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About one-third of the personal research performed at the Lebanon County Historical Society is related to local genealogy.
You’re going to want
BY JEFF FALK
We are all alike, and we are all different.
We all have genes and chromosomes; we all share the human condition, and we all have backstories. But some of the things that we share make us different.
Technically, genealogy is the study of family, the pursuit of family history and the exploration of lineage. But taken to the next level, genealogy is the study of us; it’s the science of ourselves.
It’s also a pursuit of the truth, and almost every pure search for the truth leads to greater truths.
“You can define (genealogy) in many different ways, but in most people’s minds, it’s a study of family history,” said Laurie Snyder, an advanced genealogist, an administrator of the “Lebanon County PA Genealogy”
Facebook page and a graduate of Lebanon Valley College. “I think it starts out wanting to learn more
about yourself or a particular family member. You want to know who you are and where you are from. You want to find out about the origin of the story. Sometimes we think we know what a family story is, and through research we realize the story is different. Sometimes that starts you on a search, and as you’re doing it, you’re learning about yourself.”
Genealogy encourages complex thinking.
Sometimes a very personal pursuit and quite possibly a very private one, genealogy can provide perspective on our opinions and views and the manner in which we perceive things, as well as insights into our character. But genealogy can also be a way to connect with our ancestors, to simply keep their memories alive or to attach meaning to their existences.
Of course, there are those who entertain greater degrees of curiosity about their lineage than others. Some people develop their curiosity over time.
“I think there are a lot of people who are interested in it,” said Snyder. “I think there was a time when people thought it was something you do when you’re retired because you have a lot more time. I was in my early 40s when I started my family
Samuel Hunter Pyers (holding drum) was a Union drummer during the Civil War and settled in Lebanon County following the war.
research. Genealogy is also addictive. There are some people who will never be interested in genealogy. Other people will look at a family story, and they get hooked.”
While it’s difficult to gauge in precise terms, there seems to be a fairly strong interest in genealogy in Lebanon County, as well as Lebanon County genealogy, simply based on opportunity and availability. Situated smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch country and founded in 1813, Lebanon County is home to more than 140,000 people.
The “Lebanon County PA Genealogy” page on Facebook, which is designed to support local individuals interested in genealogy and provide a place for an exchange of ideas and a sharing of information, consists of 768 members. In addition, the Palmyra Public
Library hosts a local genealogy club, which meets at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of every month.
While genealogy has traditionally been an adult pursuit, it can also serve as an opportunity to involve children and spend quality time together. Kids are naturally curious, and an initial spark can ignite a lifelong fire of family pride.
“I think there are a lot of people in Lebanon County who are interested in genealogy,” said Snyder. “It’s not only genealogy; it’s history. It’s family history, it’s United States history and it’s world history. I’ve always been interested in history. I love history, and I had really good history teachers throughout school. There are moments in genealogy that are totally heartbreaking. Sometimes the next question is, ‘What happened?’ It’s so much richer if you look at more than the basics of family history.”
The Lebanon County Historical Society (LCHS) and the Lebanon County Library System both possess extensive records related to local genealogy – not the least of which is access to www.news papers.com – and are great places for aspiring genealogists to embark on their family history journeys. Some internet sources like
Visitors review genealogy materials available at the Palmyra Public Library.
Helen Pyers, Lebanon Daily News, 1962
For some genealogists, simply being present in an ancestor’s final resting place can provide comfort and perspective.
Samuel Pyers at the Funeral of Abe Lincoln, The Daily News, Nov. 4, 1931, p. 1 and p. 12
www.ancestry.com provide free or inexpensive trial periods, while resources like the United States Library of Congress, the United States Census Bureau, the Pennsylvania State University and military records can also prove helpful in the pursuits of genealogy.
“(Genealogy) is fairly popular,” said LCHS archivist Shane Keenan. “Most of the researchers who come in here are genealogy researchers. I’d say it’s roughly a third of what we do. People want to know ‘What did this person do?’ ‘What was their job?’ ‘Where did they live?’ ‘Where did they go to church?’”
“I think for some folks, when they start out, it’s just a curiosity,” said Snyder. “You start with your immediate family and then branch out. You start out with a few names, and before you know it you have 50. You start out with two parents, and each of those two parents had two parents, and each of those parents had two parents, and all of these people had family lines. You just never know what you’re going to find. (The search) can you give you a sense of what (your ancestors’) time was like.”
Snyder grew up as one of a family of six in Berks County. Her father’s side of the family immigrated to central Pennsylvania from Germany, and her mother’s side was originally from Poland.
