BB News No. 179 dtd 30 Sep 2008

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 179 DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY September 30, 2008 (c) 2008 - The Burgenland Bunch - all rights reserved Our 13th Year, Editor: Johannes Graf and Copy Editor: Maureen Tighe-Brown The Burgenland Bunch Newsletter, founded by Gerry Berghold, (deceased), is issued monthly as email and available online at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org Current Status Of The BB: * Members: 1656 * Surname Entries: 5392 * Query Board Entries: 3929 * Newsletters Archived: 177 * Number of Staff Members: 14 This newsletter has just one section. It concerns: 1. NEW EDITORS: SELF-INTRODUCTIONS 2. BB MEMBER STILL ALIVE 3. EDELWEISS HAUS CLOSING 4. LAST BUTTON BOX JAM SESSION AT EDELWEISS HAUS (by Bob Strauch) 5. AUSTRIAN DAY (Brotherhood of the Burgenländer) 6. WEBSITES OF MEMBERS OF THE BURGENLAND BUNCH (by Tom Steichen) 7. STAFF PAGE COMPLETE 8. VILLAGE THUMBNAIL SERIES: BAD TATZMANNSDORF (by Margaret Kaiser & Tom Steichen) 9. CONDOLENCE NOTES FOR GERRY BERGHOLD (by Frank Paukowits) 10. PATHS REJOINED (by Frank Teklits) 11. EIN BURGENLÄNDER IM HERZ (by Tom Glatz) 12. MEMENTOS FOR GERRY 13. BURGENLAND EMIGRANT OBITUARIES (courtesy of Bob Strauch) 1. NEW EDITORS: SELF-INTRODUCTIONS a. (Jo)Hannes Graf I live in Vienna, Austria with my wife, Elfie. I have been a Burgenland Bunch member since 2000, and a BB Staff member since 2001. More recently, I served as the BB membership editor and songbook editor (the latter with Tom Steichen). Also, I worked on the Gerry Berghold award page, the Staff page (including a photo montage), and the web pages for Where We Are, Burgenland Impressions, Burgenland Village Pictures, and writings of the Wallern chronicler, Father Graisy. Currently, I am the owner of the domain www.the-burgenland-bunch.org and I am also the Burgenland Bunch Newsletter editor. I am interested in all Burgenland-related highlights. During the past twelve months, I traveled in the Burgenland for more than 200 days, driving more than 15,000 miles, and taking 20,000 pictures. I have worked for some time at the railway between Oberwart and Oberschützen, with another Bunch called FrOWOS. There, I do a variety of jobs (blacksmithing, locksmithing, and engineering), and also built a new homepage, www.frowos.com, with pages in the English, Croatian, Hungarian, and Romanji languages. Away from work, I am a satirical artist with my own Home Page, where I publish together with some friends at: www.scholemandfriends.com. Also, I edit an art and satiric newspaper in Vienna. All the things (people) I love: Elfie and the grandchildren. All the things I like: Walking in the Danube national park between Vienna and Bratislava, between 5 and 15 miles daily; people I can trust; all the food that Elfie cooks; desserts; operas and classic music; the spirit of Yogi Berra; driving around at Güterwege (NL 175), and if I come to a fork at the street, I take it (;-) All the things I don't like: people who smile in my face, but kick me from behind, if I turn my back; pompous and know-it-all people. b. Maureen Tighe-Brown Hannes and I are working together to assemble and polish our regular Burgenland Bunch Newsletters. Here is a little self-introduction: Currently, I am finishing my dissertation in history for the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. My working title is: "Two Separate Worlds? Jewish and Catholic Households and Demographic Lives in the Habsburg Village: Deutschkreutz, Hungary, 1683-1920". Deutschkreutz has been part of the Burgenland province of Austria since 1920. In 1998, I found our dear Gerry Berghold's Burgenland Bunch on the Internet, and have been a BB member ever since. So I am a BBer because of my research interests, not for genealogical searches for any ancestral roots. Since my research involves Yiddish-, Hebrew-, and Hungarian-language sources, Gerry asked me to help out with our members interested in "Jewish Burgenland." Before switching to history as an academic field, I earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, and taught students in a school of nursing. Hence, when Gerry Berghold wrote to the BB staff in early 2007, saying he was not well enough to drive to Allentown, PA, where some BB staff and a group of Burgenland visitors were to arrive and spend several days, I jumped in. I e-mailed Gerry to suggest that he