The Shartlesville 250th Anniversary Celebration Aug. 22 opened with a crowd in Friedens Church singing “America” accompanied by the church’s historic Dieffenbach organ.
Peggy Seitzinger, secretary of the 250th Anniversary Committee, opened the anniversary ceremony in an emotional address, explaining that her participation in the huge endeavor to pay tribute to Shartlesville’s history taught her “a lot about where I call home.”
Friedens Church Council President Fred Wolf gave an overview of the history of the church that included its inception in 1860. He summarized his portion of the program by exclaiming, “We have a great church.”
Government officials delivered proclamations to the village in honor of the anniversary.
State Senator David Argall congratulated Shartlesville, saying, “Here’s to the next 250!”
Also attending the church event was State Representative Barry Jozwiak, who announced that the “House of Representatives pays tribute to Shartlesville and the township of Upper Bern.”
Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach stated that two words come to mind, history and community. “What makes a community is people.”
Upper Bern Township Supervisors Ervin Steinly, Jr., Nancy Hartman, and Rodney Loeb were on hand to receive the proclamations.
Ashley Seitzinger and LuAnn Endy of the 250th Anniversary Committee joined together during the ceremony to recognize the living members of the 1965 Bicentennial Committee and the Bicentennial Queen contestants at the front of the church. Edna Reinsel, age 98, was also honored as the oldest living resident of Shartlesville.
Reverend Inge Williams ended the program with a blessing for the community and information about the 100-year-old quilt displayed in the church sanctuary, up for auction during the 250th Anniversary festivities.
Following the church ceremony, Shartlesville residents, family, and visitors gathered in town under sunny summer skies to watch the anniversary parade, led down Wolf Creek Road from the church onto Old 22 by the PA State Trooper Honor Guard. The Hamburg Area High School Marching Band delivered an impressive performance as they made their way through town, followed by horse-drawn wagons, emergency response vehicles, and a long line of golf carts. A special nod to the 1965 Bicentennial came with a yellow Mustang from that year driven by Paul Shade, accompanied by his wife Joan, daughter LuAnn Shade Endy, and Edna Reinsel.
Lesher’s (Shartlesville) Park, housed the remainder of the Shartlesville anniversary event. Children’s activities, exhibits, and food were on hand, with music by Frank Jordan, the Miller Brother’s Quartet, East Side Dave and The Mountain Folk Band, the New Ringgold Band, and John Messner and Betty Naftzinger.
Peggy Seitzinger quoted Margaret Meade at the very beginning of a momentous day in the history of her hometown. Seitzinger read, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world…” The committed people of the community of Shartlesville paid a thoughtful tribute to their roots “at the base of the blue mountain” in their celebration of the Shartlesville 250th Anniversary.
