The Dreisbachs, Driesbachs, Dresbachs, etc. Gather Anew
From The Dreisbach Book, p. 40:
Father Charles Dreisbach shared his Wittgenstein photos and the account of his 1987 visit with many of his Dreisbach correspondents. Like Ammon Dreisbach eighty years before, Charles began to wish for a reunion of all interested Dreisbachs. With the help of a few individuals who shared his enthusiasm, Charles organized and convened an all-Dreisbach reunion in 1995 - the first in about sixty-five years.
The site chosen was Kreidersville, where Simon Dreisbach and many descendants are buried. The walls of the meeting hall were papered with Bruce Jack Dreisbach's computerized printouts of the various lines of descent. Rev. Albert (Kim) Dreisbach and his wife Janet brought Dreisbach T-shirts to sell. Simon Jr. descendant William Fiedler exhibited precious family-related items from his safe deposit box, including an eighteenth century document penned by his ancestor. A contingent of Martin Dreisbach descendants arrived wearing identical dark green sweatshirts. Bill Dreisbach of Georgia, soon to be elected President of the newly-formed Dreisbach Family Association, had a table with, among other things, give-away pages describing cemeteries in eastern Pennsylvania where Dreisbachs are buried.
The program included talks by local historian William Fiedler (a descendant of Simon Dreisbach Jr.) and Norman Borger, a presentation by Ardis Grosjean, nee Dreisbach, on the Dreisbachs of Wittgenstein, and a business meeting which gave birth to a new Dreisbach Family Association. There was also a visit to the site of the immigrant Jost Dreisbach's house and mill. The next day, Sunday, Zion Stone Church (United Church of Christ) of Kreidersville invited all Reunion participants to a special morning service where the old liturgical pewter-ware and the original collection bags from the church at Jost Dreisbach's were displayed. Afterwards, tours were conducted through the historic cemetery with its many Dreisbach graves.
The Reunion was attended by over 130 persons from 17 states plus Canada and Belgium. Everyone appeared to have a great time and all were eager to plan for the next Reunion.
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