THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 150A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 11th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold
April 30, 2006
(c) 2006 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved

THE SECOND SECTION OF OUR FIVE SECTION 150TH ISSUE

READ OR COPY THE NEWSLETTER FROM THE BB HOMEPAGE;
IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH.

This second section of our 5-section newsletter concerns:

1. An Immigrant Story (Gerry Berghold - 150th Contribution)
2. A Typical BB Request - Villages of Tobaj & Grossmürbisch
3. My Time with the BB  (Bob Unger - 150th Contribution)
4. Taste of the Burgenland - Forgacsfank or Fried Twists


1. AN IMMIGRANT STORY
    - Gerry Berghold - 150th Contribution

I've been culling the books in my library. They've reached a point where they overflow shelves,
tables, chairs, etc. I have an accumulation of at least seventy years. Hidden behind some books
on a deep shelf, I found a slim black volume with faded purple and gold decoration. It must have
been pushed there during an infrequent bout of dusting. It was like finding a long lost friend. I
remember it as one of the first books I bought as a teenage high school student in Allentown, PA.
Printed in pencil on the flyleaf is the date 2-8-45 and $2.00. The title is "Anything Can Happen" by
George & Helen Papashvily, published by Harper Bros. 1945, second edition of a 1940 copyright.
I believe the book was later made into a movie. It's the story of immigrant George Papashvily
from Russia (Georgia) and his first years in America. I remember buying it from the authors who
once visited the Allentown Free Library as part of a student program. It is signed by the authors
under a fly-leaf inscription which says "Gerald Berghold, all good wishes."

The book begins "At five in the morning the engines stopped, and after thirty-seven days the
boat was quiet. We were in America....Now began my troubles. What to do?" What follows are
chapters of rather humorous but deeply revealing incidents that take place, from the streets of
New York to industrial sites in Pittsburgh and Detroit, followed by an early 1932 Depression trek
to California. Throughout this journey we follow a Georgian Cossack, with little English, becoming
an American, step by step, while retaining all that was good of his ethnic back ground. It ends
"Lotsa other people we are here too. Georgians, Russians, Greek, Latvian, Estonian, Irish -
regular League of Nations, I drink for all those... it gives me hope when I see us sitting down
so peaceful together, maybe whole world gonna learn how to do it, too. After all it's only
enjoyable way to live... I drink with pleasure... For Home. Its floor is the earth; its roof is the sky."

A good tale of one immigrant's new life in America, it reinforces our understanding of the fears,
problems, hopes and experiences that all immigrants must undergo when they transplant their roots.
Unfortunately it is not a complete story, we have no beginning in the old world and no ending in the
new. There are missing fragments that we wish the author had shared with us.

Each of our own immigrants from the Burgenland had a similar story but most are lost like the
majority of immigrant stories. How I wish each of us could sit with our immigrant ancestors and
ask the questions that could result in the complete story of their own personal journey from
eastern European emigrant birth to assimilated American. Too late, too late, we now have only
fragments at best, but as we examine those fragments under the BB microscope, we develop
the general Burgenland immigrant story in full detail. With minor changes, this story can be taken
as the story of each of our individual families. Have you been able to contribute a fragment to
add to the story? That has been the underlying thrust of my involvement with the Burgenland Bunch.


2. A TYPICAL BB REQUEST - VILLAGES OF TOBAJ & GROSSMÜRBISH

In a message dated 4/4/06, a correspondent writes: I am researching my in-law's families.
Father-in-law DANIEL SCHWEITZER from Tobaj, his father JOHANN SCHWEITZER, his mother
HEDWIG HUBER.  He came to the United States and settled in New York City. My mother-in-law
was IDA SOMMER from Grossmurbisch, her mother was IDA JADRASITS and her father JOSEPH
SOMMER. IDA SOMMER's mother settled in Coplay Pennsylvania. We plan to visit Burgenland and
Tobaj and Grossmurbisch in October and would like visit family in these towns.  Can you help?

Reply - these are all names found in southern Burgenland. Spelling of Jadrasits should be Jandrasits.
You will have no problem finding relatives. In Tobaj you will find Eduard Schweitzer at Nr 43, Johann
at Nr 69 and Norbert at Nr 46, 7540 Tobaj, Austria. No Huber families but plenty in nearby villages.

In Grossmürbisch you will find 17 Jandrasits families; try Eduard/Renate, HS-Lehrer, at Nr 33 or
Johann Jandrasits, Bäcker, at Nr 11, 7540 Grossmürbisch, Austria. Two Sommers, Anna at Nr. 74
and Sommer/Wukovits Gasthaus at Nr 51, 7540 Grossmürbisch, Austria.

Definitely write in German, although the schoolteacher probably knows English. You may want to
stay at the Gasthaus in Grossmürbisch, small but comfortable, or the Hotel Krutzler in nearby
Heiligenbrunn. There is also a nice one in Heiligenkreuz as well Eltendorf and a new one in Güssing.

Sommer family was related to the Wallitsch/ Holzer/Burkhart families who had the West End Hotel in
Stiles (West Coplay) for years. Sommer name goes back to the early 1700's in Grossmürbisch-church
records in Szt. Nicholas (LDS microfilm), now Güssing. Tobaj church records are in Deutsch
Tschantschendorf. Jandrasits (Croatian) as early as 1524. You will find a Sorger family in
Grossmürbisch, my grandmother was Hedwig Mühl Sorger, born Kleinmürbisch, lived in Güssing. The
Sorgers were from Rosenberg/Langzeil. One Aloysius married Julianna Tarafass (my grandfather
Sorger's mother) whose first husband was a Jandrasits from Grossmürbisch.

With the links you mention, you should have a profitable family history search in this area. Be sure to
visit Güssing, castle and Auswanderer Museum, churches and cemetery. Visit office of Burgenländische
Gemeinschaft. Cross the border for a day trip to Hungary. Lots of nearby attractions - read about
them in our newsletter archives.

You can find a lot more about these families and villages and southern Burgenland by searching the
Burgenland Bunch Homepage. If serious about Burgenland family history why not join our group? No
doubt about your Burgenland connections. Let us know how you make out.


