CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Relics of kraut making days gone by are displayed by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the late Earl and Marjorie (Bieber) Fry. From bottom to top of stairway, they are: Josh Gochnauer, Amber Fry, Jamison Thomas, Jase Thomas, Philip Bitler, Oliveah Bitler, Iasiah Bitler, Hannah Bitler, Adam Gochnauer, Lora Powell and Kaylyn Powell.

MUNCY – Vehicles parked in driveways and lawns along Chippewa Road, home of the late Earl (1930-2004) and Marjorie (Bieber) Fry, confirmed our tip was correct in finding the location of the family’s annual gathering for sauerkraut making.

Arrivals carried food for an evening meal to be shared by the clan. Just now, the 20-foot long table was nearly empty with the exception of a few youngsters playing games. This would not be true come meal time, for you see, if would take a large table to accommodate Earl and Margie’s nine children, twenty-some grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Those arriving early and in mid-afternoon, found countertops already filled with snacks. A large array of cookies and bologna slices with crackers laid in alternate rows. And of course, beverages.

It was a bit past 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, when all was in readiness for slicing cabbage to crock and stomp. Ted Fry seemed to be the organizer, keeping the procedure going, alerting those scattered about the house when it was their turn to participate.

Pictures were taken to add to the family’s pictorial history, specifically the very thick 3-ring notebook of family photos from the early 1900s onward. The work was by Audrey who said, “The family told me to gather the photos, newspaper clippings and assortment of memorabilia and organize it, so I did.”

Uncle Carl Bieber was given the honor of the first stomp, which after several minutes was relieved to give it up to Isaiah Bitler. It requires firm muscles to plunge the wooden stomper into layers of freshly cut cabbage at the bottom of the crock. Nine-year-old Isaiah was the youngest, and Uncle Carl in his mid 80s, the eldest at the krautfest. Visiting from Virginia, the uncle had spent several days catching up with nieces and nephews. In addition, the Muncy native had been taking tutorials of family homes and buildings of note.

It seemed no one was certain how long the annual kraut tradition has been, but Uncle Carl says more than a hundred years in both the Bieber and Fry families. Currently Rod, the eldest of Earl and Margie’s clan, could not recall when it hadn’t occurred. A clue to the past were the relics brought for viewing by ensuing generations. The antique cabbage cutter passed down to Earl from his Narber Fry family has the company’s name stamp. It reads, “The Indianapolis Kraut Cutter,” with the patent date of April 10, 1905, by the T & D Manufacturing Company. Other relics were a wooden stomper and a large crock, carefully returned to the car trunk of the current owner. These relics were held by the grand and great-grandchildren present while seated for a photo op on a stairway.

The cabbage was purchased, even though the Fry clan are the sons and daughters of farmers who were sons and daughters of farmers. Lorrie said, “Mom and dad didn’t grow cabbage, but regularly traded vegetables with neighbors from our family’s large garden. Beets were one I recall.”

Though containers of salt and brown sugar were observed, answers were illusive as to how much of use. The ingredients caused the cabbage to sweat and after a bit of stomping, had a ‘soupy’ consistency. When filled, crocks were covered with the large outer leaves of the cabbage, topped with a plate on which a gallon jug of water was placed, and the fermentation process began. The mix would ‘work’ several weeks and be taken out just in time for a typical New Year’s delicacy.

The Kraut making is not the only occasion calling for a gathering of the clan. Overheard were conversations planning for several upcoming events, including donut making, a Thanksgiving menu, and camping and hunting along the Loyalsock.

FRY NAME TRIVIA

In this area, Fry is a prolific name, and information from a clipping from the family history book cited the following: “In 1790, the first U.S. census, there were 70 listings of persons by the surname Fry. In Pennsylvania’s 1850 census, 816 persons had the surname Fry. Locally among them were Adam, Daniel, John and Isaiah Fry, all of Muncy Creek Township. Additionally in Wolf, Penn, and Muncy Creek Townships, were Adam, Ann, Charles, Jacob, Daniel, and John Fry.”

In 1969 it was estimated those with the Fry surname in the US numbered 37,180 and of all surnames, in 713th place.