and Molly fly to Allentown, where a nurse friend and I would meet them, and escort them while they were there. Gerry agreed to my idea, and we all had a fabulous time. The Burgenland visitors gave Gerry a special award at a dinner with local Burgenland-Americans; our new BB president and his wife, Tom and Lois Steichen, entertained us with wonderful, professional-quality dancing; our Allentown resident and BB staffer, Bob Strauch, presented an authentically Burgenland orchestra; and Emma Tanczos Farkas, the sister of BB staffer Anna Kresh, held a terrific working luncheon at her home. I had never met any of the BB staffers before. We had just communicated by e-mail. What a treat to have all of us interacting, no delicate egos competing, and everyone just relaxed, pleasant, and interesting. That was amazing enough. But the most amazing thing for me was to see Gerry's ability to utterly enjoy each moment, each person, and each event, with his dear face wreathed in smiles, bliss and utter satisfaction, despite his discomfort from cancer treatments. Wherever we were, and whatever was going on, I watched Gerry create a warm, calm, giving atmosphere around him: As Shakespeare said in 'Hamlet': "He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again." A certain kind of man is very appealing: one who is kind, gracious, calm, and happy; solid and confident. Gerry Berghold was that sort of man. 2. BB MEMBER STILL ALIVE I hope that everybody knows Chinese whispers (Stille Post). This game is the model of a mistake I made as BB membership editor. Somebody tells somebody tells somebody who tells me, that "Mr. Albert Muick" had passed away. So I wrote beside his name (deceased). But then, contributing editor, Bob Strauch, told me that Mr. Muick was still alive. So I changed Mr. Muick back to active BB membership and contacted him, who and he responded to me today. I am so sorry for that error. I will try to make no more such mistakes. For everybody who is confused now: Mr. Albert Muick is still "alive"! 3. EDELWEISS HAUS CLOSING After many years of being the centre of Burgenland fun and music, this Northampton institution will close its doors. Since the early seventies, the Ungers were the hosts, until Theresa Unger passed away in 2006. Since then, her son, Joe, has been running the tavern on a limited basis. Some people have come every Friday for years. Some said: ". . .it was not Friday, if we were not at the Edelweiss!" It was a must to hear the button box jam sessions, where several musicians played all of the old folksongs and polkas. See some impressions about "final night" at the following page: http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/Events/LJS/LJS.html 4. LAST BUTTON BOX JAM SESSION AT EDELWEISS HAUS (by Bob Strauch) Aside from the numerous beneficial societies and social clubs founded by Burgenländer immigrants in the Lehigh Valley, there were also many bars/saloons/dance halls owned and operated by Burgenländers as well, serving as additional gathering points that offered ethnic music and food. The Edelweiss Haus on Main St. in Northampton, PA, which closed its doors at the end of August, seems to have been among the last. At one time owned by the Haberern family, ethnic-Germans from the Zips/Spis/Szépes region of northeastern Slovakia, the building was purchased in 1950 by Rudolf Schadl (born in Allentown and raised in Raabfidisch) and his wife Anna (née Wunderler from Gerersdorf). Although officially called "Rudy's Grill", it was usually referred to as "Schadl's", or "Schoadl's", as the name is pronounced in dialect. In 1969, it was bought by Karl Santa (from Raabfidisch) and his wife Anna (née Santa from Jakobshof) and re-named "Anna's Place". Just a few years later, in 1972, it was taken over by Alois "Louie" Unger (from Strem) and his wife Theresia "Tessie" (née Toth from Deutsch Bieling), who re-christened the locale the "Edelweiss Haus", often called just "The Edelweiss" by locals. Even after Louie passed away in 1991, Tessie continued to operate the Edelweiss with the help of her son Joe "Seppi". It was closed for a period several years ago when Tessie became ill and had to go into a nursing home. After she passed away in 2006, Joe continued on, but this summer he decided to close and sell. The legendary Friday night button accordian jam sessions started in the early 1970s, with sometimes as many as 15 musicians playing en masse. Over