This program reflects upon the changing times of a Harleysville couple whose lives spanned the 20th century. Isaiah and Susan Landes established a plumbing company just as the Great Depression of the 1920s – 30s began. Their family business, IT Landes, Inc., has now grown into a multi-million dollar employee-owned corporation. While the presentation portrays a family business venture, this program primarily relates stories from their family history, as published in 2021. As a subtext the program will encourage class members to collect and share family stories of their own.

About the instructor: Richard Lichty.

Richard Lichty is a retired teacher and pastor who lives at Dock Woods with his wife, Mary. He is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, where he majored in history, and Eastern Baptist (now Palmer) Theological Seminary, where he earned an M.A. in religion. He taught social studies and religion at three different high schools, including 19 years at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School (now known as Dock Mennonite Academy). In his retirement he enjoys researching and writing about genealogy and family stories, volunteering at the Mennonite Heritage Center, and teaching Sunday school classes at Plains Mennonite Church.