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FIVE News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest.... ======================================== 1- The new Leinbach Family History book to be available at Society 2- Frank X. Gantert of Carsonia Ave., vaudeville acrobat, dies at 93 3- John E. Reber, Jr., who operated Seidel Funeral Home, dies at 88 4- Kutztown Hist. Soc.’s 10 o’clock Scholar "talks" resume in April 5- Oldest marked burial in Berks at St. Gabriel’s in Douglassville ======================================== 1- Laurel Miller’s new 320-page LEINBACH family history book will be available for locals at the Society’s gift shop within the week--at $40 plus tax. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2- Frank X. Gantert of Carsonia Ave., Lower Alsace Twp., died at 93 in St. Joseph’s on Mon., Jan. 6. He had been a vaudeville acrobat, a part of a troop called the Fourcasting Stars. He appeared in New York in bills that included Milton Berle, George Burns and Gracie Allen, and others. In later years he worked as a machinist and latterly as a transportation coordinator by Berks County Vo-Tec, East Center, Oley. He retired in 1983. He is survived by a brother Arthur of Bernville and a son Michael with whom he resided. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3- John E. Reber, Jr., a long-time member of our Historical Society, died Sunday, January 12th, in Wesley Health Care Center, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. His wife Ruth died in 1998. He had previously lived in Mount Penn where he was actively involved in the Lions Club. Reber was owner and operator of the Francis F. Seidel Funeral Home, working there 60 years until retirement in 1994. Seidel’s, formerly located on N. 5th St., just north of the former Berkshire Hotel, was founded by his mother’s family. His mother was Florence M. Seidel- Reber. For a number of years, Mr. Reber set up his model trains and miniature village as a Christmas-season attraction at the Historical Society, most recently perhaps 8 years ago. Reber, a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, is survived by son John in NY and a daughter Joan Reber-Long, Doylestown. A sister, Frances R. Reber-Jones, resides in Pennside. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 4- Every Spring, the Kutztown Area Historical Society conducts a series of morning talks at its headquarters at Normal Ave. and Whiteoak St. --in the 1892 schoolhouse, an architectural jewel. The 10 O’CLOCK SCHOLAR series takes place on 4 Wednesdays in April. Cost of the series of 4 is $20. The cost is the same whether you come to one or four talks. Checks are drawn in favor of Kutztown Area Historical Society and mailed to Barb Stolz, 419 Krause Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522. Apr. 10 - Neil Haring - the art of Paper Cutting by an art teacher Apr. 16 - John Scott - illustrated talk on quarried and fieldstone found in Berks County buildings Apr. 23 - Geo. Meiser - illustrated talk - "Here and There in Berks" old-time view of Reading and Berks, many 90 to 100 years old Apr. 30 - Tony Evangelista - 3 Potters of Berks...Shenfelder, Link, and Tomnlinson. The Shenfelder works, around Schuylkill Ave. and Buttonwood in Reading, was enormous. It fronted on Sch. Ave. Questions? Phone Barb Stolz at 610 - 683 - 3961 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5- After enjoying snapper soup at Covatti’s (supposedly haunted) restaurant along 724 near Douglassville, we drove around the block to Old Saint Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, which fronts on 422. On the cemetery here is the oldest marked burial in Berks, that of Andrew Robeson who died in either 1719 or 1720, depending whether you reckon by the Julian or Gregorian calendar. To get to this oldest MARKED burial site in Berks, you walk to the very rear of the cemetery, close to what was the main line of the Reading Railraod. At that spot, if you look back toward 422, you see old St. Gabriel’s 1801 church on the right and less-old "new" St. Gabriel’s on the left. You’ll also see that the old burials and their stones all face eastward, properly positioned for the second coming--from the East. At Robeson’s burial site you see both a footstone and headstone, both of a very hard, greenish native granite. As might be expected, the footstone is the smaller of the two. The footstone is striking. On it are the initials A and R. A skull with an hour-glass directly beneath serve to remind one of the passage of time--and the inevitable. At the very bottom is the cheery admonition: Remember Death. The head stone is quite readable and tells that Robeson died Feb. 19, 1719-1720, aged 66. The reverse side, which often is difficult to read because of lighting problems, has a poem carved into it which reads something like the following: Removed from noise and care This silent spot I chose When death should end my years To take a sweet repose. Here in a peaceful place My ashes must remain, My Saviour shall me keep And raise me up again. In regard to that peaceful spot he chose, dearly departed Andrew had no notion whatever that in 1833 they’d lay tracks for the main line of the P&R railroad ten feet from his remains! Alas, no justice even in death...... ===================== gmmix ===== end ====== Watch our BCtv show: http://www.berkshistory.org/realaudio/hill.ram ============================================

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