Anna Neufeld 18/10/13
It was in the year 1968 in late summer when we with our family of four children aged 11, 9, 6, and 4 sold our comfortable home on Brisbois Drive in Calgary and moved to Sudbury, Ontario then called the Nickel Capital of the World.
Dick and brother-in-law Abe Hildebrandt had already transported our earthly goods to the city of Sudbury. I now have no idea where the five of us stayed while the furniture move was taking place.
As far as traveling arrangements to Sudbury were concerned, we had reserved sleeping accommodations with the railway. On the day of our departure we were informed there was no such reservation and yet I had the tickets in my hand. We were given sleeping units but the arrangements were unsatisfactory making for a rather stressful trip for some of us. I recall I spent a good bit of night time standing in the isle looking out of the window watching the world rush by. We did, however, arrive safely and were soon introduced to the townhouse rented for us by the Mission Board which was Dick’s new employer.
In September Ken, Phil, and Karen started school riding in a school bus to and from school. Dick began the arduous job of defining what he would actually do. He together with some other folks decided on establishing a half way house for alcoholics. Eventually a property was purchased and “Rockhaven” became a reality. The home for recovering alcoholics and other substance abuse men and women is still functioning.
In due time we bought a house on Hastings Crescent and felt our living conditions greatly improved. We were situated on the outskirts of the city so beyond the fence in our back yard we had a wide open space. Lynnette, not yet in school, was literally set free. She and the blond little fellow from next door spent the whole day roaming around in that open space beyond our fence. All I needed to do was look out for the two children, one with a very blond head, to put my mind at ease.
Dick was very busy but we felt the need to provide some activity for our growing children and for me as well. We decided on an office cleaning business. It was a successful business venture.
Sudbury at that time was not too attractive what with the denuded hillsides and the mounds of black slag dominating the environment. The surrounding country side, however, was stunning: trees, lakes, rivers, rocks, bear, deer, loons, herons, etc. The urge to buy lakeside property grew stronger and in1969 we together with John and Marie Zacharias from the Waters Mennonite Church bought 160 acres of land near Noelville, east of Sudbury. A lovely,idyllic lake ran through the middle of the property. We immediately dreamed of the garden we would plant on the cultivated portion of the land. We did not even think that the wild animals in the area would have first picks of anything we might plant.
Since we had no camping equipment etc. we stayed in a tourist camp known as Bear Lake Camp very near our newly purchased property. The Zacharias family almost immediately built a cabin near the Lake and it remains there today as it was some 44 years ago. We soon purchased a camper and parked it in among the trees some distance from the cabin and the lake. As back then there is no electricity, no plumbing, and no source of drinking water. None the less, everyone loved the place, even our dog Lucy. The property was referred to as the “farm”. All we needed to do was speak about the “farm” and Lucy knew what we were planning. On Saturday morning she would smell Dick’s pants and could then hardly wait until we were ready to leave. We finally let her get into the car and wait just to get her out from under our feet. Upon arrival at the cabin she jumped from the car and disappeared among the bushes, coming back only to be fed.
As soon as the warm spring days were upon us we ventured out to get the long anticipated garden under way. We planted many varieties of vegetable seeds. Unfortunately the wild animals had been watching and observing us and since they were there all the time they got the first pick of the crops. The only thing we benefited from was the sunflowers.
Observe the picture of Lynnette beside the lovely sunflower plant.
Then one day we found Adam in his Garden of Eden!
My parents came to visit as early as 1969. They too enjoyed the camp setting-witness the picture of my father showing off the fish. I do not recall whether he actually did the fishing or not, I assume he did not.
We had many visitors. One weekend in 1975 or 1976 we hosted a church retreat. All the Water’s Mennonite Church people gathered on the vacant field for a weekend of fun and fellowship. The only negative part of the experience happened when the ladies decided to mix the many different chilies that had come together. Obviously one chili pot had been contaminated and the whole batch of chili became lethal. The one toilet facility was taxed to the limit. I had resisted mixing my chili hence I was spared the unpleasant experience.
In 1976 we had an exceptionally hot spell over Easter. The temperature rose to +30 and more. Harriet and Nick Dyck and their boys plus Bill and Helen Kruger came to Sudbury for Easter. We decided it was an excellent opportunity to visit the “farm”. The Dyck boys plus Phil had a wonderful time breaking up the large beaver dam.
This must be about the time that John and Marie, our property partners, planned to relocate to Manitoba and their share of the property was up for sale. We did not feel we could afford to buy it so we approached my brother John. He and Liz were happy to buy in. They spent a lot of time at the cabin and thoroughly enjoyed it: they and their children as well. Liz liked to tell her bear story: She had been sitting in the easy chair beside the large window. Suddenly she was surprised by a bear standing outside the window looking in at her. John and Liz took good care of the place while we were all too far away to be able to visit the “farm”. I am not sure when it ceased to be the “farm”. It was then referred to as the cabin or cottage or Neufeld Lake.
The open field gave us much pleasure: wild strawberries and wild flowers. These the animals left for us.
Fishing was an important part of the Lake experience. Many a pike was pulled from the water and enjoyed by all fish lovers.
Then came our move to Calgary. Sadly the cabin would be out of reach for us. John, Liz and family continued to visit it and enjoy it. Before moving to Calgary, however, Dick and I drove to the cabin to spend several days camping. We had arranged to have the vacant lot planted with trees. Unfortunately we had chosen a very rainy few days and the planters could not come until the day we had to leave.
The tiny trees have grown tall and it has changed the look of the land. The lake and the cabin remain the same however. A recent trip by Ken, Cheryl and Dick bears witness to the fact that Neufeld Lake is still “the place” to go to for an ideal outdoor experience!
