Image by G.C. from Pixabay
The Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Centre is set to host a presentation next month exploring the history of German and Wendish settlers in the Ottawa Valley during the late 19th century.
Researcher Mark Woermke will present “The Woods and Stones Around Us: The Wesleyan Methodist Mission to the Germans and Wends of the Ottawa Valley 1860–1880” on June 20 at 1 p.m. at the heritage centre in Pembroke.
The talk will examine the Wesleyan Methodist Church’s “German Work,” a domestic mission launched in 1860 to serve German immigrants in southwestern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley.
Drawing on mission reports, autobiographies, land records and other historical documents, Woermke will discuss the role the mission played in the lives of German and Wendish settlers, particularly in Renfrew County.
The presentation will also explore the mission’s influence on migration patterns, identify families who converted to Methodism and share stories about settlers and missionaries in the region.
Organizers say the event is part of the heritage centre’s ongoing efforts to promote regional history and community engagement through accessible programming.
The Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Centre is located at 1032 Pembroke St. E. Admission is by donation, and refreshments will be available.
Operated by the Ottawa Valley Historical Society, the heritage centre houses a collection of more than 10,000 artifacts related to local history and culture.
(Steve Berard)
