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New Hamburg Independent Serving Ayr. Baden. Bright. New Dundee, New Hamburg. Petersburg. Plattsville. St. Agatha Wednesday, July 25, 1979 Vol. 102 No. 26 and surrounding area 15 cents 101 1878-1979 NEW HAMBURG INDEPENDENT Mannheim A sleepy little village that may disappear By Heather Northrup The sleepy village of Mannheim, nestled in a tiny valley, is typical of the small towns throughout Wil-mot Township. Since Mannheim is surrounded by excellent farm land, the sight and sound of a tractor is very common. The hamlet is comprised mostly of houses, but does have some businesses such as, Musselman Excavating Ltd., Greer Heating and Sheet Metal; Benzin Ornamental Iron Works and Sporting Goods, and Chambers' Store and Gas Station. Mannheim is rapidly changing though, and whether it is for the best or not, is debatable. On June 7 of this year. Chambers' Gas Station and Store closed down. Musselman Excavating Ltd. had a large auction here on June 26, but according to Mr. John Musselman, a resident of Mannheim, and son of the company's owner, Ihe office here might still stay open. The closing leaves Benzin Ornamental Iron Works and Sporting Goods the only operating shop open to the public in the hamlet. A new business, however, is booming in Mannheim: housing. Since spring, two houses have gone up, and two more are in the early stages of construction on Mannheim's only crescent. Another house has gone up on Twp. Road 19. Background information for a further development here is being researched by MacNaughton Planning Consultants. If a secondary plan is approved by the Wilmot township planning committee the subdivision development can begin. These plans should be completed by the end of the year, according to township planning director, Mr. Bill Lehman. Jim Priebe, and Bill Hos-k nson, both residents of the area, each own some of the land that is being considered for the subdivision. Kaiser Investments Ltd. owns the majority of the land in question. Some of the residents of the community have noticed the housing boom on the crescent, and many think that Mannheim will become another suburb of Kitchener in the near future. Mr. Brian Greer, a resident of the hamlet, even ventured a guess of ten to fifteen years before the village disappears. There are mixed feelings from the residents here as to the possible loss of the village. Mrs. Evilou Hill much prefers the "quiet village life, and the friendlier people." Her husband. Dr. Matthew Hill, also hopes that the development is a long way off. Jim Priebe has been waiting for approval to build the proposed subdivision on his property for eleven years. Mr. Brian Greer wouldn't mind life in the suburbs but Linda, his wife, likes the hamlet the way it is. Mr. John Musselman definitely prefers the small town life. When asked why he thought this, he simply said, "I don't like the big city." The Kitchener line is less than a quarter of a mile outside of Mannheim, and it looks like that line might be inching its way closer to the hamlet. As it stands now, this quiet village could lose itself in the suburbs of Kitchener in the near future. Picture on Page 2.