“My father’s side came over from Germany in the 17th century in search of religious freedom and settled in central Pennsylvania,” said Snyder. “It just fascinates me. I was trying to push back as far as I could with both sides of my family. As you start looking at one thing, then you go down a rabbit hole because there’s an
interesting fact over there. There could be a family tree, and you may not even know it because you haven’t researched it. We’re related to people we might not even realize we’re related to. Through my family research, I reconnected with a cousin.”
“In my case, it started with my grandfather,” Snyder continued. “I was just fascinated by his family because of all these stories that were passed down to us. Depending on how large your family is, somebody gets a story that you haven’t heard before.”
“People are curious about where they came from,” said Keenan. “They heard stories from their grandparents. (The grandparents) passed on. Now they don’t remember, and they want to recapture that memory. It’s about me. Where did I come from? Who am I? Genealogy gives you an excuse to look at history in a very personal way. It can help you understand that past.”
Exploring your family tree If your family is considering delving into its unique history, these local resources are great places to get everyone started: 1. Lebanon County Historical Society, 924 Cumberland St., Lebanon, 717-272-1473, lebanoncountyhistory.org
Lebanon County Library System, 125 N. Seventh St., Lebanon, 717-273-7624, lclibs.org 3. Lebanon County PA Genealogy, facebook.com/groups/LebanonCountyGenealogy 4. Palmyra Genealogy Group, meets on the first Monday of the month at 10 a.m. at Palmyra Public Library, 50 Landings Drive, Suite B, Annville, 717-838-1347, palmyra.lclibs.org 5. A subscription to newspapers.com 6. A membership in a genealogical or historical society or to an online database such as ancestry.com 7. A DNA test kit
AT BLUE RIDGE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
AT BLUE RIDGE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
BY JEFF FALK
He’s a grower, he’s a producer, he’s a son of the soil. Rod Wert is a farmer.
Like most farmers, Wert plants, nurtures and harvests. But what he offers consumers is an experience, a family tradition, memories and holiday spirit.
Wert is the owner of Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm. For Wert, the growing season isn’t the most important season of the year.
“Around the holidays, Christmas trees are the focal points of a lot of homes,” said Wert. “People decorate them and sit around them. And of course, there’s the kids and the presents. It brings joy to everyone, but it’s mostly for the kids.”
The custom of decorating trees, particularly evergreens, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ was developed in central Europe in the 16th century. The tradition has evolved to the point that Christmas trees are as synonymous with the holiday season as carols or Nativity scenes or hanging stockings.
Not only has Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm proliferated that tradition, but it has also fostered a unique one of its own – families coming together annually to pick out their Yuletide tree.
“I think it started with the Germans,” said Wert. “They used to hang the trees upside down. The pine trees represented the goodness of God and Christ’s eternity.”
“It’s kind of cool to me to have a Christmas tree and know exactly where it came from in the ground,” said Palmyra resident Kelly Breckenridge, a loyal Blue Ridge customer. “There’s definitely a connection to the tree. But I also like the idea of supporting a Christmas tree farm and open spaces.”
Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm prides itself on freshness.
Jodi and Rod Wert have been operating Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm for nearly 20 years.
Located at 1063 School House Road, Annville, in East Hanover Township in the northwest part of Lebanon County, the 140-acre Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm is home to more than 25,000 evergreens. The farm grows trees year-round, but it is only open to the public for 13 days over four weekends – mainly Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – before Christmas, beginning this year on Black Friday, Nov. 29.
But customers can begin tagging trees on the first weekends of November.
“(Customers) are looking for a family farm,” said Wert, who is assisted by wife Jodi. “You can cut your own tree here. Some people are in shorts and T-shirts, and they bring picnic baskets if it’s nice in November. Some people will take coffee and hot chocolate out to the fields. It’s a loyalty thing, but we’re very friendly, and we’re very meticulous about our stuff. It’s about customer service and quality. We treat our people good, but we also have great trees. You can’t beat the look of a real tree.”
Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm sells a wide variety of trees, including Fraser firs, Douglas firs, concolor firs, Nordmann firs, blue spruce and white pine. Most of the trees are between 6 and a half and 8 feet tall. Customers can purchase Christmas trees that are already cut or they can cut their own, creating a family tradition that spans generations.
In its gift shop, Blue Ridge also offers Christmas wreaths, holiday-themed decorations and unique presents.
“We have developed a clientele over the years,” said Wert. “With a lot of our customers, their parents brought them here, and now they come here. It’s kind of like, ‘We cut a tree here, and now we’re back with our family.’ It’s like a fun family adventure coming out here. The kids are looking forward to it.”
Blue Ridge’s customers originate from Lebanon, Annville, Cleona, Palmyra, Hershey, Hummelstown and as far away as Harrisburg. The Christmas tree selection experience at Blue Ridge – which for some takes more than 90 minutes to complete – is enhanced by seasonal music, a food truck, holiday-themed photography, candy canes and coloring books for the kids. There’s even a measuring pole that charts the growth of children from year to year.
“We have a lot of stuff going on,” said Wert. “We want people to come out and have a good time. When you go out to the farm and cut your own tree, it doesn’t get any fresher. All of our stuff is fresh.”
“I’ve never purchased a (Christmas) tree anywhere else,” said Breckenridge. “Going to a Christmas tree farm is just an experience. It’s fun. It’s a neat thing they offer. It’s a very inviting, warm experience that’s a nice lead-up to the holidays.”
Many Blue Ridge customers treat their Christmas trees like blank slates. With lights, ornaments and tinsel serving as decorations, the act of adorning is open to interpretation and limited only by the imagination.
“Some trees are better for heavier ornaments, and some have weak limbs,” said Wert. “Everybody has their own tastes in decorating their trees. … I sell them a good tree, and they can do whatever they want with them.”
Customers line up to take home their Christmas trees.
“When I was younger and single I had an artificial tree,” said Breckenridge. “My husband (Sean) is a city boy. When we met, he was like, ‘Nope, we have to have a real tree.’ For him, the idea of going to a farm and cutting down a tree is mind boggling. It’s come to be an experience we look forward to every year.”
Rod and Jodi Wert have been operating Blue Ridge as a Christmas tree farm for nearly 20 years now. Before they purchased it, the property of rolling hills was a cattle and agriculture farm.
“Growing trees is hard and a lot of work, but we enjoy it,” said Wert, 71. “We enjoy working with the trees.”
For additional information about Blue Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, go to www.blueridgetrees.com.
It’s not the presents but His presence that makes Christmas our favorite time of year. May the miracle of His birth fill your heart and soul with delight and wonder!
Thank you for the joy and purpose you’ve brought to our year. We’re blessed to have friends and customers like all of you.
Parents know that nothing quite matches the excitement young children feel on Christmas Eve. On the day before Christmas, youngsters may anxiously anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus that evening, and they are perhaps even more excited by the prospects of the following morning, when they'll discover an array of presents waiting to be opened.
Christmas Eve seems to have some built-in magical components, but there are a handful of ways parents can make the day even more special for children.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), has tracked Santa's Christmas Eve flight for more than 60 years. Beginning on Christmas Eve, families can track Santa's movements across the globe at www.Noradsanta.org. Kids can visit the site to see where Santa is at any given moment on Christmas Eve, growing more excited as the jolly old elf gets closer and closer to their own region.
Gather children and their cousins and/or friends to create a special Christmas Eve craft or decoration that can be displayed next year. This is a great way to channel youngsters' nervous Christmas Eve energy into something productive, and it can make for a great tradition families can continue even after kids are grown.
Hollywood has never shied away from holiday fare, so there's no shortage of festive films to enjoy with youngsters on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a classic like the 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street" starring Natalie Wood as Susan Walker and Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, or go with something more recent, such as "The Grinch," the 2018 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Lighting displays are another component that makes the holiday season so special. After Christmas Eve dinner, take a stroll through your neighborhood to see the lighting displays or climb into the car to take in a different neighborhood's offerings if you're already familiar with those in your own neck of the woods.
Christmas Eve is a magical day for youngsters and their parents. Some simple ideas can make the day even more meaningful for children and their families.
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The holidays bring together friends, neighbors, and family members to celebrate some of the most festive days of the year. Although celebrants often incorporate traditions they hold dear this time of year, downtime provides an opportunity to embrace new games and entertainment ideas as well. The following are some fun games to play this holiday season that can help to break the ice and keep everyone laughing.
Everyone knows that Rudolph wanted to have fun and participate in "reindeer games," but he was left on the sidelines. Inspired by the tune, everyone can participate in reindeer games at your home. These types of games can include tests of endurance and dexterity, like fruitcake-eating contests, running races, or doing hurdle competitions in the yard.
Participants can see how well they can launch a marshmallow into the outfield by hitting it with a candy cane taking the place of a baseball bat. Each participant gets three swings. The person with the most home runs wins.
