BB News No. 126 dtd 29 Feb 2004

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 126 DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Our 9th Year - 20 Pages/4 Email Sections Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) February 29, 2004 (c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved *** "SO WE BEAT ON, BOATS AGAINST THE CURRENT, BORNE BACK CEASELESSLY INTO THE PAST." -F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby." *** RECIPIENTS PLEASE READ: You are receiving this email because you are a BB member or have asked to be added to our distribution list. To discontinue these newsletters, email with message "remove". ("Cancel" will cancel membership, website listings and mail.) Send address and listing changes to the same place. Sign 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. If you join, your email address will be available from our websites. We can't help with non-Burgenland family history. Appropriate comments and articles are appreciated. Staff and web site addresses are listed at the end of newsletter section "C". Notes and articles without a by-line are written by the editor and reflect his views. Members please exchange data in a courteous and cooperative manner-not to do so defeats the purpose of our organization. This first section of our 4-section newsletter includes: 1. Hungarian Village Names & BB Work Aids 2. Klaus Gerger - BG Liaison & BB Burgenland Co-Editor - Visits 3. "Blood Washes Blood" - A Family History Search - Book Review 4. Taste Of The Burgenland - Sterz 5. Second Raab Valley Reunion - Heimattreffen - Limeport, PA 1. HUNGARIAN VILLAGE NAMES & BB WORK AIDS One of our first web pages was Albert's Village List, prepared by Burgenland Editor Albert Schuch. This lists the villages in today's Burgenland by district. It shows the former Hungarian (or Croatian) name and the location of the parish church and civil office. There are over 400 villages and I find myself using this list all the time. I printed it and keep it in my daily work folder along with our BB web page layouts, my own filing cabinet list, copies of our Invitation and Welcome letters, an Alphabetic Index of our newsletters (dated 12/31/98), Index of the best from the first five years of the BB newsletter (BB News no. 100 dated 10/31/01), a catalog of all the indices from the newsletters (you can print same from our Archives Index), and one or two other reference aids. Without this work folder, it would take ages to answer queries. I must often determine the German name of some Hungarian village and so I've asked our staff to put such an alpha list together. I've received a preliminary which I've printed and find it of great help. Eventually we will add this to our homepage. Very few of our members, other than staff, require all of these work aids. Most are interested in only a few villages, but all should have an index. I'd recommend that you print the various available indices to the newsletters - sometimes better than using the various search engines to find a specific item. If you are like me, you have family history material filed everywhere and a key is required. 2. KLAUS GERGER VISITS My own genealogy has not grown much as a result of the creation of the BB. I exhausted all of the easy data sources years ago and became something of a Burgenland guru as a result. Not many people can add to my family history. There have been exceptions; however, and you'll find their names on the BB staff list - these members have helped me immensely, either by pointing to sources previously unknown or engaging in activity for my (our) benefit. Klaus Gerger (Vienna and Güssing) has been one of these people. We met through the Internet when he joined the BB and it turns out we are distant cousins on my mother's side. He soon provided a lot of material and accepted a job as BB associate Burgenland editor, with the specialty of southern Burgenland, my area of study. You'll know of him through using his map and village sites (Klaus Gerger's Map Site available from the BB homepage). Klaus had occasion to come to the US for the first time on a business trip and recently spent a weekend with us on his return from Texas. We spent much time in front of my computer downloading many of his pictures and files. I've been working with them ever since. After leaving Winchester, Klaus then visited with BB Austrian editor Fritz Königshofer. Klaus, Fritz, Albert Schuch and I spent some time together in Eisenstadt a few years ago. We were delving into the Catholic Diocesan Archives and the Burgenland State Library. I told my friends this was a meeting of "Burgenland eagles" - to which Fritz responded "yes - but bald eagles!" Time was all too short and we just skimmed the surface, but Klaus has kept at it, photocopying early records for Güssing and Heiligenkreuz. While the job is not yet complete, perhaps we will be able to eventually make some of them available on our web site. I hope that I can eventually meet all of our staff this way - they are great people and joining with them has been a benefit that I did not consider when starting the BB. I may not have added much to my genealogy but I've certainly learned a lot about the Burgenland and made some fine friends. 3. "BLOOD WASHES BLOOD" - A SICILIAN FAMILY HISTORY SEARCH - BOOK REVIEW With our interest in the Burgenland we sometimes forget that there are other areas being searched for family history. I enjoy reading about them as I find that the problems we encounter are often identical. I recently read the book "Blood Washes Blood" - by Frank Viviano, Washington Square Press, Pocket Books, 2001, ISBN 0-671-04159-2. It is a true story of love, murder, and redemption under the Sicilian sun, but underlying it all is the author's search for his Sicilian heritage and his family history. He encounters vast cultural differences, local naming conventions, name variations, obstructive religious and civil bureaucrats, missing records, help and hindrance from strangers and distant relatives, language problems and, last but not least, that loyalty to one's village can be both a blessing and a curse to family history searches. All of this is overlaid with a most interesting and enigmatic involvement with the "Mafioso", almost a minor history of the Mafia. I was struck by the similarity of historical events between Sicily and the Burgenland, the cause and effect of the many invasions and migrations. Sicily, while an island, is as much a "border" between Europe and Asia as the Burgenland, only the invaders differ. This has caused the inhabitants to have a village orientation to give them strength. For these people, truly the village, not the country formed by the present occupier, is the "Heimat." A villager from the Burgenland and from Sicily would find much in common. Frank Viviano uncovers his family history and solves the riddle posed by his grandfather on his Detroit death bed. In the process he uncovers his roots. The paperback book is now briefly available from Daedalus Books (www.salebooks.com) for only $3.98, originally $14.00. I recommend it highly - it is not only a great folk history tale, it is also a great story - proving once again that truth is stranger than fiction. If you'd like to know how to trace family overseas, do yourself a favor and buy this book - if you have Sicilian or Italian blood in your family, it belongs in your library. 