Newsletter
Dedicated to Austrian-Hungarian Burgenland Family History
THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 168
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
Our 12th Year - Issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold, BB Editor
October 31, 2007
(c) 2007 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved
~ROBERT PUMM WELCOMED AS THE 1500TH BB MEMBER - SEE FIRST ARTICLE~
~ANOTHER MILESTONE! TOM STEICHEN REPORTS WE NOW LIST 5000 SURNAME ENTRIES - SEE HOMEPAGE!~
~TO BE AUSTRIAN IS NOT A GEOGRAPHICAL CONCEPT BUT A SPIRITUAL IDEA, THE IDEA OF AN ETHICALLY ENLIGHTENED HUMANITY
SPRINGING FROM A COMBINATION OF PEOPLES AND CLASSES.~Oskar Bender, 1936
Current Status Of The BB: Members: 1509; Surname Entries: 5000; Query Board Entries: 3788; Newsletters Archived:
168; Staff Members: 15
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 forms 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.
This first section of our 3 section newsletter concerns:
1. Welcome 1500th BB Member (also see section 2)
2. Images Of America - Immigrant Scenes
3. Burgenland Immigrant Obits
4. Kronen Currency Conversion - 1900-2007
1. WELCOME 1500TH BB MEMBER
Our 1500th member is a descendant of Samuel Pum, who was born in the southern Burgenland village of Kukmirn
(district of Güssing). Samuel emigrated to Buffalo, New York in 1913. The BB is most happy to exceed the 1500 member
milepost. As such the BB editors have surpassed themselves in providing Robert Pumm with some personal research. A
series of email sent to Robert follows.
Tom Steichen writes:
From Ellis Island site:
On ship SS Finland departing Antwerp, Belgium on June 7, via Dover, England, arriving New York on June 18, 1913.
The record reads:
Pumm Samuel, age 18, (born ~1894-5) farm laborer, reads, writes, is a German Hungarian from Kuckmér (Kukmirn),
father is Michael Pumm of Kuckmér 79, going to Buffalo, NY; paid passage himself, carrying $42, going to brother
Frank Pumm at 78 Hermann St, Buffalo, NY, is 5'7", brown hair, blue eyes.
Possibly traveling with: Johann Hoanzl (of Kukmirn) and Paul Frantschitsch of Stadt Schlaining.
From SSDI:
Samuel PUMM
Birth Date: 14 Oct 1894
Death Date: Mar 1967
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: New York
Death Residence Localities
ZIP Code: 14215
Localities: Buffalo, Erie, New York
Cheektowaga, Erie, New York
Subject: BB New Member Information
Sender Name: Robert Pumm
From Email Address: see membership list
Town State Country: Hamburg New York
Surname: SAMUEL PUM
Village: Kukmirn
Bob Strauch writes:
Congrats and welcome to the BB.
As Gerry said, many (if not most) immigrants from Kukmirn settled here in the Lehigh Valley, mostly in Allentown
and Coplay. But never did I realize just how many until my involvement in the Lehigh Valley portion of the cemetery
project "Burgenländers Honored and Remembered", headed by BB editor Frank Paukowits from New York. Here's one name
you might find interesting:
Frank Pumm Kukmirn 1878 - 1963 Fairview Cemetery/Allentown (one of a number of local cemeteries where the
Lutheran immigrants from Kukmirn found their final resting place).
By separate e-mail I'm sending you several vintage, pre-World War 1 postcards of Kukmirn from my collection.
