Reflecting tradition

Re: Revisiting history — April 24

I read John Kolb’s letter with interest and a chuckle. I’ve been a neighbour of the Joseph Schneider Haus much of my life. I recall the formerly divided Schneider/ Meyer home and went to Victoria School with one of the children of the family. It isn’t that long ago that married ladies were still known by their husband’s name — Mrs. Joseph Schneider, for example — so perhaps Barbara Schneider would indeed have a wry smile over the proposed name change to Schneider Haus.

I believe the name change is a mistake and Mr. Kolb inadvertently emphasized the point.

He refers to the family tradition of grinding meat for baloney sandwiches and then refers to “J.M. Schneider’s best.” To the rest of the community that is the other J.M. Schneider, the meat packer’s family and product. Without the “Joseph” in the name the two prominent families are hopelessly confused. According to tradition, the two J.M.s (Joseph Meyer and John Metz) got together and the first settler’s descendant changed his spelling to Snyder to avoid confusion. I have no doubt that many visitors will identify Schneider Haus as the home of the famous Schneider’s Meats, whose product made the town famous in past years.

We are in an age where new logos and stylized names seem the preferred alternative. The Joseph Schneider Haus is what history (at least in 1981) named the place and to avoid confusion, that’s what it should remain. The original fraktur logo reflects the Mennonite tradition, inherent in the home, not some slick interpretation suitable for a website.

Harold C.F. Russell Kitchener