Mitchell – kehler.ca

Mitchell Memorial Park

Sunday, January 19, 2020 was an emotional night in Mitchell, MB when over 400 people braved the winter night to attend the official opening of the Mitchell Memorial Park. The park, built on the arena grounds between the outdoor hockey rink and tennis courts, consists of an outdoor pleasure skating area and in the center is an evergreen tree. Surrounding the rink is a path with several park benches along the perimeter. Park benches are sponsored by community families in remembrance of their loved ones.

The Kehler name is well known in the community of Mitchell, the area west of Steinbach, Manitoba. Early pioneer Jacob “Berliner” Kehler moved his growing family to farm here in 1891, where he began to build barns and buy livestock. The area was called Ebenfeld, modern-day Mitchell. After the death of Berliner Kehler, the family farm and land were sold to the Alfred Stahn family. Today there are fourth, fifth and sixth generations of Berliner Kehlers in Mitchell. Continue reading “Mitchell Memorial Park”

Former Ebenfeld School to be Moved

There is a lot of history at the corner of Highway 52 and Centre Street North in Mitchell.

The half-acre or so of land on the west side of Centre Street North is the location of the popular Ham Dog House, but that building wasn’t always a restaurant, it was originally built as a school house to provide local children with education.

Over the years it has been a gathering place for the people of the community, but now there are plans to move the building for the development of a condominium complex. Continue reading “Former Ebenfeld School to be Moved”

A Century in the Life of Steinbach’s Kehler Clan

In August, the Kehlers held a one-day reunion in the Mitchell Arena, near Steinbach. Both physically and symbolically an arena is the proper place for a Kehler clan reunion.

Mennonite Mirror, October 1979

The Kehlers living in the wider Steinbach region are a truly remarkable clan. Not only are they as numerous as chokecherries in August, but like chokecherries they grow in dense family clusters in close proximity to each other. There the comparison breaks down. Chokecherries are silent, waiting to be picked. The Kehlers are never silent and anything but passive. They are active, spirited and vocal – if not downright gabby. They never stop talking and when they have nothing more to say they go on talking for the sheer pleasure of it. When Kehlers get together the air turns into a whirlwind of words and laughter. As the Kehlers themselves like to say: ‘Never bury a Kehler until you’ve made sure his mouth is dead too.’

Susan Kehler Wieler and Syd Reimer — Aunt Susan takes the mike from Syd Reimer at the Kehler clan gathering in Mitchell

In August, the Kehlers held a one-day reunion in the Mitchell Arena, near Steinbach. Both physically and symbolically an arena is the proper place for a Kehler clan reunion. In this case the site was fitting for another reason. The new arena in Mitchell happens to be built on what was once the south-east corner of the original Kehler family farm. Local residents waited nervously for this momentous gathering of the clan. Many made plans to be away from home that weekend, hoping that the neighborhood would not have been declared a disaster area when they got back. Some took new comfort in the hope that their brand new arena was sturdy enough to withstand the vocal onslaughts of hundreds of celebrating Kehlers of all ages. Continue reading “A Century in the Life of Steinbach’s Kehler Clan”