In this game, party hosts wrap up five oddly shaped gifts specifically for the game (the gifts may be oddly shaped, or just the wrapping may be odd as a decoy). Players take turns trying to guess what is inside and mark down their answers on sheets. One by one the gifts are revealed. If anyone guesses the gift, they win it as a prize. If more than one person guesses a gift, come up with a fun way to break the tie, such as thumb wrestling or rock paper scissors.
Singing traditional carols and popular holiday tunes is not uncommon come December. In this competitive version of karaoke, singers have to keep on singing, even when the lyrics get turned off or covered to test their true knowledge of these songs.
This requires keeping a collection of oddly shaped gifts at the ready. Game participants try to stack the presents as tall as they can without them toppling over.
Hang strings on the straight ends of candy canes to fashion fishing poles, with the curved ends serving as the "hooks." Participants try to "fish" smaller candy canes out of a bowl and see how many they can reel in.
The game referee has a list of a few categories (food, sports, colors, cars, etc.), and players are split into a few teams. When the category is called, the teams have to jot down as many words as they can pertaining to the category that do not have the letter "L" in them before a timer runs out.
These are just a few festive ways to have fun with friends or family members during holiday gatherings.
Families gather frequently during the holiday season as everyone enjoys the feasts and festivities that are synonymous with this time of year. Families often bake and decorate together, as these activities are inclusive of people of all ages.
This time of year is also one for dabbling in creative pursuits, as it offers a prime opportunity to bond with children over a table full of paint, glue, beads, and other crafty supplies. The crafts made during the holidays often become cherished mementos that will be regarded fondly for years to come. Here are some ideas to inspire holiday creativity.
Handprint crafts are popular among children. Adults and children can dip their hands into washable white paint and make a handprint stamp on a small canvas, a wooden palette, or even a terracotta flowerpot. Decorate the white fingerprints with black dots to look like the faces of snowmen and paint top hats and scarves. In the years to come, artists can marvel at how small their handprints once were.
This craft also makes use of handprints. Ask all family members to trace their handprints on different colors of construction paper or cardstock. Cut out all the paper hands, punch holes in the bottoms of the palms, and then string a ribbon through. Decorate the Christmas tree or a mantle with this garland.
Repurpose wine corks by crafting adorable little reindeer. Two corks make up the head and the body, and four vertically will make up the feet. Stick on googly eyes, and add a small red or black bead for the nose. Pipe cleaners can be bent to form the reindeer's antlers.
Paint the tips of gathered pine cones with green paint and allow to dry. Add white glitter or paint as "snow." Glue the pine cones to wine corks that will serve as the tree trunks, and attach a small wooden star to the top of the trees for the finishing touch.
Purchase wooden or plastic ball ornaments. Cover with small scraps of cut fabric or paper dipped in craft glue or Mod Podge, and attach to the ornament in an overlapping fashion. Remember to add a string from which the ornament can be hung on the tree. Allow to dry completely before use.
Cut strips of paper to make a paper chain link for every day of Advent. Advent begins on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, and lasts until Christmas. The top link can be any design artists prefer, but those who need a little inspiration can consider a religious symbol, the face of a reindeer, a snowman, or a Christmas tree. Hang the chain, and then children can take turns ripping off a link from the bottom each day as they count down to the holiday.
Paint four popsicle sticks per snowflake in desired colors. Decorate with glue, pompoms, beads, or other trinkets. Add small looped strings to hang the ornaments.
Parents, grandparents, and children can have fun crafting holiday decorations this December.
The magic and wonder of the holiday season can be enthralling for people of all ages. There is so much to see and do during the holiday season, making it easy to forge lasting memories.
With the busyness that tends to accompany December, life at home can sometimes feel a little hectic, especially for the family pet. Although Christmas can be exciting, the season can induce anxiety in pets. Pets like cats and dogs often thrive on routine and familiarity. Switch up that routine and various behavioral issues can arise, including pets having accidents in the home. Pets also may become more destructive, chewing or clawing at items to release pent-up tension and anxiety. Pet owners who want the season to be festive for their pets can consider the following strategies.
GRADUALLY INTRODUCE NEW ITEMS.
Decorate living spaces in a gradual way so pets can grow acclimated to their newly decorated environs. Add a few pieces to rooms each day until you finally have all your decorations out for display. This way pets can sniff around the decorations and realize the seasonal items do not pose a threat.
KEEP FAMILIAR PET BELONGINGS.
