Page 16-SUSQUEHANNA BULLETIN Adam and Eve The Kohlers. | You often hear about a man and a woman who grew up in the same part of the country and who according to all the laws of probability should have met long ago, but never did. Then they finally meet and hit it off together almost perfectly. And they wonder how they managed to elude each other for so many years. Such a couple was Mary Elien Schuman from Han- over, Pa., and Dick Kohler from Allentown, Pa. They were brought up in the same church, the Evan- gelical United Brethren (now United Methodist). They went to E.U.B. colleges near to each other: Mary Ellen to Albright and Dick to Lebanon Valley. Then Dick went to the theological seminary in Day- ton, Ohio. Mount Joy, by Bill Martin A fire engine loaded with men rounded the bend on East Main St., at Marietta Ave. heading East. It stopped in front of the Union National Mount Joy Bank. = After some theological study in Germany, he was graduated from the semi- nary and left Dayton to start a mission church in Allen- town. He had no sooner left Dayton, then Mary Ellen arrived in that town, to work for the board of missions of the E.U.B. Church. They meet finally, in the summer of 1956 when they attended the same church conference. During the few days they spent at that conference, Dick, now the Rev. W. Richard Kohler, felt a strong attachment to Mary Ellen Schuman. When he went back to his struggling mission church in Allentown, he wrote to Mary Ellen, and she answered. The letters were not fre- quent, however, about once a month, and during the fall of 1956 they missed another opportunity to see each other, when Mary Ellen attended a conference in the Poconos near Allentown, and neglected to tell Dick about it until after she had gone back to Dayton. “Why didn’t you tell me?’’ wrote Dick. “‘I could have driven down to see you.”’ ‘Well,’ Mary Ellen wrote back, “‘if you want to see me, why not come to Hanover at Christmas, which 1 will be spending with my family.” Engaged Dick did go to Hanover and met Mary- Ellen’s family. She went with him to Allentown to meet his family. By February, they were engaged. When Mary Ellen announced the en- gagement to her mother,she asked, ‘‘Aren’t you su- prised?’”’ But her mother replied, ‘“You never did have to shop around. You always knew what you wanted.” Married Rev. and Mrs. W. Richard Kohler were married the following summer. Mary Ellen came to help in the Allentown mission church. The church sanctuary was their living room. The Sunday School was in their basement. The following year Michael was born. Mrs. Kohler would be playing the piano for a hymn during services in the living room, hear her baby crying in an adjoining room, and have to hurry after the ‘“‘Amen’’ to tend Michael. To Germany With Michael the Kohlers went to Germany to do some work with youth there. Rev. Kohler, having studied in Germany, spoke the lan- guage fluently. After returning from Germany, they went to a church in Reading. There Jennie was born. After four and a half years in Reading they went to a church in Broomall, Pa., near Philadelphia. While in Broomall, Rev. Kohler went regularly to the same barber, who for a couple years did not know the full identity of his regular customer. Rev. Kohler enjoyed the down-to- earth conversations that went on in the barber shop. Those conversations kept him in touch with a world outside the church. But one day the barber became curious about what kind of work Rev. Kohler did, and Rev. Kohler told him the nature of his business. The interesting conversa- tions in the barber shop ceased, and Rev. Kohler missed them. Music Together But there were plenty of interesting conversations and much good music at home. All the Kohlers are musical - Rev. Kohler, Mrs. Kohler, Michael, and Jennie. Sometimes they have performed as a group for others. But probably their most beautiful music is at home amongst them- selves. The Kohlers came to Mount Joy and St. Mark’s United Methodist Church seven and a half years ago. From their work together in the little mission church in Allentown right up to the present, Mrs. Kohler says their lives have been exci- ting. Mrs. Kohler leads an interesting discussion group at St. Mark’s composed of people of all ages. Together the Kohlers have led groups on tours of Europe. Fascinating people visit in the parsonage on East Main St. For the past four summers teachers from Belgium, Sweden, Holland, and Germany have stayed with the Kohlers and learned about American life. Mrs. Kohler, who once said she would never fly, and never take a boat across the ocean, has done both, and better, flown across the ocean a number of times, and really enjoyed the flights. July 30, 1975 Perhaps, most amazing, a gifted public speaker her- self, she listens rapt every Sunday to her own husband in the pulpit. A Ministry Together Rev. Kohler looks at his wife thoughtfully, then says ‘I consider myself extreme- ly fortunate...How often does a guy get a gal so far above the ordinary?”’ Mrs. Kohler protests modestly, but Rev. Kohler goes on, ‘I’ve always felt it has been a ministry of both of us. She is involved in the church to the hilt. I have always counted a great deal on her opinions and judg- ment...She really made my ministry.” The Kohlers, like many happily married couples, say they are opposites in temperament, he being more reserved about expressing all his thoughts and feeling, and she inclined to let it all spill out. Rev. Kohler says he has learned from his wife how to express his feelings better. Their paths criss-crossing so many times while they were younger but never encountered each other, the Kohlers really got together after they finally met. Bridge on Route 23 almost ready for traffic Bridge on Route 23 near Marietta almost ready to open Florin, Salunga, Manheim fire co’s. join in big drill The mef got off and began to pull hand lines. Fire police’ were directing traffic. Two more fire engines appeared loaded with men. One truck pulled in front of the truck positioned in front of the Bank and began to lay hose down East Main St. Heads began to pop out doors. Cars began to slow down. More fire engines Fire Co. Pres. Doug Estock on the job appeared and began to lay hose. A crowd began to form. Finally the last of the engines appeared and turned North on Barbara St. Soon water began to push through the hoses. The question was asked over and over again: What's going on? The answer: A pre- planned drill between Mount Joy, Florin, Salunga, and Manheim fire depart- ments. One purpose was to find out if there would be enough water to fight a sizable fire in Mount Joy during a severe drought. Mount Joy has an ample supply of water but if a severe drought and fire occured would another water source have to be found? The second purpose was to compare the capabili- ties of the newer 3 inch hose to 2 1/2 inch hose. The drill began with area firemen meeting at Friend- ship Fire Hall Co., in Mount Joy where Chief Frank Good held a briefing. Firemen then proceeded to their positions. Mount Joy’s 1949 La France was positioned in front of the Union National Bank. Hand lines were taken off the La France. Mount Joy’s 1974 Hahn laid 2-3 inch lines East on East Main St., for 800 feet. Salunga’s engine laid 2-3 inch lines from the 1974 Hahn for 750 feet. Finally Manheim’s engine laid 2-3 inch lines from Salunga’s truck to the dam on Little Chiques Creek in Sico Park, and began to pump water. Florin stood by in case of a fire call and observed. Florin is waiting arrival of their 3 inch hose. County Fire Marshall Paul Knier was on hand to check the gallonage flow with a special meter. He found that 800 gallons of water per minute were discharged through 2-21/2 inch hand lines. In past years only 250 gallons of water per minute were discharged using 2%2 inch hose. It was also found that Mount Joy would have enough water available from Little Chiques creek and fire hydrants in town to fight a sizable fire. It was noted that more fire equipment could be placed every 800 feet to extend the relay as far as needed in to town without any decrease in the amount of water discharged at the fire. Eighty-five men respon- ded to the relay. Afterwards a debriefing was held and refreshments served before the firemen returned to their respective stations. DID YOUR HEAR... Did your hear anything interesting that happened around here lately? It could have been something that happened to your friends or relatives or neighbors. It could have been something that happened to you. Whatever it was, why not send it the Bulletin? If it is interesting to you, it will be interesting to us.
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