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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 : Friday, May 16, 1952
Event Type : Marriage

Description : Jeanne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Matthews, to Michael Havinga, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Havinga, all of the Holland Marsh. The wedding took place at the Christian Reformed Church, Ansnorveld. Rev. S. G. Brondsema of Toronto officiated. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Henrietta Matthews, as maid of honour, and by her cousins, Miss Rena Van Zuiden and Miss Jean Hagan as bridesmaids. Little nieces of the groom, Marianne and Thelma Miedema, were the flower girls. Mr. Ralph Havinga of Windsor was his brother's groomsman and the ushers were Messrs. Sidney Van Dyke and Fred Havinga. The bride's aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Flack, were host and hostess to the guests for afternoon tea. Mr. George Horlings, the bride's uncle, was master of ceremonies at the reception in the Community Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Havinga will reside in Toronto. Before her marriage several showers "of gifts were held in honour of the bride who has been a member of the office staff at Holland River Gardens Co. Limited. "

Event Date : Wednesday, June 27, 1956
Event Type : Death

Description : Mr. Ralph Matthews' very sudden death, as the result of a heart attack, shortly after arriving for his day's business at Holland River Gardens Co. Limited on Wednesday morning, June 27, has left a vacancy in his home, in his church, among the Holland Marsh people, and among his many friends in Bradford. His cheerful disposition and friendly smile had made him a friend to all who knew him. Mr. Matthews was born in Holland, and emigrated to this country thirty-one years ago. Before leaving Holland he became engaged to Elsie Horlings and the following year she came to Chatham, Ontario, where they were married. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews established their home in Windsor and there their two daughters, Henrietta (Mrs. Sidney Van Dyke) of the Holland Marsh, and Jeanne (Mrs. Michael Havinga) of London, Ontario, were born. In August of 1946, when Bradford's first vegetable packing plant, Holland River Gardens Co. Limited, was opened, with his brother-in-law, George Horlings, then the vice-president and general manager, Ralph Matthews resigned his position as foreman in an industrial plant in Windsor to join the company here. His home was on the Holland Marsh. His church was the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church. His friendships were among the members of that congregation and few weddings from that church were complete without a reception following at which Ralph Matthews was master of ceremonies. But his friendships were not confined to his Canadian fellow countrymen. He was an enthusiastic bowler and was a member of the Bradford Men's Bowling Club, where at the annual closing social evenings he was always an asset as a leader. His friendships knew no barriers of race or creed. All good people who knew Ralph Matthews were pleased to call him friend. He is survived by his wife and his two daughters. Two sisters and two brothers reside in Holland and three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Matthews returned to their native land and visited their relatives there. Though his immediate family did not follow him to this country, his family relationships were numerous in this community by his marriage into one of the pioneer marshland families here. His funeral was from the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church with his minister, Rev. P. Lagerwey, conducting the services. Six nephews, namely, Wm. Winter, Gerald Verkaik, Harry Horlings, Richard Hyma, Louis Tamminga and George Hulsman were the pallbearers. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Friday, June 26, 1953
Event Type : Marriage

Description : At the Christian Reformed Church, Ansnorveld by Rev. Brondsema of Toronto. Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Matthews, Ansnorveld to the son of Mr. & Mrs. John Van Dyke, Holland Marsh. The bride's sister, Mrs. Havinga was Matron of Honour; bridesmaid Miss Knapper, junior bridesmaid was the bride's cousin, Joanne Horlings. Groomsman was the groom's brother Robert Van Dyke; ushers were Michael Havinga brother-in-law of the bride and Sidney Miedema. The bride is a member of the teaching staff of the Christian School, Ansnorveld. They will reside in their new home on the marsh.