3. MY TIME WITH THE BB
    - from Bob Unger - 150th contribution

Ah! The 150th edition of the Burgenland Bunch (BB) news letter - a time for reflection. I was
introduced to the BB founder and editor, Gerry Berghold, in November 1993 by Pastor Balser of the
Lutheran Church in Eltendorf, Burgenland, Austria.  I had just received some information about my
ancestors from that church and was eager for more. I was told that a man in Winchester, Virginia
was also doing similar research and Pastor Balser gave me his address. Gerry's subsequent
response was a dream come true - he shared with me the results of years of effort in researching
his ancestors in the same area of Burgenland in which mine had lived. 

Gerry soon learned that there were others struggling in their Burgenland related genealogical efforts
and decided to follow up on his correspondents' ideas of forming the Burgenland Bunch, which proved
to be a most effective and mutually rewarding means of sharing information. Thus the first edition of
the BB news letter was distributed via e-mail on January 11, 1997 to a grand total 12 recipients. Part
of it's opening statement was: "I've just faced up to the fact that we really are a Burgenland
genealogy group. I've therefore decided that I might as well issue an occasional informal newsletter
as opposed to occasionally forwarding correspondence to others while trying to remember what I
sent to whom."  Now, here we are 10 years later, the number receiving the newsletter has grown
from 12 to 1,278 (reference newsletter #149) and is still growing. That first issue had 4 1/3 pages -
later each newsletter grew to as many as 28 pages, provided by Gerry and a volunteer staff that
grew to 17 members. 

In my opinion the BB is the most unique genealogical research group in the world - it is free, asking
only that any use of its material be given appropriate credit, and that members help others with their
research efforts to the best of your ability. From the outset, a number of members offered to become
staff members. I feel privileged to be one of that group.

In my opinion Gerry is the maestro - analogous to a concert master - directing and leading, others to
contribute their best for the mutual benefit of all. This multi-talented staff created and continues to
maintain 18 important elements of genealogical support, all listed on the BB web site - the web site,
internet links, membership - surname and village lists, query board, village data, FAQ, just to mention
a few. I know that I speak for all BB members in extending a heart felt thank you for all that he has
contributed.

Many consider genealogy research in the most basic form, i.e., the birth - death statistics. But later
that dash in between the birth and death dates becomes very meaningful - what happened during that
period? Few, if any, have found diaries written by their ancestors in order to get a better understanding
of their lifestyles, opportunities, joys, hardships, etc. We have resorted  to shared information from
others who lived during that period of time and in the area of the world now called Burgenland, Austria. 
I was fortunate to discover a book entitled Twenty Five Years of My Life In My Homeland, by Robert
Unger. (Not a blood relative - at least we haven't made the connection as yet.). That book documents
what can be considered the typical life of a young man growing up in Burgenland between 1897 and
1922. BB members expressed a strong desire to get a copy of this book, so it was arranged to have
the book republished and hundreds of copies were provided to BB members. Now many can have a
better understanding of what it was like to live during that time. 

Some may question the need or merits of genealogical research. Each of us is a product of our
ancestors, good or bad. As such, each is unique - one of a kind, simplistically represented by
unique fingerprints. What we do with the genes that were passed down to us are the basic tools to
shape our lives under our current environment. When we assess the lives of our ancestors, or our own,
it is often useful to have a list of evaluation factors. Via the internet I discovered such a list (shortened)
that provides the following as food for thought:

What Will Matter - by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.....

So what will matter?
How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched,
  empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when your gone.
What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.                       

What Will Matter was reprinted with permission of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. (c) 2006.
Full text can be found at: www.charactercounts.org

In closing, I wish to again extend my thanks and appreciation to Gerry Berghold -- and to his wife
Molly -- because behind every great man there is a loving, caring, supportive partner. Character is
built out of circumstances. From exactly the same material one man builds palaces while another
builds hovels. Gerry topped that, he founded and nurtured the BB to what it is today - celebrating
the 150th edition of the Burgenland Bunch news letter, an accomplishment that really matters.


4. TASTE OF THE BURGENLAND - FORGACSFANK OR FRIED TWISTS

A member writes: I was just thinking about my grandmother's Forgacsfank the other day and then
I saw it mentioned in your newsletter. I used to love these and watched my grandmother make
them. Do you have a recipe for this? Roxann, Vineland, NJ (originally from Allentown, PA)

Reply: I knew when I wrote Forgacsfank that I'd receive a request for the recipe. The following is
from Lang's "Cuisine Of Hungary." These are also called Bowknots, Csöröge or Fried Twists.
Rum adds a nice flavor but you can substitute vanilla, rum or almond flavoring or a tablespoon of
sweet white wine. Sour cream can be replaced with milk (add a drop or 2 of vinegar). Vanilla sugar
can be made by adding a few drops of vanilla flavoring to the sugar and storing over night or adding
a pod to some granulated sugar. Confectioner's works just as well but draws moisture so add only
before serving. To duplicate your grandmother's flavor you must try to determine the exact
ingredients she would have used. Everyone had their own version. My grandmother fried them in
lard, which can be pretty flavorful. This recipe will give you a true Hungarian flavor. These have a
delicate flavor and should not taste oily so use fresh oil.

Ingredients (makes 16):
1 cup all purpose flour, 4 egg yolks, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon light rum,
1 tablespoon sour cream, pinch of salt, 2 cups oil, vanilla sugar.

In a bowl, mix flour, egg yolks, 1/2 tsp. sugar, rum, sour cream and salt.
Knead into a hard dough. Let rest 15 minutes.

Stretch (roll) into a very thin sheet. Cut into 5x3 inch pieces. Make a slit in center of each piece.
Pull the two diagonally opposite corners to the center and tuck them into the slit.

Bring oil (2 quart frying pan) almost to smoking point and then turn down to lowest heat. Fry 2 or 3
pieces at a time for 1 or 2 minutes, turning as they become golden. Remove with long-handled fork
and place on absorbent paper (paper towel works).

Place on platter and sprinkle with vanilla sugar or confectioner's sugar just before serving (sugar
will attract moisture and make the twists soft if added before serving or storage). They can also
be dipped into a little jam for each person before eating. They will store in an air tight container
when cold. They are nice with coffee, tea or wine.

