1

Little Peter Willms posing with a flock of chickens
1942
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

2

In about 1900, before the Mennonites came to the Island, it was discovered that tobacco grew well in Pelee Island's soil. As a result, many families switched from grape-growing to tobacco farming. Thus the first Mennonite families to settle on the Island needed to grow tobacco - a new experience for them. Tobacco farming kept these families occupied for many months of the year.

3

John A. and Maria Wiebe's farm on Henderson Road
1927
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

4

In early spring, the tobacco seeds needed to be germinated: they were wrapped in dampened cheese cloth and placed in a warm spot until the sprouts showed, then planted in tobacco beds in early spring. These beds were kept covered with tobacco cotton to protect the seedlings from frost.

5

Jacob Dick and Neil Toews watering tobacco
Circa 1940
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

6

Once the seedlings had grown into little plants - about 6 to 8 inches tall - they were pulled, placed into containers such as boxes or baskets and planted in the field using one-row planters pulled by horses.

7

The weather is warm and it is tobacco planting time
1932
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

8

The weeds in the fields needed to be hoed regularly.

9

Jake Gossen, Robert Stoltz, and Howard Stoltz in the Stoltz tobacco field
1930
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

10

The next step consisted of suckering: pulling off excess shoots or growth from the tobacco plants, a back-breaking job.

11

Spudding time on the Jacob Epp farm
1927
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

12

Bernhard B. Konrad spudding tobacco on his farm on Parsons Road
1934
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

13

In early autumn, before frost, the burley and black tobacco plants needed to be cut, loaded on wagons and hung on tobacco sticks in the barn to cure.

14

Loading tobacco
1927
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association