In writing “The History of Silver Lake as Told Through Its Deeds”, we felt a deep sense of urgency, knowing that the firsthand witnesses to this history were nearing the end of their lives. Just weeks after our book was released, Robert “Bobbie” Vernon Stonesifer, Sr., age 96—born in 1927 to Guy and Mabel Stonesifer in Lewisberry, PA—passed away peacefully at his home, on June 15, 2024.
For many of the older witnesses featured in our book, some of whom were 80 years or older, we often connected with their children or other caregivers. We were touched to receive a photograph of Robert Stonesifer reading our book. According to his children it was the first time he had read in years.
When we considered who we were writing this book for, many answers came to mind. But certainly, it was for those “oldsters” who would have the chance to see a part of their life story preserved in a book about a place that held so many cherished memories for them.
When Rev. David Henkelmann, the second son of Rev. Reinhold and Caroline Henkelmann, learned about our project, he eagerly contributed to his family’s chapter, “Log Haven: The Henkelmann Family Retreat.” He shared vivid memories of “Mud Battles Royale,” where silt from the lake’s bottom served as ample ammunition, and a particularly unforgettable moment involving a frantic search for a visitor’s glass eyeball that had popped out and fallen into the lake. He also fondly recalled winters when his Canadian cousins would visit “Uncle Reiny’s” for the holidays, eagerly awaiting the arrival of ice on the lake.
Rev. David Henkelmann, also known as Uncle David, reminisced, “During my college years, I would invite the Pre-Theological fraternity to the cabin for a weekend. Once a roaring fire was lit, most of us would plunge into the lake for a bracing polar bear dip… and then hurry out as quickly as possible!”
We sent David an advance copy of our book, and he wrote back, saying, “I had next to no knowledge about the earliest history of its development… On various occasions, I recall going to school and walking into Lewisberry for groceries at Stonesifer’s Grocery Store (the former Lewisberry Mill) or attending social events held in the large room behind the store.” He especially appreciated the photograph of the early Henkelmann family we unearthed from a historical society in Alberta, Canada.
Rev. David Henkelmann carried on the legacy of ministry in the Moravian Church and shared the family’s musical talent. He wrote the play “Here We Go ‘Round! A Musical Fantasy”, which played off-off-Broadway in 1967, and at age 88, he staged the play for the summer theater program for community youth. David began writing musicals during his college days and continued creating them for youth convocations, conferences, and community celebrations. He married Mary-Ellen (Mel) Thompson, a Juilliard School graduate who performed on Broadway, and together they brought many of David’s shows to life with the help of their professional friends.
In addition to plays, David wrote hymns, including “Feed Us, Jesus,” “Spirit of God, Burst Forth in Flame,” and, at the age of 88 in 2020, “Won’t You Walk With Me, Jesus.”
David made the final contribution to our book by catching a mistake—something we had anticipated and pre-apologized for in our acknowledgments—allowing us to upload a corrected file for the publisher. We are deeply grateful for his sharp eye. Just two months after the book’s release, and fifteen days after Robert Stonesifer’s passing, Rev. David Henkelmann passed away peacefully at the age of 92.
