Hues of Autumn

The gorgeous hues of autumn

The reds, the browns, the golds,

Each day the picture changes,

Its glory to unfold.

No human hand can paint it

It lifts one's very soul

To view the wonderful miracle

And know God is in control. 

 

The Human Touch

’Tis the human touch
in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more
to the fainting heart
Than shelter and bread and wine.
For shelter is gone
when the night is o’er,
And bread lasts only a day.
But the touch of the hand
And the sound of the voice
Sing on in the soul always

 

by Spencer Michael Free

 

Our visiting minister shared this classic poem in his message yesterday.

It says a lot in a few words.

Martyr to Muppy Mennonites

Martyr to Muppy Mennonites

    Last evening we heard a challenging speaker using the above title for his topic. The main question being asked, "How did the Anabaptists go from being willing to die for their faith as martyrs to being assimilated into main stream society?" (Muppy = Mennonite Urban Professional People) The Mennonite Church in the Netherlands was strong and true, but today it is a dying church. What happened? What can we learn from them? And I've been pondering...

    When you think of the Netherlands and Holland, you may think of canals, windmills, wooden shoes, Delft blue, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates and dikes. But the story of the Mennonites in the Netherlands is largely unfamiliar.

     The story actually began in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed the 95 thesis to a German church door which has become known as the onset of the Reformation. There was great resistance from the Catholics at the very beginning. Then in 1525, several men in Zurich, Switzerland took a bold step away from the Reformed Church and infant baptism to a believers baptism. They were persecuted severely by both Catholic and Reformed groups. There were some radicals who made  a bad name for the Anabaptists at Munster, Germany. But eventually,  as separate entities, the Dutch Anabaptists and the Swiss/German Anabaptists came to a unity  of faith. Menno Simons, a Dutch Anabaptist became one of the strong leaders and through his writings helped bring a cohesion to the persecuted Anabaptists. Thousands lost their homes, possessions, loved ones and even their own lives in the persecution that followed. You can read many accounts of Mennonite believers dying for their faith in the Martyrs Mirror by Thieleman J. Van Braught. It is believed the last martyr in the Netherlands was a woman who died for her faith in 1597.

    The doctrine and practice of the Dutch Mennonites was similar to what we hold to be true today in our own congregation. They practiced the seven ordinances, communion, feet washing, baptism, marriage, anointing with oil, holy kiss  and headship veiling for women. They were more radical about the use of the ban than we are today. But they appointed elderly, single women as deaconess to move among the congregation to be of assistance to the poor and needy. These women did not speak publicly but were a great blessing and encouragement in the community. The lot was used to ordain a three-fold ministry. Psalms were sung in church, hymns were sung in the home. They organized and conducted schools for their children. The Dutch Mennonites not only dressed simply, but their homes, diet and whole lifestyle was modest and simple.

  But already in Menno Simons lifetime, two sides developed among the believers. The differences were mostly over small matters and a division took place in 1566. Some wanted to maintain a more simple lifestyle while others began to take on the ways of their urban neighbors. The Swiss Anabaptists were largely rural farmers but the Dutch Mennonites lived in the cities. They became the professionals - the engineers, business men, doctors, artists and more. Some Dutch cities were comprised of 25% Mennonite residents. They became rich and famous for their accomplishments in their professions. In more recent years, a Mennonite engineered the long dike from Holland to Freisland.
      During the 1700's, persecution eased and the Dutch Mennonites were respected citizens making a significant contribution to society.  They chose to be quiet about their faith which was still not looked on with favor in the general society.  Possibly to appease their conscience for their compromises, the Dutch Mennonites gave freely of their abundant wealth to help those in need, including their Swiss Anabaptist brothers and sisters. You can read about some of their generosity in the volumes Documents of Brotherly Love by James Lowry.

    But the differences continued to abound and more divisions took place, usually over minor details. They began to practice open communion, baptism became optional , and children were sent to the public school. Eventually, a non-denominational church opened where people could go regardless what they believed. Individualism blossomed and grew - my religion is between me and God- it is none of your business! They became involved in politics and government programs. At the same time, they admired the simple lifestyle of the Swissers who were coming to their ports and aided them in gaining passage to the New World for religious freedom. Yet, they did not want to retrace their steps and give up their worldly involvements.

    What are the parallels to our Mennonite world today?

 #1- Religious freedom and being socially accepted in the community. We can worship in freedom, move any where in the USA and establish a church or business place. Many people in our society of far-flung faith and location are pleased if they can find an Anabaptist in their genealogy! They are fascinated with our cooking, our quilts, barn raisings, and disaster service.

