BB News No. 109 dtd 31 Jul 2002

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 109 DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) July 31, 2002 (c) 2002 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved) RECIPIENTS PLEASE READ: You are receiving this email because you are either a BB member or have asked to be added to our distribution list. If you wish to discontinue these newsletters, email with message "remove". ("Cancel" will cancel membership, homepage listings and mail.) Send address and listing changes to the same place. Sign your email with your full name and include BB in the subject line. Send no attachments or graphics unless well known to me. Please keep changes to a minimum. To join the BB, see our homepage. We can't help with non-Burgenland family history. Appropriate comments and articles are appreciated. Our staff and web site addresses are listed at the end of newsletter section "C". Introductions, notes and articles without a by-line are written by the editor and reflect his views. Please exchange data in a courteous and cooperative manner-not to do so defeats the purpose of our organization. *** AUGUST 24- 5th ANNUAL BB MID-WEST PICNIC (see Homepage) *** OCTOBER 12- CHICAGO REUNION OF OBERWART-BAD TATZMANNSDORF DESCENDANTS *** This first section of our 4-section newsletter includes: 1. Ellis Island Immigration Requirements 2. Austrian Decennial Census 3. Moschendorf Book 4. Deutsch Ehrensdorf Article - Leser Series 5. Güssing Cultural Events 6. Recollections Of Jews From Burgenland 7. New Section Added To Homepage - House List 8. Email Notice Posted To BB Homepage 9. International Roots Conference Cancelled 1. ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS In a message dated 5/31/02, Betty Mische writes: When people from Moson-Szolnok... or another area... came to the USA, say in 1901 or 2... did they need to have a sponsor? How much money could they have with them? What would be some of the reasons that there would be "hold" written next to a name? Answer: Read "Island of Hope - Island of Tears" (Brownstone, Franck & Brownstone. Penquin Books, ISBN 0 14 00.8820 2, 1979). Requirements changed often. Prior to 1898, entry was relatively easy. Beginning 1898, there were strict health requirements, literacy tests (English or foreign language), a wide range of items which could cause one to be turned away, such as physical deficiencies and weaknesses, criminal record, public charge (money requirements), women had to pass a white slavery test - needed a sponsor or relative, contract labor (outlawed in 1885). Money requirements were first set at $10 plus tickets to destination in 1904, increased in 1909 to $25 plus tickets. I know of no limit as to how money you could bring, although later there were monetary restrictions at various times on leaving Austria/Hungary. Immigrants had little money - if they did, they stayed at home. If you were being met by a relative or sponsor or had a sponsor letter, your chances of being passed immediately were good, subject to the foregoing. From the beginning of the heavy immigration period, health and public charge requirements were always considered. A "hold" signified you failed one of the foregoing and you then went before a review board. If you had a sponsor and not enough money, you would probably pass - severe health problem, not, regardless of sponsor. Even so, if you were young and healthy and didn't have enough money, the board might still ok your entry, believing you'd find work. If you were a good looking, unaccompanied woman, even with money and educated, but no sponsor or relative, you might be refused because you could become a victim of white slavers. Each case was different. INS officials changed requirements frequently until quota laws were passed in 1921-24, at which time they more or less stabilized to what they are today. To fully understand this, read the book mentioned. G. Berghold, BB. 2. AUSTRIAN DECENNIAL CENSUS (Bob Fleck & Fritz Königshofer) Bob Fleck writes: I have become aware that in Austria they conduct a census "volkszaehlung" similar to the census in the United States. Do you know if the older - 70+ years - volkszaehlung records are available for research? If so, how can I access them? Fritz replies: I don't know the answer. Of course, there are censuses conducted every 10 years in Austria, but I don't know about the first ones after the breakup of the Monarchy (and the time when Burgenland became part of Austria). The City Archive of Graz has the census records of Graz (city proper only) for 1910, 1900, 1890, 1880 and two earlier censuses at more odd years (such as 1857 and 1868 or so). I may have asked about the whereabouts of census records for the rest of Styria, but don't know the answer anymore. As to the time after WW-I, I need to find out. Perhaps due to the aftermath of WW-I, there was no census in 1920, but I would assume that censuses were resumed afterwards. The actual data may well be stored somewhere, but may be subject to the data privacy law. On the other hand, I know that the safeguards of the Austrian data privacy law can be overcome by higher reasons such as the maintenance of blood relationships. Since I will visit Graz and Eisenstadt this summer, I'll take your question into my file for the trip, and will try to find out when censuses were held after 1918 and where the records are stored if they still exist. 3. MOSCHENDORF BOOK A reader writes: I just learned from your newsletter that a book on the history of the village of Moschendorf has been published. I would like to know if you could tell me who the author or the publisher is so that I may obtain a copy. The title is 780 Moschendorf. Frank Teklits responds: Concerning the Moschendorf book, I recently forwarded a similar inquiry to our fellow BB member & friend, Fritz Königshofer, who replied as follows: "The Moschendorf book was mentioned in BB Newsletter no. 102 of December 31, 2001, and I ordered it from the address stated there. The Moschendorf book has no ISBN, but it provides a web site (www.moschendorf.at) and an e-mail address (post@moschendorf.bgld.gv.at Burgenland Bunch-Deutsch 4. DEUTSCH EHRENSDORF ARTICLE - FATHER LESER SERIES Bob Geshel writes: Was the village history of Deutsch Ehrensdorf ever printed in the Burgenland Bunch News? I have been trying to find something on D.E. for weeks and haven't been successful. Reply: No, probably too small to have its own historical Leser series. Look under Strem for family names. Deutsch Ehrensdorf was a German settlement first mentioned as "Hassas" in 1297. The village belonged to the fief (Besitz) of Eberau. In 1489, a fish farm (Fischteich) was developed through the efforts of the Paulaner Kloster in Kulm. The church originally stood in a vineyard between Deutsch Ehrensdorf and Kroatisch Ehrensdorf. In 1814, a new church was built in the middle of the village. Population in 1812 was 175, in 1900, 313, in 1991, 167. In 1971, Deutsch Ehrensdorf combined with Steinfurt, Sumetendorf and Strem as Gemeinde Strem. Moschendorf has since been added. It is mentioned briefly in the 1757 Kanonische Visitation of Südburgenland, (Burgenländische Forschungen, volume 71, Josef Buzas, Eisenstadt 1982). Ecclesias Filialis in Nëmeth Hasos Seu Taics Edenstorff (sic). Mentions church property. Only names mentioned are Joannes Legath (probably priest or steward under the