We were not exactly sure of the original roots of the Anstine Family until we began this project. Over the years we have thought we were German, then Swiss -- or possibly French from the Alsace/Lorraine area. (Region of eastern France, lying on the border with West Germany, annexed by Germany, along with Lorraine, after the Franco-Prussian War of l870, it was returned to France by the Treaty of Versailles 1919. -- This quoted from your every day Unabridged Websters and typed by yours truly.)

But, we did know that the relative to which we can farthest back trace our roots is Hans Georg Anstein (note spelling that was changed to Anstine somewhere later in time). ALONE and 15 YEARS OLD, he boarded a ship in Europe called the Neptune, the passengers of which were registered at the Court House at Philadelphia on Tuesday, the 24th of September 1751. This information is listed in a book entitled "Pennsylvania German Pioneers". I am quoting from page 467-- ".....(List 172C) At the Court House at Philadelphia, Tuesday, the 24th September 1751. Present: William Peters, Esq. The foreigners whose names are underwritten, imported in the Ship "Neptune", John Mason, Commander, from Rotterdam & last from Cowes (England), did this day take the usual Qualifications & subscribe them. By List 144. Whole Freights 300. Messrs. Shoemaker." Hans Georg Anstein is included in this list on page 468. We are not sure from which country he originated, but will eventually get to the archives in Washington to find this information.

Skipping a little more than a century -- we come to the small towns of Southeastern Pennsylvania -- York, Seitzland, Shrewsbury and Glen Rock; just slightly over the Maryland border. There were 6 brothers and sisters in my Great-grandfather's family from one of the two marriages of Emanuel Anstine and Ida markel -- Chester Clarence "Pop" Anstine, (on the far right in this picture), William Harry Anstine, Lilly Anstine, Cora Anstine, Ida Anstine and Sam Anstine.

William Harry Anstine -- "Pop's" brother came to Baltimore first and rented an apartment at Monroe & North Avenue. "Pop" later followed and stayed for a while with Uncle Harry. He then married Ida Dorothy Bruckner and eventually moved to 1824 N. Pulaski Street. From there, the eldest child of Chester Clarence and Ida Bruckner, Earl Chester Anstine, Sr., rented a farm house on Windsor Mill Road in Woodlawn, where their first son, Earl Chester Anstine, Jr. was born. They rented that house from an estate and tried to buy it, but all of the owners could not be found, which hampered the purchase. So, they moved to Pimlico on Garrison Avenue where Earl Anstine, Sr. opened a drugstore.

One of the best stories Uncle Earl told me was when a man came into the drugstore and saw "Dad" (my Grandfather) at work in the customary white coat. He incorrectly assumed that Dad was a pharmacist and proceeded to tell him he had an awful hangover and could he give him something. Dad went behind the counter and concocted some strange kind of harmless mixture and gave it to the man to drink. The man returned in a few hours and told Dad that whatever he gave him certainly did the trick. He felt wonderful!

It was not unusual for generations of families to live together at that time. Earl, Sr. & Isabelle bought a lot on which to build a house. The city decided they were going to put a street through and condemned the lot and bought it. From there they all -- ("Pop" and "Meemaw" -- Earl, Sr. and Isabelle and Uncle Earl) moved to the house at 2220 Walbrook Avenue in West Baltimore where Dorthy Lillian Anstine and Clarence "Bob" Leroy Anstine were born. My Grandmother, Isabelle, went into labor a month early with Bob, and they called the doctor, who came roaring up the street -- leaving his car unparked right in the center. As he had no nurse with him, he had to enlist the help of a neighbor. Nelly Worhna got "drafted" for the job. They thought they had lost Bob and put him on the side to save my Grandmother's life. After a while, they realized Bob was still alive and saved them both.

After they lost the house on Walbrook Avenue in the Great Depression, they moved for a time to another rented house on Wheeler Avenue. From there they moved to this house at 6116 Reisterstown Road in North West Baltimore City.

(The following portion refers to photos that will be referenced on the website in the near future)

This picture is of a Sunday afternoon on the porch in what I would estimate to be about 1947, as I appear to be about 3 years old. (This picture makes me look like an ugly little munchkin.) Unlike today's standards, this was not a formal affair as it would appear. Men wore shirts and ties and as you can see, Uncle Stanley actually had on a suit. There were no air conditioners, so most visits after a large meal would end up on the porch with everyone trying to catch a breeze.

I wonder now when I cook for a large crowd with my Microwave oven, my Convention oven, and my full size regular oven, how my Nanny (Isabelle Margaret Peters Anstine) managed. She would cook the huge, wonderful meals, turned out to perfection on the tiny little stove she had in that gigantic, knotty pine kitchen where we spent most of our lives when we weren't in school or working. Everyone congregated in that kitchen, around the oak table that is now at my Mother's house (Dorthy Lillian Anstine).

Uncle Earl must have been the photographer, as he is the missing likely subject. Clarence (Bob) Anstine is only eight years my senior (probably eleven at the time of this photo) and I'll bet he was upstairs with his head stuck in some book!

This area, even though it was within the city limits by about two miles was considered "out in the country" and you can see the large tree in the background. Not until later was a Sunoco filling Station built right where that tree is. And also where Dickie Algire, my childhood friend and I, used to skate around the gas pumps, ringing the bell by skating over the rubber hose that alerted the gas station attendants of an approaching customer. We had our metal adjustable length Union Hardware skates with the brown leather straps. You would slide the platform of the skate to fit your shoe, locking it in position with the key that was always missing when you needed it. Invariably, your shoe wouMargaret Peters ("Belle" as everyone called her -- although Earl, Sr. always called her Margie -- sits in front of him. He would always whistle or sing the words to the song "Margie". ---- "Margie -- I'm always thinkin' 'bout you Margie. I'll tell the world I love you. Don't forget your promise to me.....". Uncle Earl says that my Nan & Dad were one of the biggest love stories in the world. Disagreements were few and far between in our house. Aunt Nene (Josephine Peters Boulay, Isabelle's sister is next (neither sister ever liked to have their picture taken as you can see by their expressions.)

Dorthy Lillian Anstine Boyer, my Mother, is peeking around from behind Aunt Mary (Mary Harrison Henderson Anstine), Earl Anstine Jr's wife.