A year of restoration, reflection and renewal was front and centre at the Neubergthal Heritage Foundation annual general meeting, as the organization continues to balance preservation with growth.
Foundation chair Paul Krahn said the past year brought both meaningful accomplishments and real challenges, but overall the organization is moving forward with a renewed sense of purpose.
“I feel a little more positive now,” Krahn said. “These kinds of places are too valuable to just let go.”
One of the foundation’s most significant achievements was the completion of work on the Klippenstein house, including a commercial kitchen and newly finished south-facing rooms designed to reflect the 1930s and 1940s era.
Krahn said seeing the space come together after years of planning has been especially rewarding.
“To have it restored to pretty close to the vision that the curatorial committee has had for a while, that really feels good.”
The addition of the commercial kitchen has also expanded the foundation’s ability to host events, something that remains central to its evolving role in the community.
Over the past year, the site hosted a range of activities, including weddings, cultural celebrations, and community gatherings.
While weddings proved popular, Krahn said the foundation is now carefully considering how the space is used moving forward.
“We had a really good year for weddings, and we’re not sure how eager we will be to be quite as active with doing that,” he said, noting a growing focus on educational and community-based programming.
That shift reflects a broader vision for the site as a place where history, culture, and community intersect. Events such as Low German programming, speaker series, and partnerships with organizations like Mennonite Central Committee are helping shape that direction.
“We love hosting those kinds of events,” Krahn said. “Bringing people together is really at the heart of what we’re trying to do.”
At the same time, the foundation continues to invest in infrastructure and long-term improvements. Plans are underway to enhance the Commons Barn, including a proposed sound baffling system designed to improve acoustics while respecting the building’s historic character.
Exterior painting is also set to begin, using historically appropriate materials to better preserve the site’s heritage buildings.
“These buildings require constant care,” Krahn said. “A lot of it is day-to-day maintenance, but when bigger work is needed, we rely on grants and community support.”
Staffing was another major theme at this year’s AGM. The organization experienced significant transition over the past year, including the departure of its administrator and the resignation of the site manager following an increasingly demanding workload.
Krahn acknowledged the challenges but said the foundation is now in a more stable position, with a new administrator and additional support staff in place.
“It was a tough year for staffing,” he said. “But we feel good about where we are now and about building from here.”
Like many volunteer-driven organizations, the foundation continues to rely heavily on board members and community volunteers to carry out its work, something Krahn described as both essential and increasingly difficult.
“Volunteer organizations are messy,” he said with a laugh. “But they’re also what make this possible.”
Looking ahead, the foundation hopes to expand its programming, strengthen partnerships, and deepen connections within the village and beyond. Ideas range from cultural events and school partnerships to new ways of sharing traditional practices and stories.
A key priority is ensuring the site remains relevant and welcoming, particularly for younger generations.
“The kids love this,” Krahn said. “When they come here and experience it hands-on, they really connect with it.”
He said encouraging families and young people to engage with the site will be critical to its long-term sustainability.
“We need to make this a place where people feel invited, where they can come together and appreciate what this represents,” he said.
Krahn also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between preserving history and serving a living community, noting that Neubergthal is not just a heritage site but an active village.
“There are real people living here,” he said. “We’re trying to preserve a story, but also be part of a community.”
As the foundation moves into the coming year, Krahn said the focus will remain on thoughtful growth, building on recent successes while staying true to its core mission.
“It’s about preserving the past in a way that still matters today.”
