2004 Reunion

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Newsletter 2004

President’s Message 2004

By Richard E. Frantz

Recently as I was tinkering with my 1938 Oliver tractor with steel wheels, I thought about the hard times America had endured before and during the time period this piece of farm equipment was being made in Charles City, Iowa. This caused me to wonder how our clan members had endured World War I and the Depression.

I decided to contact my father Irwin (E161) and my uncle Caleb (E162) and ask them how the Frantz family survived the depression. I can remember during the 1940s and 50s my sisters telling my dad at the supper table that if he were to clean out all the wood, lumber, tin and steel “junk” from “the shed”, our place would look a lot neater when company came to visit. My father would reply, “Yes, and two weeks after I discarded it, I would need it.” Dad leaned to conserve and save whatever he could because he had known a time when he had nothing. As a lad in Myerstown, PA, my father owned only one pair of pants, which were worn to work in the silk mill, around home and to attend church. Hunger was an every-day occurrence. In addition to making pretzel sticks, the pretzel stick factory in town also made sugar cones for ice cream. These often broke. Factory workers put the broken pieces in a barrel in the hallway. Children walking to school stopped and took a handful of these pieces to eat. It was their only breakfast. It often was other meals for them also. Caleb related that during 1930-33 the Elias Frantz family lived on West Main Street, Myerstown next to Barry’s “Mom-Pop” grocery store. Father had no regular job. His harness business had gone to nothing. He helped farmers, but seldom received cash pay. Sister Edith worked in Lebanon for $10 per week. Brothers Victor, John and Caleb attended school. At lunch they would walk home for lunch. Day after day lunch was the same. Edith gave them twenty cents to buy a box of shredded wheat and a can of evaporated milk at the store next door. The boys were satisfied and never complained. Caleb relates, “I, as the oldest at home until Edith arrived about 6 P.M., was in charge of getting our evening meal. Pop sometimes brought produce home from a farmer for whom he worked. Usually there were potatoes. We ate lots of fried potatoes. One day Uncle Amos brought Pop home from a job about 5:30 P.M. Pop asked me why I didn’t have supper started. I said there was nothing to fix in the pantry. So he looked in the pantry and came out saying, ‘There’s a whole bag of onions here.’ Onions, I thought they were for mixing with other foods. How do I make them? ‘Why, you peel them, slice them and fry them just like potatoes.’ Well, that was our meal that night.” During WWII Caleb was working in a Civilian Public Service camp in Santa Barbara, CA. One Sunday in 1942, several of the fellows took a hike, and as they were walking along a river, someone spotted a Model A tire lodged in a fallen tree in the river. One fellow walked out and retrieved the tire. They carried it back to camp. That night Caleb traced his shoe soles on the inside of the tire, cut them out and glued them onto his shoe soles. He had no more holes in his soles. He wore that pair of work shoes until he left the camp in 1943. As the years pass, fewer and fewer of us know privation. We baby boomers were too small to remember WWII. We know recession, but have no concept of depression.

I turn back to my old tractor that was built to last by the very same people who survived hunger, and lack of about everything that we take for granted today. I begin to realize that when we come together as a freundschaft once a year, we are paying tribute to the tenacious members of our clan. They are those who have endured in order that we may have shoes without holes, more than one pair of pants, more than only fried onions for supper and not only shredded wheat for lunch. We thank you for a better life.

Secretary’s Report – 77th Annual Frantz Clan Reunion – July 26, 2003

Meeting at the Rehrersburg Lions Club Grounds, Rehrersburg, PA has now become so much the place to come for the Frantz Reunion that most all of the clan get there with no problems. However, if you ask Douglas Boleyn, he’ll tell you that finding the grounds isn’t all that easy when you get stuck in a long backup of traffic coming from NJ. Deciding to get off I78 at the nearest exit to where they were sitting, he tried to find the reunion driving on strange country roads. He did finally find us and even though most people were already done eating, his carload discovered that there were still two tables loaded with food. While cousins were arriving they were greeting other cousins with hugs, laughter and even tears, putting their food dishes on the serving tables, registering and contributing handcrafted items for the Silent Auction organized by Adele and Neal Stupp. Lunch began at 12:00 noon and seemed to go on all day. However, the formal program began at 1:30 in the Lion’s Den. The musical entertainment, which called the cousins indoors, was the Reinhold Trio of Jenny Burkett, Darrell and Loren Reinhold. They also performed the special “How Wide, Deep, Great is Your Love, O Lord”. The program began with President Richard Frantz presiding and introducing the three young ladies who would do the devotions. They were Jennifer Boleyn, reading the scripture, Ephesians 4:1-7, Arlene Frantz saying a few words of introduction and Justine Boleyn praying in both Kiswahili and English. Del Keeney led us in the hymn, “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens Adore Him” . Caleb Frantz shared a report of the research done by Dwayne Reitsan concerning the links between the Garst and Frantz clans. For fear of getting it all mixed up I’ll just say that Michael Frantz II had neighbors named Garst living along Swatara Creek. Michael II had four sons and the Garsts had four daughters. You’ve guessed it, the two families married each other and there the confusion began. If you want to get really involved you can call or write Caleb (E-mail will do) to get more details. Vice President Ken Wenger gave out the prizes which were handcrafted pens donated by Ruth Raine.

