Longswamp Township Historical Society Newsletter December 2013 Preserving and sharing the historical past and culture of Longswamp Township since 2010

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1 V Longswamp Township Historical Society Newsletter December 2013 Preserving and sharing the historical past and culture of Longswamp Township since 2010 Purpose of the LTHS T0 discover and preserve educational and illustrative collections of material, structures, and landmarks of the Longswamp Township area. To maintain a museum and noncirculating historical library of the Longswamp Township area. To preserve and record the history and culture of the Longswamp Township area. LTHS Directors Officers: President Christopher Stress Vice President Marie Maly Secretary Jerri Burket Treasurer Mike Radcliffe Board: Bill Anton Eloise Long Judith Murphy Kevin Shoemaker Ron Young Fred Sheeler, Berks County Recorder of Deeds (honorary) Mary Ann Lantz, Longswamp Township Supervisor (honorary) If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a member, please contact us at (484) LongswampHistory@gmail. com Message from our President All, I would like to thank you all for a wonderful year this past year. Being the 3rd full year of our group, we are very much alive, well and prospering as an organization. I am pleased and honored to have been able to serve alongside the board members and serve all of you - our membership for all three of the years we have been in existence. My love of history is profound, I have been involved with it for well over 40 years now that I can remember- perhaps more than 50? -Since a small child no doubt. I started collecting antiques at age 12! Always wanting to learn more about history and asking questions like how, what, why and did they really do it that way? Reading books, watching films and now - the internet, to do research. I have been reenacting and participating at historical sites and programming for the last 35+ years at sites all over the US, Canada and the UK. I have met literally thousands of people like you whom share our love of all things, practices, teachings and the like which teach and speak of history. On this, the completion of my third year serving you all, I will now pass the baton. Not however like a Roman emperor, or a Marshall under Napoleon. No, a simple pen and a prayer, that the next President of our organization will take this up with similar and even more enthusiasm. To take this to the next level with confidence and the backing of our board and the organization as a whole. I want to thank you all for your support and know that I will remain as active as possible going forward. Our nominating committee has worked very hard and put together a slate for 2014 which includes a replacement for me as I step down for Please support them in their proposal and if required vote. We had a great year and it will continue. Please know that I shall always remain- Your Humble Servant, -Chris

2 LTHS November Happenings Longswamp UCC Pennsylvania Dutch Bazaar on November 16th A Salute to Service for the Longswamp Township Men of the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry On November 20th, LTHS member Marie Maly shared a story of the lives and times of the men who served in the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Fifteen of these men were from Longswamp Township. She concluded by summarizing what happened during and after the war to each of these 15 men. The 100+ member audience was immersed in a multi-media media experience: music usic composed by the 47th regimental band and recorded by the Coates Brass Band; Band a lecture and slide show; exhibits exhibit specific to the Longswamp Township men of the 47th, including documents, photos, information and artifacts. War artifacts rtifacts from the Private Jacob P. Herztog collection (courtesy of Sandy Herztog Miller) were part of the exhibit of materials and information specific to the men of Longswamp Township who were part of the 47th Regiment. Photo courtesy of LTHS member Mary Mabry.

3 Coming Up in December Alburtis Holiday Cookie Contest Sponsored by the Alburtis Lockridge Historical Society Sunday, December 8 th 2-4 pm (judging at 3 pm) Contact Kevin Shoemaker at for information on how to register General Membership Meeting with Election of Officers And Holiday Celebration Wednesday, December 18 th 7:00 pm Longswamp Township Municipal Building Lower Level Josh Fink will introduce us to the Pennsylvania German tradition of Der Belsnickel through a poem by John Bimelin in the Pennsylvania German dialect. Traditional holiday treats will be served! Slate of Officers for 2014 President Mary Ann Lantz Vice President Marie Maly Treasurer Mike Radcliffe Secretary Jerri Burket Board Members Proposed Bill Anton Eloise Long Judith Murphy Kevin Shoemaker Christopher Stress Ron Young

