A group of men during their time of Alternative Service. Jakob Bergen, Elvera’s father is seated, the 3rd from the left. The man seated 1st at the left may by Martin Duerksen, brother-in-law of Jakob Bergen. This is one of four pictures which he sent home to the family while working in Alternative Service during WW I. See M2004Goe # 3, 4, and 5 which are related to Alternative Service.
Photo is of a log cabin on the grounds of the Twilight Resort in Montreal River Harbour, Ontario. The cabin housed Mennonite Alternative Service men during World War II. Carved into one of the logs are the names of Alternative Service workers Wilmer Wagler (Shakespeare, Ontario), Emerson Wagler (Shakespeare, Ontario), Moses G. Martin and Joe Martin (Wallenstein, Ontario). The man identified as Moses G. Martin could possibly be Morris Martin or Mahlon Martin; no Moses G. Martin is found in the Alternative Service lists.
A group photograph of men in the "forstei" (forestry service), the alternative service program for Russian Mennonite conscientious objectors. Written on back: "N. Fransen (oberste Reihe, der 6th von Rechts) geboren den 1879 in Mariawohl, Sued-Russland. Aufname in Iswar, bei Leningrad, dienste daselbst von 1915-1917." Translation: N. Fransen (top row, 6th from right) born 1879 in Mariawohl, South Russia. Taken in Iswar near Leningrad, served there from 1915-1917.
The album contains photographs of Cressman's time as a conscientious objector in Alternative Service in British Columbia from 1942-1943. Although primarily based at the Goldstream (Langford) camp, Cressman and the other COs sometimes worked in the local community or in other CO camps on Vancouver Island. Most of the men in the photographs are fellow COs from Ontario, along with a few staff of the British Columbia Forestry Service.