Romberger Reunion - last call!
Calling all Rombergers, Rambergers, Rumbergers, Raumbergers, Rauchenbergers, Rambargers, Rombargers, and Rumbargers... Time to stop mulling and start doing! :-)
The Romberger All-Family Reunion for August 21, 2010 at St. John's Lutheran in Berrysburg PA is drawing nearer, so it's time to make sure you respond if you haven't already.The favor of a reply by August 7 is greatly appreciated so the committee can make sure there's enough of the main dishes ordered :-)
There's still time to have an info packet emailed to you which will allow you to reply and reserve.The person who will send it and reserve for you is Frank Herzel at [email protected]
Additional information toward the bottom of this post covers directions, hotels and area attractions.
Folks who can conveniently bring a covered dish are asked to do so.If you're able to arrive around 8:45 am and help set up a bit, thank you.Donations are requested to help cover costs and to ensure everyone who wants to come can.
From 9 to 10 there will be displays, and 10 to 12 is the family meeting in the church.At 1 lunch will be served in the covered outdoor pavilion.Afterwards folks who have worked in the past and new folks who wish to help in the future will have a short meeting to get to know one another. Like many family associations, ours can't rest on its laurels, but needs "new blood" - people to become and remain involved as current members mature and need assistance.
People wonder "How do I know I'm related?" The answer is, if you are an American Romberger or descended from one (or one of the variation spellings), the odds are 99% that you are descended from our immigrant ancestor Bartholomaus Raumberger.He left plagues, droughts and big church taxes behind in Germany.A humble miller who rented his mill, he managed to buy passage for himself, his wife, and three kids, while sadly most people couldn't escape the poverty.In 1753, after a very long journey, he arrived in Philadelphia.
The Romberger Family Association has been meeting since the 1980's in the acclaimed Romberger All-Family Reunion.The reunions focus on appreciating family, compiling and preserving family history, and building relationships to continue the reunion and genealogy traditions.
Why do people come?Some to meet other Rombergers, others to share and get more of their genealogy.Some like the historic value of the church they're held in or the graveyard next door where many Romberger forebears rest.Some just like to eat and civilly party while hearing family history.Whatever the motivation, people have always turned out and had fun.
Why is this year special?This is a rare changing of the guard as our founding historian, Dr. John Romberger retires and our new historian, Bob Averell steps up to the plate.This means you will have the benefit of two fine minds to pick if you're working on genealogy.
___________________________________
AREA ACCOMMODATIONS
Harrisburg has a lot of hotels, and there's bed and breakfasts around too. Here's a few within an hour we know of:
Lykens Valley Golf Course and Lodge, Millersburg.
http://lykensvalley.com/http://lykensvalley.com/
Red Rose Motel, Halifax.
No known website. 717-896-3894.
Bisking Family Farm Bed and Breakfast, Halifax.
http://www.bisking.com/http://www.bisking.com/
Felicita Resort, Harrisburg.
http://www.felicitaresort.com/http://www.felicitaresort.com/
Natural Acres Bed and Breakfast
175 Maple Drive, Millersburg, PA 17061
717 692 1000
(Website for B&B is down, this one discusses the 550 acre organic farm and products at their market- http://www.naturalacres.com/http://www.naturalacres.com/)
Mauser's Bed and Breakfast
635 Main Street, Lykens, PA 17048
Phone: 717-453-9449
Located on Rte. 209 in Lykens.
No website.
___________________________________
AREA ATTRACTIONS:
While you're here, why not make a real trip of it? Some fun and interesting destinations:
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, Halifax - Take a safari tour, check out the reptile house, enjoy the petting zoo, and get up close and personal with many animals on a walking tour.
http://www.laketobias.com/http://www.laketobias.com/
Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Millersburg - A leading institution for the collection and dissemination of art and natural history knowledge. (And they have a Romberger Gallery.)
http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/
Joseph Priestly House, Northumberland - The rural Georgian manor of Joseph Priestley, theologian, scientist, philosopher, teacher, linguist, and historian.
http://www.josephpriestleyhouse.org/http://www.josephpriestleyhouse.org/
Knoebels Grove, Elysburg - An old-fashioned amusement park.
http://www.knoebels.com/http://www.knoebels.com/
Millersburg Ferry - Cross the Susquehanna on an old-fashioned sternwheeler and cool off!
http://www.millersburg.com/attractions/ferry.htmlhttp://www.millersburg.com/attractions/ferry.html
National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg - A highly rated attraction.
http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/index_1.phphttp://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/index_1.php
State Capitol, Harrisburg - Tour where your legislators and tax dollars work.
http://www.visithhc.com/harrisburgcapitolbuilding.shtmlhttp://www.visithhc.com/harrisburgcapitolbuilding.shtml
State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg - Juried exhibit of state artists, planetarium with movies, and the Curiosity Connection where children and grownups can discover, learn and play together.
http://www.statemuseumpa.org/http://www.statemuseumpa.org/
Gettysburg National Military Park - Features battlefield walks and driving tours, evening campfire programs, living history groups, band concerts, and artifacts of Civil War camp life. Or, rent a moped and tour the terrain!
http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm
Hershey Park - Summer, chocolate, rides, beautiful gardens!
http://www.hersheypa.com/http://www.hersheypa.com/
Eisenhower Farm, Gettysburg - You do know his family is related to ours, yes? Home and Farm of President Eisenhower, offering tours and an examination of Ike's administration's challenges. Kids 7 to 12 can earn a badge and become Junior Secret Service agents!
http://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm
Lancaster County attractions - The parks, the food, the outlets, the quilts, the corn mazes!
http://www.padutchcountry.com/index.asphttp://www.padutchcountry.com/index.asp
___________________________________
DIRECTIONS
Getting to the reunion site at St. John's Lutheran Church will probably require you to use a map or printed directions. The church does not have a street address to plug into GPS devices, nor do we presently have coordinates for it.
St. John's Lutheran Church, also known as the "Hill Church" is on Route 225 1 mile south of Berrysburg.
Thus, here's how to utilize Google to get you there:
Go to http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/
Type in -
st john's lutheran church elizabethville, pa
Click "Maps" in the upper left corner
To the left will be "Point A" St John's Lutheran Church. At the bottom of the pale blue box, click "Directions".
A new box appears with two text lines in it. On line "A" if anything is there, clear it out and put in the address from which you're coming with commas between sections from like this:
810 n. main st., chestnutville, pa
Click "Get Directions"
The map to the right will show the route, and printed word directions will be to the left.
NOTE: As of this writing, ROUTE 225 is under construction between Elizabethville and Berrysburg but is presently open.In the event it is closed on reunion day, follow the detour signs, or consider Route 25 from Millersburg to Berrysburg instead.
____________________________________
So in summary, if you might want to come, please email Frank at [email protected] today for more info, and try to get him your reply ASAP!
Let's give Dr. Romberger, the outgoing founder, a warm send-off and show him that the over 30 years he has invested in our family, history and reunions will continue.Hope to see you there!