4 Longswamp Founding Fathers Johan Martin Käercher (Karcher) (Kercher) This series highlights the life and accomplishments of the 26 men who signed a petition presented to the justices of Berks County in 1761 that requested Longswamp be erected into a township. Martin Käercher was born on March 27, 1718, in the Duchy of Württemburg, Germany. He arrived in America with his father Michael and the rest of the Michael Käercher family aboard the ship Friendship on September 20, He was 19. As was true of all passengers arriving in Philadelphia from Europe, Martin took the Oath of Abjuration and Oath of Alliance to the King George II of Great Britain on that same day. In 1747, Martin married Anna Elizabeth Shüfert, who was born on July 7, 1726 and came to America with her parents aboard the ship Richard on September 28, On December 20, 1738, father Michael applied for a land grant for 150 acres in Long Swamp from the Proprietaries (the heirs of William Penn: Thomas and John). He received a patent for this land on March 21, The land was located in what is known today as the Village of Freehall. On April 11, 1759, Michael conveyed his acreage to Martin, who later conveyed it to his son John; the land remained in the Kercher family until 1985, when the property was purchased by Nevin Behm. The cornerstone of the house is marked, John Kercher, October 14, On December 23, 1772, Martin is granted a patent for a 250-acre tract of land in Windsor County called Hamburg. The patent was granted by the Proprietaries. On January 23, 1779, Martin and his wife Elizabeth sold this land to their son Martin, Jr. for 2500 pounds. Later, Martin Jr. ceded much of this land back to his father. Martin and Elizabeth moved to Hamburg in either 1779 or With the land remaining in Martin Jr. s possession, he laid out the town of Hamburg which, for a time, was known as Kaercher Stadt (Kaerchertown). The area became officially known as Hamburg in Following the conclusion of the Revolution, the system of militia throughout Pennsylvania was thoroughly organized and consisted of six battalions. The regimental officers included Major Martin Kaercher. Martin died on August 3, 1787; Elisabeth, on February 11, Both are buried in the old cemetery of St. John s in Hamburg, Pa. The Kaercher farm in Hamburg was located where Käercher Creek Park is today; there is a marker to designate the farm s former location.

5 Will of Martin Kaercher, dated April 12, 1785 (translated from German) To my youngest son Daniel, I will bequeath my present home, etc. In turn, the said Daniel Kaercher has the duty and is obliged to let his mother live with him, if she wishes. He must give her a little living room, on the left side of the house, and the adjoining kitchen for her stay and use; also must give her two milk cows, which he must feed and tend till her blessed end. Kindling and firewood he must chop and split so that it is ready for her use in the kitchen as well as the fireplace; one-third of the kitchen garden, this son Daniel must give to her for her use and profit all her living days; also house and kitchen utensils must be kept in good order and repaired for her, as she needs it, and he should always remember the Fourth Commandment and its blessings, which is: Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord, thy God, giveth thee. Our thanks to LTHS member Anna Mae Kercher for sharing her family s history Great Christmas Gifts for Sale Village of Longsdale book - $ Longswamp Township Photo Calendars - $8 (these are going fast so get your copy now) Available at Radcliffe s Market Service Desk Quantities are limited All sales support the mission of the LTHS

6 Interesting tidbits from the past in print in this issue.. Mertztown s Champion Dancers and Predicting the Weather Mertztown promises to be dark for the first time in its history on Saturday night for the entire population of that town is excited about the victory of its dance team at the Pennsylvania German Folk festival last Friday night and is coming to this city on Saturday night to witness the finals in various contests at the High school auditorium. Nightly the dance team has been rehearsing for hours at the Mertztown hotel in the hope of capturing laurels now held by the Leather Corner Post dance group, champions in However the Leather Corner Post group, with its figure caller and musicians, is alert and it has been practicing nightly as well. [The Allentown Morning Call, Allentown, PA, Thursday, June 24, 1937, page 5] 'N rechtie gudie tzeit! A real good time --- is what the participants in the Pennsylvania German festival had last night as they performed in the auditorium of the Allentown High school building in the finals of the local festival to select representatives to the State folk festival at Bucknell university. The participants had a wonderful time enacting their parts, no less than the 1500 people who crowded the place to overflowing. They were carried away by the realistic manner in which groups and individuals reenacted customs and recreation of former generations of Pennsylvania Germans that have become folk lore distinctively belonging to this part of the state. A "schnitzer" party was arranged for the evening's entertainment by Pumpernickle Bill Troxell, director of the festival, and Paul Wieand, Pennsylvania German playwright, and all through the program the party element was followed in minute detail. The portrayal of the old-time "schnitzing" party started from early morning with the farmer awaiting the arrival of the newly hired man and cleaning up in preparation for the affair and extended into the night with the cooking of the applebutter and the square dance that wound up all affairs of its kind on the farms of the Lehigh Valley some generations ago and is still continued in many of its communities. Toward the end of the program the three contests that meant the choosing of champions were conducted. They were square dancing, the street and farm calling and the auctioneering. The dancing contest brought cheer after cheer from the audience as the entrants jigged and swung and wove in and out the while they kept perfect time to the string music. In this contest two groups competed, the Mertztown group which won the semi-finals at Castle Garden a week ago, and the Leather Corner Post group, champions of The contest was won by the Mertztown dancers, of which Charles Flicker was the figure caller. The leads of the group were Norman Reppert, Ethel Ruff, Herman Greenawalt and Carolyn Horst and the sides were Floyd Reppert, Irene Reppert, William Greenawalt and Mildred Stephens. The music consisted of Paul Funk, fiddle; Joe Reifinger, banjo, and Curtis Ruff, guitar. [The Allentown Morning Call, Allentown, PA, Sunday, June 27, 1937, page 5]

