Letter From Aug H. Reist to Alfred L. Shoemaker, March 25, 1954

Authors

Aug H. Reist

Document Type

Correspondence

Files

Date

3-25-1954

Keywords

Bucker family, Annie Reist, Manheim, dowsing rod, apple butter, cows, hair

Description

A handwritten letter from Aug H. Reist addressed to Alfred L Shoemaker, dated March 25, 1954. Within, Reist inquires about the history of a book and provides some anecdotes about his family - some in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.

Sender

Aug H. Reist

Recipient

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Corresponds to:

Packet 5-4

City

Laureldale, Pennsylvania

Transcription

3-25-54

Dr Shoemaker

Dear Sir:

In your broadcast of 3-20 you mentioned Christ Bucker of Manheim. My grandmother Annie Reist was a Bucker born in 1812 - died in 1880 buried at Erbs Meeting house near Lime Rock. Wondering if they are of same family. We lived at Lime Rock when Garfield was shot.

My mother’s maiden name was Herr.

Catharine Herr the last of her generation died Jan 16 - 1953 at 734 S.W. End Ave Lanc. Among other things I got from her is a large book in German called Heilige Spiegel (Bloody Mirror). Do you know about history of this book.

In 1887 I worked at Sumny Farm near Sun Hill. Josiah Sumny farmed tobacco and raised silk worms. We would gather mulberry branches for these worms. Josiah's father had nursery was known as Bloowa Sumny. Well it spooked there (so they said) and there was buried treasure. So a man Christ Rohrer with an Inging Bolva (divining rod) was prospecting but was discovered and was driven away. What is an Ingind colva? Know much more of this place. Don’t want to weary you. My father was black-smith at Speedville for the Freemans. An agent called on a farmer lady close by and said lady do you have any heffers for sale? She said nay unser heffa sin all full lotvarick. I attended Sunday school near Elizabeth Furnace it was cherry time. A boy did not have his hair combed some one told him to use sugar water and they would stay combed the next Sunday he had done it and his head was black with flies.

My sister was visiting at an uncles house, and hung her bristle on bed post, the next morning the little girl of the house peeped into her room ran to her mother. Mom es henged an sie mavga uf erm bet poslita. Early in the 90s when women wore trails a lady stepped of[f] curb at 5th and Penn a man stepped on her trail it tore. Oh I beg your pardon madam! Ich pife der uf die baking powder du hust my garnd forrissa.

Aug H Reist

1104 Elizabeth Ave

Laureldale, Pa

Language

English and Pennsylvania German

Rights Statement

This item is available courtesy of the Ursinus College Library Special Collections Department. It is not to be copied or distributed for commercial use. For permissions which fall outside of educational use, please contact the Special Collections Department.

Recommended Citation

Reist, Aug H., "Letter From Aug H. Reist to Alfred L. Shoemaker, March 25, 1954" (1954). Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents. 98.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/shoemaker_documents/98