#2- Economic prosperity - We can provide for our needs and even many of our wants. We are among the privileged in the world who have electric and running water. We are known to make a valuable contribution to the economy of a community by honest business dealings and innovative ideas.

#3- Religious confusion. They had so many different groups, it was confusing. Some were not affliliated with any group.  It was difficult for young people to find a stable, satisfying church life. The church that had once been willing to risk their lives to spread the Gospel to others, now were too involved in the local tensions to be effective in evangelism. There were schisms and splits everywhere.
    Today the average age in the Netherlands Mennonite churches is at least 80 years old. A friend pointed out something very wrong in a picture he took at a communion service in their church. Every member had gray hair! It is a dying church! The Netherlands is known to be one of the most liberal and ungodly nations in the world. The Dutch aided our people during the persecution age. Is God calling us to help them in their dilemma now?
    How can we remain faithful until Christ returns in our setting? We need to maintain distinct lines of separation from the world - not only in our dress, but in our homes, entertainment, social contacts and more. There are Biblical principles of  modesty and simplicity but beyond that is the value of identity with the people of God. It is important to support our own schools that the next generation "may know and value truth."
    Be careful with professionalism. Personally, I have seen devout, sincere believers use an education to further the kingdom in significant ways. They have used their education to produce good quality literature, minister to the sick and dying, prepare the next generation for service, etc. But when faith is sacrificed to further the profession, it is another step toward assimilation.
     Are we radical or rational in our goals and decisions? One man who was making a compromise (with a muppy attitude) said, "But we do need to live, after all." His friend (with the martyr spirit) replied, "Do we? We can die."
    I am not saying we all need to go back to being PA Dutch farmers living in isolation. But we do need to consider where our choices are taking us. Are we more like a Muppy with an independent Me-spirit? Or are we crucified with Christ - willing to give up all we are and have -even life itself - in surrender to Him?  Jesus told us to go into the world and evangelize, not assimilate! We are called to be in the world, but not of it!
     It is not one giant leap to go  from martyr to muppy...it is a series of small choices - maybe over the span of several generations! Still thinking...
   
   
 

   

 



 





Unexpected Answer

Unexpected Answer

by Grace Dorothy Lehman

 

The broken bread, the cup of wine,

We take with trembling hand,

As we consider once again

Salvation's wondrous plan.

 

The bishop lingers yet a bit,

And says in kindly tone,

"Has anyone been overlooked?

If so, please make it known."

 

"Yes, we've been missed!" say voices

In a hundred different tongues;

We never knew the Savior died;

We never knew He's come.

 

You've missed us many, many times;

You've missed us centuries long.

Will you not share with us the Bread,

The Living Bread of God?"

 

Taken from Missionary Messenger Supplement Oct. 1956



When Fall Comes to Perry County

Spring Days are coming!

 

Wash Day

The clothes are washed all clean and bright.

They are lying in a pile.

They're very wet and very still.

But just you wait a while!

The minute they are on the line,

Held down with wooden pegs,

You ought to see what happens to my pajama legs.

They dance and twist, then turn around and puff out big and fat.

I'm sure that when I have them on

They do not look like that!

The pillow cases flip and flop,

The stockings make me laugh

I am afraid the big wide sheets will tear themselves in half.

Now Mother is coming for the clothes

too bad to spoil their fun.

I'm sure they'd like another day to play in wind and sun.

author unknown

What Does an Older Woman Do All Day?