Newsletter continues as number 150B.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 150B
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 11th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold
April 30, 2006
(c) 2006 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved

This third section of our 5-section newsletter concerns:

1. Lehigh Valley, PA Ethnic Calendar - April 2006 - Bob Strauch
2. Recent Obituaries Concerning Burgenland Ethnic Families
3. Preparation for Burgenland Emigration (Anna Kresh - 150th Contribution)
4. Village of Rosenberg (Rosahegy) - "Rosehill"
5. The Downside of Operating the BB
6. What the BB hHas Meant to Me (Frank Teklits - 150th Contribution)


1. LEHIGH VALLEY, PA ETHNIC CALENDAR-APRIL 2006
     - from Bob Strauch

Sat., April 8 -  Easter Food and Bake Sale
8 AM - 6 PM, Ss. Peter and Paul Polish Roman Catholic Church, 1065 Fullerton  Ave., Allentown.
Polish platter, $6. Takeouts available. Also, 10:30 AM -1 PM Sunday. (610) 432-2252.

Sat., April 8 -  Easter on the Farm
10 AM- 4 PM, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Luckenbill Road, Kutztown.
A celebration of customs and traditions plus a reading of ''The Egg Tree'' by Katherine Milhous and
trombone music by Don Kemmerer and the Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir. Samples of
Pennsylvania German food. Children can make onion-skin-dyed eggs, a paper basket and
participate in an egg hunt. Rain date, Sunday. (610) 683-1589.

Sat, April 15 - Blessing of Easter food baskets
at most area Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, and certain Orthodox parishes.

Fri., April 21 - Grand Re-Opening Button Box Jam Session
Edelweiss Haus, Main St., Northampton.

Sat. April 29 - Maibaumtanz (Maypole Dance)
Coplay Sängerbund, 5th St. & Schreiber Ave., Coplay. Sponsored by Coplay Sängerbund Mixed
Chorus. Dinner at 5:30 PM. Dancing from 7-10 PM to the Joe Weber Orchestra. Mini-concerts by
the Coplay Sängerbund Mixed Chorus and the Hianz'nchor. Crowning of May Queen.
Info and tickets: Claire Glover, (610) 443-1819.   


2. RECENT OBITUARIES CONCERNING ETHNIC BURGENLAND FAMILIES

Frank William Lukitsch, Sr., 82, of Allentown, passed away on February 22, 2006.
Born in Grieselstein, Austria he was a son of the late Joseph and Rosa (Gölles) Lukitsch.

Hermine "Minnie" Preisler, 93 years, of Whitehall, died Tuesday March 7, 2006 in the Lehigh
Valley Hospital- Muhlenberg.  She was the widow of Joseph Preisler, who died November 28,
1989. Born in Eisenberg an der Pinka, Burgenland, Austria, she was a daughter of the late
Rudolf and Katharina (Peischler) Stumpf.

Member Lea Simitz Buzby asks us to report the death of
Frank Janesch of Rd Hill, PA on March 28, 2006. He is survived by his wife Lillian Simitz Janesch.
Simitz family has deep roots in southern Burgenland.

ED. Special Note: With sadness we report the death of
Leonard M. Kresh, age 46 of Daytona Beach, Florida, who died Tuesday, April 4, 2006. Born
October 6, 1959 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Rudolph E. Kresh Jr. and Anna
Rose (Tanczos) Kresh. Anna Tanczos Kresh is the Internet Editor of the Burgenland Bunch with
roots in the southern Burgenland villages of Tobaj and vicinity.

We offer our condolences to the families of the deceased.


3. PREPARATION FOR EMIGRATION
    - suggested by Anna Kresh as a 150th Newsletter article

Anna writes: One thing I had wanted to do is have an article on just what had to be done in order
to emigrate - such as, required papers to be obtained and where and why, packing of belongings,
travel from one point to another (how and where), what registration and embarkation was like,
any information about life on board ship - sort of a log of what generally needed to be done.

Reply: What had to be done to emigrate changed a lot according to place and time. Some
needed nothing but some form of identity (birth, baptism, passport; not many of these were
issued to earlier immigrants, they were reserved for the nobility and moneyed class). Tickets
were bought at a place like Güssing, from an agent of one of the steamship companies - they
would even supply train tickets to port of embarkation and from NYC to somewhere in the US.
There was also a ship passage contract form that was used to prove passage had been paid.

Citizens of the Empire started out needing nothing else but ID and tickets - later there were
various requirements from the Austrian-Hungarian officials - also started up in the US when the
government began getting worried about the huge number of immigrants - but most of this was
after WWI. There was a time when you had to have some one in the States vouch for you. A
certain amount of money ($10-15) was always necessary to prove you wouldn't be a burden.

In my grandfather's time (1902) nothing was needed but ID, a ticket and $14 in cash. My
grandmother (1907) and her mother had tickets sent by her brother who came earlier and who
also needed nothing special. My grandmother mentioned a passport and some papers from
Vienna, but she threw them away years later. They did take food (as far as the port of
embarkation, to eat on the train and a steamer trunk plus other luggage). They had 2nd class
cabins and so weren't required to pass through Ellis Island.

You wouldn't need a passport to travel anywhere in the Empire but there were papers necessary
to cross the border with Germany (on the way to the ports of embarkation) but just when
required I don't know. There was no common situation, so unless you know your family's story,
it's all guess work. I'm not sure about any health documents; they may have been necessary
during periods of epidemics (cholera closed down some of the German ports for two years).

I understand early immigrants from Germany had it much worse - you needed permission to
emigrate. I never heard of this requirement for our people since the serfs were freed from
obligation to the aristocracy in 1848. See BB newsletters 7, 13, 23, 41B for more concerning
all of this.

None of my books discuss this issue, although some do show facsimiles of various documents,
but they don't say when required. I tend to believe Albert Schuch (see below) when he says
most evaded any requirement, bought a ticket (often with help from overseas relatives) and
left carrying their few possessions in whatever luggage they had.

Atlantic crossings could be fierce - there are bad storms particularly in the winter or early
Spring - late Fall could be quite bad - worse in smaller ships. Before the steam ship, there
were very few trans-Atlantic crossing other than May through October. Your immigrant's ship
the Finland (Kroonland was a sister ship) was not big (under 15,000 tons - launched 1902 as
a 2-funnel liner for the Red Star Line Antwerp-Hamburg to NYC run) so she wouldn't have
been as comfortable as a bigger ship. We experienced a bad storm on the QE-II (40,000 tons)
off the NC coast and it moved that vessel up, down and sideways with some passengers
getting broken limbs. Imagine how it was for immigrants on a smaller ship during a bad storm.

