by Alex J. Solis
MIDDFEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURES LOCAL FIRST FAMILIES AND
AREA DUTCH IMMIGRANTS
As
with all Middfest International celebrations, there are families in the
immediate area with ties to the featured country—The Netherlands. Those with
ties to The Netherlands will want to visit the First Families Exhibit during
Middfest International weekend, October 5-6-7, at One Donham Plaza in downtown
Middletown. Much research has already been done for those attempting to trace
their family history. Knowledgeable historians will be on hand to make
suggestions for finding even more family history.
Local residents with ties to the early settlers bear
names such as Meehan, Gorsuch, Vanderveer, Conover, Stoutenborough, Van Doren,
Van Dyke, Van Horne, Betzler, Barkalow/Barkelew, Lefferson, Monfoort/Monfort,
Schenck and Weineke.
One
local resident, Robert Weineke came to New Jersey in 1947 with his parents who after World War II, wanted
to avoid living between the US and Russian forces in Europe.
Young Bob Weineke, a sophomore in high school, knew some English and worked hard
to learn the Amrican ways. He graduated high school in
New
Jersey, was drafted
into the US Army, met his wife at his station in
Alaska and after finishing college in
New
Jersey as a Civil
Engineer, moved to Middletown to build a 16 year career with the City of
Middletown. He eventually
struck out on his own and from 1979-2000 owned RW Consultants. He “never looked back” and made the
Midwest his home once the family settled in
Middletown and returned to The Netherlands for the first time
since 1947 in 1999.
While Bob Weineke is a first generation immigrant, the
Dutch people began arriving in America in 1625 when the Garritson family arrived in
New
Amsterdam
(New
York) as a part of
the Dutch West
Indies fur trading project. Mr.
Garritson and sons, from a tiny farming village called Couwenhoden in
Utrecht province, became “paid farmers.” Five years later, other Dutch families were
allowed to come to America. The settlement
grew until the English conquered the Dutch in the early 1700’s and an exodus
began from New
Amsterdam to
New
Jersey’s
Monmouth County (containing a town named
Middletown, NJ).
From New Jersey, Dutch people began to move to the land
between two rivers (Great Miami and Little Miami) buying land at $1.25 per acre
from a New Jersey Judge William C Simms who had purchase some 310,000 acres of
land from the US Congress. It seems he
sold what he owned and even more, due to a lack of good maping. This move west
began in the 1780’s – about the time the American Revolutionary War was causing
fear in the hearts of many colonial families.
According to Harriet Foley, author of
“Carlisle: The Jersey Settlement in
Ohio” and “History of Franklin in the Great Miami Valley,” the New Jersey Presbyterian Church in
Carlisle was built in 1813.
The first church in Carlisle was an exact replica of the church settlers had
attended in New
Jersey. Even the
cemetery was laid out in the same order based on the family’s importance in the
community.
Guests at Middfest International will learn even more
details about the importance of the Dutch people to the settlement of
SW Ohio and how today’s Dutch people figure into world trade,
food exports and much more.
The
2007 Middfest International weekend features The Netherlands and is the
culmination of a year-long educational program. Dutch and other international
guests will entertain with the art, culture, music, dance, history, science, food, religion, education,
literature, film, sport, business and life styles of the Dutch people as well as
other areas of the world.
The
event dates and times are:Friday, October 5, 5:30-10 pm, Saturday, October 6, 10 am–10 pm,
Sunday, October 7, 12 pm–8 pm, (Exhibits close Sunday at 6 pm for the Grand Finale on the outdoor
stage)
Adult guests are asked to purchase a $5 souvenir badge
which allows admission for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are
free.
Middfest is an indoor/outdoor event surrounding
One
Donham Plaza in downtown Middletown, Ohio.
Take I-75, Exit 32 and follow signs and SR 122 to
downtown.
For
more information visit www.middfestinternational.org or call
513-425-7707.
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