July 4, 2017, will mark the 200th time that Lititz celebrates Independence Day, making it the second-oldest continuous and community-minded event of its kind in the nation.

It’s safe to say that the chairman of Lititz’s landmark celebration, Tim Reedy, has never taken a vacation over the Fourth of July holiday. Now in his fourth year of running the show – with the help of nearly 400 dedicated volunteers, not to mention the support of local businesses – Tim nods his head and says that from the time he was a child, he knew where he’d be on the Fourth of July: Lititz Springs Park.

Unabashed pride in Lititz’s now-historic celebration is an inherited trait. His grandfather, Raymond S. Reedy, was a mayor of Lititz and was, therefore, heavily involved in the event. Tim remembers sitting on a bench as a college student with his grandfather one Fourth of July and being told that he was part of something very special.

The passage of time has only reinforced that sentiment. “The event and the park are both very special,” Tim affirms. “The Fourth of July is an important part of Lititz’s identity.” Indeed, in 1984, Lititz resident, Paul Foreman, wrote: “If you took the July Fourth celebration out of Lititz, it just wouldn’t be Lititz.”

And, the celebration has become a part of Tim’s own legacy; he has a tradition of community service to uphold. Tim’s father, Ron Reedy, who passed away last November, has always been regarded as the caretaker of Lititz’s history. If you wanted to know anything about Lititz, Ron was the man with the answers. He was especially dedicated to the Fourth of July celebration, having chaired the endeavor for decades (including the last milestone year, 1992).

Ron maintained meticulous records and had amassed an amazing collection of memorabilia. “He documented every year of the celebration,” Tim notes, “and he had a copy of every program,” the first of which was published in 1934. “My father always wanted to publish a book about Lititz’s Fourth of July celebration,” he adds.

Like his grandfather, Tim takes pleasure in sitting on a park bench during the Fourth of July festivities. “I like to sit and just watch the people who come to the park to celebrate,” he says.

 

Planning this year’s celebration began in earnest in April 2016. While this would be a milestone event, the planners wanted it to stay true to its mission of keeping history alive yet make it culturally relevant. “We want to remind everyone – especially the kids – that the Fourth of July isn’t just about  fireworks,” Tim says.

Thus, this year’s event will honor the pomp and ceremonies of the past all the while recognizing the age in which we live. Appropriately enough, this year’s theme is Independence, Remembrance, 200. “Keeping it fresh and new is always the challenge,” Tim adds. “Our ultimate goal is for everyone to leave with a memory.”

With that said, the planners were challenged with providing guests with an event befiting its milestone year. Lots of ideas were presented and discussed – including inviting high-profile government officials and chart-topping musical acts to the event. In the end, they decided that they would stay true to form and make the day about Lititz. “This is a tremendous, giving town,” Tim says.

Instead of expanding programming on the Fourth, the planning committee elected to create a series of events that would lead up to the big day. They began with a fundraising Lititz 200 Gala (held at Rock Lititz) in March and continued through the spring with Wine & Whiskey Fest, ArtsFest and Old-Fashioned Family Game Day.

 

Activities for the fourth will actually start the evening before, with the annual Lititz Lions Patriotic Parade, followed by entertainment in the park. July Fourth activities will include the inaugural Red, White and Bluegrass Festival (1-4 p.m.), featuring the bands Colebrook Road and The Dirty Grass Players. The Baby Parade, which dates to 1937 and features homemade floats and patriotically dressed tots, will kick off at 1:45 p.m.

The popular KidZone will have a Winter in July theme (complete with reindeer). Open all afternoon, it will play host to WJTL’s Lisa Landis (emcee), Phredd, Steven Courtney, Insanity Factor, Pulse Dance Studio, Marian & Friends and Jack Hubley (and his animal friends). Victory Church-Lititz Campus will coordinate games.

