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Charlie Hackenberg playing the “bones” during open house at

the Heritage Museum, Summer, 2011

Pen and ink sketch of the 1814 Union County Court House

by Donna S. Spangler-Boop.

2011 New Berlin Heritage Association Bulletin, edited byDavid Farmer, Sally K. Farmer, and Joan Maurer.

2

Charter Members

New Berlin Heritage Association

Dorothy L. Eaton*

Louis A. Eaton*

Richard Jones*

Phyllis Keister*

Dorothy Kinney*

Murray Kline*

Rose Kline

Betty Kratzer

Gloria Maize – Copresident

Joan Maurer – Copresident

Harriet McLain*

Mabel Michael

Rev. Mark Michael*

Isabelle Miller*

Louise Miller*

Ether Moyer*

Samuel Moyer*

James R. Ritter*

Mary Sassaman*

Ferne Sauers

George L. Sauers*

Polly Sauers

James Sellers

Edna Smalley*

Jerome Smith*

Marie Smith*

Marjorie Smith*

Winifred Smith*

Catherine S. Snyder*

Edith Solomon*

Estella Solomon*

Margaret Solomon*

Russell Solomon*

Velma Solomon

D. Paul Souders*

Donald Spangler

J. Marlyn Spangler*

Josephine Spangler*

Ruth Spangler

Ray Stumpff

Martha Wetzel

Laura Witmer*

Rev. Robert Wittlinger

Lorraine Wolfe*

Marie Wolfe – Treasurer*

*deceased

63

Barbara A. Ritchey

Margaret E. Ritter

Jean L. Sauers

Jill Shambach

John Showers

Nancy Showers

Donna M. Slear

Carole Spangler

Dennis Spangler

Donald Spangler

Donna S. Spangler–Boop

Mary Jo Spangler

Ruth Spangler

John Stamm

Frances Stover

Lynn M. Tanner

Joan E. Thomas

Tammy Tobin–Janzen

Kaylene Trick

Marvin Wagner

Spencer W. Walker

Clyde Walter

Diane Walter

Nancy K. Wheaton

Dennis D. Williams

Christine Wilson

Joanne Zimmerman

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Life Members

New Berlin Heritage Association

Julie Adams

Audrey Bingaman

Jean E. Bingaman

Ronald C. Blatchley

Kathy Bromfield

Ted Chappen

Joan K. Dervin

Sidney G. Dreese

Loren Eberhart

Mary Ellen Egli

David W. Farmer

Sally K. Farmer

Robert Garrett

Robert J. Hammond

Donna K. Heimbach

Paul J. Heimbach

Tom D. Heimbach

Bonnie E. Hestor

Martha G. Hockenberry

Lee E. Knepp

Betty J. Kratzer

David W. Leiby

Rev. Robert Linke

Tammy Longacre

Gloria J. Maize

Kathy Mapes

Joan E. Maurer

Robert E. Maurer

Ian McCormick

George E. Mensch

Mifflinburg Bank

Garth R. Miller

Steven C. Miller, DDS

Sandra B. Pardi

Joseph Prah

Marian Reem

3

John George Overmier:New Berlin’s “King of the Wild Frontier”

by James Lengle

In the fall of 1770, a German Lutheran immigrant JohnGeorge Overmier packed up his family and left Paxton town-ship, setting our for the promising Buffalo Valley. As a resultof a treaty with the Iroquois in 1768, the wilderness areain what is now Northumberland, Union, and Snyder coun-ties was opened to settlement. By 1769 this land had beensurveyed and could be purchased for 5 pounds per hundredacres. Although open to settlement, it was still the very fron-tier of civilization, filled with great risk and danger. Despitethe danger and hard work that they knew lay ahead, theOvermiers settled on Switzer’s Run near the place where itempties into Penns Creek. Their farm consisted of 3031

2acres.

There were about 25 families between Dry Valley and WhiteSprings. One can only imagine what would compel a man topull up stakes and move his family into frontier lands. Hemust have been a man not afraid of adventure and a man insearch of a better life.

John George Obermier was not new to perilous adven-tures. At the age of 24, he had left his native Germany,boarded the ship Brothers in Rotterdam, and sailed acrossthe Atlantic Ocean. He arrived in Philadelphia where onSeptember 16, 1751 he took the English oath of allegiance.Before long he headed west to Paxton (now Harrisburg) wherehe married Eva Rosabaum in 1753. She was a servant for alarge landowner who had paid for her voyage to the colonies.According to family history, John and Eva were servants forthe same landowner and “plowed and grubbed together instumpy fields where Harrisburg is now situated.” This issomewhat ironic because the Obemier/Obermyer surname inGerman indicates the overseer of the farmland or village on

4

the upper land. Here, they were little more than indenturedservants. Eva died in 1759 after bearing John George fourchildren. After Eva’s death, John George married Anna Bar-bara Vogt, who had immigrated with her parents and tensiblings in 1750. Between 1761 and 1769, the Obermier fam-ily added seven more children, making a total of 11.

Map showing the location of the Captain John George Overmire

Homestead, by John Cavlin Overmeyer, 1905.

After arriving in the Buffalo Valley, John George’s firstpriority must have been locating a site for the family cabin.There was a spring, later named Silver Spring, on their landand this is where the house was built so that the spring flowedthrough the half cellar. A grandson of John George, JosephSeebold who later owned the farm, gave this description:

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In Memory of Mary C. Maurer

In Memory of Mervin Maurer

Reagan Maurer

George & Joyce Mensch

Mifflinburg Bank & Trust Company

Joe & Sharon Moyer& Family

QE Manufacturing Co

William H. Reigle

Barb Ritchey

Charles & Bonnie Ritter

Rolanda Ritzman

Bob & Jean Sauers

Don & Donna Sauers

Ferne Solomon Sauers

Patricia L Saylor

Scott W Seebold

Lynn & Jill Shambach& Sons

Nancy & John Showers

Jim & Dianne Smith

Cub & Lori Snook

Mr & Mrs Theodore Solomon

Carole & Tim Spangler

Dennis & Mary Jo Spangler

Don & Ruth Spangler

Ruth-Alice & Gary Spangler

Frances M. Stover

Jeffrey Swanger& Debra Grim

Kelvin & Janet Swanger

Lloyd & Phyllis Swanger

Logan & Pai Ann Swanger

Ron & Kay Trick

Ralph & Jo Unroe

Robert & Erma VanHorn

Craig VanHorn

Steven & Ann VanHorn

William & Connie Van Horn

The Luther Wagner Family

Clyde & Diane Walter

Jay & Patti Walter

Nancy Wheaton

John & Yvonne Yerger

Harry & Mary Yost

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New Berlin Heritage Association2011 Sponsors