appointment of Count Ladislao Erdödy - loco Dominus Capellam curavit). I've asked Bill Rudy to add this to the village list of histories. Gerry Berghold 5. GÜSSING CULTURAL EVENTS (from Frank Hoffmann) Heinz Koller forwarded the most recent "Burgenland-letter" to me and I was delighted when reading the positive impressions you mentioned concerning our "Kampf ums Recht"-drama. Thank you so much! To add another homepage-address please let BB know that there is a whole bunch of concerts surrounding the Burgspiel-Theatre on the Burg-yard called GÜSSINGER KULTUR SOMMER. Taking place at various venues ´round Güssing there are classic-concerts to be attended as well as high-class jazz and funk-events. On our hp www.kultursommer.net you are even able to have a look at the entire sight by clicking the drawn camera-symbol on the left edge (our weather-webcam as service for our visitors). In addition: Please let me tell you about a plan we are discussing with Hofrat Dujmovits and the domestic political upper class these days. The plan is, to visit the American/Canadian Burgenland-centers (one or two) with the play "Landflucht" that tells very much about the circumstances under which most of the Burgenland-people emigrated to the new world in a dramatic and very impressive way, written around 1900 by the famous Burgenland-author Josef Reichl and directed by myself in 1999 at Burg Güssing. Are there some personalities with Burgenland-roots who may be interested as potential sponsors? Kind regards and "Auf Wiedersehen" in the US. Frank Hoffmann 6. RECOLLECTIONS OF JEWS FROM BURGENLAND (forwarded by Albert Schuch) EXILED. Recollections of Jews from Burgenland - A Project by Research Society Burgenland Presently the "Research Society Burgenland" is planning to publish a photo book with interviews and photographs of Jewish emigrants from Burgenland. The idea of this project is to preserve the knowledge and the consciousness of Jewish life and culture in Burgenland and to document destinies and personal life histories in remembrance of the Jews from Burgenland. The title of the publication will be "Exiled. Recollections of the Jews from Burgenland" and will be published in German and English next year. A Website in German and English is now online. See http://www.forschungsgesellschaft.at/vertrieben.htm. (English version click button left above) The Website is a work in progress. It presents short biographies and photographs of the persons who were already interviewed, and gives information about the project. The interviews will be carried out in May (UK), and in September/October in Israel and the United States. For further information and requests contact: Mr. Gert Tschoegl gert.tschoegl@forschungsgesellschaft.at Burgenlaendische Forschungsgesellschaft (Research Society Burgenland) Domplatz 21 A-7000 Eisenstadt / Austria http://www.forschungsgesellschaft.at 7. NEW BURGENLAND HOUSE LIST ADDED TO HOMEPAGE Klaus Gerger has added a new section to the Homepage, which shows Jennersdorf District village heads of households. Other districts have previously been available and he plans to eventually include all districts. He has also added "house names" where available. The heads of households are taken from the 1857-58 Tax Lists from Austrian Government Office Record Archives. Formerly, the available village lists could be visited by clicking on the Homepage Section entitled Burgenland Bunch Map Site. The new section is called Jennerdorf District Villages. If you haven't visited this site, please do so and look for your family names by village. You may also find other places where your family names appear in our website. Klaus also provides maps of the Burgenland by district and area showing villages by their three language names. Klaus writes: Finally I published the next step of my House list pages. http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/HouseList/HouseLists2.htm There is now a complete List of all Jennersdorf district houses (same as Güssing), showing as a single list per village (including surname and given name, sometimes a vulgo name of the head of every house) and as a list sorted by surname and as searchable database (wildcard-search!). ED. Note: We now have 17 hyperlink websites on the Homepage with the addition of Klaus Gerger's list of district houses. We continue to grow both in number of members, staff volunteers and information content. I also notice that Tom Steichen has added a "how to use" introduction to his surname list - a nice touch. The more instruction we add to our websites, the less questions I get. 8. EMAIL NOTICE POSTED TO BB HOMEPAGE (BE WARNED!) After discussion with BB Staff, Hap Anderson has posted a notice in both English and German at the bottom of the BB web site Homepage as follows: E-mail Subject Line: With the increase of virus infected e-mail and high volume of SPAM (junk mail), entering "Burgenland Bunch" or "BB" somewhere in your e-mail subject will help us decide if we should open your e-mail message. Some volunteers also host other web sites and will not know which web site you are referring to if you don't. This also applies when writing e-mail to other volunteers and researchers listed on these pages. Send no graphics or attachments unless well known to the recipient. Some older e-mail addresses and web links are obsolete! We have no way of updating these addresses unless YOU send US the updates. Two undelivered newsletters cause your automatic removal from the newsletter distribution list. It may take a while to get reinstated. ED. Note: It's very simple - ignore this warning and your email to us may be deleted unread. G. Berghold 9. INTERNATIONAL ROOTS CONFERENCE CANCELLED (suggested by Margaret Kaiser) I understand the International Roots Conference (see newsletter no. 107) scheduled for July 14-18 and advertised by Eastman and others has gone bust; too bad as they had a fine stable of proposed speakers. The promoters (My Conference Planners, Southfield, MI) say they couldn't meet expenses and cancelled after receiving much money in advance payments. They say they now don't have the cash necessary to refund them. I'm now sorry I even mentioned this conference in the newsletter (it was in response to questions I received asking for my opinion as to the value of the conference for BB members) but I did so cautiously and suggested it would not be something for members interested in learning more about their Burgenland roots. Eastman just sent out an email attachment to his newsletter explaining what happened in more detail, appears to be solely due to the action of the commercial conference promoters. At least one of our members has lost his advance subscription but fortunately it covered only one day and not the full conference fees, which could have amounted to $230 plus hundreds more for dinners, lunches, trips and other special events. According to Eastman's Latest Newsletter, a class action suit is being filed against the promoters. If you're involved you can find out more at irc-victims-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Eastman's newsletter states: "Finally, there is a poll at the same Web address, asking how much money each person sent to the conference organizers. The results of this poll may help measure the financial losses incurred by genealogists. Note that your identity will be kept private when you enter information into the poll. The address for the poll is the same as that for the mailing group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irc-victims." Roots Web (Roots L), the people who distribute our newsletter and host our Burgenland query board had nothing to do with this conference or its failure. Newsletter continues as No. 109A.