From Newsletter 41B:
EMIGRATION PAPERS (correspondence between Roman Paul Weber & Albert Schuch)

Roman writes: "When my grandfather, Paul Weber left Steinbach and Burgenland with his wife
Katalin and my father, Ferenez, and daughters in 1903, could he just pack up and leave? Or, did
the Hungarian government require that he had to fill out documents or otherwise inform them, in
writing, that he and listed dependents were leaving to emigrate to America, when going,
property owned and how disposed of, and such?  If they had to register when they were
departing the country, would such a register record exist today someplace? Budapest?"

Albert answers: This is a good question. There is no doubt that some emigrants indeed did just
pack up and leave. But this was illegal and they would have had to have had to have special
reasons to do so, like avoiding the draft (military service lasted for 3 years, had lasted for 12
years until some time in the 19th century), imprisonment, paying for children etc.

I know that they had to apply for permission to emigrate at the k.u.k. Bezirkskommissariat in
the 1850ies (see an article written by Hans PAUL which I translated for a previous BB newsletter).
Later on probably they had to register at the Bezirkshauptmannschaft (both meaning district
administration). After the "creation" of Burgenland our territory belonged to Austria. Emigration
was then observed and registered by the "Wanderungsamt" (migration office) in Vienna. They
compiled and published monthly emigration statistics. I think that the Wanderungsamt received
all ship passenger lists.

I don't know whether the Hungarian archives still keep material on the registration of emigrants for
the time ca. 1860-1920 (the PAUL article proves existence for the 1850' s; source is the archive
in Sopron) but it is possible. If so, I'd guess that the documents are in the Comitat-archives (would
be in Sopron for Bubendorf area).


4. VILLAGE OF ROSENBERG (ROSAHEGY or "Rosehill")
    - suggested by mail from Margaret Kaiser

Margaret writes to Ed Tantsits (copy to the BB): I am fascinated with your statements about your
Potzmanns being Burg (Güssing castle) caretakers for 112 years, and also your Great-uncle Robert
being Burgermeister in Güssing, and your grandmother's old house in Rosenberg.  I know I would
like to know more about these persons, their jobs, how the house was built, what crops, if any,
were grown, and the tales the ancestors told. Someday when you can collect your thoughts, perhaps
you could be encouraged to write a little something about them. 

ED Reply: You'll find any number of references to Rosenberg in the BB archives. We also did an
article on the Potzmans. Rosenberg has been an appendage of Güssing for some time. The first
mention I've found was in the church records of Szt. Jakob (Güssing), the 12th century church at
the cemetery, replaced as the Parish church in the 1600's by the Maria Heimsuchung church in
Güssing. There are records of people from Langzeil, another appendage of Güssing (family names
Sorger-Pöltl-Poeltl) moving there in the late 1600's. I believe the hamlet was created at that time,
never large enough to provide its own administration. For the most part Rosenberg inhabitants were
involved in the production of grapes and fruit - there are still apple orchards there. My g-grandfather,
his father and his grandfather operated a pottery there for many years as did the Poeltl family.
Contact BB Editor Klaus Gerger (my cousin) whose family also lived there (his father still has a
Rosenberg apple orchard and the Güssing Cloister owns some vineyards). Very small community,
an Ortsteile of Güssing. Houses have changed very little - I was there last in 2001. My grandfather's
home (nr 225) was empty and for sale. Large rambling place - once a Gasthaus. Large wine press
in a building behind the home, potteryfragments in the attic. See Gerger's map site for a map of
Rosenberg with family names and house numbers appended (1858). Homes are typical Burgenland
dwellings but most have been modernized with tile roofs, plumbing, electric, etc. One cousin (Weber
family) told me that their family had occupied the same house in the hamlet for over 300 years. A
prayer chapel, erected a few years ago, is the only "civic" structure. A road comes north-west from
Güssing-St. Nikolaus and continues on to the hamlet of Krottendorf, then splits on the way to Tobaj
and Sulz. Rosenberg, a village with deep and significant roots for me, and a magnificent view of
Burg Güssing.


5. THE DOWNSIDE OF OPERATING THE BB

Our refurbished Homepage has drawn a lot of new interest. Our listing editors are receiving many
new membership forms. Some are creating problems that require decisions whether to process or
delete them. While our Homepage instructions clearly state that we are a Burgenland site, readers
still send us email concerning other geographic areas. Some do not follow instructions. We do not
wish to turn down any legitimate request but we also do not wish to add non-Burgenland data to our
files. We expect correspondents to know a little geography and be aware of the borders of the
Burgenland. There have also been a few discourteous requests - anyone contacting us should read
our web page "Notice to Users." You thank our volunteer editors when you read, understand and
follow our instructions.


6. WHAT THE BB HAS MEANT TO ME
    - Frank Teklits - 150th Contribution

The BB is a-kin to belonging to a variety of guilds, abounding in many talents, skills, & capabilities.
Skills such as detailed historical writings about Burgenland in general, numerous descriptions of
individual villages, the 1930 Dr. Leser series, language translations & writing, web page design
capabilities, URL updates, among many others. There is a bond between the BB membership
willing & able to assist others in a variety of searches or endeavors, all intertwined with a common
desire to share information as well as providing assistance to anyone interested in whatever the
field of interest in Burgenland may be. Belonging to BB is similar to being a member of a pool of
skilled professionals providing a ready access to any topic of interest in Burgenland.

It would be unfair, as well as unwise, to single out anyone within the BB, yet being specific, I'd like
to highlight how the BB has aided some of my endeavors. Dr. Albert Schuch & his sister Inge
Schuch provided untold hours of effort via email resulting in the translation of an historical text
detailing the Migration of the Croats into Burgenland. Without their talented & dedicated input, the
translation of this text would never have occurred. Dr. Schuch is also an expert in interpreting the
improperly spelled Latin wording seen in church records & he has provided much cogent input in
the digitization of the Szentpeterfa church records. Fritz Königshofer, on one of his many travels,
located & provided a key input from an early Hungarian census allowing me to extend the family
trees to the early 1700's. John Lavendoski provided the initiative, thinking & investment in digital
cameras used in capturing some of the church images of Szentpeterfa, ultimately resulting in the
digitization of over 31,000 church records of that village. Bob Unger, in one of his articles,
identified a Hungarian text identifying all of the Hungarian village spellings & their equivalents in
many languages. This text has proven invaluable while digitizing the church records of Szentpeterfa.
Bob Strauch, Steve Geosits, John Lavendoski, & Margaret Kaiser all share in responding to the
continuing requests from individuals searching for lineage information contained in the Szentpeterfa
church records. Bob Strauch provides hours of enjoyable input regarding the Lehigh Valley area of
PA, the writers' hometown area. Anna Kresh, a real "pro" has responded to many a request of
mine in addition to her many other significant contributions to the work of the BB.

