Newsletter
Dedicated to Austrian-Hungarian Burgenland Family History

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 155
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 11th Year - Issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold
September 30, 2006
(c) 2006 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved

~VISIT THE NEW BG INTERNET SHOP AT  http://www.burgenlaender.com/BG/en/BGmailOrder.html
YOU CAN ORDER A FREE (pay for shipping) ENGLISH LANGUAGE 50 YEARS BG FESTSCHRIFT OR ORDER A BG PIN. YOU CAN ALSO SECURE A BG MEMBERSHIP AT THE SAME PLACE.~

~SEE THE BURGENLAND TOUR OFFER AT ARTICLE THREE~

Current Status Of The BB:
Members: 1346; Surname Entries: 4592; Query Board Entries: 3600; Newsletter Subscribers: 989; Newsletters Archived: 155; Staff Members: 16

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, send email to G. J. Berghold with message "subscribe" or "remove". ("Cancel" will cancel membership, website listings and newsletter.) 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.

This first section of our 2-section newsletter concerns:

1. Unwanted Email From The BB Newsletter List
2. Burgenland Counties
3. Twelve Day Burgenland Tour Offered, July 2007
4. Burgenlaenders Honored & Remembered Request
5. Recent Burgenland Family Obituary


1. UNWANTED EMAIL FROM THE BB NEWSLETTER LIST

Now that the dust from newsletter number 154 has settled, I can offer some explanation for the recent deluge (some members got 40-50 SPAM type emails each day) of personal email from Rootsweb and our latest major distribution problem. A number of things happened:

Rootsweb (who distributes the BB newsletter according to a list I maintain) in August changed over to a new list distributor. In doing so, they reset all list administrator options (I'm the BB List Administrator and allow no one to post to our list). This change allowed anyone to post to our list and, when they did, all members getting our newsletter would get a copy. Rootsweb's instructions telling list administrators what they had to do were vague. I assumed I had to do nothing. Members not understanding what was going on and receiving this stuff then replied to Rootsweb and another series of 1100 emails were generated for each reply!

I asked Bob Unger to tell me what he had received. In order to show him what the address was, I placed it in the "copy to" section of my email form so I could copy it-AND FORGOT TO DELETE IT BEFORE SENDING-WHICH MEANS ANOTHER SET OF 1100 EMAILS WENT OUT TO OUR MEMBERS as if they were newsletters! Mea Culpa. To make things worse, my email to Bob had some personal items on it regarding our health, and some of our members, being the nice people they are, sent us commiserating replies and also copied Rootsweb, so another series of emails was distributed.

A few of our members got very upset and sent undesirable, complaining email. I guess we have a few twits on our membership rolls. Some of more astute members however, responded telling them to be still! More email was generated.

Am I going to complain to Rootsweb? No way - they've distributed our newsletter for many years free of charge and rarely with problems. We are in their debt and complaining about an infrequent aberration is no way to thank them for their efforts. This applies to all of us using free Internet websites. A number of members responded in a very nice way by asking if there was a problem. Those are the type of people I enjoy helping. Fortunately with the help of Margaret Kaiser and Charles Wardell, I found out how to correct the situation and the unwanted email ran itself out.

We're not the only list who had the problem - all of the many Rootsweb read-only lists had the same problem. Thousands were affected including Dear Myrtle and Cyndi's List. The people who don't understand that these things will happen given the sophistication if the Internet, don't belong online. As Bob Strauch told me: "Let me comment by giving you a pearl of Hianzisch wisdom. Feel free to quote me in the next newsletter."

"Säi mochn an Dunnaschlog aus an Gfoaza" (They're making thunder out of anal wind)


2. BURGENLAND COUNTIES

Long time member f.opitz(a)core.com writes:

Question: In some research I am doing  they ask for a county, I was under the assumption that - for example the city of Tadten (Mosonteteny) and Apetlon (Mosonbanfalva) were the county names?? Am I wrong??

Reply: You are wrong. What you mention are towns (Gemeinden) which administer other villages. There are seven Burgenland (post 1921) counties or Bezirks. From north to south they are Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt, Mattersburg, Oberpullendorf, Oberwart, Güssing and Jennersdorf. The counties in Hungary which border these Burgenland counties and which were the Burgenland village counties pre 1921 are Vas, Sopron and Moson.