Sincerely,
Bob Strauch,
Allentown, Pennsylvania
BB-Lehigh Valley Editor
From Hannes Graf:
Hello all
My present to the 1500th member Robert Pumm, but also all others who are interested, is a Page (6 pages) inside
of the Burgenland Impressions: lets have a little walk around Kukmirn from today (October 15) afternoon.
liebe Grüße
hannes
Gerry Berghold writes:
Hello Robert Pumm
As founder of the Burgenland Bunch and thus the first BB member, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you as the
1500th member. You've added another Burgenland immigrant to our files. I am also pleased that the village of origin
is Kukmirn, a well known immigrant village in southern Burgenland, district of Güssing. Since many of the immigrants
from Kukmirn settled in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, it is also interesting that Samuel Pumm settled in New
York state. That he had a brother Frank residing there probably indicates that Buffalo was a minor Burgenland
immigrant enclave, but then an immigrant brother (Richard Sorger) of my grandfather Alois Sorger died in Buffalo. My
grandfather was from Rosenberg, Güssing.
My four grandparents emigrated from southern Burgenland so I have visited there many times. Such visits also
included nearby Kukmirn, where in 1993, I attended a memorial service for one Frank Duld, first immigrant from
Kukmirn to the United States (Allentown, PA.) I also happen to have a number of publications in my library that
mention Kukmirn. I'll share pertinent information.
As our 1500th member, you get some special help not normally available to our members unless they request it via
email questions.
History
Kukmirn is first mentioned in records of the 13th century. The present German speaking population; however, does
not have roots that deep (although there has been a Germanic presence there since the 9th Century when Charlemagne
overran the Avars who had established a khanate there lasting some 200 years). The period 800AD to 1600AD was mostly
one of dynastic change involving the Magyars (Hungarians), Turks and the Hapsburg Austrian Crown. From what I've
found, the present families descend from later German speaking migrants from either the nearby Austrian provinces of
Styria or Lower Austria (the border is only a few kms to the west of Kukmirn.) This would have occurred in the first
half of the 1600s at the time of the Counter Reformation. The Burgenland was then part of Hungary (although governed
by the Austrian Crown). Kukmirn had a Lutheran population as well as a Catholic one and the Counts of Batthyany (the
overlords) were very tolerant of religion. I might mention that Croatian settlers also moved into the area about
1524 to join the local Hungarians so we now have a three ethnic grouping with the Germanic predominating. This is
based on the fact that German family names do not appear in extant records until the 1600s and now comprise over 85%
of the population. Since the family name Pumm does not appear before 1635, we can assume your family roots in
Kukmirn date from about 1635 (as mentioned in the Güssing Urbar of 1635.) There are still two Pumm families in
Kukmirn and the name is found in surrounding communities as well (i.e.-two families in Güssing). In fact we have
almost 400 years of continuous Pum presence in Kukmirn.
With that sort of history, you can trace your family origins back a few centuries. The LDS (Mormon Church) has
microfilm of both Catholic and Lutheran Church and Civil records (birth, marriage death) from 1828-1921. They are
available at any nearby LDS Family History Center. Cost is minor (postage) and film is sent from Salt Lake City to
be read at the center. Our archives can tell you how to do this. Records prior to 1828 are available at the churches
in Kukmirn. They date from 1770 or earlier but require a visit to Kukmirn. Even earlier records (1600s) may be
available at the Catholic Diocese in Eisenstadt. This brings up the question of family religion in order for you to
view the appropriate records.
LDS microfilm numbers are:
Catholic - (1828-1895) 0700677
Lutheran - (1828-1895) 0700678-681
Civil - (1895-1920) 0700325-329
Appearance of Name
I have traced the Pum(m) name from its earliest mention in old Burgenland records and it appears that your family
was engaged in farming exclusively since their arrival in Kukmirn. In no record do they appear as other than
farmers. This means that they held one or more plots of ground (called holds or sessions) of about 17 acres or less.
Until 1848 (or some time after) they would have paid rent to the Batthyany family (only the aristocracy could own
land before 1848.) They do not appear to have had any craftsmen or householders without farmland (Söllner.) Based on
today's crops, I would assume they had orchards as well as other crops. They probably purchased their property after
1848.
