From the Gratz News column of a local newspaper, January 9, 1979:
Gratz News
by Debbie Deppen
Historical Society
The Gratz Historical Society held its monthly meeting December 28 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allen A. Shade. This is the second year the Society held its Christmas meeting at the Shade residence. Thirty members and one guest were in attendance.
The past year was discussed and plans were made for the new year. The president stated in the the new year the society should try to do more than in the past year and should try to have more speakers on the areas of local history.
After the meeting Mrs. Beth Facinelli and her sister Ann [Yenchko] entertained the members by playing their recorders (mid-evil [sic] instruments).
Refreshments were served and everyone agreed that it was a Christmas to remember. The next meeting of the society will be January 25 [1970] at 7:30 p.m. at the Swab Mansion in Elizabethville. The mansion is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Facinelli, members of the society. The house will be toured and a musical program will be presented in the mansions [sic] music room. All members are invited to attend.
The February meeting will be held on the 22nd at 7:30 p.m. in the Gratz Municipal Building. A 44 minute film entitled “18th Century Life in Colonial Williamsburg” will be shown.
The society presently has 60 members. New members are Mrs. Max Schlegel, Valley View; Mrs. Roy Holedeman, Valley View; Mr. and Mrs. James Hepler, Gratz; Mrs. Kurt Moore, Pillow; Mrs. Ruth Borchert, RD1 Hegins; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Byerly, Gratz.
Ambulance News
The following is a trip report of the Grace Area Ambulance for the month of December. The ambulance responded to 1 call from Gratz and 1 from RD Lykens [Lykens Township]. One patient was taken to Harrisburg and one to Camp Hill.
They also responded to a fire call during December. A total of 204 miles was driven round trip.
For the year 1978 the ambulance made a total of 116 runs with a total of 7616 miles driven.
Types of trips included fire calls, emergency runs, routine transports, and driver training.
Patients
Harry Davis is presently a patient at the Harrisburg Hospital.
The following people are recovering from illnesses at home: Mrs. Gertie Maurer; Guy Rebuck; James Seegar; Lottie Hess; Carrie Matter; Carl Daniel; Mabel Daniels, RD Lykens [Lykens Township]; Sally Sitlinger; Henrietta Sitlinger; Marlin Straub; and Ed Rudy.
Calendar of Events
January 9 – Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts, Simeon Lutheran Church, 6:30 p.m.
January 10 – Prayer and Praise, Emanuel Wesleyan Church, 7:30 p.m.; Junior Choir Practice, Simeon Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.; Prayer Meeting, Simeon Evangelical Congregational Church, 7:30 pm..; 7th Grade Confirmation, Simeon Lutheran Church, 6 p.m.; 2nd Year Bethel, Simeon Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.
January 15 – 8th Grade Confirmation, Simeon Lutheran Church, 6 p.m.; Bethel 1st Year Class, Simeon Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.