To find the county in which a village is located, see our Homepage, Albert's List or click on the village names in the Village List. Tadten and Apetlon are in the Bezirk of Neusiedl am See.

The Austrian governmental administration is similar to ours with Land (like Land Salzburg) being equivalent to our State and Bezirk being equivalent to our Counties, with the Bezirk cities mentioned being like our County Seat. There are administrative differences of course. You will find more about governmental administration if you search our newsletter archives.


3. TWELVE DAY BURGENLAND TOUR OFFERED, July 2007

It is not possible for the BB to be responsible for tours; however, a recent survey indicates that a fair number of members are interested in such a tour. As a result, Klaus Gerger, our Burgenland editor, has contacted a well known and experienced Burgenland Tour Agency (BLAGUSS Reisen GmbH) and asked them to furnish a possible tour itinerary and cost. We will be publishing more data in future newsletters, but if you are interested in what is being offered, I suggest you contact Klaus Gerger - klaus.gerger(a)usa.net - ASAP. Reservations will be made on a first come, first served basis. The offer is limited to forty participants. Given enough interest, a brochure will follow. Notice that this tour includes the 2007 Bugenlandische Gemeinschaft Picnic as well as plenty of free time to visit villages of choice. In addition you will experience the Neusiedler See, both north and south Burgenland and parts of Hungary and Vienna. We would also hope to have one or more BB or BG members in attendance on occasion. If enough BB members sign up for this trip, the BB will also publish a guide of things to see, local places to visit and try to answer your questions. This is your opportunity to experience the land of your ancestors as other than an ordinary tourist without Burgenland contacts. The trip of a lifetime!

Following was received by Klaus Gerger and forwarded to me for inclusion in this newsletter:

BLAGUSS Reisen GmbH
Oberpullendorf,  Austia
27.09.2006

Title Burgenland-Wien Busrundreise 2007

Mr Gerger, Thank you for your inquiry! We can make the following offer: 

TIME: Sunday, July 1. - Thursday, July 12, 2007

Itinerary:

Sunday, 01.07.2007 Arrival
18.05h Departure from Washington (IAD) to Vienna with Austrian Airlines OS 094

Monday, 02.07.2007  Transfer to Eisenstadt
09.00h Arrival of the group in Vienna
Bus transfer from Vienna Airport to Eisenstadt
Rest of the day on your own disposal
Dinner, accommodation

Tuesday, 03.07.2007  Eisenstadt
Breakfast
09.00-16.00h Eisenstadt - sightseeing tour
Accommodation

Wednesday, 04.07.2007 Northern Burgenland & Boat Trip
Breakfast
09.00-17.30h Round trip starting in Eisenstadt - Rust - St. Margarethen - Mörbisch,
15.00-16.00h Boat trip on Lake Neusiedl from Mörbisch to Illmitz, Finishing round trip with: Podersdorf - Neusiedl/See - Eisenstadt
Dinner, accommodation

Thursday, 05.07.2007 Eisenstadt
Breakfast
Day on your own disposal
Accommodation

Friday, 06.07.2007 Eisenstadt - Southern Burgenland
Breakfast
08.00h Trip from Eisenstadt - Oberpullendorf - Bernstein - Oberwart - Güssing - Gerersdorf to Heiligenbrunn
Dinner, accommodation

Saturday, 07.07.2007 Southern Burgenland
Breakfast
08.30-17.30h Round trip starting in Heiligenbrunn - Güssing - Mogersdorf - Heiligenbrunn
Dinner, accommodation

Sunday, 08.07.2007 Hungary, Picnic
Breakfast
08.30h Trip to Hungary starting in Heiligenbrunn - Körmend - Jak; Moschendorf (attending BG picnic), back to Heiligenbrunn
Dinner, accommodation

Monday, 09.07.2007 Heiligenbrunn
Breakfast
Day on your own disposal
Overnight stay in Hotel

Tuesday, 10.07.2007 Heiligenbrunn - Vienna
Breakfast
08.30h Return journey starting in Heiligenbrunn to Vienna;
10.30-17.00h Vienna sightseeing tour
Dinner, accommodation

Wednesday, 11.07.2007 Vienna
Breakfast
Day on your own disposal
Dinner, accommodation