You've heard much about mothers of toddlers and the chaotic times. You have read of mothers of teens who struggle with all the ups and downs of raising teenagers. But older women are tired, lonely and bored, right? Want to hear the details of a recent day in the life of one old woman that lives at my house?
5 AM get up, grab a house coat & slippers, and throw a load of towels in the washer.
           Wash my hair
            Spend some time with my Maker and prepare my Sunday School lesson to teach while all is
            quiet and still.
7:30 AM  get dressed. Make breakfast for three. And the day begins:
                check the obits in two newspapers. None of my friends or relatives died yesterday.
                check emails and respond as needed.
                receive text from Daughter #4- What is the name & phone # of the dentist we have use for
                a  root canal.
                receive email from Daughter #2- what dimensions are allowed for carry on luggage?
                receive text from Daughter #4- Can I get airport parking cheaper if I pay in advance?
                Phone call from cousin - Would you take a box of dried hash brown potatoes along with
                you on an upcoming mission trip ?
                Take a box of hash browns to spare room and add to the stash to be packed in suitcase.
                Next call - Make that two boxes of hash browns. Go get 2nd box and place near box #1.
                Copy addresses and phone numbers in 2015 planner book.
                Shake two rugs- I really need to get to cleaning the downstairs.
                Add passports to the growing pile of travel stuff - before I forget.
                Fill a small container with shampoo to put in suitcase - before I forget.
                Receive text from Daughter #4- we have a brand new grand-nephew.
                Send emails to Son #1, Daughter #2 and #3. Attach a thank you  for Christmas gifts last
                week. Tell the baby news to Son #2. Call Daughter #1 with the  baby news.
                Reminder to pray for Grandson #3 who is traveling to MN today.
                Get a sympathy card ready for new widow at church.
                Man of the house says "Could we have lunch a bit early today?" Sure why not?
                Use leftover fresh mushrooms from Christmas Day to make a kettle of cream of mushroom
                soup and throw some stale bread in the oven to add garlic bread to the menu. Good there is
                 some leftover mixed berry cobbler for desert.
                Read Grandpa's diary from October 1948 to husband while he eats his lunch to help me
                refrain from eating a second helping and dessert that I really don't need.
  12 noon  Just noticed - the towels never did get hung on the line. Oh well ! It is sunny and breezy.
                 They will probably get dry before dark this evening.
                  Water flowers, clean living room and laundry. Dust kitchen & dining room furniture.
                  While cleaning, look for the wallet Grandson #2 lost when he was here on Christmas Day.
                  Meet the auctioneer's photographer to go do a photo shoot at our cabin for the brochure
                  and virtual tour being prepared for the upcoming auction next spring.
                  Enjoy the relaxing one hour ride each direction, and making a new lady friend.
                  Stop at the Dollar Store to look for a new 5 subject notebook to record 2015 household
                  expenses and my daily diary. They had none. But I found a bag of nice gift bows reduced
                  50% and a nice, fuzzy, warm scarf for a birthday gift for d-i-l #1.
   4:30 PM Mop kitchen & dining room floor.
                  Fry 20 hamburgers - have hamburgers & chips for supper - with more of the mixed
                  berry dessert. Pack the leftover hamburgers in individual sandwich bags for son #2 to use
                  to use for meals when he house sits for us in a few weeks.
                 Wash dishes while hubby dries them
                  Take towels off the line and fold them.
                  Upload cabin pictures and email to the auctioneer's office.
                  Start writing my installment in a  circle letter to my mother's aged cousins.
                  Look up Face book pictures of new grandnephew.
                  Discuss possible trip to TX with hubby. Also consider possibilities and ideas for adding a
                 garage to our house. No flighty or concrete ( pun intended) decision made on either one.
                 Just reviewing options.
                 Finish writing circle letter.
                 Write up this list.
                 10 PM

I love being busy and needed by the people around me. That is what makes an older woman feel loved and fulfilled.
Although as has been said and my own expanded version is-  "I just never seem to have enough time to think all the thoughts I want to think, read all the books I want to read, pray all the prayers I want to pray, take all the walks I want to take, visit all the friends I want to see, write all the letters I want to send or travel all the places I want to go."

Some days I am weary, and maybe  I will experience loneliness and boredom in the future. But today  I am grateful for all the opportunities and blessings that are mine! Thank you for enriching my life with your friendship and love!

Wait-Watchers Club

Ten days ago our 44 year old son-in-law had a massive stroke which is more clearly defined in medical terms as a basilar artery dissection. We are very blessed that he has survived and is becoming more stable. He will remain in ICU for another day or two before he can begin the grueling process of rehab and recovery. We are spending a lot of time at the hospital and many hours in the ICU waiting room. We are learning to know some of the other families who have a loved one in the ICU too. Barbie and I are learning to know each other better every day. yesterday she said, "We need to come up with a name for this group that meets here every day. With a little more thought she came up with the name "Wait-Watchers Club". Ah! I like it!

We wait:
for the Great Physician to heal;
for the doctor team to come examine our loved one;
for the  meds to help decrease pain levels;
for any signs of improvement;
for the brewing coffee pot;
for results of the latest CAT scan or MRI;
to be moved out of ICU;
After we have curled up in a blanket and stretched out on the waiting room chairs for the night, we wait for morning to come.


We watch:
while a loved one suffers extreme pain;
for visitors to come around the corner;
the vitals monitor by the bedside;
when other families cry after receiving bad news about their loved one;
and pray for other families who have even more serious situations than our own;
the clock tick away the hours;
the nurses administer gentle, caring services;
the doctors huddle in discussion;
for any signs of improvement;
the roller coaster of emotions in various situations.
and pray for our loved ones who are fighting to live.