Being a BB member has provided many hours of enjoyment, seeing & utilizing the numerous
capabilities of this lively organization so carefully nurtured under Gerry Berghold's leadership. I hope
no one will be offended by not seeing their names mentioned, as each of our endeavors collectively
"makes the BB tick".

Newsletter continues as no. 150C.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 150C
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 11th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold
April 30, 2006
(c) 2006 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved

This fourth section of our 5-section newsletter concerns:

1. My Contribution to the 10th Year, 150th BB Newsletter (Fritz Königshofer)
2. The Location & Population of Burgenland  (Fritz Königshofer)
3. The BB from a Bürgenlander's Standpoint - (Klaus Gerger - 150th Contribution)


1. MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE 10TH YEAR, 150TH BB NEWSLETTER
    - by Fritz Königshofer

Sometimes late in 1997, while using the then new and fashionable search engine AltaVista, I hit
upon the almost equally new web site of the Burgenland Bunch, a truly commendable, cooperative
effort by Hap Anderson, Mike Spahitz and Gerry Berghold, the BB's founder. At the time, the
world-wide web was a relatively recent invention and the first graphical browser, Netscape, as
well as its Microsoft clone "Internet Explorer," had just begun to proliferate. 

The BB web site with its newsletters, as well as the purpose of the BB, immediately captivated
me. I already was deeply immersed in Hungarian family history that included the Burgenland. My
fascination with genealogy had started in late 1992 right after an (American) cousin had informed
me of an eerie coincidence. She had mentioned our "Hungarian" line (Béri/Béry) to an otherwise
stranger at a reception in Budapest. This person then traveled to Minneapolis where he dropped
this name to an American Hungarian living there. The latter turned out to be an unknown cousin
with the same enigmatic line. As became clear, the three of us shared a common great-great-
grandfather, though his great-great-grandmother was different from ours, a first marriage that
was news to us. This cousin from the Twin Cities happened to know the location of his great-
grandfather's birthplace in southern Zala county, which allowed me to locate a nearby small
"puszta" as the place where my own great-grandmother, the half-sister of his great-grandfather,
had been born. Previously, in our line of the family, we had looked at, but had never seriously
followed up, a wrong place in Vas county.

Thus started my work with LDS microfilm. After an intensive phase with the Béri-related records
(leading me from Zala to Somogy county), I had turned to the line of my paternal grandmother,
which goes back to today's Burgenland. As another significant development, from about 1996
onwards my job brought me to Budapest for several trips each year. I used free time on evenings
and weekends for visits to the National Library (Széchényi Library). In my first visit there, a
librarian took me to a corner in one of the two large public reading halls and showed me a booklet
from the 1930s or 1940s which listed German language newspapers and journals that had been
published in Hungary. This booklet was of immense interest for me, as among our family documents
we had a letterhead which showed that my great-grandfather had been a correspondent of the
newspaper "Der Volksfreund" (Friend of the People), but without any further address information. 
Now, suddenly and quite unexpectedly, I was able to establish that this had been a weekly
newspaper published in Szombathely. The Széchényi Library had most Volksfreund issues available
on microfilm. During many stays in Budapest, I was able to read all the issues, which were
published until the demise of the paper mid-way through World War 1.

When I found the BB on the web, I eagerly and rapidly absorbed the early articles written by
Gerry and his collaborators, especially the historical information abundantly supplied by Albert
Schuch. There was another eerie moment when I read Gerry's story about the death of his great-
grandfather, a death which, as he reported, was shrouded in mystery. As it happened, I had just
read an old obituary in Budapest, written by my great-grandfather in the Volksfreund, about the
accidental and sad death of the very same person, Emil Langasch, the retired schoolmaster of
Poppendorf.  According to the article, Emil had been born in Linz, which provided the first
concrete link for Gerry in the ensuing long process of unraveling his Langasch line.

My great-grandfather, Adolf Königshofer, succeeded Emil Langasch as the schoolmaster of the
Catholic school in Poppendorf. Both individuals came from outside Hungary. Adolf was born in
Neudau, just over the Lafnitz river in Styria. He went through teacher education in Graz and
Oberschützen, and upon completion of studies, tried to get a job across the border in Hungary. 
He started as an assistant teacher in Olbendorf (1880-84), followed by schoolmaster assignments
in Gamischdorf (1884-98) and Poppendorf (1898-1914). Since after the Compromise of 1867,
Hungary was largely independent from Austria, Adolf had to apply not only to Olbendorf's town
council for the town to accept him with home rights there, but he also needed Hungarian citizenship
which he received.

Membership in the Burgenland Bunch has enriched my human perspective immensely. The
experience has been that one happily gives a little help and gets much more back. I have been
immensely honored by Gerry's trust in inviting me to the editorial board of the BB. The joint quest
for family history has brought me in touch with many members via e-mail and with some in person. 
It has produced endless speculation in my mind about what factors produced the creative and
especially friendly character of the people inhabiting this historical borderland, which we cherish
through the existence of, and our contributions to, the Burgenland Bunch. In this very special BB
Newsletter issue, let me close with reflections on the location and population of Burgenland.
(next article.)


2. THE LOCATION & POPULATION OF BURGENLAND
    - by Fritz Königshofer

The region of Burgenland is among the truly ancient border regions of Europe. The border
between the Roman provinces of Noricum and Pannonia was just a bit to the west of today's
western border of Burgenland.  When Hungary emerged around 1000 AD as a nation accepted
by its neighbors, its border to Austria/Styria continued to change in meandering ways, for
hundreds of years, with constant skirmishes among the local aristocrats loyal to Hungarians or
Austrians, sometimes involving the kings and emperors themselves, leaving the people inhabiting
the area to suffer without end. Plague (until the early 18th century) and cholera (till the mid 19th
century) decimated the population further, compounded by famine due to the invasion of swarms
of grasshoppers. When the Ottoman Turks threatened Central Europe between 1500 and 1700,
the Burgenland was the staging area for their attacks on Vienna and, even worse, the area of
their disappointed retreat. When the Hungarians rose, about once every 100 years or so, to gain
independence from the Habsburgs, the Burgenland region bore the related brunt. In 1809,
Napoleon's army further harassed the Burgenland.

