Please Only Visit During Daylight Hours
No purchase is required to look at the grounds outside of the haus but one is required if you chose to go inside!
History
Joseph Schneider, his wife Barbara, and their four children arrived in what is now Waterloo Region in June 1807. They were among a small group of rugged settlers who trekked to the new frontier from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in search of good farmland. What they found was an intimidating landscape of uncleared bush and swamp. Bolstered by their Mennonite faith and supported by their close knit community, they quickly adapted. By 1816, Joseph had built a sawmill and this substantial Georgian style wood frame home now the oldest building in Kitchener.
Joseph even cleared "Schneider Road" through the bush to link his farm to the Great Road from Dundas. The town that grew at that intersection eventually became the city we know today. In 1981, the home opened as a museum, and in 1999, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Formerly known as the "Joseph Schneider Haus," the name was changed to Schneider Haus in 2017 to honor the contributions of the entire family.
Why "Haus" instead of "House"?
The spelling "Haus" reflects the Pennsylvania-German heritage of the Schneider family and the broader Mennonite community that settled this area. Joseph and Barbara Schneider spoke Pennsylvania Dutch (a dialect of German), and the "Haus" was the heart of their traditional lifestyle. Using the German spelling honors the cultural and linguistic roots of the early settlers who helped shape the identity of what was then known as the town of Berlin (now Kitchener).
Logging Requirements
Part One - Answer the following questions (Info is on the two plaques at the posted coordinates)
1. What year was was Joseph born in?
2. What was the house originally covered up with?
3. What month and year did the family purchase the property?
4. What is the full name of Joseph's brother-in-law?
Part Two - Photo
5. Take a photo of at any of the six photo waypoints. You only need to do ONE (1) photo so chose your favaoute spot! The photo must have the fixture in it. You are required to be holding a piece of paper with your Geocaching Username and the GC code of this virtual cache (GCBJ74K). This must be clearly legible! You may also optionally include signature items, your GPS or whatever else you like, but this is not a substitute for the required piece of paper. You do not need to show your face in the photo! See examples below of the fixtures you can chose from!
A. Main Haus
B. Water Pump
C. Spring House
D. Wash House/Summer Kitchen
E. The Bake/Smoke/Dry House
F. Garden
Do not post the answers in your log!!!
Logging Notes
No digitally altered images will be accepted, you may visit as a group but eveyone must send in their own answers and have their own unique photo. Any photo taken at a location that is not from the list above will not be accepted. As stated above your sign must be clearly legible! Failure to comply will result in your found log being deleted without warning!
Favourite
If you like this Virtual Cache, please consider giving it a favourite point so others will know you enjoyed the experience. Thanks a bunch for visiting! 😁
Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.