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Henry Nyman: Preparations to Leave2005
Aalten, The Netherlands
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Many young immigrants traveled light, arriving in Canada with just a suitcase or two.3
Most families who immigrated also shipped a crate of household goods. The decisions on what to take were often made with very little knowledge of conditions in Canada. When answering the question "What did you bring with you to Canada?" our Dutch settlers spoke almost as often about things that were brought and either were not used or were widely available, or things that were left behind with regret.4
Mother's Sideboard31 January 2006
Trenton, Ontario
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Andrea on the Rock24 August 2006
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A favourite story was of a family who brought a flat stone they used to weigh down the cabbage in brine when making sauerkraut, since they came from an area of Holland where stones were hard to come by and they did not know if this useful item could be replaced in Canada. Many knew the story, but no one knew who had brought the rock. We thought this was a "rural legend," designed to illustrate how the immigrants were stepping into the unknown… and then the story acquired a name. Andrea Van Vliet Miller told the story about her maternal grandmother, and the point of it shifted from lack of knowledge to difficult, pragmatic choices and sacrifice. Maria Osterlee choose to bring her stone to press sauerkraut rather than a heirloom wall clock.7
Bakker Family unpack their crates1949
Cherry Valley, Ontario
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In most cases the crate arrived a few weeks after the family. Its arrival was an event, documented in family snapshots, and provided the comfort of a few familiar items from home. This tended to be particularly important to homesick wives, stranded in often quite primitive tenant houses, attempting to keep house, while husbands and children were out at work or school.The Bakker family unpack their crates outside their house in Cherry Valley, Ontario.
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CNR Freight Bill for the Tolkamp crateOctober, 1953
Bloomfield, Ontario
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The Prinzen packing crate1948
Milford, Ontario
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When the Prinzen family were preparing to immigrate in 1948 their father built two crates for their furniture and belongings. As instructed by the Holland American Line, their name and destination, was clearly painted on the outside. Their sponsor was Harry Grimmon who lived at R. 2 Milford, ON.12
Coat hangers from Aalten1948
Aalten, The Netherlands
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After their arrival this crate was used as a wardrobe. These coat hangers advertise businesses from their home town in Holland, including one run by a relative.14
The crate display case2005
Picton, Ontario
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