Significant milestones and special occasions at Brubacher House
While Brubacher House artifacts remained in the 1850s, life in the upstairs apartment carried on. Many birthdays and special occasions have been and continue to be celebrated by the custodians and hosts of Brubacher House.
Beginnings
Weddings
March 4, 1980 – Nancy and Ted’s wedding “reception” with family.
July 10, 2004 – Chris Steingart and Jillian Burkhardt had their wedding photos taken at Brubacher House.
“Having the Brubacher house as the backdrop for our wedding photographs was a unique opportunity. While there were always several wedding parties to show up on a summer weekend to take pictures around the property, we felt special that we had the ability to take some unique indoor shots in the museum as well!”
Births
There were four babies born while their parents lived at the Brubacher House.
Dec. 1, 2019 – Oran Isaac Enns was born at Brubacher House, in a home birth attended by St. Jacobs Midwives.
June 2003 – Naomi Wiebe was born while Colin and Jennie were hosts at the Brubacher House.
July 19, 1996 – Allegra Friesen Epp was born.
June 6, 1999 – Bryn Friesen Epp was born.
“It was special that two of our children were born in the house with midwives - continuing the practice of home-births so commonplace at the time of the Brubachers. It felt like we had a kinship with them :).”
“On a personal note, we received permission from BH and U of W to plant two trees after the birth of our first two children born in BH. We planted a gingko for our first-born and a Japanese Ivory Silk for our second. The gingko is right beside the BH sign, and the Ivory Silk is near it.”
“Our son was born 5 months after we left so his beginnings were while we were there.”
Graduations
June 2001 – Showing off the newest addition to the family ring collection: Colin’s iron ring (UWaterloo Engineering graduation).
October 2003 – Colin graduated with his Masters of Applied Science.
June 2008 – Bethany graduated with a Masters in Library and Information Science
Wedding Anniversaries
Paul and Edna Hunsberger as well as Howard and Carol Gimbel celebrated their 40th wedding anniversaries while they were hosts.
Other Milestones
Ida Habermehl and Dorothy Bean obtained their Canadian citizenship:
Jan. 31, 1986 – Ida became a Canadian citizen in Waterloo.
Feb. 28, 1986 – [Dorothy] To immigration and became Canadian citizen. Received pin and card.