4. TASTE OF THE BURGENLAND - STERZ (Editor & Bob Strauch) ED. Note: Paul Orban from Sydney, Australia, writes: I was born in Hungary on the Austrian border in Sopron (Ödenburg) and migrated to Australia more than half a century ago. When I was a child, the German speaking population, of Schwabian origin, called Ponzichter (Bohnenzüchter) had a dish called Sterz. To my knowledge there were three versions: plain Sterz, Bohnen Sterz and Krumpiern (Kartoffel) Sterz. I wonder If you have a recipe or know of a website where I could obtain a recipe for plain Sterz? ED Reply - There are more than three versions! Some were made of cornmeal - other used buck wheat and I believe some also used plain flour plus the bean (mashed) that you mention. Another, Blut Sterz was made with blood from slaughtering. One version even has potatoes added. There is also an egg sterz. There are boiled and baked and fried variations. The cornmeal sterz is a variation of American mush or the Italian polenta or the Romanian mamaglia. I prefer polenta. Some types of sterz were added to soup - I had a buckwheat sterz dish with soup in a restaurant in Jennersdorf in 1993. The owner was very proud of having it on the menu as an authentic Austrian dish! I believe this dish stems from Styria, as it is very popular there as well as Burgenland. Most recipes involve just meal plus water, salt and fat. A very simple dish. I still have not supplied you with a recipe. I will research this and prepare a newsletter article. For those who never ate any, let me say it is one of the simplest recipes but also one that is hardest to make properly. Notice that simple ingredients are really all that is required (even though one recipe uses a blender!). You might have to be brought up on it to like it, but like so many other Burgenland dishes, it can be a comfort and bring back memories. It also helps to have a grandmother show you how to make it. One type of Sterz not mentioned is baked buckwheat - this was always my favorite - crispy and swimming with lard (yum, yum) alas, not good for us any more! Still if someone has a good recipe, please let me have it. I asked Lehigh Valley editor Bob Strauch for help, he writes: Here are some English-language Sterz recipes. Eiersterz (Egg) 1 1/2 c. milk 1 1/2 c. flour 4 eggs 2 Tbsp. melted butter 1 stick butter (4 oz.) Place in blender the eggs, flour, milk, and melted butter. Blend at high speed for 2 to 3 seconds. Turn off and scrape sides, then blend again for 40 seconds. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. in a 13X9 enamel pan, melt the stick of butter in oven. Do not burn. Pour in batter. bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Cut into serving portions and serve at once. This goes with soup. (From "Recipes Old and New: St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church", Allentown, PA. Recipe submitted by Erna Blaukowitsch Zotter of Allentown.) Riebelsterz (Potato) 1 1/4 lbs. baking potatoes, boiled until just tender and chilled overnight, covered 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. salt 1/3 c. unsalted butter 1/3 c. lard Peel the potatoes, grate them coarse, and in a bowl toss them with the flour and the salt (the mixture should remain crumbly). In a large heavy skillet, heat the butter and lard until the fat is hot and in the fat cook the potato mixture over moderately high heat, turning over portions of it frequently with a spatula, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are crisp and brown. Serve with sauerkraut, coleslaw, or crisp bacon. (From the article "Austria's Narrow-Gage Railways" by Lillian Langseth-Christensen, Gourmet August 1984.) Babsterc / Bohnensterz / "Bean Mash" 7. oz beans 14 oz. flour 3/4 oz lard 2 Tbsp. salt Soak the beans overnight. Rinse and place in 3 pt. of cold water. Cook until very soft. Drain the liquid and reserve. In a heavy pot or iron skillet, mix the flour and salt and, stirring constantly, cook to a golden color. Do not add any lard or oil! Gradually add 1 3/4 pt. of the hot bean stock to the flour and blend until smooth. Heat the lard and pour over the stock. Now add the cooked beans. Let rest for a few minutes, then mash the beans with a fork. Before serving, place the beans into an ovenproof dish and warm in a preheated oven. The dish is even better if the top is browned a bit. Bean mash can be served as an appetizer with salad, sour cream, or buttermilk. It is also an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes prepared with sauce or gravy. (From "A Taste of Hungary: Sopron and Environs", by Zoltán Halász and Károly Hemzö.) Bohnensterz (Bean) 1 (15 or 16 oz.) can red dark kidney beans 2 c. flour 1 tsp. salt 1 1/2 sticks (6 oz.) butter, margarine, or shortening Add 1/2 can of water to beans, 1 tsp. salt, and bring to boil. Put flour in a deep frying pan. Heat flour, stirring constantly until it is very hot, then add the boiling beans with water a little at a time until it is all used. Then take a big fork, mix mixture until it is crumbly. Heat shortening or butter until very hot, spoon over mixture (it should sizzle), stir it up and around. Now it is ready to eat. Eat it with a spoon, and drink it with buttermilk or regular milk. (From "What's Cookin' in Austrian Kitchens around Chicago" by the Jolly Burgenländer Social Club. Recipe submitted by Irma Schulock.) Türkensterz/Polentasterz/Kukuruzsterz (Cornmeal) 2 lb. cornmeal 3/4 lb. bacon salt 2 qt. water Bring water to a boil and salt. Stirring vigorously, add cornmeal gradually. Cover, put in a moderate oven, and let steam until the liquid has evaporated and the Sterz is very firm. Fry bacon in a cast-iron pan until crisp; drain, keeping fat in pan, and keep bacon pieces warm. Using a fork, break apart cornmeal mixture and transfer to bacon fat in cast-iron pan (should be crumbly, not solid). Stir well, serve, and top with fried bacon. (From "The Cooking of Burgenland and the Other Austrian Provinces" by Alois Schmidl) Meanwhile, here's a page (in German) about Sterz w/recipes: www.wandorf.de/de/allgemein/re_sterz.html 5. SECOND RAAB VALLEY REUNION - HEIMATTREFFEN (from Bob Strauch) On Saturday, September 25, 2004, a second reunion for the villages of Raabfidisch (Rábafüzes), Jakobshof (Jakabháza), Oberradling (Felsörönök), and Unterradling (Alsórönök) will take place at the St. Joseph Parish Center Social Hall in Limeport, Pennsylvania (a few miles south of Allentown). The event is open not only to first-generation immigrants and their descendants, but to anyone interested in attending. The day will commence at 1 PM with a social hour, followed at 2 PM by a Schnitzel and Bratwurst dinner, served family-style. Imported German beer and soda is included (BYOB for wine and/or mixed drinks). At 3:30 PM, the "Hianz'nchor" will present of program of folksongs, and the Emil Schanta Band will provide dance music from 4-8 PM. Tickets are $25.00 per person and must be purchased in advance. For more information or tickets contact: Terry Deutsch 610-437-2741 or Rudi Schuster 610-965-2610. Newsletter continues as no. 126A.