The Christian C. Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Sanderson Museum In the News
RALPH WITTLE in the VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Ralph Wittle, the Sanderson Museum’s self-proclaimed “battery-operated old man” was born on August 30, 1922 in Florin, PA (which is now part of Mount Joy). He was anything but a lonely child as he was the youngest of 15 kids.
Ralph was inducted into the Army in September 1942 and did his basic training in Texas. Married a year later, he was sent overseas as part of the Third Battalion, 407th Regiment of the 102nd Infantry Division. Ralph landed in Cherbourg, France and was soon sent to the front as part of a forward party.
In October 1944, Ralph’s unit was assigned to the area along the Netherlands/Germany border. Eventually, they participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. He proved to be a model soldier, earning the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Service Medal, EAME Service Medal with two bronze stars, Victory Medal, Occupation Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His division took more prisoners than any other unit in the war.
During his final tour of duty, Ralph served as battalion Sergeant Major. His unit was positioned on the Elbe River when the war ended in May 1945. Ralph was later transferred to the 15th Tank Battalion which was stationed in Rothenburg, the oldest walled city in Germany. After earning enough points to be discharged, Ralph was released from the Army in February 1946.
Finally a civilian again, Ralph worked in Washington, D.C. for a short while, before putting himself through the Hamilton Watch Company School in Lancaster, PA. Also attending Bowman Tech, Ralph was certified by the Horological Institute of America as a Master Watchmaker. He eventually began work at Sears in May 1958, repairing timepieces right up to his retirement in June 1986.
Chris Sanderson came into Ralph’s life through the Boy Scouts. Ralph volunteered with that organization for many years (enough to earn the “Order of Merit” from the Del-Mar-Va Council). He brought many of these young men to hear lectures given by Chris. In visiting the museum, Ralph found that his old unit’s infantry patch (102nd Infantry) was turned on its side. The book that was used to show how it should be displayed had it wrong too!
In asking Ralph what are his favorite items in the museum (besides the plastic soap bottle!) he stated, “…I often point out the pictures Chris took of Dan Sickles, and the autographs of Queen Victoria and Shirley Temple, for art lovers, the only pastel that Andrew Wyeth created.”
Ralph concluded, “As a volunteer, I believe we have a duty to preserve the memory of the contribution that Chris made, but also to seek to find young volunteers who will continue to carry on at what I believe is one of the greatest museums in the country of unique and interesting items.