Observations on Preserving Fruit
Prior to the development of paraffin, preserves were covered with
brandy paper, then “tied down” with bladders, pieces of leather, or
sealed with paper dipped in egg white to keep out the dust.
Brandy paper is simply paper soaked with brandy. It is placed directly
on top of the fruit to be preserved.
Bladders were, as the name implies, bladders from animals. When
stretched across a pot of preserves and allowed to dry, they form a tight
cover.
Melted tallow was sometimes used as paraffin is today.
Except for drying and brining, and ground cellar storing, preserving
was the only way to keep fruits, prior to the mid-18th century when the
process of canning was developed.
Diary entries:
Aug. 25, 1891---We picked apples and made 101 gal cider.
Aug. 26, 1891---Boiled applesauce
Aug. 27, 1891---Took cider barrel home to Fritz. Cut apples to dry in
oven.
Aug. 28, 1891---Helped boil apple butter over---we had 35 pots the first
time, now we have 24 pots.
Grape Butter
1 heaping pint of grapes
1 level pint of granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
Boil 20 minutes---not too fast. Put through sieve immediately. Do not
heat again. It spoils the texture. Put immediately into glasses.
Second Part:
Put grape seeds, etc. into boiler, add Knox gelatin and a little water.
Pour into glasses. (This will not keep---use it as a gelatin dessert.)
How to Boil Good Grandberries
to one quart of grand berries take too cups of shugar and one cup of
water boil sugar and water 5 minnutes, then poot berries in and boil 5
minnutes longer.
From the Boyertown Area Cookery Book -1978 and used with their
permission.
Never have I heard of ‘grandberries’ or of using brandy paper or bladders of animals to seal containers of fruit. Have you? Have you ever
tasted grandberries? Where do they grow?
Grape seeds are supposed to be good for you, but I’m not sure about
using them and the skins as a dessert, even when they’re cooked… what
do you think?
That 1891 family did a lot of hard work to prepare for the winter!
Jean Markley Keiser, 1133 Carolina Ave., West Chester, PA 19380
[email protected]
Stetler’s Cornet Band Wagon
Originally published in The Post June 14, 1979
We thought it would be a nice gesture to run a photo of Stetler’s
Cornet Band Wagon. Unable to get a photo, we obtained the next
best thing, a drawing of the vehicle made by P.S. Hassinger. He
was not only a pretty good artist, but also an outstanding member of this band. We are indebted to Evan P. Hassinger, Middleburg for the use of the drawing.
We presume the drawing depicts this Middleburg musical
group enroute to one of their numerous engagements and are
tooting away as they travel. Observe the man on back sitting in
reverse beating away on the bass drum. Not shown is the mascot, a little black terrier dog that wore a blanket with his name
“Beauty” and the initials of the band on it.
Organized September 7, 1871, it was first known as the “Middleburg Band”. After receiving their charter of incorporation
September 25, 1884 the name was charged to Stetler’s Coret
Band” in honor of the leader John F. Stetler. The first uniforms
were purchased in 1875; the band wagon construction in 1881
and the band hall (presently Western Auto Store warehouse)
built in 1884. For over a half century it brought fame to Middleburg and a 50th anniversary celebration was observed in 1921.
A note concerning the artist, Palmer Sylvester Hassinger: He
died October 1887 at age 25 years and the band was in charge
of his funeral arrangements. A catafalque was built on the band
wagon and upon it the casket was placed. To the front stood a
beautiful floral pillar. His silver cornet was laid atop the casket
surrounded by floral tributes, the whole wagon draped in black
crepe. The funeral procession headed by the band with muffled
drums played a dirge as they marched to Hassinger’s Cemetery,
Middleburg, RD, for burial service.
The old band wagon was still around during the late 1920’s
or early 1930’s, until some individuals without anything better
to do pushed it into Middle Creek near the bridge. And thus,
another treasure of the town was destroyed.
Writings From Snyder
County’s Past
Prepared by Esther Klinger
C.M. Shaffer Raises Pheasants
Several Thousand Ringnecks on the Shaffer Farm at Pallas in
Perry Township Lend a Colorful Atmosphere to the Landscape
~ Original October 30, 1947 by Agnes Selin Schoch
Mr. and Mrs. Chester M. Shaffer, of Pallas, are two young people
with an unusual means of livelihood. They raise ringneck or Oriental pheasants on their farm in Perry township.
Pallas, at the eastern end of Troup Valley, is in itself rather unique.
Altho it is marked on the map, and at one time boasted a general
store and post office, it consists of exactly one building. The story is
that “Dan” Eisenhauer, the first postmaster, built the spacious dwelling, in which he housed besides a residence his store and Uncle
Sam’s post office. A friend upon seeing the layout remarked: “Dan,
you have a palace here.” Hence the name. Just how “palace” ever
came to be spelled “Pallas,” is a question no one seems able to answer.
Be all that as it may, the large frame house, painted white, at Pallas, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Chester M. Shaffer, is indeed an
attractive home. It is located about half-way between Chapman and
Mt. Pleasant Mills at the very eastern end of Troup Valley, where
it commands a magnificent view of the countryside. Just over the
ridge to the south is Grubb’s Church, the most beautiful rural church
in this community.
Pallas no longer has a general store or post office. Benton T. Straub
was the last postmaster at that place. With the establishment of rural delivery the post office at Pallas as well as in many other rural
communities was discontinued. However, Mr. Straub’s son, G. C.
“Getz” Straub conducted the store for many years before he sold the
property to the Shaffers.
