Potter's oldest fire company celebrates leeks

Young Liz Hawrylack of Landenburg, Chester County, helped the Germania Fire Company hand out raw leeks and lemonade during Saturday's annual Leek Smorgasbord in Germania. Photo by Lugene Heimel

A tradition dating back to the pioneer days was observed again in Potter County last weekend. More than 700 people converged on the tiny community of Germania for Saturday afternoon's annual

Germania Fire Company

Leek Smorgasbord.

Leeks, those wild onions that grow in the

damp spring forests

on the surrounding

hillsides, were dug

and prep

ared throughout the weeks by members of Potter County's oldest fire company. They were served, cooked and raw, with all of the fixings to a crowd that was about half locals and half downstaters who have seasonal homes in the Germania area.

"I never miss this," said longtime Coudersport resident Bob Morey as he crunched a raw leek while approaching the buffet table for second helpings. "It's definitely worth the 60-mile round trip."

"We feel right at home at Germania," said Bob Heinz, who made the trek from Landenburg in Chester County. "This is a town where, as the saying goes, 'you're only a stranger once,' and my wife and I hope to move here after we retire."

Five-year-old Samuel Steiner was a good sport when it came to sampling leeks, but decided he was no fan of the wild onions. Samuel, the son of Jim and Christy Steiner of Coudersport, was one of more than 700 people attending Saturday's Germania Fire Company event. Photo by Lugene Heimel

Beyond the good food and good will was a sizeable profit for the Germania Fire Department.

"Volunteer labor -- that's how we do it," said Russ Keith, 83, who moved to Germania from downstate more than 30 years ago and is seen by most townspeople as the community's unofficial mayor and good will ambassador.

Germania is the biggest town in Abbott Township, where the deer herd easily outnumbers the population of roughly 300.

The village was founded in the early 1850s by four German men who sought to establish a community for political refugees. Unlike most towns in the region, Germania started as a planned residential development, with each home lot accompanied by a 25-acre farm parcel.

Long-time Germania Fire Company volunteers Russ Keith (left) and Albert White take a brief break during Saturday's long kitchen shift. Photo by Lugene Heimel

Artists, craftsmen, woodworkers, carpenters and brewmasters were among the early settlers who helped build the town into an important commercial and social center.

German families harvested leeks each spring and served them during community gatherings. That tradition has continued ever since, sponsored by Germania Fire Company, an organization that dates back to 1859.

Many of the same volunteers who worked the leek dinner will also take part in Germania Olde Home Day, the Sunday before Labor Day.