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 126A DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) February 29, 2004 (c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved ***IT IS FASTNACHT TIME AGAIN*** This second section of our 4-section newsletter includes: 1. Some Fastnacht Comments 2. More Schachendorf Data From WW-II 3. Mail Offers For International Family Yearbooks 4. Anna Kresh Elected To Board Of Pittsburgh Austrian Society 1. SOME FASTNACHT COMMENTS (suggested by Bob Strauch) (ED. Note: Of all of the Burgenland ethnic treats, I would find it hard not to consider Fastnachts (Krapfen-Kropfn-Raised Doughnuts) number one. When the various US doughnut chains began to be popular in the 1950s, they differed from the local bakeries by the addition of very many more variations containing much more sugar. Plain raised or sugared/glazed doughnuts [some filled with jam] were replaced by chocolate covered, sprinkles, cinnamon, coconut, crullers, ground nuts, crème, etc. The original Fastnacht or Krapfen disappeared except for a few ethnic bakeries. Now I no longer find them although some of the jelly filled come close to the original. Our local Winchester Martin's (Giant Foods) do carry the original unfilled seasonally (they must come from Pennsylvania) -- like Xmas and other holidays they start offering these seasonal treats about 6 weeks ahead of Fastnacht. Our marketing types must always try to improve on the original or see how many choices can be offered. I shouldn't eat doughnuts at all, but once a year (sometimes twice!) I defy my doctor and my wife and indulge. This year was no exception. As a child, my grandmother had two big porcelain bowls (Reindles she called them in dialect? maybe from Ründe(l)-anyway we still have them, dents and all) which she filled with doughnuts for every Fastnacht - I couldn't get enough. They were the plain variety - crisp on the outside - mildly sugared and with a perfect yellow stripe around the middle. Following are some Fastnacht comments from Bob Strauch.) Fastnacht Festivities (from Allentown Morning Call) Angela Davis, radical voice of the 1960s, Black Panther sympathizer, Communist and acquitted murder suspect will address "How Gender Structures the Prison Industrial Complex" at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in Lehigh University's Zoellner Arts Center.... Her talk at Lehigh is part of its Just Globalization lecture series organized by the school's Humanities Center. Admission is free. Information: 610-758-4649. Bob asks: How does this qualify as a "Fastnacht Activity"? Maybe they're serving donuts at the reception afterwards? A Fastnacht dance was also mentioned - does one dance with doughnuts between the couples? That would be fun! This year the local paper turned Fastnacht into a local holiday frolic - Bob sent me many extracts including a tantalizing, mouth watering, full color picture of a perfect "Krapfen!" He also writes: Weis Markets (Lehigh Valley) has pretty good ones. They're made with potato flour, so they're light, and not gummy, which I hate. I'm taking two dozen tonight to a singing session for our "Faschingsfeier". One of my ladies still makes her own Kropfn. There are others who do also. One of my singers, also a BB-er (Gus Eckhart), told us of an interesting tradition. Gus' wife Mary was born in Kreuzstätten near Arad in the Banat (now Romania) and came to NYC with her folks in the 1930's. Gus' mother-in-law made her own Kropfn every year. I don't know if they called them Kropfn. The Germans in Kreuzstätten originally came from Alsace-Lorraine in the 1700's and might have had another regional name for them. Anyhow, coins were inserted into the doughnuts - a quarter, a dime, and a penny. Whoever found the quarter in their doughnut was proclaimed King/Queen, whoever got the dime was Prince/Princess, and whoever got the penny was the Hosenscheisser/-in. From The Morning Call Looking for Fastnachts? February 18, 2004 (for our Lehigh Valley, PA, BB members) If you have not yet ordered your fastnachts for Fastnacht Day on Tuesday, you can order or find them at the following locations (edited). Orders only St. John's Lutheran Church, 826 Mahoning Drive West, Mahoning Township. Pickup is 6-8 p.m. Monday or 8-10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Order soon by calling 610-377-3895. Schoeneck Moravian Church, 316 N. Broad St. Extension, Nazareth. Pickup is noon-5 p.m. Monday. Deadline to place orders is Wednesday. Call 610-759-0376. Goodwill Fire Company, 7723 Hamilton Blvd., Trexlertown, is selling fastnachts Feb. 21 to 23. Orders were taken, but a few extras may still be available. Call Monday after 11 a.m. for extras: 610-395-9759. Bakeries Saylor's Bakery, 17th and Liberty streets, Allentown, across from the Main Gate at the Allentown Fairgrounds, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, orders in advance and walk-ins, 610-433-5508. Bakers Dozen, 644 Gravel Pike (Route 29), East Greenville; 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; traditional potato doughnuts in plain, sugared, cinnamon, powdered and glazed, orders in advance or walk-ins, 215-679-2132. Village Bake Shoppe, 751 Union Blvd., Allentown; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday; plain, powdered or sugared; orders up to day of or walk-ins. Closed Monday. 610-435-1511. Schubert's Bakery, 49 N. Broad St., Nazareth; 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday; orders in advance or walk-in, 610-759-2932. Egypt Star Bakery, 608 N. Front St., Allentown, 9 a.m. Sunday, 7 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, no orders in advance, 610-434-8516;; 45 N. Front St., Coplay, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, order in advance or walk-in, 610-262-5115; 2225 MacArthur Rd., Whitehall, 610-434-3762; hours vary. Emmaus Bakery, 415 Chestnut St., Emmaus; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday (only Feb. 23 due to Fastnacht Day); 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday; orders in advance preferred, also available in store. Glazed, plain, sugared, powdered sugared and cinnamon sugared. 610-965-2170. Copyright (c) 2004, The Morning Call ED-maybe you can check these out next year. 2. MORE SCHACHENDORF WW-II DATA Member John Rajkovacz writes: I have a some questions that are of interest to me. The Charles Petti referred to (in previous newsletter) I remember when I was in the army of occupation (US) and obtained a Gray Pass in the four-power city of Vienna to go into the Russian Zone and visit my grandparents in Schachendorf and Grosspetersdorf. My grandfather Karl Balogh with family members had a reception for me in the Petti Gasthaus in Schachendorf. Is this Charles Petti from the same family? (Forwarded to Charles via his sister who is a BB member.) My other question relates to the tragedy of my grandfather's brother Miklos Balogh. During WW-I, he was awarded the big silver medal for personal heroism. I have a picture of him in Hungarian uniform and the medal identity was confirmed by my daughter's father-in-law, whose own father was awarded this medal in WW-I. In Austrian military archives, can I find out what distinguishing event was the cause for this award? Daughter's father-in-law arrived in US in the 1960's and has said that the Communist party deleted much of the historical archives and I thought that it may still be available in Austria. In