Benfer-Miller Post 957The American Legion

Audrey J. Bingaman

Ronald & Frances Blatchley

Grant & Kathy Brady

Bill & Julie Breon

Wayne & Kathy Bromfield

Kathleen Seebold Burch

Jim & Susan Chlebowski

Mr and Mrs Henry Conrad

Coukart & Associates Inc

Mrs Joan Dervin

Jay & Mary Ellen Egli

Sally & David Farmer

Frank & Julia Fetter

Mark & Sheryl Fetter

First National Bank– New Berlin

Fraktur byDonna Selfridge Spangler

Dr & Mrs Gary A. Hackenberg

Hackenberg & Potter, LLC

Mary Agnes Hackenberg

Robert & Bonnie Hestor

Bill & Martha Hockenberry& Family

Betty & John Hollenbach

Bob & Nancy Hummel

Mrs Oliver Hummel

Clair & Carole Jacka

Eugene & Miriam Keister

John S. Klingler

Lee E. Knepp

Dick & Betty Kratzer

Jim & Diane Lengle

Bill & Kate Livingston

Nelson & Tammy Longacre

Mr & Mrs Thomas McArdle

Buz & Joan Wolfe McClure

Iam McCormick

Gloria J. Maize

DJ, Kathy, & Becky Mapes

Bob & Doloras Maurer

Don & Georgianna Maurer

Elmer & Joan Maurer

Harry, Linda & Jasen Maurer

Marvin & Carrol Maurer

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The size of the older Obermier homestead was30ft × 30ft, two stories high, built of nice hewnwhite pine logs, a foot thick and many of themtwo feet wide. There was a porch along the southside facing the road to New Berlin.

Since the Obermier house was sturdily built, when Indianraids threatened the settlers in the area they would flee to thishouse for protection. However, as the population increasedthe need arose for a log fort (Obermeier Fort) which waserected on the east bank of Switzer’s Run near the locationof the historical marker that stands today.

Despite the fact that John George had received little for-mal education and English was his second language, his fellowsettlers turned to him for leadership. In the Obermyer familyhistory, he is described as “tall, vigorous, bony yet muscular,with his body so inured to labor as to be almost insensible tofatigue, and a mind so accustomed to dangers that the dan-gers ceased to alarm. In the prime of manhood and in thevigor of health, with intelligence to understand correct prin-ciples and the firmness to adhere to them.” As a result, hewas largely responsible for organizing and training the othersettlers for protection from attack. He usually acted as cap-tain and led many expeditions against the Native Americans.All areas that bordered Native American land maintainedcompanies of Rangers to defend frontier settlements. MostPennsylvania Rangers dressed in homemade outfits and werearmed with their own rifles, knives, and hatchets. When Cap-tain Overmier died, he willed to his son Jacob “my rifle, gun,powder horn, shotpouch and bullet molds.” The primaryduty of these ‘Frontier Minutemen’ was to alert settlers of animpending attack and gather rapidly for a mission when analarm had been given. They were also to escort the womenand children to safety. The Rangers became highly skilled

6

at night travel and recognized sounds of danger. They wererenowned for their expert marksmanship. The could endurelack of food, long marches, and became “exceptionally swiftof foot and deadly with their tactics.”

The ringing of the axe and the sounds of trees crashingto earth must have been common in the Buffalo Valley inthe early 1770s. In 1775, Obermier was taxed for 40 acresof cultivated land. Taxes were also paid on his two horses,two cows, and two sheep. When the first shots of the Revolu-tionary War were fired, he and his sons were working to clearmore land on their farm. The Continental Congress sooncalled for ten companies of ‘expert riflemen’ from Pennsyl-vania, Maryland, and Virginia. Many Pennsylvania Rangersanswered the call to action, including John George. On Oc-tober 8, 1776, commissions were issued and Obermier wasappointed Captain of the Sixth Company in the Fourth Bat-talion of Northumberland County. This unit left the BuffaloValley on December 5, 1776.

Recognizing that many men from the Valley had leftto join General Washington’s army and encouraged by theBritish and Tories, the Native Americans renewed their at-tacks as early as December 1777. The valley frontier was “atthe mercy of the tomahawk and scalping knife.” Sensing thedanger, Washington ordered Captains Obermier, HawkinsBoone (cousin of Daniel), and John Brady, along with Lieu-tenants John and Samuel Dougherty to return home and usetheir influence to rally the people to sustain themselves untilhe could provide them other help. In May 1778, the militiawas reorganized and Captain Obermier was placed in chargeof the Third Ranger Company in the First Battalion underColonel John Kelly. The area they were assigned to protectconstituted today’s Union and Centre counties. In less thantwo years Brady, Boone, and Samuel Dougherty had lost theirlives performing their duties.

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Recent Acquisitions for theNew Berlin Heritage Museum (2010–2011)

Donated by Catherine Walker Livingston: four photos ofNew Berlin school students

On long-term loan from the New Berlin Borough: oilpainting by D.L. Dreese of New Berlin, covered bridge, 1967

Donated by Katherine Seebold Burch: cloth black doll,‘Old Pete’

Donated by Barbara Smith for Wendell Smith: baseballuniform pants; clothing belonging to Winifred Smith; flagsand ‘Serving in U.S. Army’ WWI banner; brass lantern; or-gan stool used by Dr. Harry Wilson; fraktur (marriage ofJacob Spangler to Lydia Stock), 1847; paper hand fans (6featuring Maurer Funeral Home, 5 featuring Varner Plumb-ing and Heating)

Donated by Nancy Wheaton: record book of clock/watchrepairs (1909-1910) by Scott Seebold (b.1849 – d.1922)

Donated by a friend of the Museum: Pennsylvania Ger-man Society, vol. XXVIII annual report

Donated by Rev. Dr. Gary Hackenberg: large and smallmedicine bottles from J.T. Smith, druggist; chalk board eraser(F.H. Maurer, New Berlin)

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While establishing a baseline of energy usage was thefocus of Year 1, implementation of energy conservation mea-sures to reduce energy usage community-wide is the focus inthe project’s second year. Year 3 activities will continue theimplementation of energy reduction activities and track re-sults. Also in the third year will begin the development ofa community-supported plan to supplant energy from con-ventional fuel with energy from renewable local sources. Thefinal task will be establishing a community organizationalframework for continuing implementation, and provide a blue-print for replication by others.

SUN Tech Carpentry Instructor, Mr. Bill Samuelson, demonstrates

glass cutting at a Do-it-Yourself Weatherization workshop in

February 2011

7

In 1780, four Frontier Rangers were buried on the Over-mier homestead on a bluff opposite Tuscarora Run. They haddied in an Indian attack on Jacob Grozong’s Mill near ForestHill. Two years later, on May 6, 1782, there was an incidentthat occurred near Dice at the Frederick Wise homestead.As related in the Overmyer Family History, “A number ofthe Company were on a scout and talking about the meritsof their respective guns. One said he could shoot the dropfrom an Indian’s nose. Just at the moment the Indians whowere in ambush fired upon them and several fell. A privatein Overmier’s company, Edward Tate, was wounded by a ballthrough the foot. Tate was able to run and hide and an In-dian who chased him looked over the fence but was unable tosee him. Phillip Seebold often told his son Joseph, that hisgrandmother, Barbara Overmier, said that the two men killedwere Sergeants Lee and Reyner. Their bodies were broughtto the Obermiers’ and Mrs. Obermier washed their bodiesbefore they were buried in the graveyard at Switzer’s Run.Stones were brought up from the edge of the creek to marktheir graves. The Captain was with his men in pursuit of theIndians.” Captain Overmier continued to serve throughoutthe war, with two of his sons serving under him.

