Then and Now with Paul Schneck: The Kistlers of Kistler Valley, Pennsylvania | 2023 Reunion

[@edbelledin9600]

Thank you so much for taking us along in this history lesson of your family, The Pennsylvania Dutch, and the Lehigh and Berks counties. Well done.

[@darleneschneck]

thank you so much, and thanks for watching!!

[@Nhrafan2608]

I travel that route daily and ALWAYS enjoy the view. It's one I definitely don't take for granted. The amount of knowledge and history you have documented should be treasured and highly appreciated for what it is. I only wish that I could know this much about my history and my family. So many are gone and a tremendous amount of history along with them.

[@darleneschneck]

Thank you for your kind words, I thank my parents often for the incredible heritage they’ve given me, and for their willingness to allow me to record them. My dad gets a kick out of being recognized in public sometimes! The Kistler Valley is especially beautiful and untouched by time, I hope it stays that way. How blessed you are to see that every day throughout the seasons!

[@cweditor]

I drive through that area quite frequently... Route 100 north, Route 309, New Tripoli, etc. My mom grew up in Germansville and went to Lowhill Church when she was younger!

[@andreashimer7197]

So many things I never knew about our Kistler/ Lauchnor family. I also never saw the picture in the beginning of Grandma and Grandpa Lauchnor. What a terrific picture. We missed so much with my mom and dad ( Raymond and Beatrice (Lauchnor) Schmid) passing away when we were so young. Thanks for continuing to document all of this!

[@darleneschneck]

Thank you, Andrea! Your parents weren’t much older than I am now when they passed. It is sad to lose parents so young, and especially close together like yours. I still remember your parents well. The Lauchnor family was such a big part of my childhood. I realize now that I’m older how much I missed by not having my Lauchnor grandmother in my life. I definitely feel connected to the Kistlers in a new way after attending this reunion and making this video. Makes me really proud of my heritage. There is a special photo at the beginning of the video, it’s a group shot of the 1938 Kistler reunion. If you pause the video, you can see an amazing group of people in the middle to the right. I think you’ll be able to pick them out. First, find Grammy Lauchnor who is holding Shirley Schneck, then to the right is Lucy, Gertrude, an unknown woman, and my grandmother Miriam holding Lois. Behind them is Ruth with a hat, and next to her is either your mom or Ella. It’s an incredible photo! Thanks for again for getting in touch. ❤

[@marjoriereagan5604]

Once again, you've put together a great video of family heritage. I learned new things! It's so fortunate and amazing that you were able to get all of those extended family members together and then travel to the family church and cemetery as well. What a wonderful experience!

[@darleneschneck]

Thank you, Marjorie! It was indeed a real treat to attend this reunion. For years I have wanted to learn more about my Kistler ancestors, and so this was a dream come true.

[@marjoriereagan5604]

@@darleneschneck I attended many family reunions in my childhood, but none that visited a family cemetery! I have to see if I can organize one at Jerusalem Western Salisbury in Salisbury Township. So many ancestors from several sides buried there. Now you’ve got me motivated!!

[@Henry_Martin_Taylor]

Another nice video lesson about PA Dutch history, with good music in the background. My first thougt at 8:30 - Doc Watson. And now I know where the German word "Geschmack(taste)" comes from - "schmacks". Kistler Valles seems to be a very nice place😊

[@darleneschneck]

It is indeed a beautiful place, unspoiled by development. It reminds me of some of the rural places I visited in the Palatinate in 1999!

[@cweditor]

Thank you SO much for documenting this history. My uncle lives on Allemaengel Road about 3 miles away from Ontelaunee Park.

[@darleneschneck]

You’re most welcome! It was an unforgettable day. All of us learned so much, and we’re glad the technology exists to be able to share it!

[@cweditor]

@@darleneschneck me, too, I am so glad we have the technology to record and share this... I'd love to eventually do this with my family from that area and from the Bethlehem area.

[@dony.9014]

Thank you Darlene for the beautiful informative video. Sometime you could possibly make one about Kistlers farm equipment center. I am sure your father knows a lot about that buisness. I am pretty sure the original owner died but I think it is still going strong. I last was there about 35 years ago .

[@sallykershaw4837]

Thank you again for a highly interesting story. I’m originally from Allentown and your stories always seem to teach me something new about my home state. When I was a kid back in the 50’s there was a Kistler family that ran a gas station a half block from my house. I think the sons name was Don. I’m wondering if they were any relation. Thank you again. I look forward to your next episode.

[@darleneschneck]

Thank you, Sally! All of us Kistlers are related somehow!

[@donnamusselman3191]

Oh,wow I am a descendent of Johann Jacob Steinbruch.

[@darleneschneck]

Do you know the sad story of how he was killed? I just learned last year that I was a descendant of him.

[@donnamusselman3191]

@@darleneschneck I only know what his bio says on findagrave.Not too many details

[@darleneschneck]

⁠that is all I know too. Apparently the place where this happened is now very wooded and so it’s not possible to go to the site. And his grave is unmarked.

[@caroleberts1711]

Actor Clark Gable is also a descendent of Johann Jacob Steinbruch.

[@darleneschneck]

Someone told me that a while back!