The records (all but one in Kukmirn) in which I've found the Pumm name are:
Güssinger Urbar of 1635 - In Deutsch Kukmirn (German Kukmirn-at that time the village was separated between Germans
& Hungarians) -there were 2 families Pum
1689 - a Pum harvested 10 WGT.(?) Wein (Grapes?) from the Ungerberg (hill next to the village)
Güssinger Urbar of 1732 - There were Pum(m) families in the village of Kukmirn
Kukmirn Umbarium of 1748,49,50 - Six Pum families (notice how the spelling changes) were part of the village.
Canonical (Catholic Church) Visitation of 1757 - South Burgenland - Latin transcription by Josef Buzas-no mention of
Pum as members of the congregation; were they in fact attending the Lutheran church?
1767 - Two Pum families mentioned of the 110 then inhabiting the village
The 1800s seem to be silent concerning family names in my history of Kukmirn
1897-1900 - Franz Pum of no. 14 was Commandant of the Fire Company
War Memorial 1914-18 - no Pum mentioned
1921 Notarized listing(?) shows one Bum(?) family, probably Pum?
War Memorial 1939-1945 - Eduard Pum nr. 44, Gustav Pum nr. 46, Konrad Pum nr. 105 among the fallen soldiers.
The Present
Kukmirn is now well known in the Burgenland if not in all of Austria for the production of fruit brandy (mostly
apple). There are about 6 families engaged in distilling brandy-no Pum's. It is possible that the two remaining Pum
families (Günter Pum nr. 44 and Josef Pum nr. 140) may still be raising fruit which they sell to the distilleries.
Perhaps we can find out.
There are at least three Gasthofs:
Gasthof Zumjagdhorn - Familie Fiedler (also a brandy producer)
Gasthof Hoanzl - Familie Hoanzl
Berg Gasthof Zotter - Familie Zotter
Present population is about 2100 with 670 houses. Kukmirn is a Marktgemeinde (market community) that includes the
nearby villages of Neusiedl, Limbach and Eisenhüttl. The coat of arms is a gold and red shield (split
lengthwise-left to right) on which an apple is centered in opposite red & gold colors. While each of the villages
have small churches, the parish churches are the Catholic Church (Johanneskirche-1760) and the Lutheran Church-1784.
Kukmirn lies on the "Apple Bike Path (Weg)" and attracts many tourist bicycle enthusiasts during the summer season.
There is a distillery museum (Schnapsbrennereimuseum) open April through October.
If you have any questions, please advise. I will be using this email as well as other data concerning your family
in the next edition of the BB newsletter (October 31). I will also forward the same article to our Burgenland
contacts for use in Austrian publications. Again, welcome to the BB as our 1500th member. I wish you success in your
research.
2. IMAGES OF AMERICA - IMMIGRANT SCENES
- from Margaret Kaiser
We purchased a couple of Lehigh Valley area books from the "Images of America" series. Books in this series are
listed at www.arcadiapublishing.com. We found copies at Barnes and
Noble (B&N). The list price for most is $19.99 each. B&N offers a 10% discount to members. Below is a small sampling
from the extensive selection in this series. These books may be of interest for researching ancestral communities,
and certainly for triggering memories of yesterdays. These books are not necessarily helpful for genealogical
information, although some photos identify those photographed. Click Arcadia Catalog Search to search by state..
An example of some Allentown photos are views of the Hess Brothers department store (various years) and its soda
fountain (1905). In the early 20th century, Hess Brothers had 46 departments and 500 employees in PA. Other photos
are of businesses, street scenes, events, transportation (trolley, horse and wagons, trains, and other early
vehicles), building the 8th Street bridge, and more.