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 109A DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) July 31, 2002 (c) 2002 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved This second section of our 4-section newsletter contains: 1. Late Australian Immigration 2. Narda And Novosels - A How-To Example 3. Trip To Austria & Burgenland - Stubits 4. Cuckoo Bird 5. Note From Gerhard Lang - Burgenland Activities 1. LATE AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION (ED. Note: Many places received Burgenland immigrants. We find them in Canada, South America, other European countries and most amazing of all, Australia. We have 12 BB members in Australia and New Zealand. Following is correspondence from one of them.) Message From: Graham Tier To: Bruce Klemens I am writing to you from Sydney, Australia. My mother ended up here in 1952, after leaving Austria in 1938. I was wondering when your family left Oslip, and whether or not you/they might have known my mother, or her family? Her name was Eleonora Luria, but she was known as Ella. Her mother was known as Mitzi (real name: Miriam), and her father was Alexander Luria. They owned a General Store at No.11, Oslip. Alexander died before the war; my mother had to escape, and her mother died in Theresienstadt. Her mother's maiden name was Nussbaum. Anyhow, if you or your family knew them, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Miriam Tier Bruce Klemens responds: My grandfather, Michael Klemenschitz, left Oslip for America around 1912, and is dead for nearly 50 years. However, his brother, Karl, never left, and I still correspond with Karl's descendents. I will ask if anyone remembers your mother. By the way, I have a large book about the history of Oslip that my cousin in Burgenland sent me, and there is listing of all the emigrants from Oslip. Ella Luria is listed on page 228 as having emigrated to Israel in 1938. 2. NARDA AND NOVOSELS - A HOW-TO EXAMPLE In a message dated 7/3/02, Frank Palmer writes: I need your help. I have been searching LDS film since last May and have done fairly well in locating some of my grandparents. Questions... #1, LDS film #0601442 and #0601443 go back to 1722. Is there any other source covering earlier years for Narda, Hungary. #2, Almost all of my father's kin are from Narda, Hungary, but a few names (grandmother's maiden names) I cannot find and LDS film only shows their first names. Some surnames are shown, but I cannot find any of them, so they must be from nearby areas. Since the film covers Vas Megye, I would presume that I should be able to find these names from these nearby areas, but no luck. Is there a house list of names for the Vas Megye towns? #3, On my mother's side -- her name was Novosel from Neuberg, Austria, the Novosel name, as per Robert Hajszan's "Die Kroaten" book, dates back to 1576 and many Novosels are listed in the Gussing house list, yet when I search the microfiche at the LDS center, there are only a few Novosels listed and shows them to be from Kroatian-Slavonien. None are my relatives. Since I know the family goes back quite awhile, I cannot understand why no Neuberg names are not on the microfiche. Reply: Frank - a few answers and suggestions. 1. Having found records as early as early as 1722 is a bit of luck. Most LDS Burgenland records start at 1828. There may be earlier records but you'd have to go to Hungary to find them - probably at the church in Narda or at the Diocesean Archives in Szombathely. Before doing that, I'd suggest you try to complete your genealogy from what is available in the US. Going back as far as 1722 is quite an accomplishment - you may be able to get beyond that by checking the death and marriage records very closely - they often provide the ages of the deceased or marriage pair. Died in 1723, age 53 would give you a birth date of abt. 1670. 2. The film you mention does not cover Vas Megye! It only covers the Parish of Narda (Kis and Nagy). Having searched your main village records, do likewise with the surrounding villages. Around Narda, in Hungary that would include Dozmat (Gross Mucken), which is a Parish, Felso Csatar, which is in the Parish of Narda (in effect you've scanned these already), Bucsu (Butsching) and Torony which are in the Parish of Dozmat. Surrounding villages in Austria today are Schachendorf (Csajta) in the Parish of Rechnitz (Rohonc), Hannersdorf (Samfalva), which is a Parish, and Burg (Pinka Ovar), which is in the Parish of Hannersdorf. Scan the microfilm for Dozmat, Hungary and Rechnitz and Hannersdorf, Austria. Have you checked all of the Narda records? Marriage records will provide last names. Dozmat 0700950-952; 1698-1895 - lucky you! Rechnitz 0700721-723 Hannersdorf 0700728 Now how do I know that? So you and others will know, I'll again outline my method. First, go to a map of your village area (no larger than 1:200,000 in scale). List ALL of the village names surrounding your known village. Second, go to Albert's List on the BB Homepage. List all of the Hungarian and German names on your village list as well as the Parishes AND Civil Offices for each. Keep for future reference. Third, go to the LDS Microfilm Index for Hungary - Vas Megye (perhaps Moson and Sopron as well) and Austria - Burgenland and list the parish film numbers. Order those films. Scan for your family names paying particular attention to the villages mentioned (they may be abbreviated - if so, list the abbreviations used.) This can well result in names you are missing. Linking them can take some effort - use house numbers. Klaus Gerger is planning to provide house names for Hungarian border villages, if and when he can get access to the data. Burgenland villages have priority and Jennersdorf district has just been added. 3. I don't know what you mean when you say "check the microfiche at the LDS" - if you mean the Ancestral or IGI file, it's very possible no one ever added records for the names and places you are researching. There were no Burgenland Bergholds until I submitted my findings. I'd search the places of which you have knowledge. You know your grandmother was a Novosel from Neuberg. While it's true Neuberg (Ujhegy) is in the district of Güssing, it was in the Parish of Sankt Michael until 1848, when it became its own Parish along with Güttenbach. Look at those records. When I check Klaus Gerger's house list files, I find Novosel (Nowosel) Johann at no. 112 and Josef at no. 107 Neuberg as well as Tomas at no. 20 Güttenbach. There is also a Novosel at Olbendorf. Hajszan's "Die Kroaten" book translates "The Croatians In the Fief of Güssing", this does not mean that you'll find the names in the village of Güssing, but rather in the district villages under its control. Exactly what we've found; Novosels in the places mentioned above, all in the district of Güssing. Since they were Croatian villages, that's about what I'd expect. Hajszan shows Novosels in Rechnitz, Neuberg, Stinatz and Stegersbach in 1576. I seriously doubt if you can find links to those, but it's a nice record to have. 3. TRIP TO AUSTRIA & BURGENLAND (From: Bill Stubits) I thought you might be interested in a recent trip I took to the Homeland. I was especially happy because the trip was with two of my daughters as well as a Grandson. We flew from Philadelphia to Munich and then drove to Vienna. In Vienna we did some sight-seeing including the Spanish Horses, where we were very fortunate since one of my cousin's sons got us into the back were we met one of the people who shoes the horses. That night we got together with my relatives who were raised in Harmisch, Burgenland and now live in Vienna. With my cousins, their children and grandchildren, there were 40 of us present, which included three generations from both sides of the ocean. Great experience for all of us but especially the grand children. After another day of sightseeing and a Concert in Vienna, we started our ride thru Niederosterreich (Lower Austria) to the village of Rust, where we saw the storks' nests. Some had the storks still sitting on them. We then went to the Neusiedlersee where we took a boat ride and the grandson had an opportunity to swim in the See. Our trip then took us further into Burgenland and our next stop was in St. Margarethen for a short visit and a tour of the theatre. We continued down to Bernstein, were we toured the mine museum (Edelserpentine) and of course had to buy some jewelry. We then drove down Route 50 going thru all the small towns and finally arrived in Harmisch where a wonderful and delicious meal awaited us with noodle soup and some fine home baked pastries. We spent the evening catching up on the old times at the kitchen table with a couple of bottles of home made wine. The next morning, my cousin took my grandson outside to show him their chickens and in particular his bee hives. After some visiting with the neighbors and a little side trip to visit some friends in St. Katherine (Steven and Angela Csencits) we were met by some of our cousins who came down from Vienna and we went out to lunch at a local Gasthaus. The son of the owner of the Gasthaus in Harmisch was getting married this day in Deutsch Schutzen, so we decided to go over and watch an old fashioned Burgenland wedding. The band led the guests from the parking lot to the church and then played in front of the church for a while. Since this village is right on the Hungarian border, we took our grandson to the border and let him climb up on one of the old border guards' shacks. We then went to my cousin's wine cellar where we spent the evening again catching up on old times. My cousin plays the button box accordion, so we did a lot of singing. The vineyard and wine cellar are located in Csaterberg, and while we were having a good time, I heard a real cuckoo bird for the first time. The bird was in the forest across the meadow, and it sounded just like the birds in the clocks. (ED. Note: see next article concerning cuckoo birds.) The next day we left for home, traveling thru Graz and Salzburg on our way to Munich. A Great Time in the Homeland and a wonderful experience for my daughters and grandson and myself, a family visit to the land of our forefathers. 4. CUCKOO BIRD - German Kuckkuck (suggested by Bill Stubits) (ED. Note: Some may think the cuckoo is a figment of some wood carver's imagination found only in clocks, but there is such a bird, family Cuculidae, well known in Europe as well as parts of the United States. Cuckoos are found on every continent except in Antarctica. There are about four main species, the one in Europe and Asia is about 13 inches long, gray and white with a long tail. The US birds are slightly smaller, one with a yellow bill and one with a black bill. The European species is a nest or brood parasite - laying its eggs in other bird's nests for the other birds to hatch and raise. It has a distinctive two note call - "cuke coo" - hence the name. For habitat, it likes the thinly-wooded areas on the slopes of mountains or hills, preferably near water. This makes it a natural for the Burgenland. I photographed one on a tree in the RC cemetery in Jennersdorf in southern Burgenland, after his call attracted my attention. I have also heard them near orchards and vineyards. My grandmother told me she heard them often when she went into the woods near Güssing. She said if you heard one as soon as you went into the woods it meant bad luck. There are many legends and folklore tales about this bird as he's a harbinger of Spring. Some sayings: "In April the Cuckoo shows his bill, In May he sings all day, In June he alters his tune, In July away he'll fly, In August go he must." "Turn your money when you hear the cuckoo, and you'll have money in your purse till he comes again." "Don't be a Cuckoo" - don't make a fool of yourself. The colloquial definition in German is Dummkopf or Einfaltspinsel. I don't know any purely Hianzen "Kuckkuck" sayings, but there must be some. Many Austrians are interested in the Cuckoo as well as the Stork. The links below will show you pictures of the bird and provide his call if your speakers are on. The Encarta Encyclopedia will do likewise. Bill Stubits writes: Here are some websites on the Kuckuck bird that my cousin from Vienna sent me. There are some songs about Kuckuck: http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/Lieder/kuckuck.html http://ingeb.org/Lieder/aufeinem.html http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/Lieder/derkucku.html Some more information: http://www.digitalefolien.de/biologie/tiere/voegel/kuckuck.html http://www.bioweb.lu/Oiseaux/spechte.htm http://www.altmuehltal.de/eichstaett/waldlehrpfad/kuckuck.htm http://www.rcaguilar.com/lieder/texte/auf1baum.htm 5. NOTE FROM GERHARD LANG - MORE BURGENLAND ACTIVITIES Gerhard writes: I just read through BB-newsletter 108. At part "B" a lot of Burgenland festivals were mentioned. Another great event is the opera festival at St. Margarethen's Roman Quarry. This year they play "Hänsel und Gretel" - a fairy opera for children and as the main event they play "Otello". For detailed information see http://www.ofs.at/main_d.htm. Another piece of news: Dr. Sepp Gmasz made a new Songbook "Burgenländisches Wirtshaus-Liederbuch" (Burgenland Tavern-Songbook). It contains a lot of well-known (for me) folk-songs, such as "Wahre Freundschaft soll nicht wanken", "Die Mühl tuit laut klappern", "Daj mi daj" (Croatian), "Marica rozica" (Croatian), "Alsóöri kisleány" (Hungarian), "Es ging bei kühlem Mondenschein ..." I took part at the presentation at a tavern in Müllendorf and I found it really great with Sepp Gmasz, getting people sitting and singing together. Vice-Governor Mag. Franz Steindl took part too, and together with Alois Loidl (Burgenland Radio), played some old tunes with their trumpets. The book is available at Burgenländisches Volksliedwerk, Europaplatz 1, A-7000 Eisenstadt, Austria at - as far as I remember EURO 5,-- + shipping. I think that Sepp Gmasz can help with further details at sepp.gmasz@orf.at I want to offer something to the BB-members: I have two series: "Mein Leben - Erinnerungen von Pater Leopold Prizelitz" (My life - memories of Father Leopold Prizelitz) and "Damals in Großhöflein - Arbeit und Brauchtum in Großhöflein" (Then at Großhöflein - work and tradtions at Großhöflein) by Matthias Artner, a friend of mine. Both series are published by the Großhöflein parish gazette. The village often mentioned is Großhöflein, where Father Leopold grew up and Matthias Artner still lives, but many of the traditions and games mentioned, could be from everywhere in Burgenland. I have permission from Father Leopold and Matthias Artner to translate both series into English and publish them in the BB-newsletters. Please let me know what you think - before I knuckle down to work on the translations. From: gerhard.lang1@direkt.at (Gerhard H. Lang) (ED. Note: I told Gerhard I'd be most happy to publish them. Look for the first in newsletter 109C.) Newsletter continues as no. 109B.