In 1783, Overmier was elected as one of the Overseersof Northumberland County (which included what are nowSnyder and Union counties) and served until 1796. Fromthen until his death in 1805, the Captain was able to live asemi-retired life on his farm spending his remaining days withhis wife and family. He was buried in the Dry Run cemetery.Anna Barbara was buried next to him in 1806. After theirparents died, some of the children came to live in New Berlin.But before long all his sons and some of his daughters movedwest when Illinois became open for settlement. His oldestson, John George, was the last to venture west. He diedin 1812 soon after he had settled with his wife and children

8

in Perry County, Ohio. Like their father, the Ovemier sonslooked to the west to start new lives, but what an interestingstory they left behind.

The Overmyer Boys Ride into Townby James Lengle

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in June, two gentle-men rode into New Berlin in a 1963 E Type Jaguar coveredin decals. They had just finished competing in the ‘GreatAmerican Car Race’ traveling from Chattanooga, TN to Ben-nington, VT. They had enjoyed competing but had not wonthe $20,000 prize. Their names were Richard and EdwardOvermyer and on their way back to Chattanooga, decidedto stop in New Berlin to see what this area of Pennsylva-nia looked like. They were particularly interested since theirgreat, great, great, great, great, great, great, grandfather(seven generations removed) was one of the earliest settlers –John George Overmier.

The Overmyer descendants are very interested in geneal-ogy and several members of the family have done consider-able research. The brothers knew that John Overmier wasthe captain of a group of Rangers whose job it was to pro-tect other settlers from Indian attacks and that he had built afort for that purpose. They were interested in the New BerlinMuseum’s arrowhead collection, found near Sweitzer’s Run,where their ancestor had a homestead. There is a Pennsyl-vania Historical Marker on Smith Road (west of New Berlinpast the Seebold farm) for the Overmier Fort. This markerreads,

57

An Energy Contractor Expo provided an opportunityfor residents, business people and others to meet with over40 energy-related professionals. New Berlin residents wereshown simple weatherization techniques by SUN Area Tech-nical Institute faculty. Bucknell University senior chemicalengineering students and faculty contributed research andanalysis to the renewable energy study. The SEDA-COGEnergy Resource Center is the recipient of a NADO 2011Innovation Award for the Community-wide Energy Indepen-dence Initiative. The NADO (National Association of De-velopment Organizations) award honors projects in a varietyof regional development areas including environmental initia-tives, regional innovation strategies, and sustainable develop-ment.

Community participation reaches 80% in November 2009

and soon reached 87%

56

(ii) 30 qualifying homes have received comprehensive en-ergy retrofits.

(iii) Over 60 of New Berlin’s PP&L Electric Utilities’ cus-tomers have received rebates totaling over $31,000 forenergy conservation measures undertaken.

(iv) The SUN Area Technical Institute has realized over$100,000 in energy savings.

(v) Free walkthrough energy surveys have been provided to127 homeowners using ARC funding.

(vi) Comprehensive energy assessments were provided tothe New Berlin Borough, fire department, churches, andother non-profit organizations.

At the Contractor Expo

9

Near this marker stood the home of John GeorgeOvermyer who cleared this land in 1775 as oneof its first settlers. His two story house was builtof white pine logs up to 2 feet thick with a springrunning through its partial cellar. It served as aplace for neighbors to rally during times of Indianattack. When their number increased, the settlerserected the Overmyer Fort near this house. Cap-tain Overmyer served in the Revolutionary Warand from 1776 to 1777 led a company of volun-teers against the Indians and later the British. Healso organized and led squads of men to protect thefrontier settlements during the difficult years from1779 to 1783. His grave is in Dry Run Cemetery.

Richard and Edward Overmyer

10

West on Route 304 by the Dry Run, there had been amarker for the Dry Run Cemetery where he was buried. Thehistorical marker was dedicated in 1948, but is now listed asmissing. It read,

Opposite on the bluff at Penns Creek lay BuffaloValley’s pioneer cemetery. Abandoned in 1791 af-ter a generation of use, it held the graves of vet-erans of the French and Indian War and of theRevolution.

In checking along the Dry Run and what could possibly bea bluff, there is no evidence of grave stones or a graveyard.Ernie Snook, who owns the land where the cemetery is said tobe located, said that numerous others have inquired about itslocation. A third generation farmer, Snook said that neitherhis grandfather nor his father knew of its exact location.

Editor’s note: Sources of information for these articles:

There is a large amount of information online about JohnGeorge Overmier. Two sites are ‘Overmyer History by LeonardOvermyer III’ and ‘John George Overmyer, Jr. (1727-1805).’There is also a book: One Immigrant’s Legacy – the OvermyerFamily in American 1751-2009 by Laurence Overmyer. TheNew Berlin Heritage Association published an article on theOvermier Fort in its 1973 bulletin which was reprinted in the1992 compilation.

55

In July 2009, the New Berlin Borough Council appointedan eight-member citizens committee to organize local partic-ipation and assist with each phase of the project: The NewBerlin Energy Independence Committee. It is comprised ofvolunteers from the New Berlin community and chaired bythe New Berlin Mayor, Craig Egli. SEDA-COG’s EnergyResource Center is assisting the committee by managing theproject and providing technical assistance.

A Contractor Expo was held in the New Berlin Fire Company’s

Social Hall in October 2010

Project Highlights

Using regional partnerships to provide technical assis-tance as part of the project’s implementation, the followingare some key project highlights:

(i) A comprehensive community-wide energy audit was de-veloped and conducted in 2010 that serves as a baselineto measure energy reductions achieved.

54

Energy independence in the case of the NBEI Projectwill be achieved in the short term by focusing on energyconservation and efficiency, and in the longer term by pro-ducing abundant and affordable alternative energy throughadvanced technologies. The NBEI Project will examine howthe coming together of a community will help to bring furtheropportunity and superior results than if the same challengewas approached on an individual basis.

New Berlin: a model community

It is not a coincidence that this energy independence ini-tiative is happening in New Berlin. Our community is repre-sentative of many small, rural communities throughout Ap-palachia. It has a very strong sense of community and is ofa manageable size for a project of this ambition and scope,making it an ideal model community to undertake a pilotproject that will serve as an example and blueprint for manyother similar communities throughout Appalachia.

Filling out survey forms at the Project Kickoff

11

The Statue of Libertyfrom France to NYC to Harrisburg to New Berlin

by Diane Lengle

The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World)was designed by Frederic Bartholdi and constructed in Franceas a gift to the United States from the people of France. Itwas dedicated in New York Harbor on October 28, 1886. Therobed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddessof freedom, who bears a torch and a tablet upon which isinscribed the date of the American Declaration of Indepen-dence. A broken chain lies at her feet symbolizing the brokenshackles of oppression. The statue is 1111

2feet from heel to

top of head and weighs 225 tons.