December of 1944, Miklos was arrested by the Gestapo for allegedly hostile activities along with a brother-in-law with surname Arth. There were about 15 others that were arrested and subsequently beheaded in Graz. My uncle in Chicago (when still alive) said mass for him at St. Stephen of Hungary annually. Is there documentation about their alleged acts as I know of no sabotage directed by the victims. I know that Hitler was not a favorite of theirs especially with their sons serving in the German army. My impression is that they were Hungarian patriots. I also know that Miklos was a bold individual who had a strong sense of injustice. I would be interested in any information that could be obtained. (ED. Can anyone help?) 3. MAIL OFFERS FOR INTERNATIONAL FAMILY YEARBOOKS I have again received an offer for the "Current Year Berghold Family Yearbook" plus a complete revision of the classic "Berghold Family History." A free Berghold Family CD Rom is also included. All for only $39.85 plus $5.00 processing fee. Sounds good, doesn't it, but like they say, if it sounds too good to be true...! This is the same family history offer I covered in a newsletter last year. I feel a repeat is in order. Following is a query concerning this offer and my answer. You may also have received such an offer. Reader writes: Hello, I came across your website while searching the internet for the Family New Company in Denver. You asked to let you know if anyone else comes across it. My brother-in-law received just such an advertisement this week and was quite excited. When he told me about it, I asked him to let me first check it out, as it sounded like one more genealogy rip-off. His letter was for an Italian name, with the letter telling him a few details which I myself would have sprung for had I not started studying genealogy a few years back. A few of the details seem eerily like my work on the family, and I have never knowingly up-loaded my files or a GEDCOM to anyone. The name is not a common one in America so they have to have some kind of filler or great imagination to produce a full CD about this family. About 3 years ago, I did put together a small packet for a few other family members and I wonder if this firm has that. More than half of the people in my file are living and would not want their personal information used like that. What can be done when someone does something like this, would I have to buy the book or CD first to see what information it does have and if the information is mine, then what? I hate to have to buy the thing, but if it does include family information that was given to me in trust, then I need to do something to stop this book. Thank you for having this website, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Reply: It is very difficult to prove copyright infringement without engaging in expensive lawsuits. I seriously doubt if this firm used any of your material (of course that depends on how much you've made available on line.) The only way you can be sure is to buy the book and make a comparison, maybe that's what they count on. I too had the same feeling but, like you, I know that one can't find my data unless it has been taken from someone I've given a Gedcom, Pedigree chart, Ahentafel, etc. Even then it would take some editing effort. There is much general net information available concerning family if one uses the on-line telephone lists (where people with your name live), census records (after 10 years), social security death index (family longevity record - their reference to mine was wrong). They imply 24 databases were used, if true and if they've taken the data correctly, the book may well be worth the money, if you don't want to search those bases yourself). Much of this data is considered to be in the public realm and may be used by anyone for any purpose other than criminal. It wouldn't be too hard for someone to put together what looks like a family history, then pad it with generalities (ethnic recipes for ethnic names etc.). Include a list of Ellis Island family names from the Ellis Island web site. Maybe one would even pay $45 just for that? Add a few geographic items and you almost have a book. Then add a few pictures of Europe or wherever. Maybe even a general coat of arms. People like to see their name in print and salivate over the possibility of aristocratic links. These firms dote on that. In other words you put together a general format, use software that will drop selected data in given spots and then prepare a book manuscript. Replace the family name from the offer (appears in 19 places) and you can use it for everyone in the phone book - see what I mean? You could also buy legitimate family history data from software firms and copy it - again copyright infringement and I doubt if they'd open themselves up to criminal action. Still, given enough orders, money can be made. This firm, The Family News, 1181 S. Parker Rd. Ste 105, Denver, CO 80231-2152, as stated again sent me an order form for the Year 2004 International Berghold Family Yearbook - price $44.85. Same hints of great family data as last year including reference to the "classic Berghold Family History" - whatever that is. No doubt in my mind that it is a legal scam (they can prove that they deliver a family book - however it will not have anything in it that you can't find yourself elsewhere and most importantly it will not link families with any degree of accuracy or provide sources). I think these people are treading on the very fringe of postal crime just like the offers for family coats of arms that have been around for years. Like a former president implied - it all depends on your definition of words - they use the term Family Yearbook - note they don't say genealogy. Show it to a genealogist and he will shake his head and laugh. How much research will someone do for $45 less material cost - not very much! Last quoted fee for research from a qualified genealogist that I had was $50/hr plus any travel expenses, with a $500 minimum. In reading the fine print, I see no reference to their qualifications, in addition they tell you "This data is for you to do your own genealogical research" and "custom copies are printed if enough orders are received." I constantly tell our 1100+ members - "Only you or a close relative can put your family history together - even then check what the close relative has done!" A stranger won't fill this bill! If you want to pursue this, I'd suggest contacting the postal authorities. They've clamped down on the coats-of-arms scams in the past. I can't be bothered and I put mine in the trash with the rest of the junk mail. I've answered your query in some depth as I am again passing it on in an article to my readers. 4. ANNA KRESH ELECTED TO BOARD OF PITTSBURGH AUSTRIAN SOCIETY BB Internet Editor Anna Kresh writes: I don't know if I told you that I was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Austrian American Cultural Society in Pittsburgh, PA. One of my tasks is to set up a web site for the Society. It is now up and running, although it is still "under construction", but it will give you an idea of what the Society is doing here in Pittsburgh. Our annual Viennese Ball is coming up on March 27th, so everyone is pretty busy. The URL is http://www.aacs-pit.org/ Also, I have been asked to give a presentation on "Austro-Hungarian and Burgenland Genealogy" for the Cranberry Genealogy Club on March 20th. How I wish you were there to answer the difficult ones. ED. We congratulate Anna on her achievement. Pittsburgh area members may wish to attend both functions. Newsletter continues as no. 126B