Thursday, 12.07.2007 Vienna - Washington
Breakfast
07.30h Transfer from Hotel to Airport
08.30h Check In
11.00h Departure for Washington with Austrian Airlines OS 093
14.45h Arrival in Washington

Achievements:
· scheduled flights Washington-Dulles - Vienna - Washington-Dulles with Austrian Airlines
· Board service and 30 kg free luggage
· Airport taxes IAD and VIE (EUR 205, $270), as of 25.09.2006)
· All bus transfers and round trips in a Blaguss luxurious coach (air-conditioned, toilet, DVD, fridge, seats recline)
· German/English-speaking chauffeur (including his accommodation and meals)
· 4-times accommodation and breakfast (buffet) in 4-Star Hotel Burgenland in Eisenstadt
· 2-times Dinner (3 courses)
· 4-times accommodation and breakfast (buffet) in 4-Star Hotel Krutzler in Heiligenbrunn
· 3-times Dinner (3 courses)
· 2-times accommodation and breakfast (buffet) in 4-Star Hotel Ananas in Wien
· 2-times Dinner (3 courses)
· German/English-speaking tour guide:
    - 03.07 City tour Eisenstadt 09.00-16.00h
    - 04.07 Burgenland trip 09.00-17.30h
    - 06.07 Burgenland trip   08.00-17.00h
    - 07.07 Burgenland trip   08.30-17.30h
    - 08.07 Burgenland Hungary trip 08.30-17.30h
    - 10.07 City tour Vienna 10.30-17.00h
· Boat trip Mörbisch - Illmitz, 1 hour
· insolvency protection

Blanket rate per person with 20 - 30 participants EUR 2.045,--$2597
Blanket rate per person with 31 - 40 participants EUR 2.160,--$2743
Single room € 150,--$191
Exchange rate as of 9/28/06

Contingent upon:
Hotel:   40 persons - 18 double rooms und 4 single rooms confirmed
Flights: 40 places confirmed

Calculation with the conditions of: 25.09.2006
Program and price adjustments reserved!

The "Allgemeinen Reisebürobedingungen (ARB 1992)"
(general travel agency conditions) apply in their entirety and their last version.

Attention the prices are in EURO!

We assure a conscientious execution of the journey for you. We ask for your call and are pleased about your positive decision.

Yours sincerely
BLAGUSS Reisen GmbH
Hannes Kirnbauer
Sales Manager


4. BURGENLANDERS HONORED & REMEMBERED REQUEST
    - from Margaret Kaiser

Nazareth, PA area Burgenlaender Help Request:
The Burgenlaenders Honored and Remembered website group (http://hometown.aol.com/nyburgenlaenders/home.htm) requests BB members to assist with identifying the hometowns of the following Burgenlaenders interred at Holy Family Cemetery in Nazareth, PA.

Blaukovitch, Anton, 1876-1948
Dax, Theresa (nee Gollinger) 1880-1951 wife of Anton from Rax
Hammer, Anna (nee Berner) 1903-1979, wife of (1) Doncses & (2) Alois Hammer
Marth, Johanna (nee Schmick) 1889-1951, wife of Adolf from Punitz
Paukovitz, Mary (nee ?) 1895-1963, wife of Frank from Prostrum
Wukitsch, Alois, 1876-1959
Wukitsch, Marie (nee ?) 1877-1944, wife of Alois
Yandrisevitz, Anna (nee ?) 1889-1976, wife of John from K. Tschantschendorf
Yandrisovitz, Ludwig, 1884-1953
Yandrisovitz, Bridget (nee Hansel) 1887-1952, wife of Ludwig
Yost, Angelina (nee ?) 1896-1950, wife of John from Inzenhof

A recent tour of Holy Family Cemetery identified many persons born in Burgenland. The information for most of these Burgenland honorees is being processed and will soon be included at the BH&R website. So far, hometowns for the above few persons remain unknown. We hope the BB members will recognize these persons and help us find their respective hometowns. If you recognize any, please email Margaret Kaiser at Burgenlaenderin(a)aol.com.

Additionally, if you wish to enroll other Burgenland-born ancestors, please submit these to the "Add to Remembrance List" website link or send their information to nyburgenlaenders(a)aol.com. Don't forget to visit the website often, and continue your photo and other contributions to the Burgenland family pages.