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 109B DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) July 31, 2002 (c) 2002 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved *** IF YOU LIVE IN THE MID-WEST, SEE THE INVITATION TO THE 5TH MINNEAPOLIS BB PICNIC, AUSUST 24. A LINK TO DETAILS AND A MAP IS AVAILABLE FROM THE BB HOMEPAGE *** *** A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN PRECIOUS OINTMENT - Ecclesiastics 7:1 *** This third section of our 4-section newsletter contains: 1. Sign At Entrance To Pamhagen 2. Taste Of The Burgenland - Gurken (Pickles) - From Elfie Resch & Hannes Graf 3. Burgenland And The Bath 1. SIGN AT ENTRANCE TO PAMHAGEN (From: Kathleen Kelly) Kathleen writes: I trust this find you well. I continue to congratulate and thank you for, all the work you do for the Burgenland Bunch, and for the exceptional newsletter. It is a rich resource of information on the region and our ancestors. When I was in Pamhagen, Austria, two years ago, I took a picture of the large historical information signs at the entrance to the village. The signs were in German and a friend had them translated. In case you do not have a record of them, I am sending the translation to you, and perhaps it will be of interest to some members. The translation is written as I received it. Kindest regards Historical Information Signs - Pamhagen, Austria Since ancient times, there are evident signs of human settlement in Pamhagen. A Stone Age Lochart (hammer stone or axe with a hole for a handle) was found by vineyard maintenance workers. Today's province of Neusiedl was thickly settled between 4000 - 20000 BC. (Culture of the linear-band ceramic workers.) A burial site dated to the following Bronze Age was also found in Pamhagen. 1 A.D. The Romans occupied our area - Camp of Roman legions at Carnuntum and Vindobona. 374 A.D. The Quadi destroyed Carnuntum. 455 A.D. Fall of the Huns after the death of Attila; Ostrogoths came. 526 A.D. The Longobards and Mongolian Awars entered the Pannonian Valley. 620 A.D Uprising of the Slavs under Samo, after whose death the Slavs were enslaved. 803 A.D. Subjection of the Awars by Charles the Great; Bavarian-Frankisch colonization; Onset of missionary colonization by the sees of Salzburg and Passau. 896 A.D. Magyar tribes settle in Pannonia. 955 A.D. Otto the Great defeats the Magyars at Lechfield. 1000 A.D. The Hungarian Count Geza and his son convert to Christianity; Coronation of Stephan by Pope Sylvester (the Holy Crown of Stephan) and marriage of Stephan to the Bavarian Princess Gisela. 1202 A.D. Count Simon and his brother Michael (subsequently Lords of Mattersdorf-Forchtenstein) emigrated from Spain and served the king in exchange for right of land use. 1268 A.D. First mention of Pamhagen (Pormog) in a document, a deed of donation by King Bela IV. 1380 A.D. Mention of a cleric, "Johann ecclesiae de Pomog." 1457 A.D. Coronation of Mathias Corvinus as King of Hungary 1791 A.D. Earliest map of a bulwark "Pamhagen Fort." 1848 A.D. Abolition of serfdom; peasants became freedmen; Taxation of the aristocracy; Abandoning of tithes. 1864 A.D. Many peasants had to sell their land because they did not make profits as freedmen. 1867 A.D. Agreement between Austria and Hungary for common affairs in foreign policy, defense, and finances. Later adaptation of Magyar standards for the school system. 1870-85 A.D. 3000 people from Komitat Moson emigrated to the USA and Canada. 1878 A.D. Increase of vineyards from zero (1828) to 74 Kastraljoch (land measurement) 1884 A D. Crown Prince Rudolf performed historic investigation at the lake (memorial plaque) (Note: "Nachforshungen" is written on the sign which means 'investigations' whose meaning is unclear to the reader. The translator substituted 'historic investigations.') 1890 A.D. After infestation of vine-louse (phyloxera), all vines had to be destroyed. 1905 A.D. (and 1922-23) Many inhabitants of Pamhagen emigrated. 1913 A.D. A dairy corporation is founded. 1923 A.D. The Hungarian concession of the "Raab bahn" is accepted in Austria. 1926 A.D. Catastrophic year. Foot-and-mouth disease, extreme agricultural losses through flooding. 1932 A.D Formerly worthless areas are drained (180 Kastraljoch). 1939 A.D. Reorganization of the boroughs in the "Third Reich." The "Burgenland" is eliminated and the province Neusiedl becomes district "Bruck/Leitha." 1945 A.D. Occupation of Eastern Austria by Red Army units. The Burgenland suffers substantially. However, following the end of the war the country is organized according to its traditional borders. 1951-56 A.D. Many Pamhagen people leave their homes again to emigrate to Switzerland, USA and Canada. The sign ends here. 2. TASTE OF THE BURGENLAND - GURKEN (PICKLES) FROM ELFIE RESCH & HANNES GRAF Hannes and Elfie quickly responded to my plea for a Burgenland pickle recipe in newsletter no. 107B. Elfie writes and Hannes translates: Elfie has 3 recipes but we are sending only two. The third "Senfgurken" (mustard pickles) coming next, when Elfie has a little more time. A look in Grandmother's cucumber pots. The tradition pf preserving fruits and vegetables and providing the cold season vitamin requirement with fruity tidbits, heart-warming Sauerkraut, cucumbers and French beans is nearly gone in Austria. All products are produced in factories very cheaply. To take the glasses or boxes from the shelves of the supermarket is much easier. Homemade takes a lot of time. For some years organic-farmers have also been offering homemade canned products at the weekly markets. Even with expensive prices, the homemade canned products sell with enthusiasm. At the middle of July in the Seewinkel, the harvest of the cucumbers begins. A slowly growing type is the best one for "Essiggurken" (pickled or vinegar gherkins) and "Salzgurken" (cucumber pickled in brine). But the Austrian paradise for cucumbers is not the Burgenland, but the north of Lower-Austria around the town of Retz. The basis of all cucumber tidbits are "Feldgurken", cucumbers growing in the field (not in glasshouses). All other sorts are unsuitable. They are either too weak (less turger) and become mushy or have no taste. We need the following supplies: 1/2 - 1 Liter glasses (jars) with screw tops are ideal for pickles and gherkin with mustard seeds (Senfgurken) 3 - 5 Liter glasses with sealing ring a big bowl for pre-fermenting 5 - 10 liter high grade steel pot for the marinade 1 ladle of high grade steel 1 sieve of high grade steel 1 vegetable peeler 1 little brush Sheets as a base for the glasses. The glasses stands on wet sheets because they don't crack when the hot marinade is poured in. Very important: All utilities must be absolute fat-free. Better wash one more time. One crumb of bread can start the cucumbers fermenting and change the taste. Two basic recipes with variations: 1) Essiggurkerl (pickled gherkin-vinegar pickle) The best size for this are cucumbers between 2 and 6 centimeter (3/4" - 2 1/2"), they are spelled "Gurkerl" in German. Big differences in the size is not good as they won't fill the jars properly and they need a different time to ripen. In Austria there is a word, "the cucumbers must self biten". 