Returning to the Hagenbuch Homestead and Cemetery
It’s been awhile since my father and I have visited the Hagenbuch Homestead in Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The last time we were there was on a cold, winter’s day in January of...
Tagged: Irene “Faus” Hagenbuch
When the Photograph is the Memory
A few months ago, my aunt, Barbara “Barb” (Hagenbuch) Huffman, sent me a photograph that had been taken by my grandmother, Irene “Nana” (Faus) Hagenbuch (b. 1920). The image depicts my grandfather, Homer “Pop”...
Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking: Green Tomato and Apple Datsch
My wife, Sara, and I look forward to fall, not just for the cooler weather, but also for the plethora of foods that are harvested during the season. Squashes, apples, and sweet potatoes immediately...
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Printed newspapers are a dying form of communication. A year or so ago, Linda and I stopped purchasing the Harrisburg newspaper. I hadn’t looked through it for years and Linda was getting it so...
{[(1+1=4)+5=11]+9=19} = 34
Is this new math? Does it represent some sort of algebra? Is it some sort of secret code? What sort of title is this for a genealogical article? I thought of titling this article:...
First Thoughts on the 1950 Census
April 1, 2022 marked an important occasion for genealogists—and, no, it had nothing to do with April Fools’ Day! On this day, family historians celebrated the release of the 1950 United States Census records,...
Merry Christmas in Photos
The final article in the series “My Uncle Charles” will take a brief hiatus as we celebrate Christmas with some vintage photos from the archives. Andrew and I are forever touting to save your...
‘Reney, Get Your Hiney Down Here!
School days, school days, Dear old Golden Rule days ‘Reading and ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, Taught to the tune of a hick’ry stick! —Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards, 1907 Dotted across Pennsylvania are one-room...
Three Things: Blessings for the New Year
Before I even read Andrew’s Christmas article entitled “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” I was thinking along the same lines for my New Year’s article. With a little help from him, we continue to...
Mother’s Day: May 10, 2020
The first Mother’s Day was celebrated in 1908. It was initiated by Anna Jarvis as a memorial to her mother in Grafton, West Virginia at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church. A campaign was started to...