Lord, join us for the Wait-Watcher Club meeting tomorrow! Your presence is the comfort and joy of my soul!

Historical Center growing!

The roof is raised over the existing portion (with brick) and the addition is about doubled in size.

In side the second floor showing west end. The east end was the existing attic, but now has the roof raised to give better storage space. The dry wall is now installed and we painted primer on Tuesday evening. We plan to do finish coat on Saturday AM. Next week the flooring is scheduled to be installed and electrician will do his final tasks. So in about ten days we should be able to move into this portion of the building.

 This is the view of the property which includes the office trailer where we have functioned comfortably this summer. It is adequate, but the new office looks inviting!

This is the new visitor room with the office framed in northeast corner. We will actually have some elbow room! I love it!

The view from the 48th floor

Today is our 48th anniversary. And I reflect:
On our wedding day, my Uncle John F. Martin - who had been my employer for five years- came through the receiving line with his congratulations and best wishes. His additional comment remains with us today. He said, "remember every rainbow needs both sunshine and rain. I wish you many rainbows in life."
   In the past 48 years there have been lots of sunshine and some rainy days too. Many days included some of both! But we have survived 48 years sharing the joys and sorrows of life. There has been unexpected adventures, simple pleasures, moments of pure joy and the blessing of growing old together. We have not done it perfectly. There have been failures and regrets. We will probably fail again and again. But forgiveness and love go a long way in remaining committed to a best friend. We are not alike, but we both love the Lord and agree on the things that really matter!
  We are spending the day going to Ag Progress- his choice. We will get a free meal there courtesy of a seed corn company. May not sound romantic to the new bride. But after 48 years I am glad that he feels honored to take me along to introduce to his business buddies. And I know when I ask him to go along to a history meeting that is not quite his main interest, he obliges sometimes. And he just walked in the door with a bouquet of flowers, courtesy of his produce farmer family- which includes a lot of my favorite black eyed susans. (He mentioned to them some time or other that I like them).
We are ready to go for the Gold -just two years away. But that is up to our Commander-in-chief! If we don't make it to 50, we are blessed with what we have!
 

Why Genealogy?

I found this anonymously written article and will quote with a few adaptions of my own.

 

    We are the chosen. My feeling is that in each family there are some who seem to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them alive again. To tell the family story, and to feel that somehow those who went before are known. To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts, but instead breathing life into those who have gone before.

    We can be the storytellers of our tribe. All tribes have the story tellers. We have been called to it. Those who have gone before cry out, "Tell our story!" So we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves in the middle of the story.

    How many graves have I stood before and cried? How many times have I whispered, "We are grateful for the  torch of faith you passed on to us." How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt a connection of family love? I cannot say.

    It goes beyond documenting facts. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever in weeds and indifference and saying, "I can't let this happen. These are bones of my bones and flesh as it were of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to appreciation for what our ancestors did and accomplished. How they contributed to what we are and have today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their enduring faith, and hope for the future. It goes to a deep appreciation for their understanding that they persevered for us, that we might have what we do and that we might remember them. So we do.

    With love and caring we scribe each fact of their existence, because we are part of them, and they are part of us. We tell the story of our families, because we are their family. It is up to us to answer the call and take our place in a long line of family story tellers. It is a call to young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones. That is why we do genealogy!

PA German Names

    Since I work at a historical center I encounter many, many PA German surnames. It is quite fascinating to say the least.
    Only a German tongue would know that Page, Barge and Bertsch are one and the same surname. And since a German Zimmerman was a builder, the surname Carpenter has the same family roots as the Zimmerman.
    Then there are the spellings: Brubaker, Brubacker and Brubacher may have the same origin but they will let you know if they are the "h" or "ck" or "plain bak"variety. South of the border the Horst surname is pronounced the same as the Hurst in Pa. Then there are the Koons, Koens, Kuntz, Koontz and Kuhns with different spellings but same pronounciations. And don't assume you know how to spell the name Shaffer. It could also be Shaeffer, Shafer, or Sheaffer. Each one might tell you their spelling is the "correct one". Then there are names like Landis or Landes, Sherk or Shirk, Burkholder or Borkholder, Lawver or Lauver, Shelly or Shelley, and Cauffman or Kauffman. There are Kraybill, Graybill, Krahenbuhl, Greybill, Graybuhl families who all claim the same European ancestor. We try to sort out the Acker, Auker and Auckers in their family tree.
    We have the Peachy Beachys and Beachy Peacheys. We have the Stoltzfus and Stoltzfoos clans, the Joders and Yoders, the Webers and Weavers, the Widmers and Witmers, the Snider and Snyder families. There are Stouffer, Stauffer, and Stoufer surname family files.
    Be sure you have the correct spelling for the Myers, Meyers, Myer, and Meier friend when you search for their name in the phone book. The same advice applies for the Byler, Beiler and Beyler or for Fox and Fuchs or Musser and Mosser clans.
    When you are talking about PA German surnames it is not as simple as Miller or Jones!
    Yet, somehow our great God knows each one of us as a unique individual and he does not get mixed up with all our variations and pronunciations. And the genealogist does not have a boring life!