6 p. 1 Liter glasses with screw top 4 kg cucumbers salt 1,5 liter wine vinegar 300 - 375 g sugar dill flowers 1 tablespoon mustard seed 10 - 20 pepper seed white 4 bay leaves garlic onions eventually 3 carrots Put the cucumbers in the big pot (10 Liter), then pour 6 - 7 Liter water over it and for every liter water 75 g salt. The cucumbers should be covered with water. Then take the pot to a cool place and forget it for 12 to 24 hours. After this time, brush the cucumbers very carefully and dry them piece by piece. Remove bad points from the cucumbers and put in the glasses with 1 -2 cloves of garlic, also a dill flower. The vine vinegar, 1,5 Liter water, 1 tablespoon Salt and the sugar (another variation is to substitute honey for the sugar-use a half quantity of honey, but only if you like sweet cucumbers); bring to boil, add the bay leaves, the mustard seed and the white pepper to the pot. Pour the hot marinade over the cucumbers in the glasses till they are covered. Close the glasses and on the top (cover). When cool, put on a shelf and forget them for 2 months. After this time they are "self biten". They go well with all food with which you normally eat a salad. 2) Salzgurken (cucumber pickled in brine-salt pickles) For Salzgurken we need bigger cucumbers, ideally from 6 to 10 cm (2 1/2" -4"). Also it is better to put them in bigger glasses of 3 to 5 liter and let them ripen a minimum 3 months. Very good are glasses with sealing rings and metal stoppers. The best time to open the first glass is the end of November. For one 5 liter glass we need 3 kg cucumbers. To have a reserve till the next harvest time, I need for a "Salzgurken"-lover like Hannes more than 15 kg of them. The procedure for the glasses and utilities are the same as above. Put the "Salzgurken" together with water and salt as above for 24 hours. For one liter water add 75 g salt. After this time brush the cucumbers very carefully and dry. Remove bad points of the cucumbers and put it in the glasses very strong, push hard! Also add a dill flower. For the marinade: For 1 kg cucumber: 2 teaspoon mustard seed 1 teaspoon white pepper seed 2 - 3 dill flowers 1 teaspoon dill seed 2 - 3 discs horseradish (sliced fresh) for a glass 2 - 3 cloves of garlic 125 g salt 1/8 liter vinegar or vine vinegar (without flavor enhancer) To 1,5 liter water, add the vinegar, salt and bring to boil, then add the spices and pour over the cucumbers, absolutely full, when you close the glass, the marinade should run over. Put the cucumbers in a cool room to ripen. For all preserves it is the same rule: The direct sun will kill the size and color. The cucumbers become gray and this does not make for a good appetite. Have much fun by the pickling and have a good appetite. Elfie Resch, Translated by Hannes 3. BURGENLAND AND THE BATH (with thanks to Joe Jarfas) My wife was reading an 1890's account of a trip down the Rhine ("Bride Of The Rhine - 200 Miles In A Mosel Row Boat" - by George Waring, James Osgood & Co. Boston, 1878.) She tells me it mentions how one area took baths. Seems a man in Metz had a wagon with tubs and a boiler. He would drive around and on notice deliver a tub of hot water which he would later pick-up - cost 24 cents. He must have been very busy on Friday and Saturday or maybe only in the spring! We wondered if they did anything like that in old Burgenland. I asked member Joe Jarfas, as he was born and raised in Hungary just across the border. I wrote: Joe, I'm working on an article re "bathing" in old Burgenland. Could you tell me how you took a bath when growing up in Hungary? Book I'm reading says a man in Metz had a bath business - he drove a wagon with tubs and a boiler - he'd come every so often and take a tub of hot water into the house and leave when one finished their bath. Ever hear anything like that? I imagine outhouses and chamber pots were used but no one had a bathroom in Burgenland that I've ever heard of until recent times. (ED. Note - bathrooms became quite common after WW-II when piped water and sewers became available in most villages.) I imagine most folks had a washtub in the barn and used it once a week like we did here in the states. Now many think nothing of three showers a day - wonder if it's good for you! Medieval times they said once a year was enough. Reply: From: Joseph J Jarfas Well, Gerry, I spent the first 15 years at home and our bathing schedule was rather simple then. Took a bath once a week in a wooden washtub, which my mother also used to wash clothes in. We had that thing ever since I was old enough to remember. Water was heated on the kitchen wood stove, one big pot at a time. So we didn't waste it. Usually added a little warm water to the tub, when spillage had to get replaced or got too cold. Home made soap was used... with lye in it!:-) Eat away at our eyes all the time!!:-) Remember the screaming and yelling when our faces had to get washed ... During the summer when we all roamed around barefoot and in shorts, face, hands and feet were washed - not necessarily at the same time - in a small metal washbasin! Face and hands were washed prior to eating dinner, and feet before we went to bed (all in cold water). Had a separate towel for feet, but the whole family used it just for that. Same with face and hand drying towel. In my neighborhood I never heard of that tub business. But I was old enough to remember when electricity was brought into the house and when the wooden kitchen floor was replaced with fancy poured stone floor; some planks of the old floor had to get replaced from time to time due to wear and rot. All bathing happened in the kitchen, and lots of water got spilled all around - by six kids and two adults!:-) After I moved away, we had showers in the youth hostel where we were put up (this was set up by the factory I started to work in) so we took a shower every morning - and sometimes before we went on a date!:-) Not too long ago, I read that many doctors recommend a shower only once in two or three days, because it is supposed to preserve some of our natural oils on and in the skin, which is supposed to prevent germs from entering our pores!! Go figure ... Back home though, there was never such high humidity like hereabouts: you could perspire all you 'want' (needed), but as soon as it showed up on your skin it also evaporated - there was not much moisture left for odor causing bacteria to grow. I never remember 'smelly' body odor back then ... Yes indeed, outhouses were the norm, and chamber pots too, which, when all of us kids used it during the night, sometimes had to get emptied into a 'garbage' pail in the kitchen. Chamber pot was enameled sheet metal, but the pail was just galvanized, ca. 5 gal. can (and provided quite a smell by the morning - especially during the summer!:-) Dad's job was to take it out with him after he got up and headed out to the outhouse every single morning - and empty it on the compost pile ... next to the outhouse). Just the other day I was having a conversation with a childhood friend of mine (who now lives in WI): they were rather well to do people - compared to most of their neighbors - and had a bathroom in the house (one of the most modern houses on the block). But it was always so full of 'stuff' that it took a major effort to empty it for the weekly baths - so many times they used a portable wash tub like we did!:-) - especially in the summer. Joe, Equinunk, PA - USA Newsletter continues as no.109C