Chester M. Shaffer is the son of George R. Shaffer and his wife,
Anna Stahl Shaffer. He was born in Beaver township, June 26,
1901. Upon the completion of his public school curriculum, he was
employed at Eichman’s Mill. There he learned the miller’s trade,
and in 1921 became a miller at Calvin A. Witmer’s Mill at Clifford.
He was employed there until 1943.
On February 12, 1920, Mr. Shaffer married Miss Naomi Yerger.
They had two children, Mable (Mrs. Charles Housel) and George
Shaffer. Mrs. Shaffer passed away in 1935. On April 23, 1945, Mr.
Shaffer married Miss Anna Shaffer, of Pallas.
Sometime after Pearl Harbor Day, Shaffer along with other men
of this community, sailed for Manila, where he was employed by
the United States Navy in the rehabilitation of that harbor. Upon his
return to the States he was employed again for a short time at Witmer’s Mill. However, the dust, ever prevalent in a mill, disagreed
with Shaffer. He sought employment at the Northeastern Penitentiary at Lewisburg. There while in conversation with a trusty he
remarked that he would like to enter some definite field of endeavor.
The trusty remarked: “Have you ever thought of raising ringnecks?”
The more Shaffer thought of the idea the more he liked it. He consulted Snyder County Game Warden, Clarence Walker, who agreed
that it could be done.
Mrs. Shaffer stated that she knew the young birds could be bought
from J. M. Phillips, at Pillow. The next thing was a place to raise
the birds. That was arranged for, and today at Pallas the Shaffers are
raising ringnecks or Oriental pheasants for the market.
This year the Shaffers have raised 2,652 birds. The first hatch was
purchased in June and the second in July. The day-old chicks are
nursed along in an electric brooder for the first six weeks of their
tender age, after which they are released into a large pen. The pen is
enclosed on all sides and over the top with chicken wire. It covers
several acres of land.
Before the young birds were put in the open pen the soil was planted with rape, a large leafed plant of the cabbage family, used as forage and to protect the young birds from too much sunshine or rain.
Besides the rape the diet of the birds is a specially prepared wild
game food. Corn is fed also after the birds have reached maturity.
Both Shaffer and Phillips are licensed by the State Game Commission with Wild Game Propagation Permits, which not only allows
them to raise the wild game, but also to market it.
The chief market for the birds is to sportsmen’s clubs. Shaffer
shipped 1100 ringnecks to a club in New Jersey this fall.
However, the hunting season is the highlight of the wild game
raising season. Last year over 300 men, who missed their shot in
the field, found their sport in Shaffer’s pheasant farm, where amid
domestic habitat wild game in braces or singly could be purchased
for a price. It is a lot easier than hunting in the wide open spaces.
Another channel into which the birds are sold is the Christmas
trade. The birds are purchased early in November, dressed and frozen and sold at a nice profit to enthusiastic Christmas shoppers.
Shaffer, explained that in order to raise wild game successfully, no
domestic fowls may be near them. The wild birds are very susceptible to the common barnyard fowls’ ailments, which may be but a
passing illness to the domestic bird, but usually proves fatal to the
game bird.
By early November Shaffer will have sold all this year’s birds. He
does not keep any birds over the winter, as he buys all his chicks. So
far he has not engaged in the hatching business, but is contemplating doing so.
The ringnecks on the Shaffer farm are of several varieties of the
Oriental Pheasant, including the Chinese, Japanese, and Mongolian.
The Mongolian bird, especially the cock is a magnificently colored
bird. It’s breast and neck are of the shades of green and blue common to the peacock. Unlike the ringneck he boasts no red in his
brilliant plumage. A trip to Shaffer’s Pheasant Farm is indeed a
pleasure.
November 7, 2014, Snyder County Times -7
Baking Contest At Fall
Festival
Have you ever been told you make the best pie, cake or other
dish? On November 8th, 2014, you will have your chance to show
your culinary skills at Green Ridge Market on Forest Hill Road in
Mifflinburg during their Fall Festival. The categories are Apple
Pie, Apple Anything and Pumpkin Anything. Entries must be
brought in a non-returnable dish with a list of ingredients. You
do not need to list the amounts or cooking instructions in your
ingredient list. There is no pre-registration or fee to enter and contestants may enter as many dishes as they like. The judges are
volunteers who judge the baked goods based on appearance, taste
and texture. Winners will be selected in each category and will receive a gift certificate from Green Ridge Market. One grand prize
winner will be selected from the top entries in each class. Entries
need to be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday November 8th and judging will begin promptly at 9:00 am. At
11:30 a.m. all the baked goods will be auctioned with the proceeds
benefiting the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum. Come on out and enjoy a day of fun activities and apple inspired foods.
Fire Company Visits Pre-School
The Richfield Fire Company visited In the Beginning Preschool to
teach the children about fire prevention and safety. Members of the volunteer fire company showed the children the fire truck and even took
them on an exciting ride on the BIG fire truck! The firemen dressed
up in their gear so the children could learn what the firemen look like
in case they ever needed rescued from a fire. The children also were
given the chance to put on the fireman’s clothing. The children now
know that the firemen may look a little scary in their uniforms, but
they are our friends and will help us if we ever need it. The children
each received a special fire hat to keep as a memory from the visit. A
huge thank you to the Richfield fire department for spending time with
our students to prepare them in case they would ever need help in a fire.
Pictured is the PM class with the volunteer firefighters and teachers
Miss Katrina and Miss Beth.
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