Advantageous events occur when seeking history. Some call it fate. Others claim it is due to God's intervention. A few state, "I reached out to the universe." Still others just proclaim that it was meant to be.

Call it what you will. When Dottie Freeman called me to assist a newcomer find the origin of his home on Jefferson Street, Hellertown, it showed the benefits of inquiry, in this case by Hellertown Historical Society members to help a young couple who had moved into their home one year ago.

When Dottie described the bungalow, it dawned on me that the home had been constructed by my grandfather, Robert Weisel, prior to 1930. I phoned John Mosher, the homeowner, to confirm the exact location.

Sure enough, it was the very home that Grandpa built for my mother, Beatrice Weisel, at the age of eight, my grammy, Elizabeth (Kies) Weisel, and himself. Furthermore, next door to the south dwelled at that time my great-grandparents, Frank and Mary (Isler) Kies. Next door to the north lived my great uncle, Lewis Kies, and his wife Margaret (Beidleman) Kies.

I informed John that I had saved the original blueprints of the kit home sold by Bennett Homes, at that time a competitor of Sears Homes.

John was ecstatic, as was his wife Kristen. For the first time ever, I was shown the interior of the home where Mom had grown up. The Moshers have been restoring the exterior and interior according to vintage 1930 style. Later, while rummaging through my closets, I found the complete list of materials used for the Dover Model and the Bennett Home catalog. In addition, my family had saved many photos taken at that time. Now these pieces of memorabilia are in the possession of the Moshers.

Some would call it a miracle, some a shot in the dark. I myself just thank the Lord and celebrate local history. How does that old hymn go, "Faith of our fathers, holy faith?"