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 109C DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) July 31, 2002 (c) 2002 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved This fourth section of our 4-section newsletter contains: 1. News From The Lehigh Valley - Bob Strauch 2. Burgenland In Former Days - Gerhard Lang 1. NEWS FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY (from Bob Strauch) * Founder's Weekend at Sacred Heart R.C. Church / Allentown (June 8-9, 2002) (Note - although founded by German Catholic immigrants in 1869, Sacred Heart also served the spiritual needs of Allentown's large Burgenländer Catholic population beginning with their arrival in the late 1880's.) Father John Grabish and co-organizer Dorothy Holveck (whose great-grandparents were among the founders of the parish) related the following story to me about an actual incident that took place when Sacred Heart was built. The original German Catholic church in Allentown is Immaculate Conception on Ridge Ave., founded in the early 1850's. Eventually Irish immigrants starting coming to Allentown in greater numbers and settled in the neighborhoods around the church, which they joined. The German and Irish factions in the parish did not get along. Things got so bad by the late 1860's, that the Germans decided to break away and build a new church. Tensions must have really been high for them to leave the church they had founded. Either that or the Irish had them outnumbered. They purchased land on the other side of the Jordan Creek near 4th & Gordon Sts., and in 1869 they consecrated their newly-built church, Herz-Jesu / Sacred Heart. Having felt pushed out of their own church, they were at least going to take along to the new parish certain relics which they felt they had paid for themselves. This included a prized holy statue. A group of Germans was transporting the statue along Gordon St. to the new church, when, at the bridge over the Jordan Creek, a group of Irish caught up with them and demanded the return of the statue to Immaculate Conception. A scuffle ensued, with the only known casualty being the statue. The Germans won out and the statue has been at Sacred Heart ever since, battle scars and all. This melée has gone down into local folklore as "The Battle of Jordan Creek." I was surprised to find among the parish history displays several pieces of memorabilia from the St. Francis Beneficial Society (St. Franziskus Unterstützungsverein) at 4th & Liberty St. My mother's family, the Schrammels, had been very active in the club and were among the founders. On display were programs from the society's Stiftungsfests (Anniversary Celebrations) in 1920 and 1934, and I noticed the names of my great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother, Stefan and Katharina Schrammel, among the members of the "Vergnügungs-Kommittee" (literally the "Pleasure Committee", but "Entertainment Committee" sounds less sinful). Several other local BB members also attended the first day of the celebration - Judy & Tim Snyder and Dennis & Frieda Eberhardt. As I mentioned previously, one display dealt with the history and emigration from Burgenland using materials from the BB website and related links (even a series of photos showing regional folk costumes from all areas of Burgenland - a nice touch). In 2004, when the parish celebrates its 135th Jubilee, Father Grabish and the organizers of this event hope to hold a similar Founders' Weekend, but on a somewhat larger scale, possibly including a banquet and entertainment. But this depends of course on the amount of interest that is shown by the present and former German and Austrian parishioners and their descendants. Let's say "Vergelt's Gott" to Father Grabish and committee members Dorothy Holveck, Betty Beierschmitt, and Marie (Ebner) Cieri for organizing this tribute to our ancestors. * Wos gibt's Neix ("What's new") in Coplay? This year, St. Peter's R.C. Church in Coplay is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. The parish was founded in 1927 by Burgenländer immigrants and their descendants (Burgenländers started arriving in Coplay in the mid-1880's). Prior to this they attended St. Mary's R.C. Church across the Lehigh River in Catasauqua, a parish founded by German Catholics in the 1800's. For many years, the diocese officially designated St. Peter's a "German-language parish". Those days are gone, but the church choir, directed by Joe Weber (who also directs the Coplay Sängerbund Mixed Chorus), can still sing a complete mass in German and does include German-language hymns at funerals and weddings. There is also a special "German Choir" that sings all German hymns at the 7:30 AM Masses on Easter and Christmas Day. The parish's 75th year will be celebrated with a banquet and dance at the Northampton Community Center on Sunday, October 20, 2002. Also, the church will hold it's annual festival (or "Kirtog", as our ancestors called it) on Sunday, August 4th, 2002 on the parish grounds. The Coplay Sängerbund's 85th Stiftungsfest (Anniversary Celebration) on June 23rd was a success. Three groups performed at the Choral Concert in the upstairs hall - the host group Coplay Sängerbund Mixed Chorus, the Hianznchor (which, by the way, celebrated its 10th Anniversary on July 7th), and the Reading Liederkranz Mixed Chorus. Out in the grove, the Johnny Dee (Domitrovits) Orchestra played in the pavilion for dancing. I heard several people rave about the Schweinsbraten / Roast Pork. The Stiftungsfest was also the site of a mini-BB reunion: local BB'ers Judy & Tim Snyder, Dennis & Frieda Eberhardt, Phyllis Sauerzopf & family, Gus Eckhart and myself; out-of-towners Frank & Mary Teklits, Bill Stubits, as well as Bob Eder and friend Joann who were visiting from Florida. Bob and Joann will be taking their first trip to Burgenland and Hungary this Fall, and there were plenty of people on hand to give them free "expert advice" on what to see, where to stay, etc. Since Bob's main goal is to see his father's birthplace, Pernau (Pornóapáti, Hungary), I was glad that he was able to get first-hand info and different perspectives from people who have a connection to Pernau and have been there, such as Judy Snyder and Pernau-native Margie Binder from Northampton, besides myself. * Musikfest in Bethlehem/Mass at Holy Ghost The guest European band at this year's Musikfest (August 2-11, 2002) in Bethlehem will be from Schwaben/Swabia, namely "Die Hornbergmusikanten" a 15-piece traditional brass band from Ellenberg in eastern Baden-Württemberg state. In addition to playing almost daily at various sites around the festival, they will be featured performers at a special German Heritage Mass at Holy Ghost R.C. Church in South Bethlehem at 10:00 on Sunday, August 4, 2002. A reception in the social hall will follow the mass. For more info on Musikfest and the band, check out their websites: www.musikfest.org www.hornberg.flosch.de * New Austrian Folk Music Website I just