Summertime is a wonderful time for families to come together. Picnics and Bar-b-ques are fun. It is a terrific time for Family Reunions! In Pennsylvania, my Ritter family began gathering in August, 1898. I will post newspaper articles about several of those events here. I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the past. Maybe you will even find a name you know.
This gathering of the Ritter family boasted 1,000 in attendance. However, in 1906 that number was doubled!
Big Gathering of the Ritters
The Family Reunion Held Yesterday at Dorney Park
Interesting Exercises Held
Nearly a Thousand Representatives of the Family Were Present
Music, Addresses and Amusements Were on the Program
Dorney Park, the scene of many family reunions this season, has had none equal in attendance that of the Ritter clan, which gathered there yesterday. Fully 1000 representatives of the family enjoyed a pleasant day’s outing in the pretty grove and listened to the rendition of a well selected program. The members of the different families occupied separate tables during the dinner hour and all the available space at the dining section of the grove was occupied.
The meeting was held at 2 o’clock on the dancing pavilion. Rev. R. J. Rohrbaugh, of this city, offered prayer. Miss Woodring, of Egypt, rendered a beautiful selection on the piano, which was followed by Miss Stella Ritter, of Ballietsville. An address of congratulations was made by Rev. Dr. A. R. Horne, of this city, and Miss Ida Ritter, of this city, recited. A carefully prepared history of the family in which many of the newly-discovered and interesting facts in connection with the lives of the progenitors of the family were made known, was read by I. J. Ritter, of Allentown. Rev. I. B. Ritter, of Emaus, made a short address, after which the election of officers was held. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year:
President, Rev. I. B. Ritter, Emaus;
Vice president, Mahon Ritter, Bethlehem;
Secretary, H. S. Ritter, Egypt;
Assistant secretary, C. F. Ritter, Allentown;
Treasurer, Mrs. Edwin Diefenderfer, Catasauqua.
Next year’s meeting will be held on the Allentown fair grounds on the second Wednesday of August.
The president, after briefly expressing his appreciation of the honor conferred on him in choosing him for the executive position, appointed the following committee of arrangements for the next gathering: Mrs. Edwin Diefenderfer, Catasauqua; W. D. Ritter, Slatington; B. F. Ritter, Ballietsville; E. H. Ritter, Egypt; Allen Ritter, Salisbury; Mrs. Emma Appenzeller, Philadelphia; Priscilla Bleam, and Stella Achey, Quakertown; E. E. Ritter, Friedensville; Charles F. Ritter, Freemansburg; S. E. Ritter, Easton; C. F. Ritter, Israel Ritter, N. J. Ritter, Allentown; J. W. Ritter, Reading; Howard Ritter, Neff’s’ LeRoy Ritter, Lehighton; Rev. J. H. Ritter, Bath; Rev. D. F. Ritter, Scranton; Owen Ritter, Bethlehem; Ge. P. Ritter, Bethlehem; Albert Kline, Fleetwood; John Ritter Shoenersville; Thomas Ritter, Bethlehem; Viola Ritter, Egypt. Committee on family history: Dr. F. O. Ritter, Allentown; Rev. J. H. Ritter, Bath; Rev. E. F. Ritter, Scranton. Committee on program: Miss Priscilla Bleam, Quakertown; I. J. Ritter, Allentown and E. H. Ritter, Egypt.
The success of the gathering exceeded all expectations. During the year branches of the family were located in Western Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Philadelphia and other places and invitations will be extended to all these participants in next year’s reunion.
The family represents the descendants of Casper, Martin and Philip Ritter, who landed in America about 1638 at Philadelphia. Their families branched out from that place until now they are scattered all over the United States. Casper’s family was principally represented at the reunion for the reason that more attention was paid to the history of that branch and efforts made to locate all the descendants. Representatives of the families of Martin and Casper are making genealogical tables of the families which they hope to have completed by the next reunion.
Hundreds of badges were distributed yesterday. They consisted of a button with the inscription “Ritter Reunion, Organized 1898.” In the centre [sic] is a tree with three branches representing the Ritter families.
The committee in charge of the reunion consisted of Howard Ritter,, Neff’s; Nathan and John Ritter, Allentown; Stella Achey, Quakertown; Viola Ritter, Egypt; B. F. Ritter, Baillietsville; W. D. Ritter, Slatington; Owen Ritter, South Bethlehem; E. E. Ritter, Friedensville.
The Morning Call, Allentown PA
14 August 1902, page 1
Newspapers.com
This reunion was also reported in:
Reading Times, Reading PA
15 August 1902, page 2
Newspapers.com
Ivy R. Mark Brown.
One thousand attendees! Now that's a reunion. Wonder whether the families completed the "genealogical tables" they were going to create in time for the next reunion?
ReplyDeleteWoah! that is incredible to have that many together for a reunion. I can't even wrap my head around that.
ReplyDelete