Clippings from the Reading Eagle, January 3, 1914

Golden Anniversary of Fleetwood Couple - Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus F. Reifsnyder Married 50 Years - Children Present Dinner Set - Only Great-Grandchild Recites Poem at Dinner

Fleetwood, January 3 (Special) Cyrus F. Reifsnyder and wife, Sarah Elizabeth (nee Boyer) celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with their posterity. A sumptuous dinner was served in a room equipped with antiques furniture used 50 years ago, when the couple started housekeeping . The children donated a pretty gold trimmed dinner set.

Recites Poem
Dorothy Elizabeth Merkel, nine years old, a great-grandchild, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Merkel, Reading, presented a beautiful bouquet of fragrant cut flowers --50 in number--to the principals of the golden jubilee. She recited the following poem previous to the dinner:

Things have changed, at least they tell us so,
And I guess, perhaps, it's true;
But who of us will not confess
That love, love today,
Is much the same as fifty years ago;
For once in the days of old,
Just fifty years ago, I' m told,
Yes, today just fifty years ago, 'tis said,
Great-grandpa and ma were wed.
And 'tis left to me, the only great-grandchild, you see.
To wish them well on this anniversary.
Yes, with these flowers, let me show,
How much we love you.

The only representative of the fourth generation, after having presented the bouquet of flowers, sang "Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet" and "When I was Twenty-one and You were Sweet Sixteen."

Long Business Career.
Mr. Reifsnyder is one of Fleetwood's oldest business men. He followed the vocation of storekeeping since he was 17 years of age. He was affiliated with more partners in business than is usually the case. He conducts a general mercantile business on the borough's main street, directly opposite the Fleetwood House. On Feb. 4, he will reach the 71st milestone of his life and Mrs. Reifsnyder will be 71 on April 16 next. His father, Joseph, was in the undertaking business at Coxtown, now Fleetwood, and was assisted by his son for several years. From 1869 to 1880 Mr. Reifsnyder served as Fleetwood's postmaster, and under the McKinley-Roosevelt administration, a son held the same position.

Many Partnerships
It is interesting to note the many changes in firm names in connection with Mr. Reifsnyder's business career. In 1868, at the site where now is located the store of Kutz Bros., he completed the partnership of Schaeffer, Messersmith & Co., Lewis Schaeffer, Charles C. Messersmith and Mr. Reifsnyder as the "company." The firm then changed as follows: Schaeffer, Hoffman & Co., Schaeffer, Maurer & Co., Schaeffer, Reifsnyder & Co., Reifsnyder, Schaeffer & Co. and then, in 1880, his interest was purchased by Charles A. Messersmith, Samuel Rothermel & Bro., doing business where Mr. Reifsnyder's present store is located, sold out to Mr. Reifsnyder, Morris B. Melot and Wilson M. Dumn. The firm was now Reifsnyder, Melot & Dumn. Next it took the name of Reifsnyder & Dumn, then Isaac R. Merkel became a partner under the name of Reifsnyder & Merkel. Before becoming the sole owner in 1894, the firm was Reifsnyder & Son, John H. Having been a partner.

Those Present
The Anniversary was featured by singing and sociability generally Victrola and violin music was enjoyed. The following were present: Mrs. I. H. Merkel, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reifsnyder, New York; Mr. and Mrs. John Reifsnyder, Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Dengler, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Reifsnyder, Reading; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Luckenbill, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Reifsnyder, Allentown; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Merkel, Reading; Robert Reifsnyder, D. Frank Reifsnyder, Pittstown, grandchildren, Earl, Guy, John, Willis and Sarah Reifsnyder. Clyde, Sarah and Arline Dengler, Robert, Frank, Frederick, Gordon Luckenbill, also the great-grandchild Dorothy F. Merkel