the years, the number dwindled to about 7 or 8. It was not odd for people to travel from New York, New Jersey, or other parts of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Harrisburg) to attend. The Edelweiss also saw its share of visitors from Austria. It became routine to take relatives and friends visiting from Burgenland there something of a pilgrimage. Many of the Burgenland government delegations that have visited the Lehigh Valley over the years ended up at the Edelweiss and it was also featured in several documentaries about Burgenländer immigrants that were filmed by Burgenland TV. In addition to the Friday jam sessions, the Edelweiss had weekly Saturday night dances featuring local Austrian-German bands. During its later years, the weekly dances became more infrequent, at first held monthly, then only occasionally. Special seasonal dances, such as a Faschingtanz on Shrove Tuesday and a Maibaumtanz (Maypole Dance), were also held over the years. Another attraction was Tessie's cooking and baking, especially her "derwigi Strudln", strudels made with stretched dough and filled with apples, cabbage, or cottage cheese (the varieties Tessie most often made). She would even sell it by the "Blech" (baking sheet) if ordered in advance. Local Burgenländers are saddened (some even heartbroken) by, but not shocked, at the closing of the Edelweiss. It seems to be part of the gradual decline of the folk culture and institutions of the European immigrant groups in our area. An inevitable product of assimilation? On a positive note, the button accordian jam sessions have been moved across the bridge over the Lehigh to the Coplay Sängerbund, where they still take place every Friday from 8-11 PM, led alternately by musicians Joe Weber and Joe Wolfer. 5. AUSTRIAN DAY (Brotherhood of the Burgenländer) "Buschenschank" Sunday, October 19, 2008, 1:00 pm Buschenschank (Wine Tavern) Style Meal, including Austrian-style meats, wursts, cheeses, salads, breads, 2 bottles of Austrian wine, 1 pitcher of Austrian beer, 1 pitcher of soda per table, coffee & apple Strudel! Music by "The Spitzbuam" Gottscheer Hall, 657 Fairview Avenue - Ridgewood, NY 11385 For additional information http://www.burgenlaender.us/events.html 6. WEBSITES OF MEMBERS OF THE BURGENLAND BUNCH (by Tom Steichen) Did you know that the Burgenland Bunch website has a whole section dedicated solely to Internet Links that provide material related to the Burgenland or to genealogical research? We do. VP Anna Kresh maintains it, finding new links and discarding inactive links on a regular basis. The latest update is dated August 28, 2008. You can find the Links page via a link on our Home Page entitled, "Burgenland Bunch Internet Links." If you prefer, you can go there directly via link http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/Links/links.htm The description on the Home Page for the section modestly says, "Hundreds of our favorite internet links, frequently reviewed. Hyperlinks to other websites which may help you." An exact count reveals 665 hyperlinks on the page, each with a clear description of what you will find at the target link, and broken out into 17 major categories, one of which contains just changes and additions since the last update. I'm sure you would spend many days searching for web pages with just a fraction of the information offered here . . . but here they are, the best of the best (Anna freely discards links when she finds similar but better material!), and a mere click away. Among my favorites categories is the one that lists Home Pages developed by members of the Burgenland Bunch. Currently, there are links to personal sites of 24 BB members (if you are interested in having a link to your site added, please contact Anna via her email link on our homepage or her Links page). I want to feature a small site listed for long-time member Gary Portsche, entitled "Families from Burgenland." Gary lists two sites, and the other one is interesting too, but I like the uniqueness and directness of his "Families" site. Gary is currently a Kansas resident but, I believe, a Nebraskan by birth; he is rightfully proud of both his native and adopted state and, clearly, also of his Burgenland heritage. Because of all three, his site describes why there is a Burgenland enclave out on the plains of Kansas and Nebraska and provides information about the Burgenland families that populate the area. Short, colorful, informative . . . check it out; the direct link is http://www.burgenlandfamilies.com/. 