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 126B DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) February 29, 2004 (c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved *** COMING SOON - ARTICLE ON THE BURGENLAND COMPOSER MOSONYI MIHALY - THE THIRD ARTICLE BY AUSTRIAN EDITOR FRITZ KÖNIGSHOFER IN THE SERIES "BURGENLAND MUSICIANS. (See archives for Haydn and Liszt) *** This third section of our 4-section Newsletter includes: 1. Lehigh County, PA, To Offer Bilingual Polls 2. New Year's Expression "Guten Rutsch" 3. Thanks For The Anniversary Messages! 4. Tantsits Welcome Klaus Gerger 5. Member Shares Positive BB Experience 6. BB Primer - Searching For US Relatives 7. Any Gmosers Out There? 8. Request For Gigler Family Data 1. LEHIGH COUNTY, PA, TO OFFER BILINGUAL POLLS (ED. Note: I received the following information that appeared in the Allentown Morning Call. Whether you consider the idea of bilingual polls good, bad or indifferent, I wonder how our Burgenland German, Hungarian and Croat naturalized immigrants felt during their period in the Immigration Pot? I can't remember my grandparents ever voting - can you?) Lehigh County to offer bilingual ballots at 25 polls. Twenty-four of them are in Allentown. The other election site is in Whitehall Township. Hispanic leader praises the 'strong stand.' By Dan Hartzell Of The Morning Call. February 19, 2004 Twenty-four polls in Allentown and one in Whitehall Township, where at least 4 percent of the voting-age population speak primarily Spanish, will offer bilingual ballots beginning with the April 27 primary election. The three-member Lehigh County Election Board unanimously adopted the Spanish-and-English ballot plan Wednesday. County Executive Jane Ervin, chairwoman of the board, called the change "proactive" and noted the county is exceeding the requirements of a federal court order that prompted Berks County's conversion to dual ballots in last year's election. The Lehigh board also approved a host of other changes intended to facilitate, as well as encourage, the participation of Spanish-speaking residents in the election process. Among them are improved poll-worker training, having Spanish-speaking workers at the specified polls, and hiring a part-time employee to coordinate Spanish-language programs overall. The Lehigh changes were greeted by a chorus of plaudits Wednesday, with area Hispanic leaders and state election officials alike praising the board for what they consider its foresight. But with about 35 people attending Wednesday, mostly county officials and reporters, only Allentown resident Peter B. Hrycenko sang clearly off-key, asking in vain for Lehigh cost estimates. After the meeting, Hrycenko said the changes discriminate against other non-English-speaking residents, and fail to promote the prompt learning of English - something immigrants previously took pride in accomplishing, to the benefit of society overall, he said. "I'm totally opposed to this whole concept of language assistance," Hrycenko said. The wards where Spanish ballots will be provided are Whitehall, 2nd District, and in Allentown, 1st through 5th; 6th Ward, 1st and 2nd districts; 7th Ward, 1st and 2nd districts; 8th Ward, 1st, 2nd 3rd, 5th and 6th districts; 9th Ward; 10th Ward, 1st, 3rd and 4th districts; 14th Ward, 1st and 2nd districts; 16th Ward, 2nd District, and 19th Ward, 2nd and 4th districts. (ED. Many were previously Burgenland Wards.) 2. NEW YEAR'S EXPRESSION "GUTEN RUTSCH" (suggested by Inge Schuch) The more German I learn, the more I realize that I don't know many idiomatic expressions. While I'm wishing my Austrian friends "Ein Glückliches Neu Jahr" they are telling each other to have a "Gute Rutsch." I know that rutsch in German means slide but how does this relate to New Year? Viennese and Kleinpetersdorf BB-member, interpreter par excellanz and my very good Burgenland guide and friend, Inge Schuch, tells me when she writes: Der traditionelle Silvester-Gruß "Guten Rutsch!" hat überhaupt nichts mit rutschen zu tun. Der viel beschworene "Rutsch" leitet sich vom hebräischen Wort für Neujahr ab: Rosch ha-Schana ("Anfang des Jahres"). Es handelt sich um eines der vielen Wörter, die aus dem Jiddischen ins Deutsche eingeflossen sind, so wie auch "Chuzpe", "malochen", "Massel", "meschugge", "schmusen", "Stuss", "Tacheles" und "Zoff". Guter Rutsch heißt also wörtlich: guter Anfang! (Der Spiegel, December 2003) I will try to translate and make Inge smile: Auf Englisch: The traditional New Year's greeting (have a) "Good Slide" perhaps has nothing to do with sliding. The many times used "Rutsch" stems from the Hebrew word for New Year - Rosch ha Schana (the beginning of the {Hebrew} year). It appears to be one of the many Jewish words which have entered the German (vocabulary), such as Chuzpe, etc. Good Rutsch therefore means "good beginning." From the newspaper "Der Spiegel" In the same way that English has incorporated many other foreign words and phrases, so too has German and the German spoken in the Burgenland has an even greater admixture of Slavic and Hungarian. Perhaps someday, as languages borrow from each other, we will all speak a common language. Inge and her brother Albert (our Burgenland Editor) normally write to me in English. Every so often they will interject a little German perhaps hoping that I will learn some more of their language. It is a good way to become bilingual. 3. THANKS FOR THE ANNIVERSARY MESSAGES On January 31, my wife and I were anticipating our 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 1, when the UPS delivered an Imperial Torte from Vienna - an Austrian anniversary present from Albert and Inge Schuch - it didn't take us long to demolish it! It was much appreciated as were the many other nice messages we received from friends and BB members on the occasion of our anniversary. 4. TANTSITS WELCOME KLAUS GERGER Ed & Priscilla Tantsits write: Klaus, Welcome to the USA. We hope you are enjoying your visit with Gerry. If you would ever get to visit the Lehigh Valley let us know of you visit before you come. Best regards to Heidi, girls and the rest of the families in Güssing. Gerry, I know that you are in the Sorger family tree line. I am doing my family tree now for the Tantsits tree. Boy, this name has been spelled so many different ways. My great-grandfather Franz Tantsits married Anna Klein, daughter of Georg Klein and Anna Weider. Baptism sponsors were Georg and Anna Sorger. All in Langzeil. Ties also go over to Klaus' family. Best regards to everyone. Klaus enjoy your trip. It pays to read the BB Newsletter. (ED - I'm sure the Tantsits are distant cousins, we always feel all of the Burgenland is related one way or another, at least those of us from the same areas.) 