Live entertainment will be offered in the bandshell throughout the day. “The goal was to create a USO feel,” Tim explains, alluding to appearances by the 85-member Lititz Community Band (patriotic music) and Mama Tried Band (high-energy dance music), as well as entertainers such as Rubi Nicholas, AKA “the funniest mom in America” and Chris Poje, a recent Pennsylvania Senior Idol winner, and A Legendary Remembrance by Pulse Dance Studio.

As dusk settles, the 76th edition of the Queen of the Candles pageant will take over the bandshell, followed by the 177th Grand Illumination that will see 7,000 candles (red, white and blue in honor of the occasion) set the park aglow. Sue and Mel Rohrer and their army of 80 volunteers have handled this aspect of the celebration for the past 20 years.

Tim estimates that the frames into which the candles are set are 50 to 60 years old. At one time, beeswax candles made by members of the Moravian Church were used, but as the quantity that was needed grew, organizers turned to commercially made candles.

DJ Ronny Ramone will then take over and host the high-energy Fireworks Party (design courtesy of Stray Production Services).

At approximately 10 p.m., Lititz will put its reputation as the entertainment center of the world – thanks to the Rock Lititiz Community – on the line with its spectacular fireworks show. The pyro/music show will once again be a collaboration of Celebration Fireworks near Allentown (which claimed second place in a worldwide competition two years ago) and Clair Global (soundtrack). “People put their chairs and blankets out as early as 7 a.m.,” Tim reports. He also shares that while as many as 15,000 spectators are in the park for the show, another 5,000-plus gather at prime sites around Lititz to view the fireworks.

“You are not going to want to miss this year’s show,” Tim says of the surprise element that will take the display to an all-new level. “It’s never been done in this area,” he adds with a sense of mystery.

Food? No problem – there will be 28 food trucks on-site. And, there will be a free photo booth set up to commemorate your visit.

 

While the event is a celebration of the Fourth of July, it’s also a fundraiser for one of the town’s most iconic landmarks: Lititz Springs Park. “It’s such a blessing to have this beautiful park in the middle of town,” Tim says. “It’s loved and used by everyone.”

Originally owned by the Moravian Church, a Declaration of Trust, signed in 1956, deemed it a public park on private property. A 17-member board is in place to oversee its maintenance and upkeep. “Every church in Lititz is represented on the board, plus there are community at-large members,” Tim explains.

At one time, the board oversaw the Fourth of July festivities, but turned it over to a committee of community volunteers about 10 years ago. The planning committee abides by the Moravian Church’s original by-laws: no alcohol, no games of chance and the event must be held on July 4, unless the holiday falls on a Sunday.

Just in case you’re curious: Bristol, Rhode Island, lays claim to hosting the nation’s longest-running Fourth of July celebration, as their parade dates to 1785.

Each year, members of the senior class at Warwick High School select 12 of their classmates as members of the Queen of the Candles court. The girl receiving the most votes goes on to become the Queen of the Candles during a ceremony that begins as dusk settles over Lititz Springs Park.

Something tells me that no matter who is announced as this year’s queen, the other 11 will be thrilled for her. While Warwick’s 2017 graduating class is relatively small (when compared to other Lancaster County school districts), members of the court view that in a positive manner. “It’s nice to know everyone in your class,” one pointed out.

Members of this year’s court are in awe of the historical significance that this year’s pageant entails: Not only is it the 200th time Lititz is celebrating the Fourth of July, but it’s the 177th edition of Candle Illumination and the 76th time a Queen of the Candles will be crowned.

In addition to expressing graditude to their parents for their upbringing, members of this year’s court take pride in having grown up in Lititz. They all maintain that Lititz has nurtured them and prepared them for their next steps in life.

Even in 1843, Lititz’s Fourth of July celebration was searching for new ways to entertain those who gathered in the park. Taking a cue from the popular Christmas Vigil, candles made their July Fourth debut that year. From 400 candles that illuminated the park that first year, to a high of 12,000, which for liability reasons was trimmed to 7,000, what is often called a “Fairyland of Candles” continues to be a highlight of the festivities.