The Susquehanna Lady Liberty located in the river atHarrisburg celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2011. The orig-inal Statue was quietly placed in the Susquehanna in the mid-dle of the night on July 1, 1986 and all who helped agreedto keep the origin a secret. The next morning Lady Liberty

12

came out of the early morning river fog to surprise CentralPennsylvania in time for the 100th anniversary of the originalStatue of Liberty. The statue was 171

2feet high and weighed

450 lbs. She stood atop the Northern Central Railroad pierthat was approximately 32 feet high. The combined heightof statue and pier was 49 feet which is one sixth of the heightof the NYC statue. The original statue was made of vene-tian blinds and interior plywood. Damaged in a severe windstorm in 1992, it was removed. The new Lady Liberty wasbuilt over a number of years and placed on the railroad pierin the summer of 1997. The railroad pier was raised an ad-ditional 18 inches in the center to make a better pedestal.The new statue is 25 feet tall and weighs 4 tons. The newheight is a little less than one fifth of the pedestal and statuein New York City. The new statue is made of wood, metal,and fiberglass.

Harrisburg’s ‘Lady Liberty’

Editors’ note: The above information was provided byGene Stilp of Harrisburg. Stilp built and installed the Har-risburg replica on the pier of the late Marysville Bridge in theDauphin Narrows of the Susquehanna River.

53

New Berlin residents signing in at the Project Kickoff

in October 2009

All of Appalachia, including our region’s predominatelyrural residents and communities, are disproportionately im-pacted by the skyrocketing costs of energy. Compelling sci-entific studies indicate that continued reliance on fossil fuel-based energy threatens our health, environment, and econ-omy. Federal and state policies are increasingly focused onenergy independence and movement away from carbon-basedenergy toward renewable energy sources. While citizens, busi-nesses, and local governments everywhere are taking stepsto identify and then reduce their energy use and exploreopportunities for renewable energy, the practice is neitherwidespread nor coordinated. The cost of renewable energyremains uneconomical for most individual residents and busi-nesses. There are few examples of community-based energyconservation and renewable energy projects that, due to scale,could economically and collectively advance toward energyindependence.

52

New Berlin is busting through these barriers via a ground-breaking, community-scale project known as the New BerlinEnergy Independence (NBEI) Project. In addition to SEDA-COG, the Appalachian Regional Commission and PP&L Elec-tric Utilities are financial and technical partners in this ini-tiative.

Scope of the initiative

The NBEI Project takes an innovative, community-wideapproach to energy conservation and efficiency. As a pri-mary step in the project, New Berlin’s energy usage wasidentified through a complete energy audit of the town, in-cluding residents, businesses, schools, and public agencies.The overall project goals include assisting the entire commu-nity to achieve greater energy independence through energyconservation and by exploring opportunities for cost-effectiveenergy from locally-derived alternative sources. This initia-tive will provide a replicable blueprint for other Appalachiancommunities to reduce their dependence on costly fossil fu-els, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, attain greater energysecurity, retain wealth within the region and create new busi-nesses and living wage jobs to provide products and servicesfocused on energy independence. Launched in October 2009,the NBEI Project has an expected duration of three years.

13

New Berlin’s Statue of Libertyby Diane Lengle

In 1986, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of NewYork City’s Statue of Liberty, New Berlin resident MarvinWagner constructed a plywood replica of this famous lady.As a pattern, he used a poster that had been sent to theNew Berlin Elementary School by the Oscar Mayer Company,famous for its wieners. The statue was cut from half-inchexterior plywood and stands about 16 feet high on a flatbase. She weighs approximately 150 lbs. In the first year,there were no features painted on her and she was erected onthe bank of Penns Creek, across from the Commons for theannual Fourth of July fireworks. At one point in the show,she was raised up by ropes and fireworks went off around her.

Marvin Wagner and Elmer Maurer setting the statue on Penns Creek.

14

By the next year, Donna Selfridge Spangler (now Boop)took on the task of painting it to an exact likeness. During the1987 Fourth of July celebrations, the replica was placed ontwo canoes that had been lashed together and covered, andanchored in the creek. Retired to storage after this event,she appeared only once more when she was placed by theCommons’ flag pole for several months during the first GulfWar in the summer of 1990.

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The Road to Energy Independenceby Megan Epler

The New Berlin Energy Initiative was launched in Au-gust 2009 as a community-wide effort to reduce New Berlin’sreliance on fossil fuels. Its efforts focus on energy conserva-tion and increased efficiency, as well as exploring the use ofrenewable, local energy. The organizing committee for thisthree-year project includes representatives from the residentsand businesses of New Berlin, SEDA-COG (a regional plan-ning organization), and the electric utility company, PP&L.The following article describes the motivation for the project,as well as its activities and accomplishments to date. The au-thor is Megan Epler, project manager and Energy ReductionSpecialist at SEDA-COG’s Energy Resource Center. –Eds.

Barriers exist throughout Appalachia that prevent theability of small communities to achieve greater energy inde-pendence and save money through the reduction of energyconsumption and replacing energy from conventional sourceswith renewable energy from local sources. These include:

(i) a lack of understanding of how and how much energyis currently being used

(ii) a lack of awareness of how to reduce energy use – anda lack of awareness as to how much can be saved

(iii) a lack of connection with technical expertise to helpidentify and reduce energy usage

(iv) a lack of projects garnering local renewable energy sourcesthat are locally owned with the energy used on-site

(v) a lack of financial resources to invest in energy conser-vation and renewable energy.

50 15

For many, it was quite a surprise to see New Berlin’sStatue of Liberty standing (floating) proudly in Penns Creekagain this year–in time for the Firemen’s Carnival and theFourth of July celebrations. It was especially memorablewhen she was lit up at the same moment as the traditionallighting of American flag fireworks. Marvin Wagner, ElmerMaurer, and John Benfer are responsible for this special show-ing of our own Liberty Lady. She is a fitting tribute to the125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

New Berlin’s ‘Lady Liberty’

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New Berlin as Capturedon the Artist’s Canvas

by Nancy R. Showers

For the Heritage Museum’s special exhibit on New BerlinDay 2010, members of New Berlin’s Heritage Association as-sembled over thirty-five pieces of art (photography was notincluded this time) with all subject matter relating to NewBerlin itself. The artists are not necessarily area natives, yetevince their abilities to have vitally rendered the spirit andtimes of our village.

Wood-master Marvin Wagner and a selected conscripted(!)crew created a set of 4 ft × 8 ft accordion-style panels onwhich the collection was displayed.

Marvin Wagner, Elmer Maurer, and Jim Lengle set up the panels for

the art exhibit.

49

Kathryn Hackenberg in the gazebo on Heritage Day.

48

about the small sizes and tiny waists of many of the dresses.While methods of construction have changed, many of thecostumes are still stylish.

To preserve the integrity of the collection, the clothingis stored in archival tissue and boxes when not on display.However, several of the dresses are showcased in the Museum,including the summer frock worn by Kathryn Hackenberg, along time friend of Edith. It became a tradition that Kathrynwould wear the dress, accompanied by hat and gloves, at thegazebo every New Berlin Heritage Day. There are a few men’sitems, most notably a top hat and coat with tails displayedat the welcome table. Their owners may have passed on, buttheir personalities live on in the clothing they shared throughthe Museum.

17

Groupings included images of the New Berlin coveredbridge, our Commons by Penns Creek, Market Street scenes,The Inn at New Berlin, other historic buildings, as well as agrouping of townsfolk who have been captured for posterity.The titles are listed below.