Connecticut
New Britain (backordered)
New Britain (Vol. 2) (backordered)
Indiana
South Bend (3)
Pennsylvania
Allentown (two versions) I purchased ISBN 10-0-7385-0996-5)
Bethlehem (backordered)
Dorney Park
The Lehigh Valley Cement Industry
Catasauqua and North Catasauqua
German Pittsburgh
Hellertown
Lehigh Township
Northampton
Pittsburgh's Immigrants
Quakertown
Straub Brewery
3. BURGENLAND IMMIGANT OBITS
Theresa Demidont, 82, formerly of Allentown, died Sept. 24, 2007 in the home of her daughter in
Northampton. She was the wife of the late Andry Demidont, who died Jan. 15, 2006. Theresa was born March 15, 1925 in
Rábafüzes (Raabfidisch), Hungary, daughter of the late Thomas and Theresia (Györy) Düh.
Josefa "Josephine" Walthier, nee Lorenz, age 69, died in Frankfort, IL, Sept. 25. She was born in
Oberdorf, December 1, 1937. She was a very active member of the BG since 1957. Her daughter Anita was a former Miss
Burgenland. She was married to Martin Wlathier and had numerous relatives in Austria.
Angela Matika, 85, of Hokendauqua (Whitehall), died October 7, 2007, at home. She was the wife of the
late Michael G. Matika. Born in St. Nikolaus, Burgenland, Austria, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Theresa
(Stranzl) Stelzmann, and the stepdaughter of the late Mary (Leitgeb) Stelzmann.
Josephine Schmidt, 94, of Allentown, died Wednesday, October 17, 2007. She was the widow of Frank
Schmidt, who predeceased her in 1968. Born in Zahling, Burgenland, Austria, Josephine was the daughter of the late
Joseph and Theresa (Schlener) Yost. She came to the United States at the age of eight years. She had been very
active at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church and was a former member and volunteer at the Austrian-Hungarian
Veterans' Society in Allentown.
4. KRONEN CURRENCY CONVERSION 1900 vs 2007
Correspondent writes: I need to know approximately how many US Dollars 200 Austrian Kronen were worth
around 1900. From what I can gather, it was only about 40 dollars. Might you be of some help?
Tom Steichen replies:
Known equivalences (circa 1900) are as follows:
2 Kronen = 1 Gulden
1 Gulden = 1.5 Verienthaler
1 Verienthaler = 3 German Goldmarks
2790 German Goldmarks = 1 KG gold
1 KG gold = 32.1507 T. oz gold
1 T. oz gold = 20 US $
If you multiply everything in the first column together and do the same for the second column, then cancel common
units, you come up with: 5580 Kronen = 2893.563 US.
Dividing both sides by 5580 gives: 1 Kronen = 0.518559677 US $
Thus 200 Kronen = 103.71 US $ in ~ 1900.
What the equivalences are today... well that's a different question.
Newsletter continues as number 168A.
THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 168A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 12th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold)
October 31, 2007
(c) 2007 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved
~NOTE - BB INTERNET LINKS UPDATE:
Our BB Internet Links web page is frequently edited to remove "dead" links, reflect changes or add new addresses.
This was again done on 10/8/07. Contact Anna Kresh-BB Internet Editor if you wish to add a link.~
The second section of this 3 section newsletter includes:
1. Message From Robert Pumm - 1500th BB Member
2. Follow up to BB Newsletter #167 - Family Solar (Szoller)
1. MESSAGE FROM ROBERT PUMM - 1500TH BB MEMBER
Robert writes:
I am proud to become the 1500th member of the Burgenland Bunch. My father Samuel Pumm was born in Kukmirn,
Austria. His father was Michael Pumm and his mother was Julia Ernst. He left Kukmirn and sailed to America from
Antwerp, Belgium on June 20, 1913, on the SS Finland. Sam settled in Buffalo, NY, mainly because his brother Frank
Pumm was already there and working. Sam started as an apprentice in a local brewery. In his career he worked in
various breweries in the Buffalo area. He retired in 1960 from the Phoenix Brewery. Sam died in Buffalo, NY in 1967.
I am the second son of Samuel, with an older brother Edward, and a younger brother Paul.
My mother's maiden name is Catherine Dukarm. My mother was born in St. Miklos, Banat Area of the
Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Today it is part of Romania. Her family migrated in the 1700's from Eppelborn, Germany.
