A project to recognize two of the Mennonite church and local community’s most historically significant pioneer citizens and one overlooked minister is underway by the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario Chapter of the Twenty.
Society President Larry Rittenhouse said two memorial grave markers to honour Valentine Kratz, the church’s first minister, from 1801 to 1824, and Samuel Moyer, the area’s first school teacher and chorister at The First Mennonite Church Vineland will be erected in the old Vineland Mennonite Cemetery.
“One preached on Sunday and the other taught school through the week’,” said Rittenhouse referring to the first log meeting house on the property that served as both church and school.
Read the full article by Joanne McDonald in the June 12, 2009 edition of Niagara This Week.
