A Riecks Re-union

A Riecks Re-union

Finally, it was time to leave sunny Florida and return to the cold of the North. But it was not time to go all the way back just yet. I had a meeting of Region 4 of the National Association of Railroad Passengers in Baltimore I wanted to attend. Plus, I had family there I had not seen in years (probably almost 50). So we went to Baltimore for a two day trip before returning home.

We were met at Penn Station in Baltimore by Henry E. ("Pete") Riecks. "Pete's" father was "Cousin Eddie" to my father. That is to say, "Pete's" grandfather, and my grandfather, were brothers.

We had corresponded on occasion, and in a Christmas letter of a few years ago I had "warned" "Pete" we just might stop by. So I was looking forward to the meeting.

Not only did we meet "Pete" and his wife, Janet, we also met his brother, Paul Riecks. Here is a picture of Pete (on the left) and Paul (on the right).

Pete is a retired Curriculum Administrator for the schools in Harford County (just to the NE of the city of Baltimore). Paul runs a consulting business for new "entrepreneurs."

In addition to the two boys, Cousin Eddie also had a daughter, the oldest, Anne. However, she was not with us because she and her husband were "house sitting" for a friend in Florida.

However, Pete's boys were present. Thus we met the sailboat captain, Jeff Riecks, an engineering graduate from WVU. He now lives in Annapolis. Until recently had had lived and sailed in the Key West Florida area. We also met Pete's younger son Steve Riecks. He is a food service supervisor for Rutgers University and lives in New Jersey. In addition, we met his wife, Natalie, a native of Brooklyn NY, and his son, Benjamin, who is in the 2nd grade.

Of course we all talked about our name and all the various and nefarious pronounciations we have heard. I was also glad I had a chance to share the fact that I had met people with a similar spelling (Rieck), and a similar pronounciation.

And then, Pete turned to me and asked if I would like to see the "family heirloom." It turned out that my Great Great Grandfather Anton Riecks, the one who had emigrated from Brunswick in the early 1850's, had purchased a wooden trunk in 1828 when he got married.

When he and his family packed up to come to America, they put all their possessions in this trunk and brought it to America. It was saved after they arrived, and has been used for clothes storage ever since. Pete and his wife keep blankets in it.

You will note that it is elborately painted. In addition, his name "Anton Riecks" is in Germanic letters across the top of the sides. This was a real treat to see.

But then we left. The next day was devoted to our meeting, and after a crabcake supper at the Inner Harbor, we returned to our hotel. The next day we caught The Cardinal as it came through Baltimore and arrived home to be greeted by the first sign of spring in West Gate, my Crocuses. They were just beginning to bloom.