/ Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day #27

Ein Prosit

Photo of the day #27
October 2, 2016, 5:22 PM
Random photo from my collection.

I peeked ahead and know all the POTDs up to February 15th. Because of that, I’ve decided to switch the order of two POTDs for the sake of story-telling. The two photos are both from Eleanor’s 90th Birthday Party. The photo that you see here is of Eleanor Whitaker, a longtime Kutztown resident and the mother of our dear friend Lori. The photo that you’ll later see for POTD #46 is a couple dancing at her party that has been switched. But I thought I’d like to show a photo of Eleanor first to introduce her and her backstory. So, I’m staying true to “no skipsies.” I just rearranged it a bit.

This was such a fun party to be a part of, and it was heartwarming to see the love Eleanor’s family and friends had for her. The party took place at the community center at Saucony Cross Apartments, at which she lived. It was complete with an Oompah band singing German songs, including “Ein Prosit” and “In Heaven There Is No Beer” among many others. I had the privilege and honor of photographing this important milestone.

I met Eleanor on a few occasions while I worked at Celebrations DJ & Photo. She always asked about me, which I thought was the sweetest thing. Lori and her sister would visit her in the afternoons. I looked forward to Tuesdays when Lori would come back with an egg salad sandwich made by her sister (that Eleanor didn’t want). Lori and Tony had gotten tired of eating it every week, so now it became my snack for the ride home. I quite enjoyed it!

Eleanor was an avid writer and poet. She also had deep Pennsylvania Dutch roots. Every year, she would write a Christmas poem in PA Dutch. I hope I’m remembering that right. I’m sure the hoarder that I am, I’ve saved the poems, but I haven’t the slightest clue where they are. I did do a little digging and found on the Mill Creek Creamery Facebook page a story Eleanor wrote in PA Dutch. I’ll share it below. Eleanor lived at the Mill Creek Creamery in Kutztown for 60 years.

Eleanor was blessed to live in her own apartment up until the last couple of years of her life. She was a kind and thoughtful woman and a blessing to all that knew her.

Zicke zacke zicke zacke hoi hoi hoi (meaning something like “A toast, a toast, a cozy place! One, two, three, drink!”)

In Memory of Eleanor (October 6, 1926 – January 22, 2019)

Links

The Heart of Christmas

December 23, 2013
Eleanor Whitaker, Kutztown

The joy of Christmas is here, I wonder if it’s possible to keep,
That magical feeling all year. Love came to us on Christmas Night,
The angels message of Peace on Earth,
Church bells ringing in glad tidings,
Proclaiming news of Our Saviour’s birth.
Christ’s love for us is unending,
His blessed gifts to us we receive,
Born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem,
With a shining star, guiding all who believe.
As the New Year is soon upon us,
The story is old, but ever so true,
If you keep God’s Love in your heart,
You to can be born again anew. Wishing you Peace, Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men!

 

Das Mill Creek Creamery Haus

by Eleanor Whitaker, Kutztown
Read at the Pennsylvania Dutch Writers Fest,
Kutztown Folk Festival, 30 June 2014

Für bald 60 Jahre habe ich hier gelebt,
Ich wohnte hier in dem Mill Creek Creamery Haus,
Es war im 1888 bei der Sittler Familie gebaut,
Ich habe viele Gedanken und gute Zeite hier mit meiner Familie gehabt.
Ich denke an alle die Sachen, die wir über die Jahre gemacht haben,
Zuerst haben wir Richfield Gas verkauft und Sachen zum essen,
Dann haben wir Flea Markets und Yard Sales gehabt,
Das Beste war der Mistletoe Magic Christmas Bazaar
Und viele Leute sind gekommen, um das zu sehen.
Meine Nachbarn und ich haben die Mill Creek Sewing Circle gegründet,
Wir begegneten uns in unseren Häusern,
Wir haben auch Quilting Parties gehabt,
Und wir gingen in die Kutztown Halloween Parade als eine Gruppe.
Unsere drei Töchter, Evelyn, Linda, und Lori,
Sind in diesem grossen Haus aufgewachsen,
Unser kleines Enkelkind, Victoria, besuchte uns jeden Tag,
Und viele Verwandten von Virginia und New York
Kamm immer da, um uns zu besuchen.
Die Mill Creek Creamery Haus war ein sehr schönes Platz,
Wenn die Wände sprechen könnten, könnten sie viel erzählen,
Von der Glücklichkeit und den guten Zeiten die wir hier gehabt haben,
Mehr als mein Herz halten kann.

For almost 60 wonderful years of my life,
I lived in the Mill Creek Creamery house,
Constructed in 1888 by the Sittler family,
So many memories and good times were had there with my family and my spouse.
I recall the businesses we had over the years,
First the Richfield Gas Station and country grocery store,
Then the Flea Markets and weekly Yard Sales,
Best of all, Mistletoe Magic Christmas Bazaar
With so many patrons coming through our door.
The neighborhood ladies and I started the Mill Creek Sewing Circle,
We met together at my place and others took a turn also,
We even enjoyed having quilting parties,
And as a group in the Kutztown Halloween Parade we did go.
Our three daughters, Evelyn, Linda, and Lori,
Grew up in this big house, as well,
Then our little granddaughter, Victoria, visited every day,
And guests from New York and Virginia always had a place to dwell.
The Mill Creek Creamery was such a busy place,
If the walls could talk, many stories would be told,
Of the happiness and contentment we shared,
More than enough forever my heart will hold.

Kutztown

July 24, 2008
Eleanor Whitaker, Kutztown

The most beautiful town in all the world, Is in Pennsylvania, a place called Kutztown, I have lived here for over sixty years, And I’m so glad, it was where I settled down.Here in our town the Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Festival began, It is held every summer for ten days, A unique sharing of our good food from the area, And all our crafts and talents displayed in many ways.

Kutztown is noted for being a college town, The home of Kutztown University which began many years ago, And now the campus has thousands of students from all around, It’s considered one of the better colleges that we know.

At the east side of town is the Kutztown Park, A haven for children and grown-ups alike, Even a band shell for concerts and entertainment, And a place for ball games, skating or riding a bike.

A famous artist by the name of Keith Haring, Was born and raised in our town, A statue of his art stands in the park, And his paintings are famous the world around.

The best town in all of Pennsylvania is right here, We have many stores and lots of places to eat, Even a movie theatre, and a newspaper called The Patriot, The great town of Kutztown just can’t be beat.