In celebration of the Illumination’s milestone year in 1942, the Queen of the Candles pageant was launched. The event is now sponsored by the Lititz Woman’s Club where will life take members of this year’s court? It seems they will go far, as their college plans are indeed impressive.

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Maddie Menendez says she will miss the atmosphere of downtown Lititz when she leaves for college. She “never misses Second Friday with my friends” and counts herself as a regular at Isabella’s Ice Cream Parlor. Maddie will be attending Juniata College, where she plans to major in pre-med/biology.

Maddie Wagner, who grew up on the outskirts of Lititz, says she has always loved the early-morning drive into town for school. “Lititz has always felt like home, it’s very welcoming,” she says. “There’s a real sense of community here.” Maddie has applied to a Bible college in England and hopes to receive an acceptance letter this summer. “I also see mission work in my future,” she says.
Jordan Sweeney loves the quaintness of Lititz and will miss her job at Isabella’s. She also appreciates the fact that was able to “get to know everyone in our class.” Jordan is bound for St. Joseph’s University, where she plans to major in psychology.

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Rebecca Owsinski loves Lititz for its sense of community. “Everyone seems to know everyone,” she reports. She’s grown up attending the Fourth of July celebration and is honored to be a member of this year’s court. Rebecca will be a freshman at St. Joseph’s University, where she plans to major in marketing.

Carley Hess says she loves Lititz for its friendliness. This fall she will transition from small-town living to life in the big city, when she becomes a student at the University of Pittsburgh, where she plans to major in business.

 

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Jenna Raezer loves Lititz for the fact that there are “so many little things to do.” And, she appreciates the “close-knit” sense of community that exists in Lititz. Jenna will be attending Millersville University, where she will major in art education.

Carson Armstrong names Lititz’s “close community” as being what she loves about her hometown. Carson will be attending Lock Haven University, where she plans to major in physical education and health. She will also be playing lacrosse at Lock Haven.  

Kayla Rohrbach says she is appreciative of growing up in a small community. “There are a ton of caring people here,” she says of Lititz. Kayla will be attending the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and hopes to become a pediatric nurse.

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Maddie Armstrong says she will always cherish Lititz. “I feel so fortunate to have grown up in such a caring town,” she says. Maddie will be attending Virginia Tech, where she will begin her quest to become a pediatrician.

Laura Kramer possesses a unique appreciation of Lititz. Having moved here in the seventh grade, she says she “had no idea a town could be so close-knit.” Laura will be attending Penn State University (Berks Campus), where she will major in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

Taylor Gonzalez says Lititz is filled with “great people; everyone supports each other.” She will be attending the Pennsylvania College of Technology, where she will also play soccer.

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Note: The twelfth member of the court, Hannah Reinhart, was unable to attend the photo shoot.

 

According to Tim Reedy, one of the goals of Lititz’s historic Fourth of July celebration is to educate younger generations about the freedoms that were fought for during the American Revolution.

When Lancaster County was organized in 1729, Warwick was one of its original townships. Wheelwright Richard Carter, one of that area’s first settlers, named the township in honor of his English birthplace, Warwickshire.

Lititz grew out of a Moravian settlement that was founded in 1754. However, the town’s roots extend back to the 15th century’s Bohemian Revolution, whose cause was religious freedom. Despite the demise of its leader, John Huss, in 1415, the revolution’s fervor lived on. By 1457, his followers – primarily from Bohemia and Moravia in Czechoslovakia – had found refuge on the estate of the king of Bohemia, whose palace was called Lititz.

In the early 1700s, Count Zinzendorf had become the leader of the movement, which had spread to England and North America. The faithful became knowns as Moravians.

Zinzendorf visited Warwick Township in 1742, which led to plans of building a settlement there. Land was secured in 1754, when John George Klein and his wife donated nearly 500 acres to the church. Building lots were laid out three years later. The settlement was named Litiz (the postmaster added the second “t” a century later).

