Four generations of the Rennette family have lived on the family’s homestead on the historic Alsace Road in the Nipissing region. It began in 1886 when Nicholas De Rennette made the long journey from Belgium to Ontario, leaving behind a wife and 7 children. After years of backbreak and sacrifice the family was reunited. Life in their new country would be filled with both triumph and unimaginable tragedy – and the pain is still being felt generations later.
As part of the Command Museum’s genealogy project, we spoke to Rod Rennette, the great-grandson of Nicholas. In this heartbreaking video, we hear Nicolas’s own words from a letter written in the late 1800s. We also hear the memories of Rod’s father – a veteran of World War II.
We thank Rod Rennette for sharing this very emotional story of how his family built a legacy on the Alsace Road that continues to stand the test of time. Please enjoy our video.
