‘Bear Drop’ helps residents welcome 2020

BOYERTOWN >> Herr Bear made his 10th annual New Year’s Eve Drop at the Boyertown Area Historical Society on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

The drop took place at midnight German time (6 p.m. in Boyertown).

“We always wanted to keep it (the drop) a family-friendly event. We initially did it later, when a New Year’s Eve Drop would normally be. We realized this doesn’t work for families,” said Jim Bodiford, vice president of the Boyertown Area Historical Society board. “We thought, how can we do it earlier? I’m German, I was born in Stuttgart. So, I said why don’t we do it midnight in Germany, since this is a German area? Families can do their thing with their children and grandchildren before they go to their adult events.”

“This was Lindsay Dierolf’s idea.” said Bodiford “and I made the (“Bear Drop”) apparatus out of spare parts.”

“My husband and I were visiting our daughter in Harrisburg on New Year’s Eve. They drop a strawberry. I was really intrigued and started looking into what they drop other places. I thought that would be really neat to do in Boyertown,” said Lindsay Dierolf, collections director for the Boyertown Area Historical Society.

“We went with the high school mascot — a bear,” added Bodiford.

The 3-foot-tall, lighted bear’s official name is “Herr Bear.” Herr is German for Mister.

“The bear is basically a lawn ornament,” noted Bodiford.

Before the 6 p.m. drop, families are invited into the Historical Society for food including hot dogs and sauerkraut. There are games and crafts for the kids. Children are encouraged to decorate party hats and noisemakers.

Music was provided by Phoebe Kellener. “I started out singing songs in German. Then, switched to instrumental when it got loud,” said Kellener. “I love this event because it’s early. I can have my party, then go home.”

At around 5:30 p.m., the crowd of about 200 people ventured outside. With about 20 seconds remaining to 6 p.m., Jim Bodiford released Herr Bear for his two-story New Year’s Eve drop.

Aimee Schmale attended the “Bear Drop” with her friends, Leila El, Ryder Christ, and Will Jarobe. The group met in Germany as exchange students. They decided to reunite on New Year’s Eve.

“We wanted to do something German,” said Aimee Schmale. “So we came to the Bear Drop.”

“About two or three years ago, there was a little girl, standing and waiting (for the drop). She said ‘Mr. Bear dropper, I love Herr Bear.’ The bear came down and she gave him a big hug,” recalled Bodiford.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP The crowd in Boyertown watches the 3-foot-tall, lighted bear drop at 6p.m., which is midnight in Germany.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP About 200people gathered to watch the 6p.m. Bear Drop at the Boyertown Area Historical Society on New Year’s Eve.

Kids form a large circle to help fill out a New Year’s Eve Resolutions Mad Libs Game.

Alyssa Bero,10, (back) and (left to right) Morgan Bero, 8, Helen Bliss, BobbiJo Bero, and Sage Bero, 6, have some snacks before the 6p.m. Bear Drop in Boyertown.

Jim Bodiford attaches Herr Bear for a pre-Bear Drop test run on New Year’s Eve in Boyertown.

Children of all ages decorated party hats and noisemakers in preparation for a New Year’s Eve celebration in Boyertown.

Another safe Bear Drop landing on New Year’s Eve as the crowd watches in Boyertown.

Aimee Schmale, Ryder Christ, Will Jarobe, and Leila El (front), pose with Herr Bear after his New Year’s Eve drop. The group met in Germany as exchange students. They decided to reunite on New Year’s Eve. “We wanted to do something German,” said Aimee Schmale. “So we came to the Bear Drop.”

Kimberlyn Wissinger, 15, and Audrey Martignetti, 14, volunteer to run the kids’ games at the Boyertown Area Historical Society’s 10th Annual New Year’s Eve Bear Drop.

Leland Mizic, 5, and Sofia Mizic, 6, are ready to ring in the New Year in Boyertown with their decorated party hats and noisemakers.