814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 9, 1995 LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff ADAMSTOWN (Berks Co.) Seldom does a book successfully combine two cultures written in two languages. But “Water Boy Gedichde The Life and Poetry of Edwin Gehman Weber,” cap tures both American and Pennsyl vania German culture and lan guage in a 284-page hard-cover book. This year, on February 14, Ed died at 90 years of age. He was well known in Pennsylvania German circles for his poetry and for his participation on WBYO radio’s Pennsylvania German program. His poems tell stories of a bygone era. Most are written in Pennsylvania German of which some expressions cannot be trans lated into English and mean the same thing. At the urging of C. Richard Beam, German professor emeritus of Millersville University, Ed’s daughter Ruth Ann Hollinger, pub lished the poems and interspersed accounts of the Weber family’s life with the poems, written in Pennsyl vania German with the English translation alongside. Ruth Ann said, “In the transla tion, some meaning is lost but those who speak Pennsylvania German fluently will enjoy the humor and those who are wunner fitzich (curious) should find a good ‘Deitscher’ to explain what it really means.” The title “Water Boy Gedichde” is derived from Ed’s poem that tells how, as a 9-year-old boy, he brought water to the laborers as they built Gehman’s Mennonite Church in Adamstown. He wrote, “This building was then com pleted, but my work had just begun. God’s plan for me is a Water 80y... serving in whatev er capacity needed such as choris ter, superintendent, trustee, Sun day school teacher, carrying water for my Friend ” Ed left a legacy of 80 poems that offer a glimpse of life into die early 1900 s. T ike, many newly married cou ples during that era, Ed and his wife married at age 19, but did not live together until the following year. When Ed attempted to open his first bank account, the banker did not believe Ed’s real name was 7m 1 ll'l \ui i m Book Captures Life And rimes Of Pennsylvania German Family In recent years, Ed Weber was known In Pennsylvania German circles as ‘der Alt Welsskopp von Wisse Deal’ the old whitehead from Meadow Valley. Eddie and changed it to Edwin, the name he assumed from that time on, although his birth certificate states Eddie. Tales of Ed’s acquiring his first Model T Ford and the idiosyncra sies that accompanied it allows the reader to visualize the young cou ple touring the country dirt roads. Because it had only one door on the passenger side, whenever the Ford choked off, Ed’s wife and baby had to get out so Ed could climb out and crank up the car again. After the Weber’s third child was bom,. Fannie was diagnosed with tuberculosis and needed com plete bedrest. During this time the children were not allowed to even see their mother. She died the fol lowing year, leaving Ed with three small children. Two years later Ed married Susie Good Youndt, a widow with seven children. Together, they had five more children, making a total of 15. s*yfl ie ‘i everything was against me ... Ed wrote. Through the generosity of friends, neighbors, and relatives, the bam was rebuilt, and life began to look better again. About two years later, Ed found a new wife Elizabeth Nolt, who loved to work and bake for the large family. Four years later, another daughter was bom. r I ' \ <<K ■4T- -- Raising so many children during the Depression Era was not without difficulties. In his poems, Ed some times refers to feeling depressed and discouraged and chastises himself for “flying off the handle and hurting those he loved in an unguarded moment.” The staunch fortitude of the era is reflected with tidbits telling of limited space that required three children to sleep in a bed, of a rag- Qva.is Mower man who bought old rubber boots and such, of taking carpet rags to the jail for prisoners to do carpet weaving for a few cents, and of high-tailing it across the road to the outhouse. He writes of the days before hav ing television, radio, phone or newspaper in the house. When people had time to talk, at church, the store and in the mill, one could leant all the news and “what you don’t find out doesn’t matter.” Devastation struck again when Ed’s second wife Susie had a stroke at SO years of age and died three days later. Three months later, the barn burned to the ground taking with it his Model A Ford. “Never since I started farming, had I been so poor. It seemed \ > 'j Ed’t nephew Weaver W. Martin sketched this hay wagon. His nephew Carl W. Martin sketched the old-time implements. Sketches and photographs illus trate the story of the Weber family. Ruth Ann Weber Hollinger holds a copy of the book she edited, which Includes her father’s poetry and the Weber family’s unique history that spans almost a century of life. The poems reflect Ed’s love for truck fanning and how he began to build a small dairy herd. The kitchen table served as the center of activities where the child ren did their homework, played games, and read stories aloud. Instructions for some of these old time games are included in the book. In 1986, the Webers sold their Adamstown home and moved to cottage at Landis Homes Retire ment Community. Ed enjoyed par ticipating in Pennsylvania Dutch programs and was a regular caller to the Pennsylvania Dutch prog- \W\-, ' \w > ram heard on WBYN (previously WBYO) radio station. He also had some of his poems published in a weekly newspaper. On Feb. 14,1995, Ed went home to be with the Lord he loved. At the time of his death, he had nine child ren, seven stepchildren, 73 grand children, 143 great grandchildren and 13 great-great-great grandchildren. The book is available in local bookstores or may be ordered from Olde Springfield Shoppe, Route 1, Box 20, Morgantown, PA 19543. The book costs $14.95 plus $3 for postage and handling. (Turn to Page B 16) r v .V JT -.fl c V < f‘ 1/ i' ’ - i , —- 1<? ' I
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers