Slawgorod [Slavgorod] children's festival 1917
- CA CMBS NP012-01-36
- Part
- 1917
Maria Neufeld nee Wiens, donor of the picture, writes, "This picture is of a children's festival of the Mennonite Brethren church in the city of Slavgorod, Siberia, in the summer of 1917. Of the 115 people I know the names of 55. I know the names of all the teachers. Teacher David Epp lies in the front. In the back row from left to right stands teacher David Siemens, A. Schellenberg and Fr. Georg. In the second row from the front, the 11th person from the left is teacher Tina Peters and [the 12th] Helene Huebert.. The latter is [ ] years old and lives here in Winnipeg in a nursing home. The 4th from the left in the top row is my brother Hans Wiens. As there has been no notification as to his fate, I am sending in this picture in his memory, in hopes of learning through someone were his grave is found. He went to the "Zentralschule", his teacher was Wilhemsen. In 1919 the white army took my brother with 14 other students and teacher Wilemsen away, directly from the school. After receiving mail three times, he vanished without a trace. Whoever recognizes himself on this picture, or knows anything about the whereabouts of my brother, please let us know. I am happy to share the names of the 55 people if I am sent a stamped, self addressed envelope. Whoever values this picture can get it through me.
With kind regards,
Maria Neufeld nee Wiens"
The following description of the circumstances surrounding the taking of the photo was included with the list of names:
“This is a photo of a children’s festival including teachers, taken in the city of Slavgorod in 1917. The festival took place in a large, new granary with a metal roof, so there was a huge racket when we had a big storm and a cloudburst. So we sang very loudly and heartily until all the noise stopped. Later poems were alsol recited. When the program ended there was lovely sunshine outside, without which we could not have taken the picture. Only the wooden benches were wet. And that I have remembered very well because of course I had on my Sunday dress.
I will write down the names which I still remember after 60 years, beginning with the top row. We left our picture in Russia so I have forgotten [many]. “
A note written on the page listing names for this picture describes the circumstances under which the picture was taken:
" This picture is of a children's festival with teachers in approximately 1917.
Names
- Mr. D. Siemens, teacher, Canada
- Mr. Schellenberg –died in Russia
- Mr. F. Georg – died in Russia
- Hans Wiens, my brother – vanished
- Jacob Lepp – died in Russia
- Jacob Buller – Russia ?
- Hans Engbrecht – Steinbach
- Heinrich Friesen - Russia ?
- Dietrich Engbrecht – Russia ?
- ? Hübert – died in Russia
- Dietrich Voth - Russia ?
- Peter Friesen – South America
- ? Driediger – Russia?
- Anna Siemens Voth – B.C., Canada
- Olga Friesen – Russia ?
- Manja Voth – Russia ?
- Lydia Driediger Neufeld – Russia
- Heinrich Voth – Russia ?
- Jacob P. Friesen – Canada
- Kornelius Wiens – died in Russia
- Peter K. Wiens [ ? ] – Russia
- Jacob Hübert [Vancouver ?] Canada
- Luischen Friesen – [? ] Canada
- Tina Schellenberg – [Grebel? ] Canada
- Greda Siemens – Canada
- David Engbrecht – died in Canada
- [? ] Epp – Russia
- Franz Schellenberg – died in Russia
- Franz Hübert – died in Russia
- Jacob Engbrecht – died in Canada
- Greta Wiens [?] – Gayz [? ] B.C. , Canada
- Justa Wiens – died in Canada
- R. Buller – died in Canada
- Mariechen Wiens Neufeld -[R ?]
- Neta Wiens Peters
- Tina Wiens H Fast – Canada
- Greta Schellenberg – Russia
- Anna Schellenberg – Russia
- Linna [?] Friesen – Germany
- Tina Peters, teacher – Russia
- Miss/Mrs. [Tante] Helene Hübert, teacher – in a nursing home in Canada
- Mila Friesen – Russia
- Justa Wiens, D. Kasper – Tashkent, Russia
- Liese Wiens, D. Tiessen – Germany, 3 sisters
- Katya Wiens [? Shermal] – Russia
- Jakob Wiens [?]
- Lydia Engbrecht Andres – died in Canada
- Katya Engbrecht [? Sheier ] – Canada
- Tina Toews, D. Dück - Canada
- Johan Dück’s daughter – Canada
- Johan Dück’s daughter – Canada
- David Siemens [Marichen] – Canada
- David Siemens [Tina] – Canada
- Tina Peters’ daughter – Canada
- Nyta [?] Friesen, Mrs. Fuchs – Canada
- Teacher Epp, father to number 27, Peter Epp with crutches – died in Russia
Unknown