The prizes went to:

Oldest man – Jim Frantz, age 92

Oldest woman – Sara Ann Frantz – age almost 92

Youngest child – Michael Boleyn – age 14 mo, parents are Alan & Justine

Drove the farthest – Steve and Arlene Frantz, 560 mi. from Charlotte, NC

Piloted own plane – Norm Crabill, 250 mi.

Most recently married – Tim & Stephanie Frantz, June 15, 2002

Longest married couple – Jim & Sara Frantz – 67 yrs

Person with most family present – Irwin Frantz with 33

Oldest penny in possession – Chris Keeney – 1945 penny in his pocket.

By the way, Chris also had the oldest car at the reunion in 2002.

Jenny Burkett led the Adult Choir in the singing of “The Instruments” and the “Medley of How Firm a Foundation & Brethren We Have Met to Worship”. Before the offering Glenn Pfautz, treasurer, gave a report of the Frantz Cemetery wall repairs with work done by Henry Hollenbach. Richard led a song during the offering which is used for reunion expenses. We were informed that over 700 Frantz Clan newsletters are sent out each year. About 115 people attended this year. First time attenders who were recognized were Brenna Watson, Donald & Donna Layser and Barbara Anderson Attending the reunion is a good way to stay connected to our Frantz roots. After Cary Burkett led the group in singing “When Peace Like A River” we went out to visit for the remainder of the afternoon, and continued to bid on Silent Auction items. Not everyone is involved in the formal program as the many little children are kept happy on the new play equipment and in their activities provided by Lydia Cornejo, Janelle Hollinger and Deb Ziegler. After eating again, the last dishes were collected and the Frantz cousins returned home happy to have been able to attend such a wonderful day with relatives we don’t see often enough.

Respectfully submitted,

Esther Frantz Boleyn, Recording Secretary

Singing Cousins

Steven and Marla Deitzler and family will provide special music during our program. Marla Hopple Deitzler (J666) is a descendant of the Jacob Frantz branch of our clan. Frantzes love to sing and our Adult Chorus is always an enjoyable feature of the afternoon program. Instrumentalists are invited to play along. Children are invited to join the special Children’s Chorus. Just listen for the invitation on reunion day. Everyone is welcome to sing familiar tunes and learn new ones.

Enjoy a Potluck Lunch

Bring a favorite dish or two to share with your clan at 12 Noon as we enjoy lunch in the shade of the picnic pavilion. It is always hard to make decisions as we start down the tables lined first with crockpots of barbecue, hotdogs and sauerkraut, baked beans, meatballs, and fried chicken. The next choices are salads like coleslaw, peppercabbage, potato salad together with trays of vegetables, cold meats and cheeses. Remember to save a place for dessert which might be a slice of lemon sponge pie, shoofly pie, or apple pie, chocolate cake, snickerdoodles, whoopie pies, or brownies. There are also many fruit salads, applesauce, and the familiar huge tray overflowing with apples, pears, bananas, and grapes. Sometimes there is a make-your-own sundae station. Bring your own cold beverage, but coffee will be provided. Table coverings and place settings will also be provided.

78th Annual Frantz Clan Reunion

Saturday, July 24, 2004

Reunion Schedule

10:00 a.m. Set Up Come early and help if you wish.

11:00 a.m. Registration

12:00 Noon Lunch in the Pavilion

1:00 p.m. Children’s Chorus Practice

1:30 p.m. Music and Program in the Lion’s Den

Children’s Chorus

Prize Awards

Adult Chorus

Business Meeting

5:30 p.m. Plan to extend your visit and have supper in the pavilion.

Dusk Leave to return home.

Silent Auction

The Third Silent Auction was a success, and we are appreciative of the donations of our cousins. There were many beautiful pieces of art and craftsmanship on which to bid. The picture above shows some of the items, but there were many more. We have very talented cousins. The auction in 2003, organized by Adele and Neal Stupp, proved to be an excellent way to share the talents of clan members and to increase the funds in our treasury. There is good news for those of you who enjoyed the Silent Auction last year and requested a repeat of the event. The Reunion Planning Committee which met in April agreed to schedule the Fourth Silent Auction in 2005. It is not too early to begin to plan for your contribution.