7. STAFF PAGE COMPLETE Sometimes a change is needed for a long period of time. Now, with the including of Frank Paukowits, the Staff-photo montage is complete: http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/Staff/BB-Staff.html 8. VILLAGE THUMBNAIL SERIES: BAD TATZMANNSDORF (by Margaret Kaiser & Tom Steichen) In Newsletter 176A, Article 4, then-Editor, Gerry Berghold, discussed the ongoing transcription and formatting of entries from the 1899-1904 "Leuchs Adressbuch", for use in the BB online Village Histories section. As an ongoing series, we will publish selected, interesting entries from that work (by Margaret & Tom) in the Newsletter. Here is the entry for Bad Tatzmannsdorf. It combines research previously compiled by Gerry Berghold and Tom Steichen with the additional material from Leuchs Adressbuch. Particularly interesting is the Leuchs verbal description of the mineral springs and their uses: Bad Tatzmannsdorf Was Tarcsafürdö, Tarcsa (Kroat: Tarca); Village of 580 residents in the Oberwart district. An important health resort that includes the villages of Jormannsdorf (important Batthyany hunting lodge now a health academy) and Sulzriegel. Total population including many outlying structures is 1134. The spring waters (alkaline, iron, acidulous mineral water) have been known since Roman times and there was a settlement as early as the 11th century. Once owned by a minor noble family "de Tarcsa" whence came its earlier Hungarian name of Tarcsa. Mentioned in Urbars as early as 1378. There are many legends of "cures." German settlers came in the 14th and 15th centuries. Devastated by the Turks in 1529 and again in 1532, it was settled by Croats in 1572 by Gregor Tarrody and then acquired by the Batthyany in 1633. It then became a favorite health resort of the Königsberg, Erdödy, Batthyany and Esterhazy families. It received early recognition as a health spa in the Regensberger History (Chronik) of 1621. During the first half of the 1800s and later it was a favorite of Viennese visitors (mentioned by Adelbert Stifter in his novels). The resort area now has many world class hotels, museums, sports complexes, etc. Always a fairly populous area, it is doubtful if many Burgenland immigrants to America came from the area covered. Family History Library microfilms: Catholic: Római Katólikus Egyház, Tarcsa (Moson) [FHL INTL Films 700882 - 84] Civil: Tarcsa (Vas). Anyakönyvi Hivatal [VAULT INTL Films 700380 - 83] In 1899-1904: A small community and bathing resort with 538 inhabitants; district seat Felsöör; court Szombathely; county court. Tarcsa's mineral springs for drinking cures are the old Karl, Max and Gabriel Springs, the newly drilled Franzens spring, the Artesian spring which was drilled in the open well of the old Maxquelle and the Meadows spring. Apart from these there are two quite ferreous springs, which are only used for bathing. Tarcsa's mineral springs are among the very rare -- in Hungary the only Glauber's salt-containing chalybeate springs rich in carbonic acid -- so Tarcsa, thanks to its mineral springs and its marsh soil, is considered as an alternative to a French bath. Primarily, Tarcsa is a bath for women and, as such, it has been employed for 200 years. Quite especially effective against anemia and chlorosis, against chronically inflammatory conditions of the female sexual organs, and against a tendency to abort; also infertility is cured with success. Diseases of the nervous system, such as hysteria, horae, Tebes, neurasthenia, migraines, and, lastly, chronic affections of respiratory & digestive systems: dyspepsia, stomach ulcers, weakness of the bowels. Because of its constant, not too hot climate even in midsummer, ozone-rich, dust-free air, and its pleasant environment, Tarcsa is recommended to people who are looking for recovery after a long illness or an exhausting activity. Businesses & Proprietors: Hotel (Hotel): zur Krone (Kurdirektion) Restaur. (Restaurant): Jellosits Ignácz Apotheke (Pharmacy): Curdirektion Badeanstalt -- Curbad (Public Bath / Swimming Pool -- Cure Bath): Badedirection in Tatsmannsdorf Gutsbes. (Estate Owner): Graf Franz Batthány's Erben. Herren-Confection u. Luxusartikellager (Men's ready-made clothing & luxury articles warehouse): Frank & Ledofszky Manufaktur- u. Schnittwarenhdl