Some of the highlights that did not appear in frameswere the 1991 artistic wooden chests meticulously painted byBob Garrett’s mother. These chests, depicting New Berlin’smyriad architectural styles, had been generously loaned forthe exhibit by Ruth-Alice and Gary Spangler and by Kathyand D.J. Mapes.

An interesting aside. John Showers, in playing detec-tive to locate some of this history, contacted his friend LucyMiller in Pittsburgh who then delivered a Matisse-like oil(and pencil study for the painting) of her New Berlin grand-mother, Susie Miller, entitled “Ma Miller.” Barely legible,but finally deciphered, was the artist’s penciled signature:Judith Quat. At one time the Quat family owned RosedaleDairy and left New Berlin in the 1950s to emigrate to Israel.Thanks to Google, John revealed that Judith Gutman Quatwas born in Radom, Poland in 1903, resided for some time inPennsylvania, and is recognized in Who Was Who on Amer-ican Art (1564-1975), published by Peter Hastings Falk in1999. More chat with more New Berliners unraveled the factthat Ms. Quat was asked to paint murals on classroom walls(now museum walls), but her projected commissioned workwas evidently too steep for our erstwhile, frugal school board.Sadly, only imagination supplies those scenes today.

The artwork on display

The following list gives details for all the artwork in theexhibit. Following the list are photographs showing many ofthe pieces.

18

1. New Berlin Covered Bridge, by Delbert L. DreeseOil (1960s), collection of the New Berlin Heritage Associa-tion

2. Market Street, New Berlin, Union County, by T. SinclairTinted lithograph (early 1800s), collection of John and SueMathias

3. Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, by Zakhar SasimAcrylic (2009), collection of John and Nancy Showers

4. Ritter’s Meat Market, 224 Front Street, by Peggy RitterOil (1970s), collection of Mary Bowersox

5. The Commons, by Kay LomisonOil (1964), collection of Marvin Wagner

6. New Berlin Community Center, by Donna Spanger BoopTinted pen and ink (2007), collection of the New Berlin Ac-tivities Committee

7. 1815 Union County Courthouse, by Donna Spangler BoopTinted pen and ink (2008/2009), collection of Elaine Hopkins

8. Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, by Peggy RitterOil (1970s), collection of Mary Bowersox

9. New Berlin Covered Bridge, by Brian SmithPencil (1995), loaned by the artist

10. New Berlin Covered Bridge, by Peggy RitterOil (1971), collection of Lynn and Jill Shambach

11. Court House 1815–1855, by Kay LomisonOil (1960s), collection of New Berlin Heritage Association

12. First Evangelical Church and Printing Office, Water at PlumStreets, artist UnknownPencil (1816), collection of New Berlin Heritage Association

13. Market Street, by Bradley ShoemakerTinted print, collection of The Inn at New Berlin

14. Market Street, New Berlin, Union County, by T. SinclairLithograph (early 1800s), collection of John and Nancy Show-ers

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The Vintage Clothing Collection of the NewBerlin Heritage Museum

by Diane Lengle

On display at the Spring Tea and Open House in Junethis year was a sampling of the Heritage Museum’s vintageclothing collection dating from the 1890s to 1940s. A largepart of this collection was donated in the early 1980s fromthe estate of Edith Wunderly, a New Berlin resident. She hadbeen adopted by Dr. Harry Wilson, a medical doctor, wholived on the corner of Front and Vine Streets. It is said thatEdith Wunderly would travel to Philadelphia to purchase herclothing, where higher quality garments could be found.

Exhibited throughout the Museum were dresses, bothformal and casual, nightgowns and undergarments, and aprons,as well as a collection of hats, gloves, and parasols. Visitorsespecially commented on the fine detailing of the lace work,even on aprons and undergarments. They also exclaimed

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Hospitality being of prime importance on such occasions,members of the Heritage Association extended a special thanksto all guests by gifting them upon the tea-time’s conclusionwith soap samples from Mifflinburg’s Pompeii Street SoapCompany, a sampling of spearmint or blueberry tea, andlive mint plants for the youngest ladies which included NewBerlin’s Brownie troop and its leaders.

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15. Market Street, by Bradley ShoemakerPen and ink (1980s), collection of John and Nancy Showers

16. 19th Century Doctor’s Office, Front Street, by David Bottini‘for Gabriel’Acrylic (2004), collection of Tammy Tobin

17. New Berlin Sampler, by Hetty MetzgerFabric and thread (1997), collection of New Berlin HeritageAssociation

18. New Berlin, My Hometown, by Donna Spangler BoopPen and ink (2000), collection of New Berlin Heritage Asso-ciation

19. Map of New Berlin, from Union/Snyder County AtlasPrint (1868), collection of New Berlin Heritage Association

20. Architect’s renderings, by Malcolm ClingerPencil (1981), collection of New Berlin Heritage Association

21. ‘To Ma Miller’ Susie Miller, a 1949 New Berlin Homemaker,by Judith Gutman QuatOil (1949), collection of Luci Miller

22. ‘To Ma Miller’ Susie Miller, a 1949 New Berlin Homemaker,by Judith Gutman QuatPencil study (1949), collection of Luci Miller

23. ‘The August Lillies’ Cass Maurer, by Grace HockenberryEtched glass (2004), loaned by the artist

24. Showers Again, John Showers, by MA Byrne-Noe(1986), collection of John and Nancy Showers

25. ‘500’ Ladies’ card party at Edith Solomon’s, by Grace Hock-enberryAcrylic (2004), loaned by the artist

26. ‘A foot in both worlds’ Sudharman, by Mary LaposPastel (2009), loaned by the artist

27. Cass Maurer’s Attic, by Grace HockenberryAcrylic (2000s), loaned by the artist

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28. The Inn at New Berlin, by Bradley ShoemakerPastel (1996), collection of John and Nancy Showers

29. The Inn at New Berlin, by John RoseOil (2006), collection of John and Nancy Showers

30. The Inn at New Berlin, by Bradley ShoemakerPrint (1996), collection of John and Nancy Showers

31. ‘Above the Rocks’ Penns Creek, by David Bottini ‘for Gabriel’Acrylic (2006), collection of Martha and Bill Hockenberry

32. Willow, by David BottiniAcrylic (2004), collection of John and Nancy Showers

33. Late Summer Dusk, by David BottiniAcrylic (2005), collection of John and Nancy Showers

34. October Color, by David BottiniAcrylic (2004), collection of John and Nancy Showers

35. Lepley’s Store and Home, Vine at Front, by Lucille MillerOil (1970s), collection of Craig and Janice Egli

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Hats stayed on, a few gloves came off, and tea was in-deed served: hot tea, a cool drink for the children called the“Catherine Long” (named after our town’s ‘founding mother’),scones, and cookies. Included among the items placed onthose elevated cookie plates were Scotch teas cookies (ladenwith oatmeal, butter, and brown sugar) as well as a modernversion of cutouts. We suggest that maybe these Chai SpiceGirls (cutouts made with actual chai tea, molasses, and, ofcourse, butter and finished with decorative icing) may be-come a tradition with time.

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Introduced by Diane Lengle, this day’s tea hostess JoanMaurer shared details about the museum’s vintage clothingdisplay and encouraged each guest to saunter the museum toappreciate (or perhaps rue) the simplicity of today’s tradi-tions. Bustiers and dresses and so much more were on view;please see accompanying article.

