The Tourist Hotel, a Polish liqueaur, and Mennonites in Steinbach; what do they have in common? – SteinbachOnline.com

The Mennonite Heritage Village Museum (MHV) in Steinbach is teaming up with local business The Public to host a unique evening of stories, music, and history. The event, titled MHV at The Public: From the Vistula Delta to the Tourist Hotel, kicks off at 7:00 PM, and it’s shaping up to be a memorable night for all who attend. 

Nathan Dyck from the Mennonite Heritage Village shared more about what attendees can expect.  

“Anyone who grew up in Steinbach, before my time, will remember the Tourist Hotel. It was an institution on Main Street. It was a two-story hotel next to Earl’s Meat Market, with a bar that was only open to men, as far as I’ve heard. There are all kinds of myths and stories about the place, like people sneaking in to have an underage beer. It’s the kind of place that has a lot of interesting history to tell.” 

This event will take a trip down memory lane, with a focus on the famous Steinbach Tourist Hotel, while also exploring Mennonite history. Dyck continues.  

“We’ve got Andrew and Erin Unger, who recently travelled to Poland, from where Mennonites first settled in the 1500s. And now they’ll share their travel stories and talk about the Mennonite connection to Poland, including the history behind a famous liqueur called “Goldwasser, created by Ambrosius Vermeulen, who started a, now famous distillery in Poland. It’s going to be fascinating to hear their stories, as they explored the Vistula Delta and learned about their family history.” 

But the evening won’t just be about history – it’s also about bringing people together, Dyck adds that along with Andrew and Erin’s travel stories, Mitch Toews, the author of Pinching Zweebach, will share his own tales about the Tourist Hotel.  

“Mitch knows a lot of people who have stories to tell about the place, and he’s going to bring those to life. I believe it’s going to be really engaging.” 

Music will also be a big part of the evening. “Paul Bergman will be performing, telling stories and singing songs,” Dyck added. “There will be beer, snacks, and all-around good vibes.” 

While the event is free to attend, Dyck encourages people to bring their wallets.  

“We’ll be accepting donations for the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum, plus we’ve got a great book for sale called Menno-Nightcaps – it makes a perfect Christmas gift.” 

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, November 30th, at 7:00 PM. Bring your friends, enjoy some local beer, learn about history, and support the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum in the process. It’s sure to be an unforgettable evening. 

“We just want to have a great time, tell some stories, and make this a fun, enjoyable night for everyone.”