‘Valentine’ Clock

Kroeger Clock no. 2806, ca. 1890 (MC0024)

It is unclear when this clock came to Canada; either it was brought by Mennonite immigrants between ca. 1895 and ca. 1918, or it was ordered from the Kroeger factory and shipped directly to Canada.

J. Loewen, a Mennonite bishop, presented this clock to Valentine Winkler (1864–1920), a Manitoba politician for whom the town of Winkler was named, around 1917–1918. According to correspondence between the donor and John C. Reimer at Mennonite Heritage Village, the bishop might have been planning to move to Mexico, and wanted to thank Winkler for his efforts on behalf of the Mennonite people. Winkler died of diabetes in Morden, Manitoba, only a couple years after receiving the clock.

Winkler's widow, Josephine (Rombough) Winkler (1863–1956), inherited the clock after her husband's death. Her youngest daughter, also Josephine, married Frederick Henry Augustus Klein in 1930 and moved to Georgia, USA, with him. Josephine Winkler moved to Georgia as well, and passed the clock on to her daughter after her death. Josephine (Winkler) Klein (1901–1990) donated the clock to Mennonite Heritage Village when she moved out of her home to a smaller apartment.

The original two small weights from this clock were misplaced, but on February 3, 1992, Arthur Kroeger brought two replicas, which he made specifically for the museum.

• Description Thirty-hour wall clock with pendulum and weight-driven movement, made by Kroeger Clockmakers in Rosenthal, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) ca. 1895, serial number 2806. Arched dial with a raised chapter ring is light with a single black border around the perimeter. Arch has a decal of a wood cottage with a path leading up to it and trees on either side. Spandrels are gold scroll decals. White chapter ring with black Roman numerals. Although this clock has a calendar function, there are no numbers denoting the date. Three hands; bell and calendar functions; chain drive; four weights.

• Mennonite Clock Number MC0024

• Object Name Kroeger Clock

• Serial Number 2806

• Mennonite Heritage Village Accession Number 1974.20.1

• Date Created ca. 1890

• Maker Kroeger Clockmakers

• Location Made Rosenthal, Chortitza Colony, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)

• Other Markings 2819 (painted on the back of the face); No. 2806 (stamped on mechanism); 1 (stamped on brass plates, some gears, and all three hands); Made by / D. Krögers Russia for / J. Loewen / Rosengard Man. / Presented to / Hon. V Winkler / W.G. (engraved on back of pendulum)

• Movement Type Brass frame

• Functions Bell, Calendar

• Owner Mennonite Heritage Village

• Publications Arthur Kroeger, Kroeger Clocks (Steinbach, MB: Mennonite Heritage Village, 2012), pp. 145–147.

• Notes This clock typically hangs in the ‘Groote Stow’ or parlour in the Chortitz Housebarn at Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba, between May and October.