5. MEMBER SHARES POSITIVE BB EXPERIENCE Tom Platzer writes: I have been a member of the group for 6 months and have enjoyed your newsletters. Since joining the group, I have had some positive results from being listed on the membership list. Someone from the Burgenland was looking for a relative in the USA. I in turn was looking for a relative in Halbturn, Austria. The person that made contact with me happened to live in the village next to Halbturn, thus she was a valuable resource and was instrumental in making contact with lost family members. Another note of interest, I sent a letter to Austria to an address on an old letter dated 1921. The letter found its way to Halbturn. The family still lived at that address three generations later! My resource provided a telephone number to the residence I was looking for. I encountered a little language barrier. I am unable to speak German and Johann Brundlmayer was unable to speak English. Fortunately his granddaughter was present and interpreted for us. This encounter proved most valuable in the identification of old family pictures without names and helped to resolve some perplexing dead ends. Hopefully next year we can visit the Burgenland and rekindle the ties with lost family members. I thought I would share this positive experience and the benefit I encountered belonging to the Burgenland group. 6. BB PRIMER - SEARCHING FOR US RELATIVES (courtesy Anna Kresh) (ED. Note: Most of the BB members live in the US and we sometimes forget that people overseas are also looking for relatives and descendants who immigrated. It is just as hard for them to conduct a US search as it is for us to search foreign records. Anna Kresh, URL editor has supplied the following suggestions to one such person - it could just as easily be used by anyone, correspondence follows.) Subj: Search for relatives from Vas megye and Austria From: Timea Horvath I am from Budapest, Hungary and have been searching for years for our relatives who immigrated to the USA, but without any luck so far. I have found your name in the Burgenland Bunch Newsletter archive on the internet and thought I would ask for your help. I realized from your newsletter that I might have been searching for the wrong names because one of my ancestor immigrated from Vas megye (Iron county in English or Eisenberg in German) and it is possible that they were registered under the Eisenberg name by accident. All I have is a short description from my aunt in Budapest, my father's sister who is in her 80s now and this is how she remembers: In 1912 or 1913 Emil Mandl married to Anna Horvath immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA by ship through Fiume, Italy, and opened a shoe business. We believe they had children Anna and Ferenc but maybe more. Emil Mandl was from Austria and Anna Horvath was the sister of my father's father Lajos Horvath. Lajos Horvath was born in 1889 in Vas Megye (Iron county) in Hungary and was married to Rozalia Horvath. We unfortunately lost track of Emil and Anna. My father and his sisters would like to find their aunt Anna or her relatives. Is there any advice you could give me what would be the best way to search based on the data I have? Thank you very much in advance for any clue or advice. Timea Horvath Anna replies: Timea, Thus far I do not have any Horvath in my ancestry list; but perhaps you can get some further information from the following. The first place you may wish to search is in the Social Security Death Index. This will list U.S. citizens for whom the following has occurred: ~ he/she received some sort of payment from the Soc. Sec. Administration ~ he/she has died ~ his/her death has been reported to the S.S.A. If you check the following SSDI locations you may be able to get some information. I found some entries that may apply to your search. Please bear in mind that you can enter wild card searching, for example, for the first name you may wish to enter only the letter L, or L*, or even leave the first name blank. These SSDI sites provide data in different formats. Compare them for best results. SSDI at FTM - Social Security Death Index data from Family Tree Maker; provides better last-known-address; option to generate a letter requesting a copy of the Soc. Sec. Application SSDI at Family Tree Legends. SSDI at Ancestry - Ancestry's Social Security Death Index search online. In addition, you might try to find the name in one of our online telephone directories. Note that if the person has/had an unlisted phone number, it would not appear on this list. You can try the "Find a Person" option at either www.switchboard.com or www.infospace.com. *To which I add: Timea Horvath You do have a problem in that the Horvath name is a very common one. Nonetheless, since you know that your family origin was from the Burgenland area you may well find some data by listing with us. Vas Megye is (was) not that small - over 400 villages both before and after the creation of Burgenland in 1921. If you can determine the village, we can then direct you to the appropriate records. Since you do have US immigrants I would suggest you start by searching the Ellis Island Records (see our URL List) which may provide a clue as to village of origin. Not many immigrants from southern Europe left from Fiume. I believe you would find it of value to list with us although we can not promise success. In any event you will learn much about the Burgenland, Vas Megye before 1921 and the location of various records. You may even find relatives by checking our membership lists. See our letter below re how to do this. (Timea joined our group.) 7. ANY GMOSERS OUT THERE? Member Brad Ziegler writes: I am looking to get into contact with anyone related to any Gmosers from the Burgenland area. I recently got a chance to look through the Roman Catholic records from the area and am trying to piece together the Gmoser family. If possible for your next newsletter to the "bunch," could you place a request for people to contact me via email (bziegler@rollanetl.org) if they are connected to the family? I have seen the website and found only one or two others with that surname listed. Thank you for the great website. 8. REQUEST FOR GIGLER FAMILY DATA (from Klaus Gerger) Leo J. Seman, BB member writes: I am trying to obtain information on my Grandfather Johan Gigler (born Oct 15, 1874) and my mother Teresia Gigler (born April 13, 1907); both were born in Heiligenkreuz, Burgenland, Austria. I do not have any information as to middle names, birth records, or baptismal records. It would also be nice to have the names of my grandfather's parents. Hallo Leo, during the Christmas holidays I had a look at the Heiligenkreuz records, but lost my notes. :-((Found them today;-)) Here is what I found at a quick look (From 1834 up to 19.. I searched in a printed index which does not contain all available information from the original records). Best regards from Austria, Klaus Gerger All references Heiligenkreuz (Hung. Rabakeresztur), catholic records Teresia Gigler ( born April 13, 1907) reference: TB X S87 Nr. 15 Theresia Gigler born 13.4.1907 bapt. 16.4.1907 father Gigler Joannes mother Posch Maria loc. Rabakeresztur 76 Johan Gigler (born Oct 15, 1874) reference: TB VIII S159 Nr. 45 Janos Gigler born 14.10.1874 bapt. 15.10.1874 father Gigler Mihaly mother Petermann Terez loc. Rabakeresztur 46 marriage reference: HB VIII S10 Nr. 9 15.5.1871 Gigler Mihaly (age 31) Petermann Terez (age 19) father Petermann György reference: not found in TB VI but see *) or more info in the original marriage record Gigler Mihaly born 1843 reference: TB VI S89 Nr. 39 Petermann Terez born 26.06.1851 father Peterman György mother Koller Erzse loc Rába-Keresztúr marriage reference: HB not found in VI 1837-1852, but see *) before 26.6.1851 Peterman .. (age ..) Koller .. (age ..) father .. .. * Probably the bride was not from the village of Heiligenkreuz. A search at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/HouseList/SurnamesSearch.htm shows Koller in the following Jennersdorf district (JE) villages at that time: Count: Surname: Village: District: Time: 5 Koller Bonisdorf JE 1858 4 Koller Heiligenkreuz JE 1858 4 Koller Kalch JE 1859 3 Koller Minihof Liebau JE 1858 1 Koller Mühlgraben JE 1858 5 Koller Neuhaus JE 1858 2 Koller Poppendorf JE 1857 13 Gigler Heiligenkreuz JE 1858 2 Gigler Poppendorf JE 1857 Newsletter continues as no. 126C.