, November 28, 1956
Event Type : Death

Description : Though in failing health for the past several years, Mr. George C. Verkaik was only seriously ill for about ten days before his death, which occurred on Wednesday, November 28. Mr. Verkaik can surely be called the father of today's thriving village of Springdale. Twenty-two years ago, Mr. Verkaik purchased some ninety acres of land, almost all of which was on the Holland Marsh, from the late Mr. Matthew Brandon and proceeded to clear land and build a neat home on the West Gwillimbury side of the river. He brought his wife and family here from the Chatham district and as the sons of the family married and built homes of their own their little group of homes became known as the Verkaik settlement. Roads were a problem in those days and the Verkaik settlement, in relation to the rest of the then partially-settled marsh, was isolated. In those years of the 30's the only access to the Verkaik property was over the hills of the Brandon farm and across a too-long bridge suspended over the canal. But unlike most of the bigger land owners of that period Mr. Verkaik made a success of his venture, and under his guidance his family also succeeded, and together they laid the foundation for today's pretty and promising village. Mr. Verkaik was born in Haarlemmermeer, Holland, in 1883, coming to Canada and the Chatham area in 1926, where he farmed before coming to the Holland Marsh in 1934. When the sons of the family accepted responsibility for the big land acreage, Mr. Verkaik moved to Bradford where he built the pretty home now owned by Mr. N. Porter on Barrie Street, and where he and Mrs. Verkaik lived for several years. During this period he purchased the site and built the building known as the Verkaik block on Holland Street north. But Mr. and Mrs. Verkaik loved the marsh, they missed the convenient companionship of their family and friends there, and in 1950 they built a home in Springdale and returned to reside there close to seven of the nine members of their family. Surviving are his wife; five sons, namely, Jacob, George, Harry, Peter and Anthony, all of Springdale; and four daughters, Elizabeth (Mrs. Wm. Horlings) of Holland Marsh, Lena (Mrs. Harry Israels), Anne (Mrs. Stanley Mol), and Agnes (Mrs. Arthur Van Dyke), also of Springdale. A devout member of Springdale Christian Reformed Church, his funeral services were held from that church on Saturday afternoon, and were conducted by his minister, Rev. R. Wildschut, with a former minister, Rev. Vandermeer, now of Barrie, leading the graveside prayer. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were Messrs. Anthony Van Dyke, Jack Israels, Frank Janse, Anthony De Winter, Jacob Mann, and Harry Horlings.