Heather Hibbs, civil war reenactor/costumer/seamstress,engagingly presented history on the travel of tea from Chinato England before its journey to us in the New World. Thefunctions of tea were discussed, ranging from the social tothe medicinal.

Karen Hicks, who with her husband Robert, offer op-portunities ranging from ladies’ stretch classes to little girls’ballet classes to pointe classes for more advanced students,brought students from The Ballet Center of New Berlin topresent three dance selections. Dancers were Rebecca Radal,Jessica Radel, and Mataya Lavant.

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New Berlin Mayor Craig Egli, with a painting of his house

by Lucille Miller

Grace Hockenberry alongside her paintings.

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Billed as “A Spot of Tea for Me & Thee ... and it’sabsolutely free,” this opportunity attracted attention andan attendance of about forty guests who arrived dressed forthe occasion. Casual was the requested attire, but with onecaveat: The Herald (the town’s newsletter) emphasized, “Ohyes, please be comfortable, yet we do encourage all ladies towear a tea hat.” If this were to elude the contents of one’scloset–not to worry–there was a basket of several hats fromwhich to borrow adornment for this “refined” afternoon.

And so the guests arrived and were greeted with an am-biance of times gone by, fit for a museum setting, of course.Tables of four and six were covered with cloth (sometimesquilt) tablecloths, set with cloth napkins and real silverware,scone & cookie stands each recently hand-made by firmly glu-ing a decorative vintage plate to a candlestick, and teapotsloaned from the kitchen cupboards of the town’s ladies. Thenthere were the mis-matched china cups and saucers that por-tended the refreshments soon to be served.

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The Spring Tea of 2011by Nancy R. Showers

The New Berlin Heritage Association opened the doorsof its second-floor museum on the Sunday afternoon of April10th, 2011 to welcome the town’s ladies between the ages of5 and 105. (In reality, maybe they were between the ages of5 and 85?)

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Mary Lapos with her painting ‘A foot in both worlds’

Peggy Ritter alongside one of her paintings.

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Washington, and then to Hagerstown, Maryland. It joined inthe pursuit of the rebel army to Williamsport, Maryland, andafter the escape of the enemy across the Potomac, marchedto Warrenton Junction. Its term of service had now expired,and returning to Harrisburg, it was mustered out on the 1stof August 1863.

The New Berlin Cemetery

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Benfer, John – Private, (CS#2)

Boyer, Henry – Private, (CS#2) [see also 74th Regt. PV]

Moyer, John – Private, mustered in Nov. 2, 1862, desertedNov. 14, 1862 [not denoted as veteran] (CS#6)

Moyer, Samuel – Private, (CS#2)

Sauer, John – Private, (CS#2)

Smith, Henry – Private, [not listed as New Berlin cemeteryburial]

Smith, John – Private, (CS#2)

Wetzel, Samuel – Private, (CS#2)

Wetzel, Solomon – Private, (CS#5) [see also Co. C 47thRegt.]

Company G:

Brouse, Joel – Private, (CS#2)

Moyer, David – Private, (CS#6)

The 172nd Regiment lost 13 during service due to diseaseand illness.

This regiment was principally from the counties of Snyderand Northumberland, with detachments from Clearfield, Elk,McKean, Union, Montour, and Butler. It was organized atCamp Curtin, Harrisburg Pa, during October and Novemberof 1862. On the 2nd of December, the regiment proceededto Washington DC, and after a halt of two days moved bytransports to Newport News. It remained for a week, busilyengaged in drill, at the end of which it marched to Yorktownand relieved the 52nd Pa. Here it settled into quarters whereit spent the greater part of its enlistment. The troops wereemployed in garrison duty, drill in infantry, and light andheavy artillery practice. Early in July 1863, it was ordered to

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The Mite Society of theNew Berlin Reformed Church

The following is an excerpt from the minutes of a meet-ing of the Mite Society of the New Berlin Reformed Church,dated May 27, 1926. The parsonage was located at 300 Mar-ket Street, having been purchased in 1904. By the middle ofthe century, this building proved too costly to maintain as aparsonage. It was sold in 1950, and the home at 323 FrontStreet became the new parsonage until, it too, was sold in2009.

The account for repairs at [the] parsonage was broughtbefore the Mite Society for approval and read as follows:

Parlor Paper–

Ceiling 17 single rolls .40 $6.40Side Wall 22 ′′ ′′ 0.40 8.80Border 47 yd. .12 5.64

total 21.24

Paint–

25 lb. white lead $4.351 gal. turp[en]tine 1.501 bottle shellac .251 qt. ′′ 1.55121

2lb. white lead 2.25

2 qt. spar varnish 3.002 ′′ enamel 1.7011

2

′′ varnish 2.40Bronze liquid .30

′′ powder .361

2pt. turp[en]tine .12

2 qt. gasoline .12

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1 bottle ammonia .18wood alc[o]hol .153 lb. plaster paris .15sizing for hall .25Paper and paint $39.87

Labor of Mr. Isiah Walker 51.75Material for parlor 39.87Dining Room 13.25

$104.87Donation of Mr. Walker -5.00

$ 99.87

Labor of James Walter +24.75

Total expenses $124.63

The Young People’s Bible Class agreed to pay the amountof $13.25 for the Dining Room to the Mite Society.

Editors’ Note: The Mite Society was an active organiza-tion in the Reformed Church of New Berlin. A more detailedstory is planned for a future issue of the New Berlin Heritagebulletin.

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of 1862. After retiring to winter quarters near Stafford CourtHouse, Virginia, the 74th was called to the front to partic-ipate in the battle of Fredericksburg but arrived too late tofight in the battle.

The regiment was soundly defeated at Chancellorsville inMay of 1863, along with the rest of the Union army, and thenafter a brief rest at Stafford Court House began a northerlymarch to Gettysburg. It arrived on the afternoon of July 1stand while attempting to aid the 11th Corps it was overrunbe superior numbers and suffered heavy causalities. It waspushed back through Gettysburg and spent the remainder ofthe battle on Cemetery Hill engaged in minor fighting. All inall, the regiment lost a total of 136 soldiers during the Battleof Gettysburg. The regiment served in various duties in theSouth Carolina region until it was called back to Washingtonand eventually discharged in September of 1864. In March1865, seven new companies were assigned to the regiment.These companies served in picket and guard duty in WestVirginia. The regiment was mustered out at Clarksburg onthe 29th of August and immediately returned to Pittsburghwhere it was disbanded.

172d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

Mustered in October 28th 1862 – mustered out July 31st 1863

Company F:

Kleckner, Charles – Colonel, Mustered in September 23, 1861,Promoted from 1st Lt. Company D, 48th Regiment P.V.,Dec. 1st, 1862 – Mustered out with Regiment, August 1st,1863 [not listed as buried in New Berlin cemetery accordingto New Berlin cemetery records]

Arbogast, John – Private, Mustered in October 28, 1862,discharge date unknown. [not denoted as veteran accordingto New Berlin Cemetery records.] (CS#2)

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participate in the Red River Campaign and to serve in thatdepartment until after the surrender of Lee. On the 9th ofJanuary 1866, after a service period of four years and fourmonths, it was mustered out at Camp Cadwalader.