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 126C DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold) February 29, 2004 (c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved *** WE DO NOT ADVERTISE - WE GROW BY MEMBERS TELLING OTHER BURGENLAND DESCENDANTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. HAVE YOU RECRUITED A MEMBER LATELY? PERHAPS WE CAN BREAK 1500 IN 2004! *** ** Membership Editor Hannes Graf writes: At the end of carnival, our membership reached a "nice number": It was 1111. In Austria/Germany this is called a "Schnapszahl". (Brandy-Number). It brings luck - sometimes good. We had nearly 30,000 hits on my BB-pages alone in the last two years. (ED: Our data has exposure.) ** This fourth section of our 4-section newsletter includes: 1. Splitter From The Burgenländische Gemeinschaft (BG) News (Jan./Feb. 2004) 2. 1786-1790 House Numbers - Heiligenkreuz am Lafnitz - A South Burgenland Parish 3. There Are Two Towns Called Szombathely 4. Rainbow Over Burg Güssing - Portent Of A Great Burgspeile? 1. SPLITTER (FRAGMENTS) FROM THE LATEST BURGENLÄNDISCHE GEMEINSCHAFT NEWS (Join and support the BG by contacting the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft, Hauptplatz 7, A-7540 Güssing, Burgenland, Austria. Email Burgenl.gem@bnet.at Complete articles - some in English - will be found at http://www.burgenlaender.com/BG/IndexE.html and are available to anyone. Klaus Gerger is the BG liaison with the BB.) * Burgenland Parliament declares 2004 "The Year Of Folk Culture." BG does likewise. (A declaration such as this means that various festivals and activities will follow suit. Look for much folk music and cultural activity if you visit Burgenland this year.) * A short list of the best Burgenland wineries. * The story of the stone Turk's head found on a chimney (house number 106) in Purbach dates from 1532. * This is the season for dances and balls held in Vienna and elsewhere. Years ago, Burgenländers anticipated these events locally in fire halls and Gasthausen with much enthusiasm - now young people go to discos all the time and only the elderly look forward to such seasonal activity. Walter Dujmovits, Jr. has written the article in English. * Article from BB entitled "Preparation For Emigration." - English * Five immigrant deaths reported. * Address by Elisabeth Tarnok, the present Miss Brüderschaft der Burgenländer (NY) - English * Auswandererschicksal (Immigrant Story) concerns Kedl family from Stadtschlaining. * Picture shows farmer family from Neuberg, 1924. * Annual BG Picnic set for July 4, 2004 at Moschendorf wine museum. * Güssing Burgspiele set for June 25 through July 24. 2. EARLY HOUSE NUMBERS FROM CATHOLIC PARISH OF HEILIGENKREUZ AM LAFNITZ House numbers are covered in some detail in former newsletters. They are a great help in linking families, but they rarely appear before the mid-1800s. While scanning some early Heiligenkreuz baptismal records, furnished by BB Burgenland co-editor Klaus Gerger, I found some in the period Jan. 1786 - Feb. 1790. Spellings are as found - some were unreadable and are not listed. I have not used the umlaut or Hungarian diacritical marks. Don't let the numerous spellings of family names mislead you. Multiple numbers mean there were multiple families. If your family origin is southern Burgenland and your name is listed, it could mean your families may have lived in the house numbers mentioned, at least during that period. It would be of value to compare family names with this list, Klaus Gerger's house lists, early Urbars, canonical visitation reports and the 1828 Hungarian Census. This may help in tracking movement. Many of the names are also found (in their various spellings) in Kanonische Visitation 1757 Südburgenland, prepared by Josef Buzas in Burgenländische Forschungen, volume 71. This source is in Latin (and has been partially translated for us by Albert Schuch and may be found in the village lists). The opening lines are: Visitatio Canonica Parochiae Kereszturiensis aut Szent Kereszthiensis Germanicae et Filialium ejus Folso Ronok cum Ecclesia Sancti Emerici, Poppendorff vero Jakobhaz, Fuzes et Goder seu Inczenhoff, Similiter in Diocesi Jaurinensi Inclito Comitatu Castrierrei, Districtu vero Nemeth Uyvariensi Situatarum Ann 1757 Die undecima Mensis Septembris peracta. The allusions to the scope of the parish are obvious. Two major events took place in the Heiligenkreuz parish about this time. First was the completion of the Martin Luther Kirche in nearby Eltendorf, which drew Lutheran members from the Heiligenkreuz parish about 1775 - after this time Lutheran Bergholds for instance who appear in the Heiligenkreuz records now show up in Eltendorf. Martin Luther Kirche was erected in 1783, prompted by the 1781 Edict of Toleration. Renovations to St. Emerichs (Ronok) slightly to the east of Heiligenkreuz, also drew nearby Rabafüzes and Ronok and possibly Inzenhof and Jacobshaza parishioners from this parish. Few appear in Heiligenkeuz records after 1790. A general decline in the congregation of the Heiligenkreuz parish from 1800 forward follows. This is a perfect example of why it is important to search nearby parishes for family records. The village of Heiligenkreuz dates to the late 1300s and the church became an independent parish (separated from the mother church - where?) in the 15th century. It is known as the church of the Holy Cross and a huge cross (crucifix) is found over the stark altar in the sanctuary. Between 1616 and 1625, the church was Evangelisch (Lutheran). A report of the Canonical visitation of 1697 will also be found in our archives and village lists. Villages mentioned within the parish records are Heiligenkreuz (Rabakeresztur), Inzenhoff (Borosgodor); Jakobshof (Jakabháza); Poppendorf (Patafalva); Raabfidisch (Rábafüzes), and Oberradling (Felsörönök) and Unterradling (Alsórönök) - combined under Ronok. Heiligenkreuz House Numbers Fleischhakker 43 Gall 71 Gibiser 64, 76 Gigler 24 Groller 147 Heber 132 Jagovits 18 Jurisits 87 Koller 141 Lang 12, 10 Maar 26 Marx 120 Neubauer 31 Nikischer 84 Niklesz 81, 102 Oberecker 19 Pauer 172 Peitl (Beitl) 38 Pelzman 112 Petermann 73 Reisinger 81 Schwartz 105 Steidl 25, 108 Teutsch (Deutsch) 82, 103 Unger 34 Veber 40 Inzenhoff House Numbers Adam 23 Artinger 105 Gollinger 42 Jost 12, 61 Joszt 163, 79, 27 Keppl 34, 2, 21 Kurta 99, 50 Mulezet (Mulzet) 15 Pamer 45, 111 Perger (Berger) 64 Pinter 28 Plaukovits 90 Schaeffer 32 Veidinger (Weidinger) 105 Volff 113 Zmicz (Simits) 7 Jakobhaza House Numbers Balas 10 Handhoffer 17 Kiss 14 Pendl 12 Plaukovits 41 Schlaffer 3 Schmidt 9 Szaller 38 Vass 28 Poppendorf House Numbers Fandl 44 Fashinger 13 Gamler 25 Groller 71, 39, 47, 17 Hemer 30 Hesinger (Hezinger) 54,52 Jursits 80 Karner 97 Kern 3 Kraller 49 Krem 45 Kutz 17 Medl 81,36, 63 Pariz 99 Pauman (Bauman) 34 Pleszl 65, 74 Schabhuttel 57 Steiner 87, 78 Steltzer 83, 76 Teutsch (Deutsch) 12, 1 Veidinger 48 Veinhofer (Weinhofer) 20 Weber 61 Zimetz (Simitz) 40 Zach 27 Zottl (Zettl?) 