In November 1929, two Gratz sisters, Della Gratz (1875-1946) and Carrie Gratz (1872-1942), of Lykens, visited properties in Gratz that were associated with their great-grandfather, Simon Gratz. Simon Gratz is considered to be the founder of the town of Gratz.
The father of the two unmarried women was David Gratz (1845-1925); his father was Edward Gratz (1806-1869); and his father was Simon Gratz (1773-1839).
An article in the Elizabethville Echo of 28 November 1929 described the visit. Note: Although the article names one of the sisters as Sallie Gratz, it is believed that this was actually Carrie Gratz. There are other errors in the article, which are described following the text below:
VISIT TOWN ANCESTOR FOUNDED
Last Saturday, the visit of two Lykens ladies, Miss Della Gratz and Miss Sallie Gratz, held much interest for residents of that community.
They are great-granddaughters of Simon Gratz, Philadelphia man who joined with residents of this valley in developing coal lands in upper Dauphin Dauphin County.
Simon Gratz was the founder of the Lykens Valley town which bears his name, which he laid out and did much to develop. He was a member of the Hebrew race and one of his philangations was the gift of land to the Lutheran and Reformed congregation upon which Simeon’s Union Lutheran and Reformed Church now stands. Land for the adjoining cemetery was also given by Gratz.
The Gratz sisters were entertained by Miss C. M. Kast, member of the Gratz High School faculty, who lives in the old log house once occupied by their great-grandfather. They were also entertained by Mrs. H. G. Buffington. The Buffington family lives in the large brick dwelling, built at a later date by the town’s founder. The interior of the brick dwelling follows the colonial style with large rooms and halls, handsome arches and pillars made with beautiful fanlight and sidelights at the entrance.
The Gratz ladies were accompanied by Mrs. Fox of Lykens. It was the first time they viewed the interior of these houses which are so closely associated with their own family.
The old log house, said to be built by Simon Gratz, was more likely built around 1823 by Philip Keihner Sr, a carpenter. It was destroyed about May 1975 in order to satisfy the executors of the estate of George Adams because it straddled the property line of two building lots. The brick colonial-style house, currently referred to as “the Gratz House,” was built after 1830 for Elizabeth Fry from funds from her father’s estate. Elizabeth married Rev. Solomon Schindel, but probably did not move into the house, because the tax records show that Theodore Gratz was a tenant there in 1837. Theodore, who later served as the first burgess of Gratz, was a son of Simon Gratz. In 1848, the Schindel’s sold the brick house and land to Louisa Gratz, a sister of Simon Gratz, but two months later the property reverted back to the Schindel’s. No evidence has been seen to support the belief that Simon Gratz had either of these houses built (log house or brick house), or that he ever resided in Gratz.
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News clipping from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.