By: Paul H. Zorger
In 1967 Mr. Edward S. Frey of Lebanon, Pennsylvania
(then 77 years old), whose Grandmother was Susanna Frey, daughter of
Samuel Zorger (1807) of York Co., Pennsylvania, sent a letter to
Harry E. Zorger (1894) of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, my uncle.
>He stated that he had known my Grandfather, Daniel
Harvey Zorger, Sr. (1869) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and that
one of the things he vividly remembered was his portrayal of the
Spirit of 1776 in parades in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I inherited
this letter and decided to describe the event which Mr. Frey remembered.
My grandfather started an organization in Harrisburg
around 1900 known as the "Boy's Brigade". It was a
forerunner of the Boy Scouts, and I presume it operated in the same
manner. It was composed of young boys between the ages of 10 - 18
years of age. One of the activities in which they engaged was the
depiction of the Spirit of 1776 with a fife, a drummer, and the
American flag. Harry E. Zorger (my uncle), Roy Nebinger, and Vesper
Smith who were all members of the Boy's Brigade" came up
with an idea. This idea which they personnally decided to undertake
was to pull a wagon from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to San Francisco.,
California. in 1914 they set out
San Francisco or "bust".
It turned out to be a "bust" some 792 miles
later as their trip was aborted in St. Louis, Missouri and the trio
returned to Harrisburg. During their short excursion they obtained
cards, photos and signatures from townfolk and town dignitaries.
I am told that it was a great experience. Although I
do not know why it was cut short I can only presume that they ran out
of money for the adventure.
The SPIRIT of 1776