received word from the Folk Music Society of the Steiermark (Steirisches Volksliedwerk) in Graz that they are in the midst of developing - with the help of a computer consulting firm in Denver - a new English-language website about Austrian folk music that will be geared towards Austrian emigrants, their descendants, and anybody interested in Austrian culture. To see the progress they're making, check out www.homelandsongs.com. The Folk Music Society's multilingual website can be found at www.steirisches-volksliedwerk.at. On a related note (pardon the pun), I've come across 2 websites encompassing all kinds of music in Austria: www.musica.at www.orpheus.at 2. BURGENLAND IN FORMER DAYS (From: Gerhard H. Lang) Dear members of BB! These are the first chapters of two new series about Burgenland in former days - up to the present. A little story about how I got the idea to post this series in the BB-Newsletter: At the moment I'm working at Großhöflein, a little village near Eisenstadt. The RC parish there is publishing a monthly newspaper, which they give to every household. I read it and found two series - "My life - memories of father Leopold Prizelitz" and "At that time - Großhöflein 100 years ago," by Matthias Artner. Father Leopold Prizelitz was born in Vienna and grew up in Großhöflein, some details of his life can be read in BB Newsletter 65B and 66B (ED. Note - Father Leopold visited the US with BB member Heinz Koller). He describes his childhood at Großhöflein, the games children played at that time and some of his every-day memories. Matthias Artner belongs to the council of the RC parish. He describes some events out of the history and some stories of every day life, as for example: the past century, 80 years Burgenland, harvest, vintage and a few more. Every day life in Großhöflein is described here, but as far as I know, things could have been taken from almost every Burgenland village. I have permission from both - Father Leopold and Matthias Artner - to translate that stories into English and to publish them in the BB Newsletters. The first chapters are rather general, but later on they go into more detail - so: Enjoy reading! Gerhard H. Lang * "My life" Memories of Father Leopold Prizelitz Kindheit: Wien - Arsenal (September 2001) Childhood: Vienna - "Arsenal" The noon-time bells of the nearby St. Johann Church rang for the "Lord's Angels" prayer, when I "caught sight of the world's light" on Thursday, Aug. 14, 1913, the Vigil-Day of the "Feast of the Assumption" at Vienna's artillery-barracks in area no. 12. According to mother's calculation, I should have been born on Aug. 1. I have been lying 14 days longer "in the pan", as one used to say. Therefore I had already 5 kgs of weight. My head was formed as an egg, when I left mother's lap. Mother later told me that the midwife, Maria Grober, immediately after birth pushed my head to a normal form, because the bones were still soft. So I got a "dent" right from the start. Probably I had that too in my later life. But as far as I remember, nobody accused me of that. On the day of my birth, my 11-month older sister Maria started walking. I was born inbetween the cannons of the artillery-barracks, quasi as an omen to my 7 1/2 years of military service in the German armed forces during WW-II, including the 2 1/2 years as "guest of the Russian nation," being a prisoner of war in Estonia. The "Arsenal" was my birthplace, because my father served as "Feuerwerker" (artificer) in the artillery and had an official residence there. My father, Josef Prizelitz, was a merchant, but at that time he was a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army. The year of my birth was one of deep peace in the monarchy, where Emperor Franz Josef I reigned. In 1914, when WW-I broke out, my father had to march to Gran, but never was at the front. As he was born and raised as a German in the west-Hungarian township of Nagy Heflany (Großhöflein) near the city of Kis Marton (Eisenstadt), he was able to talk and write perfectly in both languages - German and Hungarian. Therefore he acted as interpreter at the military court. On Aug. 17, I had been baptized by military priest, Gustav Kepler, with the name Josef Anton. Godmother was my grandmother, Anna Prizelitz, from Großhöflein. Once my grandmother walked with a basket worn on the back (could we say hump-basket?) full of cherries from Großhöflein to Vienna to the "Arsenal" and asked my mother "Where are your back-yards?" At Großhöflein, the part behind the barns, where orchards and vinyards begin, is called "Hintaus" (which I would translate as back-yards). As a small child, I had the "Englische Krankheit" ("English sickness"), rachitis, due to lack of lime (calcium). Therefore, I didn't walk until the age of 18 months and I had bowlegs. Instinctively I scraped off and ate the lime of the walls in "Arsenal". One can see how nature finds a way to help without being controlled by the brain. In consequence of that additional supply of lime, my bones grew strong and my bowlegs straight and I became a good marcher. Perhaps due to that, God called me to infantry, the "Fusslappen"-Geschwader ("foot-rags"-squadron). (to be continued) * At that time - Großhöflein 100 years ago - by Matthias Artner. A short time ago, the 2nd millennium ended and the 3rd millennium started. But several profound changes embossed the last 20th century. Events, ideologies, innovations linked together in rapid sequences and presented a scenario never seen before the new millennium. There were: advancement in energy, the important turnaround in nuclear research, the end of totalitarianism, the more and more massive refusal to depression and war, space research, the importance of the means of transportation, furtherance in music, literature, sciences and last but not least the computers. The star-cult of well-known actors, pictures of different worlds, symbolic moments inspired strong emotions. For some people there was prosperity, others experienced harm. (to be continued) END OF NEWSLETTER BURGENLAND BUNCH STAFF (USA unless designated otherwise) Coordinator & Editor Newsletter: (Gerald J. Berghold) Burgenland Editor: (Albert Schuch; Austria) Home Page Editor: (Hap Anderson) Internet/URL Editor: (Anna Tanczos Kresh) Contributing Editors: Austro/Hungarian Research: (Fritz Königshofer) Burgenland Co-Editor: (Klaus Gerger, Austria) Burgenland Lake Corner Research: (Dale Knebel) Chicago Burgenland Enclave: (Tom Glatz) Croatian Burgenland: (Frank Teklits) Home Page village lists: (Bill Rudy) Home Page surname lists: (Tom Steichen) Home Page membership list: (Hannes Graf, Austria) Judaic Burgenland: (Maureen Tighe-Brown) Lehigh Valley Burgenland Enclave: (Robert Strauch) Western US BB Members-Research:(Bob Unger) WorldGenWeb-Austria, RootsWeb Liason-Burgenland: (Charles Wardell, Austria) BB ARCHIVES (can be reached via Home Page hyperlinks) WORLDGEN WEB BURGENLAND QUERY BOARD http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=localities.ceeurope.austria The BB is in contact with the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft, Hauptplatz 7, A-7540 Güssing, Burgenland, Austria. Burgenl.gem@bnet.at Burgenland Bunch Newsletter distributed courtesy of (c) 1999 RootsWeb.com, Inc. P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798 Newsletter and List Rights Reserved. Permission to Copy Granted; Provide Credit and Mention Source.