Larry Lavitt
 
Bender Hamlet - Monuments
First plaque on the cairn at Bender

BENDER HAMLET
NW 1/4 36 19 1W

Around this site at the beginning of the twentieth century, a group of European Jewish immigrants, led by Jacob Bender, established the first Jewish farm colony in Manitoba. By the labor of their own hands they broke the difficult terrain and built their homes, synagogue, school and cemetery. By 1906 Bender Hamlet had become a pioneer homesteading community of one hundred fifty men, women and children. Here they lived freely as Jews, openly practised their religion and followed the ancient traditions of their forefathers.

The determined struggle of these courageous settlers on this remote and inaccessible land lasted for over a quarter of a century. With the exodus of young people to the city, the older generation could no longer farm the land and it was gradually abandoned. Today, all that remains of Bender Hamlet are the foundations of the homes, the demarcation lines of the lots, and a small cemetery.

The stones the pioneers cleared from the fields over the years were used to mark the lot lines. This cairn is built from these stones.

THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO, AND HONORS THE FOLLOWING PIONEER FAMILIES:
erected October 1986
dedicated June 1987

Second plaque on the cairn at Bender
 

Arber, Max & Rifka
Arber, Nathan & Ettie
Arber, Pinchas & Channah
Bender, Jacob & Oora
Bergal, Moishe & Gitel
Brodovsky, Chaim, Joseph & Rochel
Brodovsky, Maishe & Chanah
Brodsky, Morris & Fanny
Brussels
Dana, Joe
Dixon, Isaac & Sarah
Fedos, Peter & Rachel
Feldman, Morris & Malka
Fireman, Charles & Rose
Fireman, Jacob
Freedman, Jacob & Fanny
Gerber, Jacob & Jennie
Gilman, Louis & Ida
Goldberg, Alesander
Goldberg, Daniel
Goldberg, Israel
Goldberg, Philip
Goldberg, Ruchel Leah
Gordon, Benjamin & Molly

Gordon, Joseph & Ida
Green, Morris & Julia
Greenberg, Wolf & Rachel
Jacobson, Solomon & Katie
Lavitt, Joseph Yehuda & Charna Sureh
Lavitt, Sholom Friedel & Kayla
Levergrant, Max
Leverhant, Isaac
Leverhant, Joseph & Eva Miriam
Livergrant, Solomon
Livergrant, Sam
Ludwig, Hyman & Sonia
Matthews, Samuel & Galla
Melonchik, Jacob & Mierka
Posen, Chaim & Ethel
Prasow Brothers
Racklin, Lazar & Chai Dvera
Rodin, Eli & Basha
Shukster, Manya & Freida
Warshawsky, Hyman & Sophia
Winegratsky, Shmiel Leib & Sureh
Winestock, Max & Esther
Yarmos, Sam & Rochel
Yidashkin, Chaim Leib & Mary

Province of Manitoba Historical Site Marker
 

BENDER HAMLET

The first Jewish farm colony in Manitoba was founded here in 1903. Named for its founder, Jacob Bender, who immigrated from Nikolaiev in the Ukraine, Bender Hamlet occupied the northwest corner of Section 36, Township 19, Range 1 West.

Here in village fashion 19 families built their homes, a synagogue and a school to maintain their religious and cultural life. Social isolation, poor soil and falling cattle prices led to the decline of the community. Gradually families left and by 1927 the colony was abandoned.

THE HISTORIC SITES ADVISORY BOARD OF MANITOBA

Gate and plaque at the cemetery
Plaque at the entrance to the cemetery

BENDER
HAMLET
CEMETERY

Morris
Green
15 June 1923

 

 

Joseph Yehuda
Lavitt
Nov. 1913

Pinchas
Arber
1916

 

Charna
Lavitt
2 June 1917

 

 

 

Hyman Isaac
Brodovsky
8 May 1920

Arber, Treibel
Arber Child
Gorback Child
Green Boy
Posen, Mottel
Yidashkin Child
Yidashkin Child

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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