Past Reunion Speaker Recordings
Any available recording of speakers are located here.
2025 Featured Speaker
Rodney Kulp
Rodney is a descendant of George Michael Kolb, who came to America in 1738 from Meckesheim, Germany. He has recently published a book detailing his family’s genealogical history, including their 200 year and seven generations wheelwright business.
Rodney Allan Kulp, Sr. is a passionate history enthusiast, particularly focused on local and American history. He takes great pride in exploring the rich tapestry of his family’s heritage and often immerses himself in researching the stories that have shaped both his community and the nation. Beyond his historical interests, Rodney enjoys woodworking, a craft that allows him to connect with the past in a hands-on way, creating functional and beautiful pieces that reflect his personal touch. Above all, he treasures the time spent with his family, considering it an essential part of his life that fuels his work, research and his commitment to preserving the history and traditions that have been passed down through generations.
2025 Topic: “History of the Kulp Family of Mechesheim”
We are excited to announce that Rodney Kulp will be presenting a special PowerPoint on the History of the Kulp Family of Meckesheim at our 2025 Reunion to be held on June 8th at the Lower Skippack Mennonite Church Social Hall. Rodney will focus on the Kulp family’s origins, tracing the line of George Michael Kolb, who arrived in America in 1738, entering through the Port of Philadelphia. The family settled in New Hanover Township, part of what was Western Philadelphia County, near what is now the Green Lane Reservoir.
Rodney will explore the Kulp family’s legacy, specifically their role in wagon making in Pennsylvania, from colonial times through the 1930s. For nearly 200 years and seven generations, the Kolb/Kulp family operated a successful wheelwright business, contributing to the development of the region.
In addition to the presentation, Rodney has recently published a genealogy book detailing this line of family history, which will be available for purchase in limited quantities at the reunion.
2024 Featured Speaker
Walt Johnson
Walt Johnson grew-up in Creamery, Skippack Township, graduating from the Collegeville-Trappe High School. He then received a B.S. degree from Ursinus College and later attended Ohio State University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics. He taught for 25 years at the Indian Valley Junior High School and then 13 years at the Souderton Area High School. He also was an associate professor at Ursinus College in the Education Department for 5 years. Walt is a 5th generation teacher in Skippack Township, following grandfathers Henry G. Johnson, Henry H., Henry M., and his father Ralph W. Johnson as continuous teachers beginning in 1826! His son teaches at Indian Valley Middle School, making the streak the 6th generations!!!
After retiring from being a math teacher, he became interested in the local history of the area. He is currently involved in the Skippack Historical Society, serving as a historian. He is also director and chairman of “Washington’s Encampment”, a living history event held in the village of Skippack held each September. He also gives tours of the historic IndenHofen House and Barn Museums, and enjoys presenting programs of our local history to scout groups, senior citizen communities and civic groups.
Walt is also a descendent of Jacob Kolb!
2024 Topic: “Dielman Kolb and the Kolb Leadership in the Early Years of Bebber’s Township and the Mennonite Congregation at the Skippack Meeting House”
When our Kolb ancestors first came to Pennsylvania in 1707, they first settled in Germantown, a small community about 6 miles north of the rapidly growing town of Philadelphia. Germantown itself was becoming a prosperous town in its own right, but the Kolbs and others soon left for an area 20 miles to the northwest known as Bebber’s Township, later to be known as Skippack. The Kolbs quickly became leaders in early Skippack and the Mennonite congregation there. Their younger brother, Dielman Kolb arrived in 1717, taking up residence not far away in Lower Salford, where he made his own contributions to the area and the Mennonite Church.
This year’s reunion speaker, Walt Johnson, will talk about the founding of Skippack and the Kolb’s influence during its founding and following years.
2023 Featured Speaker
Robert Douglas “Dutch” Moyer
“Dutch” Moyer is a twenty-five-year German teacher, “Best of Europe” Tour Travel Guide and a leading Pennsylvania German historian who has contributed to promoting German-American friendship and cultural understanding.
2023 Topic: “What is your Kulp Family Legacy?”
Join us as we explore our amazing Kulp Family Legacy with jaw dropping documentary videos and photos detailing the incredible true-life Anabaptist journey of our Kulp family ancestors to America and the personal sacrifices they made on our behalf to give each of us a chance at a better life.
In 1535 Mennonites and other Anabaptist Protestants were cruelly executed by Catholics under imperial law (not church law) and their corpses were hung in iron cages on the St Lamberti Catholic Parish church tower in Munster, Germany, to deter others from joining Anabaptist Protestant Reformation. These iron cages still hang at St Lamberti Catholic Parish Church in Munster, Germany today and serve as an important reminder of why our Kulp Family Anabaptist/Mennonite Ancestors gladly accepted William Penn’s offer of religious freedom and farmland in Pennsylvania to escape their religious persecution in Germany and Switzerland.
On October 6th, 1683, the first German settlers to America arrived in Philadelphia on the boat the Concord.
They were twelve Mennonite families from Krefeld, Germany. Today, we celebrate German-American Day on October 6th as a national holiday in honor of these first German immigrants arriving in America. Since they touched down and created Germantown in Pennsylvania, German immigrants and their descendants have had a massive impact on American culture and history. This is part of our Kulp Family Legacy.
Every man every hour of his life, whether consciously or unconsciously, is making history, and that history either is to his credit, or it is not. This year’s Kulp Family Reunion Topic: “What is your Kulp Family Legacy?” will reflect on our Kulp Family Ancestors and the valuable life lessons they instilled our immediate forebearers passed on to us, our children and of future generations.