Shifting gears

This week we shifted gears from this 93 Buick Regal with 268,000 miles

 

 

to this 2004 Buick LaSabre with 51,000 miles.

 

 

We hope it goes places and takes us along for a long time. This is our 10th vehicle.

We went to CA with the 62 blue Pontiac that belonged to Marvin's Dad. Then we bought:

 

#1- 1963 black Ford (1965-1967-old police car- lemon)

#2- 1966 blue Chevy II  (1967-1973- good little car!)

#3- 1969 chocolate brown Chevelle station wagon (1973-1979 -served us well)

#4-  light brown Chevy station wagon (1979-1980 Wrecked)

#5- 1978 or 1979  blue Chevy Impala station wagon (1980-1988- wrecked)

#6- 1985 white Plymoth Voyager van - (1988-1993)

#7- 1987 Plymoth Voyager gray van (1993-2001)

#8-1995 Dodge Caravan blue van (2001- 2006)

#9-1993 blue Buick Regal sedan (2006-2013)

#10- 2004 gray Buick LaSabre (2013-

and maybe the last one we will ever need.  Guess that is up to our Commander-in-Chief

Historical Center shadow increasing

Progress report of building expansion at the Juniata Mennonite Historical Center

 

June 3 - The last board meeting in the old facility. Notice the bare walls. We are preparing to move out of this building into a temporary office trailer soon.

 

June 3- Building committee chairman, Harold Saner ( on left in blue plaid shirt)

 gives some more last details on the plans.

 

June 4- the first dig for the expansion! Digging out a pine tree stump.

 

- June 4- The site is being leveled.

 

June 5- Pouring the footer.

- June 11 -The block wall is going up.

 

 

June 11- Donna Fultz, our volunteer at work on the obituary collection.

She is a very important part of our crew!

 

 

June 11- Mary Alice Charlton- my assistant- organizing card catalog

 

 

June 11- Betty Ann working on the July 2013 issue of the Echoes

 before we move out of our tiny familiar office.

Local historical center to expand - LewistownSentinel.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Central PA — Lewistown Sentinel

Local historical center to expand - LewistownSentinel.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Central PA — Lewistown Sentinel

Grandmothers

If It Weren't For Grandothers

by Lois Kempton

 

If it weren't for grandmothers, how would we know

How everything was in the long, long ago?

The changes that come and the changes that go-

If it weren't for grandmothers, how would we know?

 

The way people ate, and the way they dressed;

The way they suffered, and how they were blessed;

 The beauties they saw, and their fun, and their woe-

If it weren't for grandmothers, how would we know?

 

 

Oh, see her bright eyes as she tells of the way

Your Grandpa proposed! And the sweet wedding day;

The funny adventures that babies bestow-

If it weren't for grandmothers, how would we know?

 

For they are the keepers of memories untold;

The legacy treasures more precious than gold;

Oh, cherish their stories! Rejoice in their glow.

If it weren't for grandmothers, how would we know.

 

Taken from Poems Sublime and Ridiculous

 



You cannot...

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could do for themselves.

Abraham Lincoln

His Love Will See Us Through

His Love Will See Us Through

 

Only God knows the future;

He holds it in His hand.

And when our questions find no answers,

He's the One Who understands.

His presence still goes with us;

His love is ever near.

The whispered cries within each heart,

The Lord will always hear.

No matter what each day may bring,

His promises are true:

He'll never leave us,

And His love will see us through.

 

unknown

 

This poem was on the front of the bulletin for Benny Shertzer's funeral last week.

So fitting for all of us, regardless what we face in life!