Supporting the Cause for Independence

By the early 1770s, the seeds of independence from England were being sown in the colonies. From the beginning, Pennsylvania was regarded as the “keystone”  of the colonies due to its geographical, political, cultural and social significance. (In architectural terms, the keystone – or the central wedge in an arch – is the piece that all the other elements depend upon for the arch’s strength.) Pennsylvania, for example, sent nine delegates to the Continental Congress. One, John Morton, cast the deciding vote for independence. His vote was referred to as “the keystone vote.”

 

When the Revolution began, Lancaster riflemen were among the first to make their way to Boston. George Ross, William Henry and John Hubley were delegates to the Continental Congress. General Edward Hand led a group of volunteers who fought in New York and New Jersey. Hand, who later became Washington’s adjutant-general, is depicted in the famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware River. James McMichael, a native of Scotland, who settled in Lancaster County, enlisted in the Pennsylvania Militia and served at Brandywine, Germantown and Valley Forge. Valley Forge Historic National Park includes him among General George Washington’s inner circle.

The Conestoga Wagon

The fact that Lancaster County was a hub for agriculture, manufacturing and commerce made it a major contributor to the Revolution. According to Lancasterhistory.org, “Large quantities of supplies for the patriot army were shipped from Lancaster – cannons, ammunitions, rifles, camp kettles, as well as grain, shoes and uniforms.”

Transporting the goods was not a problem thanks to a Lancaster-made product, the Conestoga Wagon. Developed by Mennonite-German settlers in the early 18th century, the wagon caught the attention of James Logan, secretary to William Penn, who established an irregular freight line between Philadelphia and the Conestoga Valley with the purchase of one wagon (eventually adding two more). He called the wagons “Conestogas” due to their destination. Historians speculate the name could refer to the river, the town or the Indian tribe that all bear the name Conestoga.

The boat-like wagons were built to withstand the rugged terrain they had to negotiate. Their design also ensured that loads would not shift.

By 1775, 10,000-plus Conestoga wagons were traveling the roads of Pennsylvania (and beyond). It was not uncommon for a single wagon train to consist of 100 wagons. One of the major thoroughfares was Route 322, which at the time was the primary route between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. What is now the Brickerville House Family Restaurant was a popular stopover for teamsters to take a break and feed their horses.

Conestoga wagons departing from Lancaster County were a major source of supplies for Washington’s encampment at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. In the spring of 1778, a Conestoga Wagon delivered $600,000 in silver – a loan from the French government – from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to York, Pennsylvania.

By the Civil War era, the Conestoga Wagon had become obsolete. They were replaced by canal systems and the railroad.

Lititz and the American Revolution

The Lititz area has two significant connections to the Revolutionary War. Following the battles of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777), the Moravian Church’s Brethren’s House in Lititz became a hospital for injured soldiers. More than 500 soldiers arrived in Lititz between December 1777 and August 1778, 110 of whom died. Their remains were buried on the outskirts of town. The exact location remained a mystery until 1932, when a cellar that was being excavated revealed the burial site.

Ultimately, the remains were reinterred in the cemetery along East Main Street. A memorial sign declared them as being among the first of America’s unknown soldiers.
The winter of 1777-78 also took its toll on the troops who were encamped at Valley Forge. According to LNPs Jack Brubaker (The Scribbler), more than 2,000 soldiers died there that winter. Soldiers suffering from wounds, illness and starvation were ultimately cared for in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. However, the largest contingent were nursed back to health in Lancaster County, namely in Lititz, Lancaster, Ephrata, Manheim, Reamstown and Brickerville.

A year earlier, troops of another sort arrived in the Lititz area. In the winter of 1776, the Continental Army was on the run following their defeat at the Battle of Long Island.

Morale was low. The Army had retreated to eastern Pennsylvania, while the British and their hired troops, Hessians from Germany, were encamped on the opposite side of the Delaware River near Trenton.

General George Washington hatched a plan that would ultimately win battles and raise morale: an attack on the Hessian camp that would be launched late on the night of December 25. Knowing the Hessians would be celebrating Christmas, the Army took them by surprise. The ploy met with success: Not a single Continental Army soldier was killed. However, 30 Hessians lost their lives, while 900 were taken as POWs.