Looking far back, perhaps a few of the settlers of the times of the Roman empire survived, and
perhaps a few from the Germanic tribes crisscrossing the region afterwards (Avars, Goths,
Langobards etc.). Ethnic German settlers poured into the area circa 1150 and 1300, making
earlier Magyar border guards a minority. Croats were invited to settle in partially-depopulated
Burgenland in the mid 16th century, and also during the 17th century. Another immigration wave
were Lutherans from Styria escaping persecution by the Counter-reformation in Styria around
1600, and from Lower Austria around 1627. It is quite possible that the Berghold ancestors in
Gerry's male line, and the Trautman/Traupman and other ancestors of BB members, came to
southern Burgenland as Lutheran refuges from Eastern Styria about 1599.

There is likelihood that some soldiers and members of the entourage of the Imperial army
remained and settled around Mogersdorf in southern Burgenland (west of Szentgotthárd) after
they had defeated the Turks in the famous battle of year 1664. An early BB member, the late
Joe Gilly, always sought for confirmation about a possible Irish origin of his last name. There
are indications that Irish officers indeed had fought in the Imperial army.

Another immigration and emigration wave happened in the early to mid 18th century, when
areas liberated from centuries long Ottoman occupation in southeastern Hungary became
magnets for new ethnic German settlement treks down the Danube. Some Burgenland people
joined these waves and started new lives in the Bakony Forest region north of Lake Balaton,
and areas further south in Fejér and Tolna counties. On the other hand, settlers from western 
Austrian and German regions, who might originally have been destined farther southeast,
stayed in Burgenland as soon as they had crossed over from Austria into Hungary. I have a
line with last name Rathner/Rattner which arrived in Burgenland from an area south of Linz in
Upper Austria in the mid 18th century and settled in Lockenhaus.

The final wave occurred in the late 19th century when the nearly independent and increasingly
nationalistic administration of Hungary started to fill public service positions such as registrars,
post office staff, teachers and priests with Magyars. This was when my great-grandmother
from Zala county, Franziska Béry, obtained the job of postmaster in Olbendorf, where young
teacher Adolf Königshofer met her and fell in love. The time of mass emigration to the Americas
was quickly approaching. Many left for work in the larger cities like Vienna, Graz, and Budapest. 
Of the five children of Adolf and Franziska, two went to the USA (one to Milwaukee, one to
Allentown), two remained in Hungary, and one, my grandfather, ended up in newly created 
Burgenland, Austria.

The Burgenland has seen a remarkable ethnic mix, even considering that Austria, as a
historical German border region, was a well-known crossroad of peoples. In Burgenland,
German, Magyar, and Slovenians met and mingled, Croats and more Germans were added,
and others (Moravians, Czechs, Slovaks, etc.) also contributed. However, the mix does not
end just with ethnicity; different religions also managed to co-exist. Even today, Burgenland
has a rare Calvinist element (via the congregation centered in Oberwart). Burgenland was
home to many Jews. Rechnitz, the town of origin of my paternal grandmother's family, can
serve as a splendid example of ethnic and religious variety. Looking back over centuries, it
originally comprised a "German" and a "Hungarian" market (town), and later housed separate
"German" and "Croat" Roman-Catholic parishes.  During the 19th century, there was a time
when Lutherans were not much less in number than Roman-Catholics, and Jews were almost
as many as Lutherans. This kind of cultural experience may have prepared Burgenländers
particularly well for the "melting pot" of North America.

At the double jubilee of 10 years of existence and of issue 150 of the newsletter, this
contribution is dedicated to Gerry Berghold's efforts and success in creating the continuously
growing, far-flung yet deeply-interconnected, rock-solid and proud achievement known as the
Burgenland Bunch.


3. THE BB FROM A BURGENLÄNDER'S PERSPECTIVE
     - Klaus Gerger - 150th Contribution

When I started genealogy 10 years ago, I was little aware of any emigrated relatives other
than two aunts living in Argentina. Discussing family history with my parents I often heard the
words "and he/she went to America". There were just a few stories, no facts. Some family
members had contact with a few "American" relatives. Going into genealogical detail (church
records) showed 2 things: First, nearly everyone from my wife's (Heidi) and my family trees
were born in or around Güssing. I was able to do my research using just the Roman Catholic
parishes of Güssing (German and Croatian), Gerersdorf, Heiligenkreuz and Königsdorf.
Second, I found an increasing number of emigrated relatives but had absolutely no information
on what happened to them in the "new world".

At that time the BB "showed up". Like many researchers, I learned much from the newsletters.
The first was the existence of the LDS, especially their library in Vienna. I was able to trace
the lines of our Inzenhof descendants from the films of the Hungarian St. Emmerich Parish
(Radling/Roenoek). Then the Ellis Island records went online. I learned about SSDI (death index)
and the US census.

With these tools and the help of American BB friends, I was able to find some details about
emigrated family members. Twelve siblings of my grandparents and five of Heidi's emigrated to
NY and PA and settled there (details can be found on http://www.burgenlaender.com/klaus/wa_us.htm).
I was then able to contact a few descendants of these emigrants (Gerger, Fandl, Frisch and
Granitz). The fate of all the others is still unknown.

In the same way that many descendants of Burgenland emigrants are interested in the history
of their ancestors in the Heimat, I'd like to know what happened to the emigrants in the new world
and perhaps get in touch with descendants.

List of our Grandparents and their emigrated siblings:
Holler Mathias had 9 siblings, 4 died young, 5 emigrated to the USA
Holler Franz 1880-1963 emigrated to Allentown in 1903 with wife Sagmeister, Maria had 6 children   
Holler Johann 1884-1967 emigrated to NY in 1900 married and had 2 children                   
Holler Andreas 1885-1968 emigrated to Northampton in 1901   
Hafner Anna nee Holler 1889-1974 emigrated to USA in 1907 married with Hafner Johann
Granitz Maria nee Holler 1895-1957 emigrated to Allentown in 1913 with husband Granitz Alois
  and son          
Frisch Maria had 4 sisters, 2 of them emigrated, one returned to Burgenland
Steiner Theresia nee Frisch 1902-1945 emigrated to NYwith husband Steiner Gustav-had a daughter           

Groeller Juliana nee Frisch 1900-1979 was in the USA from 1923 to 1933; had 3 children with
  her husband Adolf Groeller. Born in NY the children grew up in Burgenland. The sons emigrated
  to NY after WW II.

