William E. Dietrich (1896-1977) was my grandfather. He was born in Lykens, but he spent his youth on the family farm in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, after his parents purchased it in the first decade of the 20th century.
On one occasion, 30 May 1972, at his residence in Specktown, I asked him where the farm was located and to tell me something about what was raised there.
At the old schoolhouse on Specktown Road [Geise School] make a left [north] and follow the road to the first macadam road and then turn west. Look down into the hollow and the farm is there. The barn is painted red. Years ago, Uncle Earl took a picture of it. Lincoln Leffler lives there now [1972]. We grew corn for pigs; wheat; oats for pigs and cow; and potatoes for pigs and cows. The wheat was sold or exchanged for flour and bran. The wheat supported the farm and the family. Two people were hired to help with the chores. It cost about $600 for a pair of mules and about the same for a pair of horses.
William E. Dietrich was the first of the family to leave the farm when he married Helen Hoffman in 1915. Eventually, the farm was sold, and his mother, Jennie [Keiper] Dietrich, and father, Edward Dietrich, moved to Gratz.
Today the farm is fully operational and is owned by an Amish family. It is also the location of one of the Amish schools in the Lykens Valley.
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