©Mennonite Heritage Centre 2002
Last updated 07 April 2014                  

Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Title: North Star Mennonite Church fonds
Dates: 1956, 1962-2007
Extent: 36 cm of textual records; 1 photograph

Historical note

The congregation began services in the area around Drake, Saskatchewan in 1905, and formally organized on February 6, 1906. The initial Mennonite families that immigrated to the area originated from the Johannesthal and Bruderthal churches in Kansas and Alva, Oklahoma. The first building was occupied in 1907, with subsequent building programs in 1928 and 1956. John Gerbrandt is considered the founding leader of the group. During the early years services were held in his home. The congregation was also known as Nordstern Mennonite Church. For a time the congregation held separate services in two locations, in the building four miles west of Drake and also in the village where an additional building was erected in 1928. This was discontinued when a new building was constructed in Drake in 1956. This meeting house was expanded again in 1988 with an education wing. In 1938 the membership was 252, 261 in 1952, and 255 in 2000. The language transition from German to English took place in the 1960s. The leaders of the congregation were: John Gerbrandt (1906-1926), Henry Bartel (1926-1941), Jacob Gerbrandt (1940-1944), Edwin Bartel (1926-1981), Jacob Heinrichs (1940-1953), Wesley Ewert (1943-1944), Paul Schroeder (1943-1964), Ferd Ediger (1949-1985), Abe Neufeld (1949-1953), Jacob Friesen (1949-1952), John Friesen (1950-1952), Bernie Retzlaff (1964-1966), Isaac Epp (1964-1965), Henry Penner (1966-1970, 1990-1995), Henry Funk (1971-1986, 1988-1995), Herman Wiebe (1986-1999), Ken Quiring (2000- ).

Scope and content note

The fonds consists of bulletins (1962-2001), newsletters (1964-2001), a constitution (1969), annual reports (1974-1987), congregational meeting minutes (1974-1987), programmes (1981-1994),  congregational histories (1981-1996) and a large group photograph taken at the dedication and 50th anniversary in May 1956.

Finding aids

Inventory file list available.

Notes

Restrictions on access

No restrictions on access.

Other notes

Textual records have been deposited by the congregation at the Mennonite Heritage Centre on a regular basis. Described by Bert Friesen 22 February 2002. Updated by Alf Redekopp, 11 August 2010.

North Star Mennonite Church fonds file list:

Volume 67

4. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1962-1963)
5. North Star Mennonite Church newsletters (1964-1965), constitution (1969), annual reports (1974-1978), congregational meeting minutes (1974-1978), bulletins (1977-1979)
6. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1976)
7. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1977)
8. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1978)
9. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1979)
10. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1981), 75^th anniversary programme (1981), 75^th anniversary history brochure (1981), copy of founding documents in 1906 (1981)
11. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1982), men’s choir programme ([198-?]), annual reports (1982)
12. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1983), annual reports (1983)
13. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1984), annual reports (1984), congregrational meeting minutes (1984)

Volume 2952

1. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1985), funeral programmes (1985), annual reports (1985), congregational meeting minutes (1985)
2. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1986)
3. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1987), annual reports (1987), congregational meeting minutes (1987)
4. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1988), congregational office holders (1988)
5. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1989), newsletters (1989), funeral programmes (1989)
6. North Star Mennonite Church newsletters (1990)
7. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1991), newsletters (1991)

Volume 4265

1. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1992), newsletters (1992)
2. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1993), newsletters (1993), funeral programmes (1993)
3. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1994), newsletters (1994), funeral programmes (1994)
4. North Star Mennonite Church newsletters (1995), pictorial directory which includes a brief congregational history (1995); bulletins (1995)
5. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1996), newsletters (1996), 90^th anniversary history (1996)
6. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1997), newsletters (1997)
7. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1998), newsletters (1998)

Volume 4822

1. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (1999), newsletters (1999)
2. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2000), newsletters (2000)
3. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2001), newsletters (2001)
4. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2002)
5. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2003)
6. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2004)
7. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2005)
8. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2006)
9. North Star Mennonite Church bulletins (2007)