5. RECENT BURGENLAND FAMILY OBITUARY
     - courtesy Bob Strauch

Stella M. Hofer, 87, of Nazareth, died Sept. 1, 2006 in Lower Saucon Township. She was the wife of the late Frank J. Hofer, who died Aug. 17, 1990. She was born Feb. 24, 1919 in Steingraben, Austria, daughter of the late John and Maria (Frisch) Kositz.

Newsletter continues as number 155A.
 

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 155A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 11th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold
September 30, 2006
(c) 2006 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved

AND HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH-Matthew 7:5~

This second section of our 2-section newsletter concerns:

1. Swabian Origins Of Neudau Families Migrating To The Burgenland
2. The BB Years Fly By
3. More On Burgenland Illegitimacy & Adoption
4. Views Of The Burgenland - Mönchhof - A New Series By Hannes Graf
5. Croatian DNA
6. National Geographic DNA Project
7. Northampton Celebrates Ties With Austria


1. SWABIAN ORIGINS OF NEUDAU FAMILIES MIGRATING TO THE BURGENLAND

Following is an extract of an article by Fritz Posch in the Styrian "Zeitschrift des historischen Vereins für Steirmark", 1953, pages 98-122.

In 1706 Count Franz Karl Kottulinsky married Baroness Maria Antonia Rottal and acquired the Styrian domains Neudau and Untermayerhoffen, situated on the Hungarian border next to today's Burgenland. Most villages in the vicinity had been destroyed by Kuruzzen troops in 1704, 1707 and 1708. In order to repopulate the area, Kotttulinsky contacted a group of emigrants, mostly Schwaben from the the Bodensee area, in September 1712. He met them in Vienna while they were on their way to Hungary traveling via the Danube.

He persuaded 12 families (63 people) to settle in his Styrian Domain and they left Vienna September 11, reaching Neudau on September 16, 1712. They carried documents showing that they were originally headed for Hungary. One Martin Scherer from St. Peter in the Schwarzwald described the journey. They walked to the city of Ulm, where they boarded ships that carried them 180 miles down the Danube to Vienna at a cost of 5 gulden, 4 kreuzer per person. Many of the people settled in Neudau but some continued on into Hungary. Scherer then returned to his home village and persuaded others to come to Neudau. By April 1713 another group of emigrants reached Neudau on 22 May. They traveled via Passau, Gmunden, Bad Ischl, Aussee, Rottenmann, Leoben and Weizberg. On Aug 29, another ten families (59 people).

The emigrants were described as decent and honest people who left their homes because of high taxes, overpopulation and problems caused by war. By early 1714, some of them had left Neudau for other places but 12 families stayed. In 1717 another group left and all of those remaining left in 1723, probably to Hungary.

A settlement of some of these Schwaben in southern Burgenland must be considered possible for geographical reasons as well as there being much under- populated land available in southern Burgenland at the time. Following are the emigrant family names: Nagel, Gerer, Helbrok, Schobloch, Grabher, Sandholzer, Rusch, Lorinser, Erner, Krotz, Brechter, Fallenthor, Messmer, Mercklin, Reichart, Steiring, Schwarz, Scherer, Heutz, Leibinger, Paumann, Lutzenberger, Fuchs, Dillinger, Hug, Pfaff, Höbding, Andres, Holtzmann, Scherzinger, Saumb, Teusch, Rohrer,Werthmüller, Lükhert, Kuenle, Waldvogel, Löffler, Dolt, Pfandler, Schwerer, Drescher, Riether, Fehrnbach, Relly, (Reily), Schuller.


2. THE BB YEARS FLY BY

I was feeling a little under the weather when the phone rang and Klaus Gerger called from Vienna to wish me a Happy Birthday and explain he wouldn't be making a planned business trip to Washington. That put me in the birthday mood and I checked my email. There were three special happy birthday wishes from BB staff. It seems like only yesterday I celebrated my 75th. Being an off year, I didn't expect all these extras, but I enjoyed them very much. Hannes Graf sent me a picture of a massive colorful birthday cake, Bob Strauch sent me a mouth- watering picture of pies and Tom Steichen edited the BB Homepage to provide a picture, a greeting and music to wish me a great birthday via that medium. Other staff and members sent me more conventional greetings which were appreciated every bit as much. Then the doorbell rang and there was a splendid gift from Anna & Rudy Kresh. The best that has resulted from my creation of the BB are the great friends I've made.


