Author: Trella Hemmerly Haldeman Romine

Thursday, August 9, 1984
June, Gloria, Dave and I to the Eisenhower farm for the tour in the rain. Interesting to see their relatively simple life-style. Spent afternoon at Adams County courthouse. Found Mathias Mummert’s will. Not much else.

Wednesday, August 8, 1984
June, Dave and I left for York [PA] at 8:45 and by 10:00 was in recorder’s office in courthouse. This was in Adams County- found Matthias Mummert’s will- his daughter Catherine married John Bucher could this be our ancestors? To dress shop where Sharon- friend of country near Spring Grove- works. Bought white and aqua jacket dress and aqua, pink and white dressy dress with stripes. Stopped at Mummert Meeting House Cemetery North of Abbottstown and copied many inscriptions in 90° sunny heat. On to Gettysburg to Gloria and Bill Yohe’s. Gloria took me to Historical Society then all went to Heritage Lake for swim in pool and motorboat ride on lake. Home for barbecue hamburgers. So nice to us.

Tuesday, August 7, 1984
George [Uhle] entertained Dave who spent most of day at apartment pool diving.
Up early and drove back roads to Valley Forge. Bob (long Mennonite straggly beard) drove my car to Philadelphia to Pennsylvania Historical Society. Researched in library for Mummert and Baker. Not much found except Mummert names.

Lunch at H.A. Winston’s then back to Valley Forge for Bob to get car. June and I drove to Longview Gardens, home of Pearce in 1720 and DuPont’s in 1920. Very English in feeling and many lovely fountains. Beautiful pink gardens near house. Old trees equal to England. Home [Reading PA] at 7:00 by back roads. West Chester beautiful town. June and I dinner at Chinese restaurant.

Monday, August 6, 1984
Drove from Sturbridge to Reading [PA]. Stopped at VF Outlet Center and got Dave sneakers- other pair has loose sole. June’s* apartment building quite run down but her apartment nice. Mrs Howe there and not aged at all. Good dinner- beef roast, chocolate pie. George has shingles but improving. Took Mrs. Howe home. She has lovely apartment with good view in nice building. Marilyn and Jim stopped at June’s after work. Both looked tired.

Bob called and we will meet at Chapel parking lot at Valley Forge tomorrow at 8:00.

[*June Howe Uhle – daughter of former pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Marion]

Sunday, August 5, 1984
Dave in pool 3 hours
Checked out at 9:00 from Heritage Inn- $137 for two nights. To the Parkhurst home for brunch. Gorgeous border along driveway with granite wall. New home in northeast salt box style. elegant furnishings. Hildreth displays in basement and gave Ron Hildreth copy 51 of Hildreth genealogy and had good talk. He feels the Long Island Connection is the right track. Also quilts and wedding dresses displayed in bedrooms. Then to Westport Museum and we drove to 7 Kings Pine Drive where Dave visited Don 4 years ago. Then to Hildreth Homestead House built 1780. Then to Ultra Modern Hildreth Hills condo. Left about 3:00 and all night at Sturbridge. Too late to tour village.

Saturday, August 4, 1984 [At Hildreth Reunion]
David Hildreth looks just like Bob Morris. Ron Hildreth looks like William Hildreth II. After donut breakfast to town hall and first person we met was George Parkhurst. Picked up registration packet with program with my picture along with Ron, Bud, Bob Hildreth and George and Barb. About 75 people gathered for program in restored hall. My topic was “Do you have the missing link?” Told the story of William Hildreth of Connecticut. Lunch across street at church and met Pearson who was on World trip with Dale and Lenore Hughes. 24 fathers burial grounds to see Richard Hildreth’s grave. then to Lowell with Kitty and _____. Visited Mill area now a national park- also St Anne’s Church with Tiffany Stained Glass Windows. Too hot to enjoy. Dave spent afternoon in Ron and Joan Hildreth’s suite. He ate at submarine place for dinner while I dined in style after cocktail party. Everyone so friendly.

Friday, August 3, 1984 [At Hildreth Reunion]
Fried rice at Hong Kong Restaurant at 9:00 $112 292 MI
At Buskill Falls by 8:00 but no breakfast service so ate some cookies and started out one half mile hike to Main Falls- Lower Gorge- Bridal Veil and Upper Gorge Falls. On the level spots (few!) Dave told me about his backpack trip and the helicopter evacuation of Mike McEwan. Bought him a Bushkill Falls shirt. Left at 10:45. Breakfast in Milton and on to I-84 crossed Delaware, Hudson, and Connecticut Rivers. Route 66 to Marlboro. Searched Marlboro cemetery and one on Hebron Road after driving through the Hildreth land of 1810. Then West on Route 83 to one I remembered it was old Eastbury burial ground- started searching in rain. Found Reverend Isaac Chalker stone propped against another stone. Met the Charles Treats. Heritage Inn at Chelmsford at 7:45.

Thursday, August 2, 1984 [on way to Hildreth Reunion in CT]
Review of the three Mauk Chunks now Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Left at 5:15 up 209 toward buskill Falls 150 MI at Winona Lodge $89. Dave spent an hour in pool- had to himself.

Left motel at 8:10 for Sunbury crossing Susquehanna River into Northumberland County. At Courthouse by 8:30 and in recorder’s office found early records were in vault-like rooms in basement. Found Tobias Bickel’s will 1790 and his land records of 1768. Bought history at Planning Commission and got map from Mr Reed recorder- very accommodating. I-80 to Hazelton with picnic at rest stop. Through the Western Poconos to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Crossed Lehigh River by mistake and got to what had been East Mauk Chunk but found Jim Thorpe Monument on Route 93. Back across river and all the things Carol told me fell in place. Courthouse where we talked to James Walker recorder and former mayor. He referred us to Agnes McCarty at Railroad Museum tourist office. She was delighted to have 49 Jim Thorpe books- hadn’t known it was published. Drove up Flagstaff mountain.

Wednesday, August 1, 1984

(Dave Decker and Trella to Hildreth Reunion in Connecticut)
Last minute packing and calls- to Chris Granger giving him Mary’s number- called shop with more info on him early history.

Left at 10:30 Route 309 to I-71 to I-76 picnic before Akron on I-80 into Pennsylvania rugged terrain but gentle grades but 10 semis for every car. Square topped mountains as we approach Route 15 to Selinsgrove for Phillips Motel- dinner at Pizza hut. Dave back to motel and I explored- found Penns Township at Selinsgrove which is restored. Nice signage but no orientation to river. stopped at tent sale for envelopes and Coke.

Tuesday, July 31, 1984
[No entry]