43, 15 Rabafüzes House Numbers Balas 61 Failer 73 Hamewr 104 Joszt 1, 88, 36, 21, 29 Judt 100, 101, 74 Kefer 22 Kerbler 85, 13 Knaucz (Knaus) 89 Krabath 147, 66 Krantz 93 Kreitz 154 Kropf 7, 35 Kurta 135 Lang 44 Neubauer 57 Pfeiffer 109 Schadl (Schandl) 15 Schoadl 37, 50 Schaukovits 39 Schmidt 85 Seidenberger 97 Stoiber (Kloiber?) 43 Toth 60, 27, 156 Tott 39 Trinkler (Trinkl?) 2 Veber (Weber) 92 Virth (Wirth) 17 Visinger 1218 Weber 32 Zwetelits 36 Ronok House Numbers Artinger 14, 11 Gangl 76 Gerger 77 Hauser 73 Jan (Jani?) 48 Leopold 96 Maar 35, 95 Niklesz (Nikles?) 39 Pfeiffer 84 Santa (Schanta?) 66 Schmidt 53, 88 Schuster 50, 78 Steidl 8 Stern 87 Unger 86 Vindish (Windish) 36, 3 Zeglevitz 4 Villages outside the parish which are mentioned: Kukmirn - Supper 44 Tschanigraben (Sandorhegy)- Artinger 19 3. THERE ARE TWO TOWNS CALLED SZOMBATHELY (suggested by Bob Strauch) (ED Note: Szombathely (Steinamanger), Hungary, appears frequently in Burgenland family history. It is the fourth largest city in Transdanubia and the seat of Vas County, Hungary. It has a population of 80,000. It was built on the ruins of Roman Savaria and is thus 2000 years old. The name first appears in 1250, although Savaria is mentioned much earlier. It incorporates at least nine smaller settlements: Hereny, Olad, Zanat, Szentkiraly, Kamon, Perint, Prtofitelep and Gyongyosherman and Szolos. In the 18th century, Empress Maria Theresia crated a Roman Catholic diocese with Szombathely as its head. It has both a Franciscan and Dominican church and monastery. The Dominican church is supposedly built on the house that belonged to St. Martin. Just 20 kms southeast of Rechnitz in Austrian Burgenland, it was well known to Burgenland immigrants. Many would have considered a trip there as a trip to the Gross Stadt. Immigrants who claimed it as their place of origin probably came from nearby villages. We now find that there is a village with a similar name in Slovakia - don't be confused). Bob Strauch writes to a recent member: Dear Carolyn, I am the Lehigh Valley/PA editor for the Burgenland Bunch and noticed your info in the membership list. The name "Rima Szombathely" sounded familiar to me, but not from Burgenland or Western Hungary. There is indeed the city of Szombathely near the Burgenland border, but the prefix "Rima" pointed me in another direction. There is a town called "Rima-Szombat" (or Rimaszombat), which is now located in southern Slovakia and called Rimavská Sobota in Slovak. The town and surrounding area have a sizable ethnic-Hungarian population. I checked the Ellis Island Database (www.ellisislandrecords.org) for the surnames Farkas, Fabry, and Kiss. Farkas and Kiss are almost impossible to search without a first name (there were over 3300 Farkas' alone). There were about 200 Fabrys, and most seemed to come from either Slovakia or territory that was part of Hungary until 1921 and is now part of Slovakia. I hope this info will be of help to you. 4. RAINBOW OVER BURG GÜSSING - PORTENT OF A GREAT BURGSPIELE When I visualize southern Burgenland, I see Castle Güssing framed against a blue sky. It is the most prominent physical feature of the area. For 1000 years it has dominated both the geography and lives of the nearby inhabitants. When you stop anywhere within horizon limits and raise your eyes you see Burg Güssing. Our immigrant ancestors all had this vision and thus we, who visit the southern Burgenland, can become one with them, seeing what they saw. It was the primary eastern view from my own grandfather Sorger's home in Rosenberg. Many pictures of Burg Güssing exist and they are used in brochures extolling the virtues of Burgenland to such an extent, that the castle has become a symbol of Burgenland, if not of rural and historic Austria. It is even featured on postage stamps and currency. Recently Klaus Gerger gave me a picture of the Burg taken on a sunny day with an immense rainbow anchored on its ramparts. Klaus told me that it may have been taken from the air by BB member Heinz Koller. Heinz, as you may know, is from Güssing and is well known as something of a poet, author, student of the Hianzen dialect and an active member in many local historical and cultural organizations including a leadership role in the annual Güssing Burgspiele (historic castle plays). We were guests of the Kollers at such a performance a few short years ago and I can attest to how moving and successful they are. Heinz is an artist with a camera and I have some of his work including a picture of the Burg rising above the clouds as well as a winter view. The earliest sketch of the castle that I have seen dates from the late 1400's. The picture with the rainbow reminds me of a Franconian tale. During the peasant unrest of the 1500's, a castle was under siege, and the inhabitants were starving. After a brief shower, a large rainbow appeared over the castle. Some thought it portended disaster, others thought salvation was at hand. Later that day the leader of the besieging forces appeared with a white flag to demand surrender. The castle leader approached and discovered his brother-in-law. The castle was saved! (The Tale Of The Celestial Sign taken from "Beneath the Cherry Sapling" - Legends from Franconia, by Norbert Krapf, Fordham University Press, 1988.) Does the rainbow in the picture I have been given portend a good future for Burg Güssing? I hope so even if it may only mean that this year's Burgspiel will also be another resounding success. This year's play is "Die Kreuzelschreiber" by Ludwig Anzengruber, a comedy with song in three acts. The play under the direction of Frank Hoffmann will be performed June 25 at 20.30 hours and at various dates in July. If you are in the area don't miss it. If you attend the BG picnic on July 4, you can also attend a Burgspiel performance on July 2, 3 or 8. While it helps to know a little German, even if you don't, a nighttime performance at Burg Güssing will unite you with your ancestors. Further information concerning the castle may be found in our archives. A brief history and description of Burgenland castles will be found in BB newsletter 13A. END OF NEWSLETTER BURGENLAND BUNCH STAFF (USA residents unless designated otherwise) Coordinator & Editor Newsletter, Gerald 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 Szt. Gotthard & Jennersdorf Districts, Margaret Kaiser Western US BB Members-Research, Bob Unger WorldGenWeb-Austria, RootsWeb Liason-Burgenland, Charles Wardell, Austria BB ARCHIVES (can be reached via Home Page hyperlinks) BURGENLAND HOME PAGE (WEB SITE) http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org 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.