My dad was a member of the Buffalo-Austrian Benevolent Society. They owned their own meeting place in Buffalo, at
571 Broadway. They had a steward that ran the restaurant and bowling alleys. The membership consisted of almost 200
members, all with Austrian backgrounds. At one time, my uncle Frank Pumm was steward. Each year they had an Austrian
day, with parade and picnic. Lots of beer and food was served. My mother was chairman of the kitchen, which served
Hungarian goulash. In the parade my father carried the American flag, and I and my brothers carried the banner of
the society.
In the walk around Kukmirn pictures (supplied by Hannes Graf), you showed a statute of soldiers that served with
the German forces during World War II. One name, on the statute was Edward Pumm. My brother Edward Pumm served in
the US Air Force in Italy and flew 50 missions over Germany and Austria. He didn't know at that time he had a cousin
with the same name fighting for the German army!!!
I also served in the US Army as a MP Sergeant in 1946 in Germany. I tried to get to Kukmirn, but it was occupied
at that time by the Russians. I am now retired from New York Telephone Company.
I have attached various pictures. One is of my parents Sam and Catherine. Another is of Edward, myself Robert,
and Paul (left to right). The others are from the Society.
2. FOLLOWUP TO BB NEWSLETTER #167 - FAMILY SOLAR
(ED Note: BB Newsletter no. 167 concerned subject family. Two of our staff, Margaret Kaiser and Fritz
Konigshofer found the research most interesting. While their replies are voluminous, this search is a good example
of what can be accomplished in researching family history via the Burgenland Bunch. Our thanks to Stephen Solar,
Margaret and Fritz for providing the example)
Margaret writes:
Based on the information provided in BB Newsletter #167, your ancestor's arrival was:
Ellis Island Records
Ferenczne Szollar, age 19, arrived Sept. 18, 1904 from Fiume on "The Pannonia." Last residence listed Szt. Gotthard,
joining her husband, a resident of South Bethlehem. Note the "ne" suffix in "Ferencz" denotes this is the wife of
Ferencz Szollar. Ferencz is Hungarian for Frank/Franz.
Possible Ancestor
World War 1 draft records have a Frank Solar and wife Gisella living in Allentown, PA. This Frank was born
December 13, 1881. This same man is listed as living at 135 N. Penn Street with wife, Stella.
1920 census, 937 Fifth Street, Allentown
Frank (38), Gizela (34), Leo (14), Sophia E.(11), Edward F. (8), Elsie M. (7) & Pauline (3-10/12s) Solar. Mr.
Solar is a tailor.
1930 census, 616 Greenleaf Street
Frank, Stella, Sophia E., Edward F., & Pauline H. Solar.
Stephen responds:
Thank you so very much for this information. Yes, this is my great-grandmother, and the son listed as
Edward, is my grandfather. I have been doing this genealogy for 20 years, and I have received more information from
you and the website in the last month than I ever did. My great-grand father Frank, was a tailor in Allentown and
worked for Koch Brothers of Allentown.
The last surviving sibling of my Grandfather, Pauline, passed away in 1997, but I had a chance to know her.
Please let me know if you need any more questions answered.
Margaret then writes:
Here is more information:
1910 census, 937 Fifth Street Allentown
indexed on Heritage Quest and Ancestry.com as Solie Frank (28), Gisela (24), Leo (5) & Sophie E. (3)
An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, May 1, 1916 tells of $500 being donated by Koch Bros. for benefit of Home
of Good Shepherd, Allentown
Szollars, Ferencz, age 23, of Alsocsabogany (per Ellis Island indexing), immigrated July 26, 1904 on board the SS
Bremen from Bremen. He is a tailor. You might advise what faith your ancestors were and we can tell you what church
they likely attended, then you can inquire about church records (baptisms, marriages, deaths, etc.).