u. Damenconfection (Drapery Manufacturer & Dealer & Women's ready-made clothing): Löwy Gusztav & Bruder Spezerei- u. Gemischtwarenhdl. (Spice & Groceries dealer): Hönigmann Jakob Source: Leuchs Adressbuch, Band 18: Ungarn, Kroatien und Slavonien, 1899-1904, 9.Ausgabe (Leuchs' Directory, Volume 18: Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia, 1899-1904, 9th Edition) 9. CONDOLENCE NOTES FOR GERRY BERGHOLD (by Frank Paukowits) BB Members may want to send a note to Gerry Berghold's family as a way to extend their condolences. It's been a tough time for the family, with the passing of Gerry in August and his wife, Molly, only three months ago in May. Gerry was a very special person, and touched many of our lives. A little note to express your sympathy would be very uplifting to the family. It's really very simple to do. The home that handled the arrangements for Gerry's funeral uses Legacy. com. The site has a page for Gerry that has remained active. It will remain open for one year. (MTB) Here is the link: http://www.legacy.com/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=116748269 Just hit the link and you will get directly to Gerry's page where you can post your tribute. 10. PATHS REJOINED (by Frank Teklits) Little did we know that from our widely varying assignments (Gerry - Radar School in Keesler AFB & I - Electronics Schools at Scott AFB) with the USAF for 4 years that our paths would meet on the 1st day of classes at Lehigh University in 1952. Gerry & I were two of just a handful of veterans beginning class at Lehigh in '52, with Gerry in the School of Finance & I was in the School of Engineering. Since the both of us were off-campus students we often met in Rec. (Recreation) Hall which was the home of the non-campus sorority. After our graduations in '57 & '56, our paths diverged again. In '96 my interest in our lineage led me to ask a question of a small group known as the Burgenland Bunch; Gerry responded by asking if I was in any way related to the Frank Teklits who attended Lehigh University in the '50's. This simple email joined our paths again & led to many years of pleasant conversations & messages related to the BB & the world in general. Mary & I visited Gerry & Molly in their home in VA with Gerry meeting us at the door, with the Lehigh Class of '56 book open to photographs of the graduates, saying to Molly, "this is what he looked like when he was young". We had a most enjoyable visit in their impeccably clean & orderly home. May God bless you & keep you good friend & may you rest in peace for a job well done. Frank Teklits 11. EIN BURGENLÄNDER IM HERZ (by Tom Glatz) I first started looking for help with Burgenland ancestors in the old Everton Genealogical Helper and the Chicago Genealogical Society back in 1976. Along the way I met future BB member Wayne Weber and became acquainted with BB member Susan Gager Dunn. We spoke a lot about the Burgenland and it seemed how few people at the time had this interest. I had always hoped for a more concerted effort in finding Burgenland ancestors in America as other ethnic groups were doing. I was pleased to become a member of the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft in 1980 and an active member in 1989. A few years after this I read about Bob Strauch in the BG and soon had many late night phone conversations about the history and culture of the Burgenland with Bob. I continued to complain that we still had nothing really for the younger generations. I was very surprised to find the Burgenland Bunch very soon after its arrival on the Internet. When I joined, Gerry dubbed me the "Chicago Enclave Editor". I was pleasantly astonished when Professor Walter Dujmovits, worldwide president of the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft invited Gerry, with his great writing skills, to write a regular genealogy article for the BG newspaper. The BB and the BG became as "sisters" so to speak. It really was the perfect fit! I felt very proud that the BB was now recognized by the BG and the Burgenland! I told Gerry often that for me this was a dream come true! I had hoped and discussed with Gerry and other BB members for a possible meeting of BB members somewhere in North America some day. I really was looking forward to meeting Gerry in person. But it was not to be. I was fortunate enough, however, to have much email and phone contact with him. I will always feel gratitude