7 Predicting the weather Pleasant seasonable weather until December 15 followed by a solid winter with two big blizzards, one in the middle of January and one about February 10, and a possibility of lesser blizzards, has been predicted by Frank Haas, the 91- year-old Free Hall farmer, for the next four months. Mr. Haas is one of the most prominent and distinguished characters in the East Penn valley, is widely known because of his weather predictions and because of his excellent health and advanced age. He bases his forecasts upon the first and second days of November and upon close observations of the habits of wild animals and upon the appearance of weeds and in thirty years, it is said, has never failed to predict the weather accurately. Having just finished putting out fifteen acres of wheat on his seventyfive acre farm unassisted, Mr. Haas says the farmers can rest assured of ample time in which to do their fall work before bad weather sets in. He himself is husking corn every day. Frank Haas was born near Shamrock station on March 14, 1838, a son of Nathan Haas. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-four years old and during that time took many loads of wheat to Philadelphia with a four and five-horse team. On one occasion, he recalls, he took 110 bushels of wheat for which he received $3.35 per bushel in silver, enough to fill his tool box attached to the wagon where it jingled pleasantly as he drove home. On the return trip from Philadelphia, which sometimes took three days, Mr. Haas sayss he sometimes filled his wagon with coal which the dealers loaded for Frank at fifty cents a ton and at other times he filled his wagon box with bran which was free --- even at a time, he says, he received a tip for taking the bran away with him. Mr. Haas married Katie Kercher and moved to Allentown where they lived for seven years from where he moved to his present home at Free Hall, near Topton. Here he has lived for the past sixty years. He had nine children, seven boys and two girls of whom four boys survive. Mrs. Haas died four years ago at the age of eighty-eight years. Mr. Haas is a fluent conversationalist, reads without the aid of glasses, has never taken medicine nor consulted a doctor. He can jump on a sixteen-hand high horse after a day's work and since the death of his wife has done his own milking, baking, washing and ironing, during the greater part of the time. He is an inspiration to all his friends and still planning years ahead for what he intends to accomplish by way of raising bumper crops and through the opening of a zinc mine on his premises where rich specimens were recently discovered. [The Allentown Morning Call, Allentown, PA, Sunday, November 4, 1928, pages 5 & 7]

8 2014 Membership Application Longswamp Township Historical Society Membership is open to anyone who values what we can learn from the past and wishes to help us achieve our mission of preserving and recording the historical past of Longswamp Township. As a Member, you ll take your place in history as a supporter of all of those things that make Longswamp Township unique. And your tax-deductible purchase will fund our continuing efforts to preserve and share our historical past. Lifetime members qualify for additional privileges that acknowledge you as a community leader. Circle the desired membership: Lifetime Membership Annual Memberships Business or Individual Membership $100 Business $25 Family Membership $20 Individual Membership $10 Senior Citizen (62 ) $5 This is a new membership This is a membership renewal Check here if you would also like to make a tax-deductible contribution $ My information: (please print clearly) Mr. Ms. Mrs. Miss Dr. Name Address City State Zip Phone Student (valid student ID required) $5 Note: Signing up for updates will enable you to receive more frequently news of upcoming programs, activities and projects. The Longswamp Historical Society will never share or sell your address. Make checks payable to the Longswamp Township Historical Society Mailing address: P. O. Box 610 Mertztown, PA The Longswamp Township Historical Society is incorporated as a non-profit organization by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has been classified a IRS 501(c)3 Charitable Organization by the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are considered tax deductible for federal tax purposes under current IRS regulations.

9 "Daughters of Levi Fritch of Longsdale - all school teachers." Thanks to the Fritch family for this and numerous other treasures from Carl and Mae Fritch's house. Surely YOU have photos like this lurking in your attics. Please don't throw them out when you are downsizing! Longswamp Township Historical Society PO Box 6010 Mertztown, PA Phone: (484) LongswampHistory@gmail.com We re on the web! If you wish to no longer receive this newsletter, please let us know and we will discontinue mailing it to you. Like us on Facebook