3. MORE ON BURGENLAND ILLEGITIMACY & ADOPTION

Previous newsletters have dealt with this subject given the large frequency of illegitimacy and adoptions found in Burgenland church records. The questions raised are always why? What were the major causes? I recently found the following:

Between 1780 and 1790, Emperor Joseph II took measures to stimulate growth in the populace. Prior to this time, the state had set conditions that made getting married difficult or impossible for many. Members of the lower classes for instance, such as servants and journeymen who lived in the households of their masters, were not allowed to marry! One consequence was a high rate of illegitimacy and child abandonment. Joseph II improved the situation by establishing "birth houses" where women could give birth without revealing their names. The children could then be adopted by others or placed in foundling homes. Special workhouses were also created. If any of these children have left descendants in your family, I'm afraid you have to consider it a dead branch on your family tree.


4. VIEWS OF THE BURGENLAND - MÖNCHHOF
    - by Hannes Graf

(Ed. Note: Hannes plans a series of glimpses of the Burgenland. They will be published as newsletter articles and then incorporated in the BB website as a special section. We feel they will be a welcome addition to our village series. They will provide a glimpse of things rarely seen and serve as guides to attractions for those visiting the Burgenland. This is the first of the series.)

Welcome to the Mönchhof "Village Museum"

Mönchhof is situated in the so-called "Seewinkel", a plain stretching from the most eastern part of Austria into Hungary. The area around Mönchhof was called "Heideboden", meaning heath-land, a rather dry and poor place to make a living. However, many farmers, craftsmen and peasants still tried. This heath-land was a much stricter father than "mother earth", feeding or starving its people, ruling over them, ordering them to work or to rest. These conditions changed greatly during the 2nd half of the 20th century. Modernization came to Austria and to the "Heideboden" as well. Where dust had been, there was now concrete and asphalt. The old agricultural world changed, growing more independent from the soil, in some places vanishing altogether. "A thing that could not be stopped," as people said.

In the village museum of Mönchhof, the past can still be sensed. It is perceptible in the old houses with their furniture and items of daily use as well as in the craftsmen's shops with their tools and products. The village museum portrays the spirit of the people who lived in the "Heideboden." and it tells us about their joy and grief, their comfort and security as well as about the restrictions and forces within the village society.

The open-air-museum (emerging from a private collection to its present size within the last 10 years) is divided into three parts: The first one deals with provisions and food. What did they plant? How did they plant and harvest? What did they keep for themselves? What were their essentials for survival? The 2nd part of the museum is dedicated to the preservation of food, drying, home-curing, smoking etc. - the guarantees for surviving rough times.

Hidden behind a small pond is the largest and maybe most fascinating part of the museum. There we find a complete (a model) village in the former vineyard of the museum's builders and owners, the family Christine and Josef Haubenwallner. A school, the local inn and grocery, the cinema, the municipal and postal office, the house of the fire brigade and the workshops of the local craftsmen as well as the humble home of the shepherd surrounds the village green. In contrast to the latter, a huge farm building, complete with stables, wine-cellar, coach-house and workrooms, is located at the far end of the yard. Opposite these buildings we can see the baker's home and bake house as well as the small shop where his wife sold the newly-made goods. These two building units - the farmer's and the baker's house - are connected with each other through a huge gate at the one end and a barn at the other. Together they also share the yard (Hof) in between the long-stretched out houses making them a so-called "Halbwirtschaft," a most typical way of living and working in the "Heideboden." Farther still, at the very end of the village museum, we can see the latest and most valuable attraction: the church, placed on a small hill and overlooking the whole village.

Apart from seeing these buildings, the visitors can enter every single one. They can spend time and lose themselves gazing at details or strolling for hours in this slow and friendly museum. Most friendly and cozy of course, is the local inn. Like most of the other buildings, it was once situated in Mönchhof, then taken down and re-erected in the museum with all its furniture and decoration. Here, the visitor can take a rest, dwell on what he has seen, ask for further details - or simply enjoy a nice glass of wine, originating from the cellar of Andreas Weiss, Haubenwallner's son-in-law. The local special baked goods - like "Grammelpogatschen" or "Wasserkipferl" - go nicely with the drink. Sometimes the little inn is almost bursting with visitors, at other times it is all empty and silent. If too silent for the guest's taste, one can switch on the old music-box and listen to great German hits of the 1950's. Or come and visit the museum when there is a real band playing folk-music, when the craftsmen show their skills in the old workshop or when an exhibition in the newly-built hall opens with ceremony.

