Hello folks! My mail man brought me the latest issue of this 'newsletter', published by Max Bork, max.bork@sympatico.ca and serving Eastern Ontario and West Quebec. It is a 20 page issue. There was an article printed pg.14, and I will bring you part of it for your information. There were also some pictures, including one of me and one with George McCallum and Rolf Piro. "220 Years of Hessian Settlement Celebrated" Article by Theresa Durning. Photos by Therese Durningand Rolf Piro. Two hundred and twenty years ago, the Hessians settled in North Marysburgh. On Saturday, August 21, their descendants flocked to the Rose House Museum to celebrate, share family stories and enjoy great food, music and story telling. Rose House is located in North Marysburgh (near Picton) and is on the property of the original settlement home of Peter Rose, a Quaker and his family. (Note: Peter Rose was originally a Hessian soldier with the Brunswick troops, but came independent from the Baron von Reitzenstein group) The Rose family settled in an area where disbanded German troops were homesteading. This group of German soldiers fought for His Majesty in the American Revolution. Many of the families that live in the area today are direct descendants of those early Loyalist refugees. An Ontario Heritage Plaque in front of the Rose House states: "Following the American Revolution, Marysburgh Township was established for the settlement of Loyalists and discharged soldiers of regular regiments. Surveyed in 1784 by the Honourable John Collins, Deputy Surveyor General, the township was named in honour of Princesss Mary, a daughter of King George III. Among its earliest settlers was a small group of disbanded German mercenaries under Baron von Reitzenstein. By October, 1784, this party, numbering about 40 persons, had settled in this vicinity and begun to clear and cultivate the land. Shorthly after, they erected a log chapel just west of here, and were ministered by Lutheran missionaries. This was one of the earliest German speaking roups to settle in Ontario." Rose House Museum Curator and family historian, Susan Rose, decided to team up with author/historian Johannes Merz for a celebration of the German history of North Marysburgh. John Helmut Merz presented a plaque commemorating the 220 years of German Settlement to Susan Rose. In his address to the group, Merz indicated that he was retiring from many years as a writer/researcher and that much of his collected and written works woud be donated to the Marilyn Adams Centre in Ameliasburg. Other special guests on hand were Elizabeth Hunter, Director of the County Museums; Councillor Monica Alyea, who brought greetings on behalf of the Mayor's office; Ian Reilly, Director of the Marilyn Adams Centre and representative of the Prince Edward Historical Society. Approximately 300 people exchanged family histories, genealogical information and caught up with family and friends. ====== So far the article - to mention is also that the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Klaus Rupprecht, sent greetings: "On the occasion of the 'Hessian Day' in Picton on August 21, 2004, commemomorating the first German settlement in Ontario by Hessian soldiers in 1784, I send you the warm greetings of the German Consulate in Toronto. I wish you and all participants in the festivities a wonderfulu day celebrating the important contributions of German settlers to the growth and success of Ontario and Canada." -- The Consul General also provided us with the German Flag which was flying from the Rose House roof, and also the many small paper flags, which were proudly waved by so many young visitors at the Rose House that day. Thanks again to everyone, it sure was a day to remember. Cheers, John Helmut Merz. Hamilton, Ontario.