Hessian and British POWs were problematic for the Army. Prison camps were almost nonexistent due to the lack of food and manpower. Instead, Washington would barter their services for munitions. A contingent of Hessian POWS was sent to the Elizabeth Furnace in Brickerville to serve as laborers. The foundry, which produced munitions for the Army, agreed to trade cannon balls and other items for Hessian laborers. They were housed in buildings that still stand on the Coleman Estate/Elizabeth Farms.

The Hessians were assigned the task of digging a trench that would carry water from Seglock Run to a newly constructed waterwheel that would add to the foundry’s efficiency. What came to be know as the Hessian Trench was dug over a six-month period starting in early 1777.

Following the war, many of the Hessian soldiers elected to stay in Lancaster County due to the already large German/Swiss population that resided here, religious freedom and the availability of land.

The Lititz Spring

Prior to the arrival of settlers, the swampy area located on the western edge of Lititz was used by Native Americans as a place to take the waters. The Moravians sought to beautify it and transform it into a park. In 1780, Tobias Hirte, a music teacher, attempted to improve the area by planting willow trees. Flooding carried them away.

Twelve years later, townspeople added fill to the swampland, planted trees, built a wall around the spring, erected structures and constructed a bridge over Lititz Run. Once again, the project met with disaster. The only trees to survive were the locusts, and area farmers were miffed that their cows no longer had access to the spring.

By 1846, John Beck, the principal of the Lititz Boys Academy, was put in charge of the park. Not willing to give up, he and the town’s residents launched yet another beautification project. Fencing materials were purchased through a fundraising effort. A new wall was built around the spring, and more trees were planted. This time, the trees thrived.

It wasn’t until 1957 that another beautification/modernization project was conducted thanks to a $100,000 grant from Warner-Lambert. While the land is owned by the Lititz Moravian Church, the park is operated by a board of trustees and is supported by civic groups and businesses.

A Celebration Is Born

The Fourth of July was commemorated in Lititz as long ago as 1778, when Tobias Hirte and an orchestra organized a concert for soldiers who were recovering from injuries and illnesses in Lititz. Impromptu celebrations continued into the early 1800s. However, the Moravian Church did not condone the events, as is reflected in the minutes from the Board of Overseers’ meeting that was held on July 22, 1811: “By this opportunity came up the offensive conduct of many of our young people on the Fourth of July (Independence Day), who not only associated with the neighboring military company, which had paraded here during the day, but made merry with music at the Spring, and greatly disturbed the village late into the night, thereby giving the cause for criticism from our outlying neighbors.”

By 1818, the Moravian town fathers had adopted a new viewpoint; not wanting to appear unpatriotic, they bestowed their approval for Fourth of July celebrations. In 1822, Lititz Springs Park was named the official home of the town’s Fourth of July activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sources
Interview with Ron Reedy: June 1992 issue of Lancaster County magazine.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: A History by H.M.J. Klein
Lancasterhistory.org.
Explorepahistory.com
Colonialsense.com
Lancaster County magazine, June 2009 issue: Lititz Past, Present & Future
Lancaster County magazine, December 2006 issue: Elizabeth Farms
U.S. Army Transportation Museum
Lititzspringspark.org
Valley Forge National Park: nps.gov/vafo

Each morning students across the nation begin their day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We dropped by Wanda McKonly’s first grade class at Lititz Elementary School to hear their rendition of the pledge. Afterwards, we asked each student for his or her definition of happiness. For many of them, it’s the simple things in life that make them happy: family, friends and playtime. It struck us that there was no mention of computers, video games or super heroes.

First graders in the Warwick School District play a role in the Queen of the Candles pageant, with a girl serving as the flower girl and a boy as the crown bearer. Each elementary school in the district nominates two candidates and a committee then makes a final selection. This year’s flower girl will be Taylor Bonano from Kissel Hill Elementary. Riley Thomas from Lititz Elementary will be the crown bearer.