Menno House

Title: Menno House Association fonds

Dates of creation: 1956-1966

Physical description: 12 cm of textual records; 10 photographs

Administrative history: Menno House opened in 1956 in a rented house at 551 Dovercourt Road in Toronto. It was formed by a group of young Mennonite men - university students and recent graduates who felt the need to establish a supportive organization while studying or working in the city. The twelve residents governed themselves through a Menno House Association; three interested churchmen acted as trustees. When more space was needed, a house was purchased at 479 Palmerston Blvd. In order to purchase the house, Menno House Realty Limited was formed and subsequently rented the new house to the Menno House Association. The Palmerston house had 15 residents, and five associated members lived nearby.

The group became involved in youth leadership at Toronto United Mennonite Church. Young Mennonite women attended events, though the residence remained open only to men. One resident estimated that "hundreds of people" lived at Menno House during its lifetime; in addition to the core group, some came for short-term courses or the MCC "Students-in-Industry" summer work-study program.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2023 by Aldred and Erna Neufeldt

Scope and content: Contains reports, histories, constitutions, correspondence, applications, financial records, a guest book, and photographs that together illustrate the formal and informal history of Menno House.

Notes: See also MCC (Ontario): XIV-3.1.3.1/1 Box 1 - Misc - Pre-MCC (Ontario) "Menno House."
Original archival description created 2023 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
 

File list:

1. Reports and histories
   Note: Includes a "Report on Recent Trip to Mennonite Students at University" by Roy Vogt and Adolf Ens, [196?]
2. Constitutions
3. Correspondence, [19--], 1956-1963, 1965-1966
4. Duties
5. Applications (residents)
6. Applications (did not become residents)
   Note: Also includes a list of applications for 1960
7. Guest book, likely from open house events, Nov 1959-Jan 1962
8. Financial records
   Receipt and deposit book, Nov 1958-1963
   Account book, Apr 1959-Feb 1961
9. Photographs