The Neubergthal Heritage Foundation facilitates public tours of the buildings and grounds and hosts private functions and culturally relevant educational events while aiming to preserve and promote the story of the Neubergthal.
Learn about the history of the village below, explore our site and contact us anytime for more information.
NHF was incorporated in 1997 as a non-profit organization and registered charity, registered through the province of Manitoba. Donate today!
Historic Portraits of Neubergthal
Discover a remarkable collection of historic photographs by 19th-century portraitist Peter Gerhard Hamm, (1883–1965), below. These photos capture the everyday lives of the villagers of Neubergthal offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the heritage of this unique community.
First two photos below: Neubergthal, 1920s. Hog butchering event, “Schwienschlachte”. Unknown villagers, P. G. Hamm, 1920s. Neubergthal Village Store, early 1900s. Unknown villagers. P. G. Hamm, 1900s.
The first settlers moved from villages east of the Red River to the west, looking for fertile farmland. Migration to the new village of Neubergthal was based on family relations, which can be seen in the surnames and marriage patterns of the first inhabitants.
Neubergthal was settled in late 1870s by a group of Mennonite families who had, only a few years prior, emigrated from Russia. In contrast to the East Reserve settlements, the agricultural potential of the land on the West Reserve was apparent, despite the difficulties of settling on open, tall grass prairie, the scarcity of wood, and its distance from a water source.
With steadfast persistence, the village was settled in a way that reflected the settlers’ collective experience and worldview—a merging of Dutch, German, and Russian architectural styles, and a combination of private and communal spaces for farming and dwelling.
Source: Neubergthal: A Mennonite Street Village, A Sense of Place with Deep Roots (2013)Photos below: Neubergthal, 1920s. Village woman feeds chickens in front of chicken coop. Unknown villager. P. G. Hamm, 1920s. Neubergthal, 1920s, Villagers pose on village yard for a group portrait at community gathering. Unknown villagers. P. G. Hamm, 1930s.
Photos below: Neubergthal, 1920s. Two young village men pose for a portrait in front of P. G. Hamm’s iconic photo backdrop. Unknown villagers. P. G. Hamm, 1920s. Neubergthal, 1920s. Two village men pose on horses in front of housebarn. Unknown villagers. P. G. Hamm, 1920s.
Interested in seeing more historic portrait photography?
Check out Mennonite Village Photography: Views from Manitoba 1890–1940
A beautiful collection of never-before-seen photographs left behind by four Manitoba Mennonite photographers published by the Mennonite Historic Arts Committee.