towards Gerry for his continued optimism. Partly at his urging, I represented Gerry and the Burgenland Bunch at the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft. I know he desperately wanted to attend but felt too ill to do so. I felt honored to take his place at the "Festakt" that evening. I thought of Gerry as I read his words praising the works of the BG to hundreds in attendance which included many dignitaries such as the president of Austria, Heinz Fischer. Gerry, you helped to bring us together as Burgenland descendants across the world! You brought us great joy! We will miss you! You will always be remembered as "Ein Burgenländer im Herz"! Tom Glatz 12. MEMENTOS FOR GERRY I am sorry to learn of his passing. He was a good man. I was in contact with him relative to his illness, since I suffered the same disease many years ago. Am still going strong, but I was younger than Gerry at the time. - Gustav A. Eckhart. It is very sad to hear of Gerry's passing. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family. - Jim Kustelski Thank you so much for a sad, but wonderful tribute to a man many of us never met, but who guided us through the maze of Burgenland family history so skillfully and so helpfully. - Arlene Huss I'm so sorry to hear. - Denise Lewandowski 13. BURGENLAND EMIGRANT OBITUARIES (courtesy of Bob Strauch) Berta Zwickel Berta Zwickel of Whitehall, passed away in her home three days after her 78th birthday on Aug. 27, 2008. She was married for 53 years to the late Friedrich Zwickel. Born August 24, 1930 in Rabafuzes, Hungary, she was the daughter of the late Eduard and Maria (Neubauer) Simitz. She immigrated to the United States becoming a citizen on June 13, 1956. Berta was a seamstress for the former Phoenix Clothes, Allentown. After the birth of her daughter in 1965, she was a homemaker who took great pride in maintaining her home, tending to her garden, cooking and baking. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, Coplay. Survivors: Daughter, Christine Zwickel and her fiance, Michael Edelman, and granddaughter, Jenna Edelman, all of Whitehall; sister, Maria Turri; nieces, nephew. She was predeceased by a sister, Margaret, and a baby brother, Herbert. EMAIL RECIPIENTS PLEASE READ: You are receiving this email newsletter because you are a BB member or have asked to be added to our distribution list. To subscribe or unsubscribe, use the change form available from our Homepage at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org. You cannot send email to this newsletter. If you have problems receiving the newsletter as email, it may be read, downloaded, printed or copied from the BB Homepage. There is also an archive of previous newsletters. END OF NEWSLETTER NOTICE (Terms and Conditions): The Burgenland Bunch (BB) was formed and exists to assist Burgenland descendants in their research into their heritage and, toward that end, reserves the right to use any communication you have with us (email, letter, phone conversation, etc.) as part of our information exchange and educational research efforts. . If you do not want your communication to be used for this purpose, indicate that it is "confidential" and we will abide by that request. . Correspondents who communicate with the BB without requesting confidentiality retain their copyright but give a non-exclusive license to the BB allowing us to forward to BB members, publish in our monthly newsletter or on our website, and/or subsequently and permanently archive all or parts of such communications. The Burgenland Bunch homepage (website) can be found at: http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/ We can also be reached from the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft web site. Use our website to access our lists and web pages. WORLDGEN WEB BURGENLAND QUERY BOARD: http://bb-board.at.tt BB NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES INDEX and threaded search facility (enter number of newsletter) available from: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index (also reached via Home Page hyperlinks.) Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (c) 2008 Archived courtesy of RootsWeb.com, Inc. P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798. Newsletter published monthly by the Burgenland Bunch. Newsletter and List Rights Reserved. Permission to Copy Granted; You Must Provide Credit and Mention Source.