Try not to upset the apple cart too much in regard to pets' cherished possessions. For example, do not move the dog bed from the living room and set up the Christmas tree in its place. Pets need that familiarity, and having some of their items with familiar smells can make for a smooth adjustment to holiday decorations.
If you will be inviting people over during the holidays, set aside a room for pets so they can be in relative quiet away from boisterous crowds. Locking pets away also helps prevent their escape from the home as guests come and go.
Pets are often curious about new things, and they may climb or paw at items to try to understand them better. Decorative items may end up being knocked over by curious pets. Secure the tree using a string and an anchor to the ceiling or wall like you might secure a large-screen TV to prevent it from tipping over. Keep breakable ornaments and other trinkets behind display cases or beyond the reach of pets.
DISCOURAGE PETS FROM USING DECORATIONS AS TOYS.
Reprimand pets or move them away from holiday decor so they don't get the idea that these items are now their toys.
Holiday foods and desserts are rich and full of ingredients that may not be healthy for pets. Keep a secure lid on trash pails and remind holiday guests that pets should not be fed table scraps.
Pets may need some time to adjust to the changes that come with holiday decorating and celebrating to keep them happy and safe.
Greeting cards are among the classic signs that the holiday season has arrived. Many of these greetings feature family photos, so holiday well-wishers may want to brush up on their photography skills.
Throughout the year, people can be on the lookout for greeting card-worthy pho tos. While a Norman Rockwell-style family tableau or a wintry Christmas scene is a common choice, any photo-worthy moment during the year can suffice. Photos taken while vacationing or enjoying time together as a family may work.
Clothing with busy prints should be avoided, as they may create an unpleasant visual effect for the viewers. Solid colors may be a better choice. Photo subjects should coordinate, but wardrobes that completely match may seem cheesy.
If photos involve young children, the photo sessions should be planned around nap times. Adults should schedule the photo shoot to occur when children are well-rested and fed. They may also consider offering kids treats they do not normally get as a reward for patience and happy smiles.
Proper lighting can help avoid the occurrence of red eye in photographs, which happens when the flash bounces off a wide pupil. Asking subjects to look into bright light before the photo or utilizing a camera that snaps a small burst of flash before the actual flash can help alleviate this problem.
Families may consider using candid shots or flukes, as some of the funniest and most memorable photos may be taken when things do not go according to plan.
Photographers are advised to zoom in tight and
crop their pictures. Card recipients want to look at the people in the photo rather than their surroundings, so photographers should be sure to focus on the subjects' faces.
The camera should be angled correctly for flattering photos, and subjects should adjust their posture to look their best. Turning the lower half of one's body to the side and then adjusting the upper half to move slightly toward the camera may make a person appear more elegant. The photographer may position the camera lens at eye level or above to avoid the appearance of a double chin.
Families may show off their sense of humor in their holiday cards. They may pose in funny ways, mimic pop culture references or re-create photos from album covers or movie posters. They may also consider re-creating childhood photos.
There are many ways to ensure a photo for a family holiday card is one to remember.
Home for the holidays:
Millions of people around the world feel that the holiday season is a magical time of year. Although those people come from all walks of life, it’s likely that no group is as taken by the unique spirit of the holidays as much as children.
Whether they’re looking forward to Santa’s arrival or preparing for a school holiday pageant, kids have much to be excited about come December. Parents can channel that enthusiasm by involving kids when decorating around the house this holiday season.
homemade ornaments.
From simple ornaments fashioned from pine cones picked up outside to more complex projects designed for children nearing adolescence, the options are plentiful. Parents can look to the internet to find design ideas and directions.
Families that celebrate Christmas can let kids make the decisions when decorating the Christmas tree. Kids are likely to spend the weeks leading up to Santa’s arrival gazing in awe at the tree, and knowing that they decided where to place the various ornaments on it might make the season even more special for youngsters.
ornaments.
It’s not safe to involve children when installing lighting displays, but kids may get a kick out of choosing inflatable lawn decorations and other items to place around the yard. Take kids along when buying new items, and then seek their input when placing Frosty, Santa, and his reindeer friends on the lawn.
Many celebrants cannot imagine a holiday season without gingerbread houses and cookies. These traditions provide another great opportunity to involve children in holiday decorating. Set aside time to build gingerbread houses, which can be used as decorations before they’re ultimately eaten. Cookies may not have the shelf life of a typical gingerbread house, but kids can pitch in and decorate cookies prior to a holiday party or family meal.
The spirit of the holiday season can be seen on the faces of children each December. Inviting kids to pitch in when decorating for the holidays can make the season even more special for its youngest celebrants.
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