Company C of the 47th Regt. was known throughoutour area for having the young drummer boy J. Bolton Youngamongst its ranks.

74th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

Company C: recruited in Northumberland County

Boyer, Henry – Private, mustered in March 29th 1865 – mus-tered out August 29th 1865, (CS#2) [see also 172nd Regi-ment]

Company D: recruited in Snyder and Union counties

Seebold, George – Private, mustered in March 4th, 1865, pro-moted to Corporal July 5th, 1865 – mustered out with com-pany August 29th, 1865. (CS#5) [see also 172nd Regt. PV]

Spade, Robert – Private, mustered in March 4th 1865 – mus-tered out with company August 29th, 1865. (CS#2) [ seealso 131st Regt. PV]

Spangler, George – Private, mustered in March 4th 1865 –mustered out with Company August 29th 1865. (CS#2) [seealso 43rd Militia]

The 74th Regiment was recruited in the early summer of1861 in the Pittsburgh vicinity and was formed almost en-tirely of German citizens. After the original regiment wasformed around the 14th of September, 1861, it was arrangedfor Alexander Von Schimmelfennig to take control of the reg-iment and act as its Colonel. The regiment was activelyengaged in marching and skirmishing with the Confederatearmy after the beginning of the Peninsula Campaign in March

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Window in the sanctuary of the New Berlin Reformed Church,

now the Emmanuel UCC Church,

“Presented by the Ladies Mite Society.”

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Memorial Day 2011:Remembering All Our Veterans

Each year on Memorial Day, members of the Benfer-Miller American Legion Post 957 of New Berlin parade fromthe legion post, down Market Street, and up to the NewBerlin cemetery. Led by an honor guard carrying the US andservice flags, veterans participate along with local dignitariesand the Mifflinburg High School Band. At the cemetery, amemorial service is held honoring those who served and thosewho died in battle with a wreath placed on the central flagpole and flowers placed at branch service markers. As a partof Civil War 150 Year Commemoration, the Heritage Associ-ation provided a handout with the names and service histo-ries of 55 Civil War veterans who are buried in the cemetery.Participants then placed red, white, and blue ribbons on eachgrave.

Memorial Day, 2011

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On September 19th, the 47th performed gallantly during theBattle of Opequan, and suffered heavy losses. The regimenthelped push the rebels back to a position near Port Republicand here the command and the regiment returned to CedarCreek. At this time, Major Gobin, originally of Co. C, fromSunbury was promoted to fill the vacancy of Colonel, becauseColonel Good’s enlistment term had expired.

On the 19th of October the regiment was under severefiring during the Battle of Cedar Creek. Continually retreat-ing, but not breaking rank, the regiment made a stand atevery available opportunity, until the miraculous arrival ofGeneral Sheridan. Bolstering the troops, Sheridan called forthem to “Face the other way boys! We are going to go backto our camp! We are going to lick them out of their boots!”After the lines were reformed, a heavy attack fell on the 47thbut they held strong and fought bravely. The regiment pur-sued the enemy to Fisher’s Hill and here assumed a skirmishline which they held until the following day. All in all, theregiment suffered 176 killed, missing, and wounded duringthe fighting at Cedar Creek. The regiment retired to win-ter quarters at Camp Russell and then later moved to CampFairview, two miles from Charlestown, where it was on con-stant active duty. After the surrender of Lee it moved toWashington and participated in the Grand Review on the23rd and 24th of May. On the first of June, it was again calledfor duty and ordered to Savannah, Georgia and then in Julyto Charlestown, South Carolina. Many fell victim to diseaseand their remains now repose in the Magnolia Cemetery. OnJanuary 3rd 1866, the long awaited day of muster-out arrivedand the regiment embarked for New York, and then by railto Philadelphia. It had seen service in seven of the Confed-erate states, participated in the most exhausting campaigns,marched more than twelve hundred miles, and made twelvevoyages at sea. It was the only Pennsylvania Regiment to

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moned to the battle of Dranesville on the 20th of December.However, the enemy retreated before the 47th got there. Atthe request of General Brannan, the regiment accompaniedhim to Fort Taylor, in Key West, Florida. From its arrival onFebruary 4th 1862, until its departure on June 18th 1862, theregiment suffered heavily from fevers, due to the climate ofits location, with many members dying. The regiment relo-cated to Hilton Head, South Carolina and picketed the entireisland. Then in October of 1862, it was once again orderedto accompany General Brannon to Florida. The regimentserved satisfactorily during the capture of Saint John’s Bluffon the Saint John’s River and returned to Hilton Head on Oc-tober 7th, 1862. After some fighting at Pocotaligo Bridge inOctober, and acting as a funeral escort for General Mitchell,the 47th was once again ordered to Key West, Florida onthe 15th of November, 1862. Here five companies each wereordered to garrison Forts Jefferson and Taylor which at thattime were of vital military importance. The Regiment set towork making these forts impregnable and was stationed thereuntil February of 1864.

On February 25th, the regiment was ordered to Louisianaand under the command of General Banks was outfitted toproceed up the Red River. On the 8th of April, the Regi-ment heard firing in the direction of Sabine Cross Roads andupon moving forward was heavily engaged and succeeded inchecking the advance of the enemy. Again engaged at Pleas-ant Hill, the 47th performed admirably, but due to lack ofsupplies General Banks was forced to retreat. After a longand wearisome retreat, the 47th reached Alexandria and fromthere, Simmsport. Here Co. C was detailed as a prisoner es-cort and traveled to New Orleans, where it later rejoined theregiment on the 20th of June, 1864. On July 5th, the Regi-ment and its Corps was ordered to Washington DC and joinedin the defense of the capitol near Snicker’s Gap on July 12th.

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Diane Walter at the grave of her great-grandfather,

Civil War veteran Henry Shiffer

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Commemorating 150 years of the

United States’ Civil War:

New Berlin’s Civil War Veteransby Logan Roush

New Berlin cemetery holds approximately fifty-five veter-ans of the Civil War. All veterans buried here were membersof the Union Army and served in various regiments over thespan of the Civil War. There are Captains, Lieutenants, Cor-porals, Sergeants, Musicians, Doctors, and even a few thatwould have been known as “deserters” buried here in NewBerlin. Many of the veterans buried here went beyond thecall of duty and enlisted for more than one term of service.Some were involved in important battles and campaigns whileothers participated in camp life and guard duty for the en-tirety of their service. No matter where they served or inwhat position, one thing remains a fact, in the small town ofNew Berlin, Pennsylvania, 55 civilians volunteered their timeand lives for the defense of our nation during the great andterrible Civil War. Therefore, during the 150th Anniversaryand Commemoration of the Civil War, we are honoring theseveterans from New Berlin and its surrounding area by sharingtheir story of sacrifice and patriotism, with you, the presentday residents and visitors of New Berlin.

Often when reading about Civil War battles it is men-tioned that “the firing was fierce in front of the regiment”or that thousands upon thousands of soldiers were killed,injured, or missing during these battles. What we miss inthese descriptions is that these casualties were often some-body’s father, brother, uncle, grandfather or husband thatthey were somebody’s son or grandson. They were humanswith families, loved ones, friends and responsibilities waitingfor them back home. When they sacrificed their lives and

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vade much further than Gettysburg and retreated back southof the Potomac after the Confederate defeat during July 1-3, 1863. As noted, many of the men of the 43rd Militia of1863 would later re-enlist in more permanent regular armypositions after their initial term of service had expired.