Leaving the "Dorfmuseum Mönchhof" - passing the pond and the "Sammlung" (collection), the heart of it all, the last highlight should not be missed. At the entrance the visitor finds the museum's shop, where little gifts can be purchased. Wine and spirits, jams and juices, all different sorts of cookies and handmade bags and tablecloths. A  museum catalogue is available - showing both beautiful pictures and interesting details about the region and the museum.

In 2000, the Austrian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture awarded the "Volkskulturpreis" for achievements in the preservation of original Austrian culture to the "Dorfmuseum Mönchhof." Two years later, the "Tourism Award" followed. Furthermore the museum works in cooperation with the Viennese University Institute of European Ethnology since 1994.

Open from 1 April to 31 October, Tuesday to Sunday and Holidays 10.00 - 18.30. Monday is closing day (Rühetag)


5. CROATIAN DNA

Member Bruce Klemens writes:

I just received my results from the National Geographic's Genographic DNA project. I had it done on my paternal Burgenland Croatian (Klemenschitz, Klemensic) side.  I was very pleased in that it verified everything I had heard from family oral history or read about.

Here's some of what they said:

"Your Y-chromosome results identify you as a member of haplogroup I..."

"Today members of this haplogroup can be found throughout southeastern and central Europe. Relatively high concentrations exist in two distinct regions of Europe: among Scandinavian populations and those in the northwestern Balkans.  Some studies suggest that 40 to 50% of the men in Nordic populations of Scandinavia belong to Haplogroup I. A similar frequency is found around the Dinaric Alps, a mountain chain in southern Europe spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro."

As soon as I saw "Dinaric Alps" I thought, "Bingo!" I always heard Dalmatia (a part of Croatia along the Adriatic coast) mentioned as the origin of the Klemensic family and it sure looks like the Dinaric Alps run through it. In fact, I Googled "Dinaric Alps" and another article described them as "A range of the northwest Balkan Peninsula extending about 644 km (400 mi) along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The partially submerged western part of the system forms numerous islands along the coastline."

So my question to you is, have you or any other Burgenland Croatian descendents that you know of, taken such a DNA test? I'd be very curious if all were Haplogroup I or were some from a different Haplogroup, perhaps indicating a more inland place of origin. 

(Ed Note: The Dinaric Alps form the "karst" mountain chain behind the Adriatic coast. It has been the home of the Croatians since the early 7th century. See the history of the Croat migrations in our newsletter archives. While Croatian movement into the southern Burgenland came mostly from the Batthyany and Draskovitch domains south of Zagreb, there was also movement from the Adriatic coast into those areas and subsequent relocation to the Burgenland. The Scandinavian connection seems to point to a double Slavic migration - both south and north.)


6. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DNA PROJECT

Charles Stuparits writes: I also came across an article in the National Geographic Magazine about DNA. The cost was $90, but I got information I never expected. My DNA showed my family line traveled straight up (from Africa), not into Europe, but through Albania, and then east into Hungary. They also sent an email with a movie regarding my particular DNA. They contacted me later with a request for family information. I of course complied.


7. NORTHAMPTON CELEBRATES TIES WITH AUSTRIA
    - from Bob Strauch

On September 3, 2006, with music and ethnic food, the city of Northampton, PA, celebrated its 31st annual partnership with Stegersbach, Burgenland. The celebration has personal overtones for many of Northampton's residents; some are still immigrants but many are now their descendants. Representatives from Stegersbach attended the celebration in years past, but none were able to make it this year. Frank Spitzer, 78, a musician who plays the accordion at local ethnic affairs, recalled how Tessie Teklits (deceased) talked the mayor of Stegersbach and members of his council into visiting Northampton in the 1960s, establishing the relationship between the towns. Spitzer whose father was from Stegersbach, was part of that welcoming committee. The attendees get older and they worry that the tradition may die out. They wish more younger people would get involved.

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.

BB NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES (reached via Home Page hyperlinks)

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.
Newsletter and List Rights Reserved.
Permission to Copy Granted; You Must Provide Credit and Mention Source.