Photo Identification Romig Reunion Picture

    Reading from left to right:
    Floor: Dorice Lassard, Chris Lessard, Kaylene Lessard, Andy Lessard
    First Row: Amanda Burkart, Cheryl Romig, Tracey Sechler, Coral Shuey, Mike Shuey, Violet Romig, Julia Sayre, Lucille Held, Yvonne Romig, Nathan Romig, Barbara Romig, Dylan Romig, Barbara Romig, Winifred Hope, Barbara Green, Betty Ann Romig
    Second Row: Lynette Kopp, Barbara McCune, Carol Beckwith, Joan Romig, Edgar Romig, Ronald Sayre, Donna Romig, Dori Fulk, Chris Romig, Suzanne Romig, Mary Jane Turner, Mary Ellen Newton, Jerry Romig, Lucile Romig, Rita Romig, Kenneth Allen Romig,
    Third Row: Philip Romig, Janice Romig, Peter Romig, Kathy Romig, John S. Romig, Derrick Romig, Jim Romig, Murry Romig, Burdette S. Romig, Wayne Van Natta, Janice Van Natta, Ron Romig, Gloria Romig, Wayne Covey, Barbara Covey, William Romig

  The Romig Reunion Bus Tour was not only one of the best ways to see some of the most breathtaking scenic views of Berks County on such a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon but was also very informative and educational for me.

  It fascinated me to learn the connection our Romig ancestors had with historical buildings and geographic settlement locations in the area where I grew up.

  Our first stop was at The Union Jerusalem Lutheran Church, also known as “The Red Church” in Kempton, PA.  We were told John Adam Romich settled in Lynn Township in 1734.  “Muhlenberg” who wanted to start a Lutheran church in the area approached John Adam.  Fifty acres were established in Kempton where the Union Jerusalem Church resides today, and the only name ever recorded on the deed was John Adam Romich. 

  We believe John Adam was somewhat of a caretaker at the original log cabin “Red” Church, which no longer stands today.  John Adam later became a Moravian.

  We then proceeded to Lynn Township, where we passed land on which John Adam and many other Moravians had settled.  They established a Moravian Church and settlement, but bothered by numerous Indian attacks they shortly thereafter relocated to the Emmaus area.

  Our next stop was at Romig’s Grist Mill in Lower Macungie Township.  Romig’s Mill, which stood on the banks of the Little Lehigh, was quite possibly the first mill to be constructed in the township.  John Frederick Romig (Romich) built the mill sometime during the 1740’s or 50’s.  John Frederick Romig was the eldest son of John Adam Romig (Romich).  Their original home was built on the same side of the road as the mill and in later years as the family grew, he built a newer, larger home across the street.  They are both still standing toady.  After the mill ceased operation in the 1920’s, it later became a safety hazard and was torn down. Today you can still see some of the original foundation. 

  We then passed the home which encloses the original log cabin home built in 1780 by John Christian Romig the eldest son of John Frederick and Catherine (Sigfried) Romig.  We passed through the area believed to be the family burial ground, which lies northwest of the mill.  The locale surrounding the mill was once so thick with Romigs that for many years it was known as “Romig’s Settlement”.

  Many Romigs were also buried at the nearby Zion Church, which was our next stop on the tour.  Due to lack of time we did not spend time at this stop but it was stated that Frederick’s first son Joseph Romig was buried in the oldest part of the cemetery behind Zion Church.  Many other Romigs are buried here and I will definitely be stopping back to see that some day.

  We drove past “The Lone Pine Farm” on Route 100, which was purchased by Oliver Joseph Romig in 1940.  This farm was built in 1805 and is owned today by Philip Romig, Peter Romig and Julia (Romig) Sayre.

  Peter Romig’s Mill, which is today known as Laudenslager’s Mill was our next stop.  The mill is located on Mill Race Road.  It was built in 1831 by Conrad  Neumeyer and was purchased by Peter Romig, along with 80 acres in Lower Macungie, in 1842.  Peter Romig did not conduct the mill along the Little Lehigh for long. Instead, he turned its operation over to his son Charles Romig.  As a young man of 16 he wrote his name and date on the second floor door of the mill.  The inscription which reads, “Charles Romich – 1845”, can still be seen.  A short time later he wrote his name on the door of the third floor, but in the Greek alphabet.  No one knows where or why he learned Greek, but the evidence of this knowledge is clearly visible today.  We believe Charles inherited the property soon after the death of his father in 1868.  A new brick house was erected next to the mill, probably during the 1860’s, and was occupied by Charles Romig and his family.  The original older home is located behind the mill.

  Charles W. Romig lost the property to Thomas B. Morgan, High Sheriff of Lehigh County, on Nov. 8, 1880 for his inability to honor a note of money borrowed from Benjamin Strauss on April 1,1878.  On Dec. 20, 1880 the Sheriff sold the mill and the adjoining property.  We believe Charles continued to operate the mill until 1894.  The mill continued grinding feed by waterpower until 1958.  That year the main shaft of the water wheel broke.  The steel shaft was broken numerous times, always at the same spot.  When it was last welded, during the 1940’s, steel braces were attached welded from the hub of the wheel to the shaft.  Despite extra support, the tork proved too great when operating at high speeds under heavy loads. The mill was never converted to roller operations; the two pairs of grist stones remained the sole method of grinding until the very end.

