Worshipers from three area congregations took a trip back in time June 26.

The 76th annual pilgrimage to the Dillingersville Schoolhouse took members and friends of Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Old Zionsville United Church of Christ and Upper Milford Mennonite Church back to the year 1772.

The day began with the ringing of the bell by former student, Miriam Hausman, of Lower Milford Township. Hausman was excited as it was her first time ringing the school’s bell.

A worship service from the 1700s was conducted by Rev. Thomas Busteed of Zion’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Lori Esslinger of Old Zionsville U.C.C. and Pastor Jenny Fujita of Upper Milford Mennonite Church. Also featured was a combined choir made up of members of each congregation accompanied by Susan Marin on keyboard and Donald Heminitz on flute.

Following a light lunch, Heminitz entertained the crowd as he portrayed a traveling schoolteacher from 1772. He also intermixed the playing of flute and fife throughout his sometimes humorous presentation.

Speaking in both English and German, Heminitz described how difficult it was to travel to America from Germany. He displayed several books from the 1700s, including one with medical “cures.” For example, for a swollen face and rash the “cure” was bloodletting, followed by placing a poultice of lard, milk and bread on the rash. Another was for bald men – cut a raw onion in half and rub both halves on the head.

The highlight of the program was a spelling bee. Ten courageous volunteers had a choice of spelling either an English or a German word. This proved to be rather interesting as the spellers realized the words were from Colonial times. Heminitz reminded them “this is 1772, is it not?”

The program concluded with Heminitz answering several questions from the audience. He is a former Old Zionsville resident and graduated from Emmaus High School.

Currently, he lives in Plymouth, Mass. and serves as the bosun (boatswain) and marine repair supervisor aboard the Mayflower II at Plimoth Patuxet Museums.

The congregations of Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Old Zionsville UCC and Upper Milford Mennonite Church formed the Dillingersville Union School and Church Association in 1799. The association is still in operation and hosts the pilgrimage.

More information can be found at http://www.dillingersvilleschool.org.