Gerger Richard had 2 siblings surviving childhood both emigrated
Fandl Anna nee Gerger 1886-1980 emigrated to NY in 1905 with husband Fandl Karl - had 3 children       
Gerger Johann 1887-1969 emigrated to Troy, NY in 1906. With wife Muik, Gisela he had 3 children       
Klein Emma was in NY from 1903 for several years before she returned and married my grandfather
  in 1908; at least 3 of her 5 step-siblings emigrated
Moyer Mary nee Koller 1879-1967 went to Coplay in 1898; 3 children with 1st husband Artinger John.
Koller Adolf 1877-? emigrated to Coplay in 1902, he married Schrat, Anna
Koller Josef 1881-? emigrated to Coplay in 1906
               
Groeller Eduard had 7 siblings surviving childhood, 4 emigrated
Groller Johann 1892-1969 emigrated to Coplay in 1909; unknown if he had children w/wife Mary
Grollar August 1900-1977 emigrated to PA
Groller Josef 1893-? emigrated to US in 1923
Klement Johanna nee Groller 1904-1967 to Coplay in 1923; had a daughter with husband Klement, Alois

Schadl Adolf had 6 siblings, a sister emigrated
Schadl Laura had several children in the States

Newsletter continues as number 150D.
 

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 150D
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 11th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold
April 30, 2006
(c) 2006 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved

OUR 150TH ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO OUR DECEASED IMMIGRANT BURGENLAND ANCESTORS;
AS TAKEN FROM A SLAVIC PRAYER "MAY THE EARTH REST LIGHTLY ON THEM"

IT'S THE EASTER SEASON AND, AS TAKEN FROM THE GREEK, "HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN
INDEED!" SO TOO MAY THE MEMORIES OF OUR ANCESTORS BE RENEWED BY OUR EFFORTS

THIS IS THE  FIFTH & LAST BUT NOT LEAST SECTION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

This fifth section of our 5-section newsletter concerns:

1. The BB - A Dream Come True (Tom Glatz -150th Contribution)
2. The BB is the Best - An Unsolictited Comment
3. Schloss Lackenbach - Lackenbach Palace - An Immigrant Family Home
4. A Request from Eisenstadt
5. Edelweis Haus (Northampton, PA) Reopens


1. THE BB - A DREAM COME TRUE
    - Tom Glatz - 150th Contribution

The Burgenland Bunch is a dream that came true for me. Being interested in genealogy for
thirty-two years, I often looked very jealously upon other ethnic and geographical groups in
America who were organized. Back in the mid 1970's, fellow Burgenland Bunch member
Wayne Weber and I were the only members of the Chicago Genealogical Society with roots
from the Burgenland. Since I was corresponding secretary for this group, I had access to
periodicals from all over the US and some from Europe. I was always disappointed never to
find much regarding the former areas of the Austrian Empire.

I have yet to meet any "real cousins" being a member of the Burgenland Bunch, but I have
formed many great relationships through e-mail and in person. I am grateful to the Burgenland
Bunch charter members for the time and effort in forming the organization and to be able to
keep it going so strong. The Second Raab Valley Reunion, which was held in 2004, in Limeport,
Pennsylvania was not a BB event. However, I felt exhilarated being able to experience a real
historical Burgenland event in the US and with Burgenland Bunch and Burgenländische
Gemeinschaft members. I believe this was a first time happening ever for Chicago and
east-coast Burgenländer to be together. I would like again some day to have such a wonderful
experience. The BB has become universal and certainly transcends all generational lines.

The Burgenland Bunch has brought me culturally closer to my ancestors than I could ever have
imagined. It has given me a detailed look of what life was like for them and the hardships that
they faced emigrating to America and other parts of the world.

The best aspect of the Burgenland Bunch is that it gives honor and meaning to these immigrant
ancestors!


2. THE BB IS THE BEST - AN UNSOLICITED COMMENT

Again I'm writing to thank you; the Burgenland Bunch is the best. After searching for the
"Heimat" of my grandparents John and Mary Fuchs Huss, purportedly from St Johann and St Peter,
and learning thru the Burgenland Bunch that neighboring villages so named were now incorporated
as Janossomorja, Hungary in the Burgenland area, I joined your group and through a query in your
Newsletter was contacted by several other members offering help. Yesterday I got the surprise
of my life when Mike Winkler, one of those contacts and without any request from me, sent me a
four-page email not only confirming that these were the hometowns of my grandparents, but taking
my ancestry back three more generations. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping make
all this possible.
            Arlene Huss


3. SCHLOSS LACKENBACH - LACKENBACH PALACE - AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY HOME

Eons ago in BB News 13A, I did an article on the major Burgenland castles and palaces. I did
this since many have survived and all figure prominently in our Burgenland family history. For
some families, however, they figure more prominently than others. I refer to the very few
families who were caretakers and who actually lived in these magnificent and historical
structures. The Potzmanns, as an example, were caretakers of Burg Güssing for 112 years.
Following is a similar case:

Carolyn Clemons writes: I read your website and was especially interested in your post
regarding the above castle. My mother was born and raised in that castle; she was born to
Franz & Theresa Wolf in 1868 and left as a young woman to work in Vienna, and later
immigrated to the U.S. (Her father was the town miller, and the flour mill, like the castle, was
owned by Prince Esterhazy who maintained an apartment there and who would come and
stay once a year to hunt and enjoy hiking. Because he worked for the Prince, my grandfather
was given an apartment in the castle.)  I refer you to a book, "Burgen und Schlosser -
Burgenland" by Harald Prickler. The castle was actually built between 1548 and 1552 by
Erasmus Teuffel, and the final form of the castle as you now see it, was completed by
Nicholas Esterhazy in 1618. So your date of 1618 was incorrect as to when it was originally
built - the main body of the castle was done in 1552. It was a fortress castle with a wide
moat surrounding it. A Catholic church, utilized as the village church, was in the center of the
castle complex, but it burned down in the 1870's. An area of the castle was converted to
become the new church. 

My mother talked about how they used to herd the geese into an area beneath their living
quarters - the area had originally been a dungeon to house prisoners during various wars
throughout the region. She also said she felt isolated from the children in the village because
they lived within the walls of the castle.

If you are interested in more details about the castle, I suggest you try to obtain the above
book.  The Austrian Embassy referred me to the publisher to obtain the book.  It is written in
German, so I had to have it translated.

