‘Hayloft Kroeger’

Kroeger Clock no. 1285, ca. 1890 (MC0224)

Eleanor (Rempel) Isaak donated this clock to Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, in 2014. This clock was most likely brought over from Russia by Cornelius and Aganetha Peters (donor’s paternal grandparents) in 1926. It was later found in the hayloft of the barn belonging to David Rempel (donor’s father), and his half-sister and step-brother, John and Mary Peters of Saskatchewan. David Rempel 'rescued' the clock from the hayloft and brought it home to Winnipeg.

Arthur Kroeger repaired and restored the clock in 1989 and commissioned artist Marlene Neustaedter to restore the face to its original elegance.

• Description Thirty-hour wall clock with pendulum and weight-driven movement, made by Kroeger Clockmakers in Rosenthal, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) ca. 1890, serial number 1285. Arched dial with a raised chapter ring is light with a double black border around the perimeter. Arch is decorated with hand-painted brown scrolls with a starburst in the centre of the design. Spandrels are also hand-painted brown scrolls. Chapter ring is white with black Roman numerals and has white outer rings marking the minutes and quarter hours. Two hands; chain drive; two weights.

• Mennonite Clock Number MC0224

• Object Name Kroeger Clock

• Serial Number 1285

• Mennonite Heritage Village Accession Number 2014.38.1

• Date Created ca. 1890

• Maker Kroeger Clockmakers

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

• Other Markings No. 1285 (stamped on mechanism); V and two dots (stamped on iron plates, back of gearbox interior and interior of doors); D. Kroeger Rosenthal (etched on back of pendulum); Made by D.D. Kroeger ca. 1905 / in Rosenthal, Ukraine / Restored by Arthur Kroeger 1989 / in Winnipeg (written on back of face)

• Movement Type Iron plate

• Owner Mennonite Heritage Village

• Notes The weights may be from another clock and added later since their design is not typical of Kroeger clock weights.