Bork

(submitted by Ralph Bork and Debbie Bork)

The Bork family emigrated from Hoogeveen, in northern Holland, in 1952. After World War II, conditions in Holland, as in the rest of Europe, were grim. The future was not very promising. The family came on the S. S. Sibajak, a former troop transport ship. They disembarked at Quebec City: father Egbert, 37, mother Maria (Schepers, 35), and six children: twins John and Ralph, Sientje, Henry, Jack and Bert, ranging in age from one to ten years. Three more children were born in Canada: George, Fred and Bill.

They arrived in Watford by train, where they were met by their aunt and uncle, Grace and John Tamming. The Tammings had come from Holland three years earlier and they sponsored the Borks. Tammings lived in a huge farmhouse with a wrap-around verandah on the Egremont Rd. (then Highway 7), west of where 8378 Egremont Rd. is now. The Borks lived with them for several months, until they moved next door, to a house across the road from Franklin and Jeanette Adams.

This house had not been lived in for a long time. Egbert, with some help, fixed it up and repaired the roof. The house had no indoor plumbing, no electricity and an old cook stove for cooking and heating. It had no insulation, no storm windows or storm doors. It was all very primitive. There was no potable drinking water on the property, but Frank Adams allowed the family to use his water, which they carried in pails from his house. A year later, in 1953, the house was connected with hydro.

It must have been very difficult to adjust, especially for Maria, since in “the old country” they had all those amenities. Ralph says he doesn't ever recall her complaining. No power, washing by hand, a large growing family, language barriers, being away from family in Holland were things she lived with. Maria never did see her mother again after the family left Holland.

The children went to school at SS#11, Con. 2 SER (in the 8588 Zion Line area). There was a school closer, but because of the large influx of immigrants it was full, so they had to spread the children around to wherever there was room. Miss Florence Edwards was the teacher. It must have been quite a challenge for her, a one-room school, 8 grades, not to mention teaching English to about 20 newcomers. The Bork children would walk east along the highway about 1 mile, to Jim Williams' garage (Karl's Trucking in 2007) at the corner of Egremont Rd. and Arkona Rd., from where they rode to school in a converted station wagon driven by Harvey Beamer, an older man.

Bork family before coming to Canada, 1952: Back: Ralph, Egbert (father), Sientje, Maria (mother). Front: Henry, Jack, Bert (on mother’s knee), John. Courtesy R Bork.

The sideroad would be washed out in places during spring rains and storms such as Hurricane Hazel (1953). In the winter it would be blocked by snow or snowdrifts. The family would then detour to the main roads which were repaired or cleared first.

One winter a blizzard started during school hours and all the roads were impassable. Plans had been made that all the children would stay in the school for the night. However, late in the afternoon, John Pedden, a farmer who lived just east of the Arkona Rd. on the Egremont, arrived with a team of horses and a huge logging sled. The children were bundled up on it, under a tarp, and off they went. When they arrived at the Egremont, he walked the children home in the cold and snow, stopping at several farm houses to warm up en route.

In 1967, Ralph and his father purchased the Barnes & Sitlington Egg Grading Station on Ontario Street in Watford. Ralph had been an employee for some time, while his father worked at Huctwith Produce in Forest. The name of the business was changed to Watford Egg Grading Station.

Egbert and Maria passed away in 1998 and 1999 respectively. There are now four generations of Canadian Borks. Several families still live in Warwick Twp. Bert, Ralph, John, Jack, Sientje and George stayed in Warwick Twp.

Bert Bork married Deborah Caley and they have four children: Terrilyn, Stacey, Matt and Cindy. Matthew is married to Brenda Minten and works with his father at Bert Bork Roofing and Siding. Cindy is at home, working in Sarnia. Stacey and Terri have taken positions in London and live there as well.

Ralph is now retired from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario outlet in Watford. He is unmarried and lives in the family home in Watford.

John runs John Bork Sunoco Fuels in Watford. He and his wife Jo-Anne have 5 children: Michelle, Lori, Mike, Scott and Tracy. Michelle married Adrian Tamminga and lives on Confederation Line, Watford. Lori and Mike have both moved out of the community. Scott lives at home. Tracy is married and lives in Warwick Twp.

Jack and Gail lived in Warwick Twp. for many years, and their four children, Don, Bob, Jaci and Angie, attended local schools. Now the entire family has moved out of the community.

Sientje married John Bebingh. Their children Mary Jane and Rick both live in Watford. Rick has taken over Bebingh Insurance from his father.

George and his wife Pat (Morris) owned Borks IGA in Watford for many years. They retired from the grocery business in 2007, but continue to live in Warwick Twp. Their children are Jennifer, Gregory and Bradley.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Bork Family

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