Reply: Defensive Castle or Residential Palace? (Burgen oder Schlosser?)
Thank you for the comments. I have the book "Burgen und Schlösser, Ruinen und
Wehrkirchen im Burgenland" by Harald Prickler and was well aware of the dates of the
original Lackenbach structure. Dating these old structures requires some manipulation since
most were built or rebuilt on the remains of former structures. You don't want to give the
impression that the older structural remains are still in evidence when they are not. The
village of Lackenbach being mentioned in an Urkunde (inventory of aristocratic holdings) of
1222 allows lots of time for building and rebuilding. So it was with Schloss Lackenbach - even
the 1618 date is nebulous since there were major renovations afterward over a period of
considerable time. A major fire occurred in 1806, for instance, requiring changes. Most
guidebooks mention "built by Nikolaus Esterhazy in 1618" - I believe this is also a date carved
in stone in the archway of the main entrance. I imagine the point being that you will see the
remains of a structure from that period as opposed to some other.

Military use and occupation during and after WW-II caused much damage and subsequent
restoration, not always original. The book "Burgenland" - Merkurverlag, states "sehenswert
is das schöne Wasserschloss aus dem 17. Jahrhundert" (from the 17th century.) The book
"Burgenland in Alten Ansichten" - Guglia & Schlag - Bundesverlag has a fine drawing of
Schloss Lackenbach by Mathias Greischer from 1680, when it was probably at its peak. The
grounds were magnificent, but not at all defensive except for some external walls and gateways
and completely unlike what can be seen today. The print is in the state library in Eisenstadt.
There is also a one-page description in this book similar to Prickler.

As a fortified (military) castle of the romantic period, Lackenbach is not a good example like
Güssing, Forchtenstein, Bernstein, Lockenhaus, Schlaining etc. It is more of a residential
"schloss" or palace than a fortified castle, even though some call it a "wasserschloss" as we
recognize moated castles (now dry) - none-the-less it is worth a visit. It reminds me of parts
of the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt (which also was a defensive castle at one time) or the
many 1800 style residential "schlossen". In the book "Burgenland Panorama" - Gesellmann
& Stefanits, they show a fine picture of the present structure, with its many arcades. Most of
the defensive walls, etc. are no longer extant. It states "the moated castle (Burg) built by the
landlord of Landsee in the 16th century was altered into a palace (Schloss) by Nicolaus Count
Esterhazy in the 17th century. The internal Renaissance Court with arcades on both sides is
one of the most beautiful in Burgenland. It now contains a hunting and forest museum."

Your comments re: your grandmother as a caretaker are interesting in that we have had other
immigrant families who had caretaker positions in some of the castles converted to residences,
most having lost their defensive significance in the late 1700's-early 1800's by order of Empress
Maria Theresia. The Napoleonic occupation also caused the de-militarization or destruction of
many castles. That did not happen to Lackenbach since it was in the form of a residential
schloss as opposed to a defensive castle. Most castles were later abandoned or turned into
residences, museums, hotels, etc. If you were the caretaker of castle or schloss, you could
almost feel you were the owners in their absence. Castle Bernstein, now operating as a
castle-hotel by Countess Almasy, still has a gaggle of geese in the courtyard. For some reason
they attacked my wife when we last visited until I drove them off. Geese have always been
used as guardians, better than dogs. On a fine morning with a ground mist, if you go up to the
walls of some of these castles, you can almost believe you are in an earlier century. Likewise,
an early visit to a residence "schloss" on an off day can take you back in time.

I'd be happy to publish an article concerning your families time in residence in Lackenbach and
their journey to America. If you're not a BB member, why not join us. See our Homepage
www.the-burgenland-bunch.org for instructions.

To which Carolyn replied: Thank you for your kind invitation and for the wealth of additional
information about Lackenbach castle. I only know what my mother told me about growing up
there and my other siblings might have much more to contribute because they actually visited
and saw the "apartment" in which my mother was raised. My mother's sister lived in Lackenbach
until her death; she was the housekeeper for the village priest.

I was interested in the dates of the castle because it is very obvious from the arcades, and the
differences in the pillars that they were built, or added, during different periods - some during the
Renaissance. I do know that my mother remembered a canon ball being imbedded in one of the
outer walls of the castle, which, according to a historian friend does put a date on the castle. 
And, of course, the moat was dry when my mother was growing up there, with the drawbridges
now permanently fixed in place. 

The date that you gave for the fire interested me because that may have been when the village
church, in the center of the castle, burned down. I thought it was in the 1870's, but then, there
may have been two different fires. I really don't know. As far as my mother was concerned,
when asked how old the castle was, she would just shrug and say that she didn't know, except
that it was "very old." Again, my thanks for your wonderful response.


4. A REQUEST FROM EISENSTADT

In a message dated 4/23/06, Michaela.Schoeller(a)inode.at writes:
 
Michaela Schöller, Fanny-Elßlergasse 4, 7000 Eisenstadt

I am in search for my family in the US. Since my grandma (Margit Woschitz, neé Szabo, born in
Kroatisch Minihof) had died in 1991, we have lost contact with our family in South Bend. I know
that there was an uncle living in South Bend called Leo Wallisch. I found an address under this
name in South Bend and wrote a letter but I didn´t receive a reply. I wonder if you have any
information about the Wallisch family in South Bend?

Reply, I will publish this in the next BB newsletter complete with your name and email address.
Perhaps one of our 1300 members may be able to help you. Please let me know if you have a reply.


5. EDELWEIS HAUS REOPENS

Ethnic taverns do return, Anna Kresh tells me: My sister just told me that the Edelweis
(Northampton, PA) is back in business. The son has reopened it. On Friday night the button box
accordians are back, and the Saturday dances will resume next Saturday (5/6/06) with the
Joe Weber Orchestra.


END OF NEWSLETTER

The Burgenland Bunch homepage (website) can be found at:
http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/

We can also be reached from: http://go.to/burgenland-bunch (this address
also provides access to Burgenländische Gemeinschaft web site)

Use our website to access our membership, village and surname lists,
archives, internet links, maps, instructions, ethnic song book, frequently asked
questions and other information.
 
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Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (c) 1997
Archived courtesy of RootsWeb.com, Inc., P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798.
Newsletter published monthly by G. J. Berghold, Winchester, VA.
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Permission to Copy Granted; You Must Provide Credit and Mention Source.