Do remember to pray for Ruth Shertzer and the family. They parted with four children between 1997 and 2002, due to cancer. Now the father developed cancer six months ago- and went to be with his Savior and the four children. They have three living children - two of them are married and there are seven grandchildren. Two grandchildren are in heaven too. 

Coming to terms with aging

    Yesterday I was jolted when an acquaintance referred to a 72 year old couple (friends/peers of ours)  as "elderly"! And I wondered, "When do you become elderly?" Will we be termed "elderly" in five years or less?
    I am accustomed to being called an "older woman". My first brush with that idea was in my 50's when a student at 6th St mission in Philly passed by my sister and I in a hallway at the mission and asked his buddy, Who are those old women?' I looked around and did not see any old women- so I asked him, "How old do you think I am?" His first guess was 103! Whoa! What a joke!
    But since then my hair color has changed and other signs of aging have appeared..like the onset of Medi-care, senior discounts plus other advantages or disadvantages. Even though my husband is fast approaching the big 70- we continue to think of ourselves as "young seniors".
    But "elderly"??? -wait a minute!!! I checked the dictionary. It says "Seniors, somewhat old, beyond middle life."  OK, so we are somewhat old and beyond middle-aged. Since most of our children are middle-aged, it is not hard to recognize that we are beyond middle-age. But elderly- that is a new thought! Do we need a new definition for the word - or what?
    There is one consolation- I looked up the word "aged" too. The definition for aged is "VERY OLD".  OK, so we may be about to move into the camp of elderly- but we are not aged or ancient quite yet. After all, we still work for a living,  have our driver's license and a valid passport. We have not celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary,  put in a reservation at a nursing home or become great-grandparents yet.
    But then, in third world countries, it is a great honor and blessing to arrive at an old age. God has blessed us with life! Have we let the world pour us into it's mold of thinking old age is undesirable? The only other choice is to quit breathing- and we thank God for life- even if it feels like a transition to be viewed as "elderly". We dreamed of growing old together- and thank God for the privilege of spending 47 years together in our "Landis Home".

Railroad Rumblings

    During the Civil War there was talk about building a railroad from Port Trevorton to Mifflintown connecting the Susquehanna River with the Juniata River. Iron ore was being mined in Trevorton, PA on the east side of the Susquehanna River. Why not build a railroad - the most modern form of transportation of their day? Canals business was fading and trains were becoming a thriving business. Canals were too expensive to maintain with the frequent flooding along the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers.
    By the early 1870's the idea became a plan, then a contract, then a project. How exciting!  Wealthy businessmen in Selinsgrove supplied funds and dreamed of prosperous times ahead. The costly war was behind them. Times looked promising as the United States moved forward as one nation again. The Reading Railroad jumped on the band wagon and supplied additional funding for the new narrow gauge Selinsgrove-North Branch Railroad. All along the route from the Susquehanna to the Juniata River, men worked with picks and shovels to create a raised bed for the proposed railway. A bridge was built across the creek near Freeburg, PA. The work continued near the villages of Mt Pleasant Mills, Richfield, Evendale, Bunkertown, McAlisterville and on to Mifflintown. By May 1874, six miles of the railroad bed had been already graded.
    One man who lived in Evendale built a large three-story-building with intentions to be able to open a hotel just in time for the opening of the new railroad. He probably dreamed of the bustle and business he would enjoy. This would surely put the tiny hamlet of Evendale on the map! A railroad station house was built in Heister Valley near Richfield, PA.
    But before the railroad bed was completed, things began to go south! For one thing the wooden railroad bridge across the Susquehanna River at Port Trevorton was declared to be unsafe. The project would need to find additional funding for a new bridge across the nearly mile wide Susquehanna River. Then in October 1874 the "great fire" in Selinsgrove gutted more than 50 buildings in the heart of town and ruined several wealthy business men who were great supporters of the new railroad. This fire was a lot more devastating than the fire of 1872 in their town. The final blow came when the Reading Railroad withdrew their support.
   What can I learn from the unfinished story of the railroad?
1. Jesus said, " For which of you, intending to build a tower (or a railroad- paraphrased) sitteth not down first , and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke 14:28
2. Don't count your chicks before they hatch!
3. Careful planning does not guarantee success.  Our course may be changed by the unexpected- fire, flood, eathquake, cancer, job loss, illness or handicap, financial loss or death can bring life-changing circumstances beyond our control.
    Today you can drive through Snyder and Juniata County and see the "hump" at various places where the "stillborn railroad" was intended to rumble.  The unfinished railroad stands as a monument to unfufilled dreams. Only God can write the final chapter of our unfinished stories.