47th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

Company C: recruited in Sunbury.

Beaver, Daniel – Private, mustered in Oct. 6th 1864 – mus-tered out Oct. 5th 1865, expiration of term (CS#2)

Shiffer, Henry A. – Private, mustered in Nov. 27th 1863,wounded at Cedar Creek, VA, Oct. 19th 1864 – transferredto Veteran Reserve Corps Feb. 1865 (CS#2)

Wetzel, Solomon – Private, mustered in Oct. 17th 1864 –mustered out Oct. 16th 1865, expiration of term (CS#5)[see also Co. F 172nd Regt.]

The 47th Regiment was recruited primarily through theefforts of Colonel Tilgham H. Good in August of 1861. ColonelGood was able to recruit ten full companies from such areas asEaston, Allentown, Sunbury, Bloomfield, Catasauqua, New-port, and Harrisburg. After a rendezvous at Camp Curtin,schools of instruction were set up for the officers, and thetroops were uniformed and equipped for duty as they weremustered in through August and September of 1861. TheRegiment proceeded from Harrisburg to Washington D.C.and moving to the advance of the army encamped at FortEthan Allen. It drilled in light infantry tactics and preparedfor the onslaught of winter. (It is noted that the Regimentwas not forgotten by its families back home: gloves, blan-kets, and articles of clothing were provided in abundance toprotect from the chilling blasts of winter.)

After moving to Camp Griffin the regiment was sum-

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in the attack which had causalities of twelve men killed, twoofficers, and 39 men wounded. Charles Roush would survivehis wound and re-enlist in the 43rd Militia of 1863. HenryMowrer would die of his wounds at Baltimore on the 27thof September. Both of these men are buried in New BerlinCemetery, Section 2 (CS#2).

43rd Regiment Pennsylvania Militia

This regiment was part of the emergency troops of 1863:mustered in July 6th, 1863 – mustered out August 13th, 1863.

Company D:

Roush, Charles D. – Captain, not denoted as buried in NewBerlin, (wife of Charles Roush however is) (CS#2) [see also35th PA, 6th Reserves]

Burg, Simon W. – Second Lieutenant, (CS#2)

Black, Abraham – First Sergeant, (CS#2)

Rathfon, George W. – Musician, (CS#2)

Spangler, Lewis – Musician, (CS#2)

Buckmiller, Charles – Private, (CS#2), [born in StuttgartGermany]

Lotz, Thomas S. – Private, (CS#6)

Seebold, Castor – Private, (CS#2), [see also 51st Regt. PV]

Seebold, George E. – Private, (CS#5), [see also 74th PA]

Sholley, Henry – Private, (CS#2), [see also 182nd Regt.]

Spangler, George – Private, (CS#2) [see also 74th PA]

The 43rd Regiment was raised and mustered in for thesole purpose of defending Pennsylvania from the invadingConfederates during Lee’s Gettysburg Campaign during June-July of 1863. The regiment saw no action as Lee did not in-

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livelihood fighting for their country, whether Confederate orUnion, they often left behind grieving families and commu-nities. At the same time, these serving men, whether theywere casualties or escaped the war unscathed, left in theirwake proud families and legacies of their service renderedduring America’s darkest hour. One hundred and fifty yearsafter their service during the Civil War, this legacy lives onin the country that we live in today, and in the families thathave descended from these veterans. In New Berlin, 2011, wehave at least three families that can trace their heritage backto brave individuals that risked it all to serve their countryduring the Civil War.

Marvin Wagner of New Berlin is the great-grandson andgreat-great-nephew of two of New Berlin’s Civil War veter-ans. Samuel Moyer, Marvin’s great-grandpa, served in the172nd Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers for the entiretyof its service. Marvin’s great-great-uncle, John Moyer, de-serted the 172nd after about two weeks of service and there-fore is sometimes omitted from veteran records and lists.

Gary Spangler, of New Berlin, had a great-great grandpathat volunteered for the Union cause during the Civil War.Samuel Wetzel, Gary’s great-great grandpa served alongsidehis brother Solomon and also Marvin Wagner’s relatives Samueland John Moyer, in the 172nd Penna. Volunteers. SolomonWetzel, brother of Samuel Wetzel, would later re-enlist inCo. C of the 47th Regiment of Penna Volunteers, where he,once again, would be joined by neighbors from New Berlin.

Interestingly enough, one of those neighbors that wouldjoin Solomon Wetzel was Henry Shiffer, the great grandpaof Diane Walter, who is currently a next door neighbor ofGary Spangler! Henry Shiffer served in Co. C of the 47thRegiment and recorded some of his deeds and journey in ajournal, copies of which exist to this day, and is the revered

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property of his family. Diane Walter’s aunt, and Henry Shif-fer’s granddaughter, Marie Shiffer Wolfe wrote a very inter-esting and poignant account of her grandfather’s experiencesin the 1974 edition of the Heritage Day Bulletin. Anothergranddaughter, currently a resident of Florida, Ruth DeWireis still actively interested in the heritage of New Berlin andhas expressed her encouragement for the sharing of the his-tory of New Berlin’s Civil War veterans.

Thanks to Marvin Wagner, Gary Spangler, and DianeWalter for providing information on their relatives’ terms ofservice and for expressing interest in this on-going exhibit forthe 150th Anniversary and Commemoration of the Civil War.Stay tuned.

If anybody has or believes to have a relative that is aCivil War veteran and is buried in New Berlin cemetery pleasecontact the New Berlin Heritage Association.

For those who are interested, copies of the 1974 and(reprinted) 1997 article written by Marie Shiffer Wolfe canbe viewed at the New Berlin Museum.

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Civil War Regimentsby Logan Roush

Below we give details of five regiments in which residentsof the New Berlin area served in the Civil War.

Information regarding troop involvement and enlistmentinformation was obtained through: History of PennsylvaniaVolunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of thelegislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

The New Berlin Heritage Association is working on a dis-play for New Berlin Day and also a more comprehensive list ofveterans and their service areas. If you have any information,please contact the Heritage Association.

35th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (6th Reserves)

The 35th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers (6th Re-serves) participated in the Battle of Drainesville, Va in De-cember of 1861 and accomplished the reserve’s first “victory”by driving the enemy from their position and capturing a fewprisoners. The 35th served in the Second Battle of Bull Runin August of 1862. They repulsed the enemy at their positionnear Henry House Hill and drove them away in a state of con-fusion and terror. Soon after at the Battle of South Mountainon the 14th of September 1862, Companies A and B were or-dered to take the knob of the hill and hold it. Company Awas recruited in Snyder County and was captained by CharlesD. Roush. Corporal Henry Mowrer of Company A also par-ticipated in this charge. On the night of the 14th, CaptainsRoush and Ent advanced with their two companies and aftersevere fighting drove the enemy from the hill. These compa-nies had driven before it the Eighth Alabama Regiment anda great service was done for the Union army. Both CaptainCharles D. Roush and Corporal Henry Mowrer were injured