  This concluded the tour for 2002. Coral (Romig) Shuey

  The information above was combined from the following sources:

A History of Lower Macungie Township Lehigh County PA Second Edition – 1996

A History of Lower Macungie By Craig Bartholomew

Tour Guide – Carolyn Beckwith

Thanks to Coral Shuey for the bus report and Carol Dietrich for the conference minutes.

June 28/29/30^th, 2002, held at “The Inn at Reading,” Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  Friday, June 28^th

  The 2^nd National Romig Reunion officially opened at 10:00 A.M. with the arrival of Romig families from all over the United States including the States of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.

  By 10:00 A.M. the arrival of the two copy machines rented from SOS Business Machines Inc. arrived and were set up in “The Nathaniel Greene Room at the INN” which was rented for two days for socializing, display our Romig family treasures, photo’s, family files and best of all to meet all our different Romig families. By 10:20 A. M.  The Room was filled with chatter with many families comparing notes, along with the purring of the copy machines being used in the background.  Many of the Romig Families brought along with them treasures they acquired through out the years, these items were put on display on the tables that lined the four walls of the room.  One of the largest items was a 1930 Romig Reunion Flag, which Peter Romig of Emmaus brought in for display. This was hung proudly on the wall. Shoe Horns stamped with the Romig name, associated with Boyertown by Jerry Romig Missouri, a wooden token advertising G.W. Romig and The Majestic Hotel, Reading, were among the many items on display. The rest of the day was spent visiting, becoming acquainted with newly found family, asking questions in hopes of finding lose ends in family files. In this group were six first cousins who did not see each other for many years. Most of these Romig Families were from Kansas and some spell their name Romick.  That alone was exciting not just for them but also for the rest of us.

  Saturday, June 29^th.

  After a Continental Breakfast sponsored by the INN, the Nathaniel Greene Room was once again in full swing.  By 1:00 P.M. everyone was lined up outside by the Main entrance waiting for the bus we rented from “Lifestyles Limousines” to arrive to take a full bus of Romig Families on a tour to the early (1700’s) Romig family home sites. While everyone was waiting outside this was the best time to take photos of the group.

  Carolyn Beckwith of Mass. Is the Tour Guide for the bus tour. Since the bus was filled to capacity, there were five vehicles that followed the bus. At this time, a van full of quests along with Carol Romig Dietrich as tour guide, visited Aulenbach, Schwartzwald and Charles Evans, cemeteries, as these cemeteries are the final resting place for some of the early Berks County Romig’s. Both groups arrive back at the INN about the same time, which was 4:00 P.M.

 Between 6:00 and 7:00 P.M. a social hour was held for each and everyone’s enjoyment.

  A Dinner was planned for 7:00, Saturday evening, with John R. Romick of Pittsburgh, Pa., giving Grace before our meal. 

Speakers for the evening were as follows: Mary Bradshaw, Announcer

  Carolyn Beckwith, Wallaston, Ma. spoke on the topic of John Adam Romig who was the first Romig to settle in Pennsylvania

  Jim Romig of San Diego, Ca. spoke on the topic; of the three different spelling for the Romig name that he knew of, since his family spelled the name with three different spellings.

Romig, Romick, Romich

  Delbert Romig of Independence, Kansas. Spoke on the Topic of mistakes in spelling, etc that can cause us problems with our missing Links we are trying so hard to find.

  Jeff Romig, Los Angeles, Ca., spoke on the topic about his visit to the early Romig family locations in Germany

  Jean Perkins, Wyomissing, Pa., her topic was taken from early writings found to be written about Romig families and their bowed small fingers, which might be a genetic characteristic in the Romig family

  Sandra Stief, Reading, Pa., spoke on the topic for the need to maintain and fund private cemeteries.

  The evening was winding down as Suzanne and Carol thanked everyone for their attendance and participation in regards to the reunion and at this time, Delbert Romig presented Carol R. Dietrich with a set of Red Neck Wind chimes.

  Before we all left to go on our way for the evening, we discussed the next reunion. At this time is seems like Philip Romig of Emmaus, Lehigh County, Pa., along with his family will host the next reunion in 2004.

  Sunday, June 30^th, the INN again sponsored the continental breakfast, and soon afterward everyone seemed to bid their good byes to each other. It was not long before most were on their way, with hopes of attending another Romig Reunion in the year of 2004. All total we had over 103 visitors.

  We all hope more of you reading this page will plan to attend the “Third National Romig Reunion to be held in Pa., in 2004. We all had a great time and I know I have fond memories that will stay with me the rest of my life.  All in all we feel our Reunion was quite a successful one.

  We want to thank each and everyone for helping make our Second National Romig Reunion a success, and please stay in touch.

  We also want to mention a special thanks to our sponsors:

Randy Weeber

Copy Systems Inc.

Reading Berks Tourist Bureau

Tom Sturgis Pretzels

R.M. Palmer Candies

 Good Luck to all, Carol & Suzanne

Committee members:

 Suzanne Rupp Romig, Reading, Pa.

Carol Romig Dietrich, Akron, Pa.

Jean Perkins, Wyomissing, Pa.