Published February 10. 2022 09:28AM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
The early morning hours of Feb. 2 were cool and cloudy. But as it was Groundhog Day, grundsie (groundhogs) Jahde and nephew, Lee, needed to make their way across a frozen Jordan Creek at Wehr’s Dam, South Whitehall, to prognosticate the weather for the next six weeks.
A crowd of Groundhog Day celebrants watched as Helmut Wicker of Schnecksville pulled the pair across the frozen creek.
Once they arrived on the south bank, Grundsau Lee was handed off to Hauptmann Dave Adam, Grundsau 16 president.
Lee whispered in Adam’s ear that spring will arrive in six weeks.
The celebration included both patriotic and popular songs sung in Pennsylvania Dutch.
Hauptmann Adam conducted much of the ceremony in Pennsylvania Dutch, but would then translate for the “Americans” in the crowd.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND Grundsau 16 Hauptmann (president) Dave Adam led the Groundhog Day celebration while Ruthie Wicker of Schnecksville provided the musical accompaniment on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2 at Wehr Mill Dam, South Whitehall.
Miles Miller gives Jahde and Lee a lift after their sled ride across the Jordan Creek. Helmut Wicker provided the “pull power” to bring them from the north shore during the Groundhog Day celebration at Wehr's Dam.
Raatsmann Stan DeLong of North Whitehall joined Hauptmann Dave Adam to hear Grundsau Lee's weather prediction for the remainder of the winter in South Whitehall on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2.
An avid Groundhog Day celebrant, Rose Melchiorre South Whitehall, shows off her Groundhog hat Feb. 2 at Wehr's Dam, South Whitehall.
Raatsmann Stan DeLong holds Grundsau Lee following his prediction of spring arriving in six weeks.
Hauptmann Dave Adam holds the Grundsau Lodsch 16 flag which translates to “ Dear God in Heaven, Let us Dutchmen be what we are” during the Groundhog Day ceremony at Wehr's Dam, South Whitehall. PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND
A crowd of local residents gathered at Wehr's Dam to celebrate Groundhog Day in South Whitehall Township.
Raatsmann Stan DeLong of North Whitehall joined Hauptmann Dave Adam to hear Grundsau Lee's weather prediction for the remainder of the winter in South Whitehall on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2.