From SSDI, all Allentown residents
Edward Solar, Feb. 5, 1911 - April 1974 (your father)
Leo Solar, April 6, 1905 - April 1974 (your uncle)
Stella Solar, July 13, 1901 - Feb. 1985 (a relative?)
It was common in Burgenland in mixed marriage for couples to raise sons in the husband's faith, and daughters in the
wife's faith.
1930 census, 321 (rear) 15th St., Allentown, PA
Solar Leo, 24, Stella (26), Doris (3-5/12s), Edward (2-4/12s)
Leo was a weaver in a silk mill.
Stella immigrated in 1922
Leo and Stella married at ages 20 and 23, most likely in Allentown.
Gizella (Stella) Mahr (later Solar), age 20, born in Pottendorf, last residence Wallendorf arrived Feb. 3, 1922 from
Southampton on board "The Acquitania." Going to her stepbrother, John Kloober, 423 Cedar Street, Allentown. Her
father was Michael Mahr of Wallendorf house #14. She naturalized in 1938.
Note: Stephen in Hungarian is Istvan.
Stephen responds:
Had we met years ago, I probably would have visited Hungary, Austria, Slovenia by now! Frank and Stella were my
great-grandparents. Edward was my grandfather. Frank came here before Stella (I think) in 1904 on New Bremen II,
leaving from Szentgotthard and arriving in June/July, 1904. He lived with his sponsor in Bethlehem before settling
in Allentown. He died in June, 1954, in Allentown.
My great-grandfather, Frank, was Roman Catholic, and Stella was Lutheran. Edward, and his brother, Leo were raised
Catholic, and the girls (Sophie, Elsie and Pauline) were raised Lutheran. I remember talking to great-aunt Pauline
before she died about it, and she pretty much said: "That's what they did back then."
I guess great-grandpa lived in Szentgotthard for a time although I don't know how long. I remember from his obit
that HIS father (my great-great grandfather)'s name was STEPHEN SOLAR! Spelled exactly the same way. I was named
after my maternal grandfather. Thanks so much for all your invaluable help. PS: I have seen the house at 937 5th
Street and Penn Street.
Margaret then wrote:
Your great-grandfather arrived in July, followed shortly thereafter in September by your great-grandmother.
See Ellis Island info sent previously.
You should definitely consider a trip to the "Heimat." There may be a trip organized in 2008, probably in July. This
trip is to be offered to BB members by a tour group. Follow the BB for information. Thank you for your kind words of
appreciation. I am delighted to be of assistance as time permits.
Email from Fritz Konigshofer follows:
I am one of the BB Newsletter editors. This evening I browsed through the most recent newsletter (no. 167) of the
Burgenland Bunch and noted the article about the search for the home town of your great grandfather Francis X.
Solar. Klaus Gerger pointed you to the town Dolnji Slaveci in the Republic of Slovenia, which pre-WWI was called
Alsócsalogány, located in the Muraszombat district of Vas county, Hungary.
Ellis Island records have the arrival of a Ferencz Szollars (the "s" at the end may be a spelling mistake in the
manifest) on July 26, 1904, age 23, married, a tailor by profession. His last residence is transcribed as
Alsocsabogany, but in the actual manifest, the b could well be an l. Ferenc is the Hungarian form of the name
Francis. This person was on the way to a friend in South Bethlehem with name Istvan (Stephen) Krem (?, could it be
Krenn?). Could this arrival record be the one of your great grandfather?
Fritz later writes:
It seems that the Ferencz Szollars record at Ellis Island is indeed the arrival record of your great
grandfather. Date, ship, profession and town of origin all fit. I hope that you have looked at this ship manifest
yourself (www.ellisislandrecords.org). The town of origin is wrongly
transcribed as Alsocsabogany. It should be Alsocsalogany (correctly in Hungarian spelling, it is Alsócsalogány). As
a detail with some potential interest, Ferencz (Frank) stated his ethnicity as German. According to the data of the
1910 census, nearly all 800 inhabitants of Alsócsalogány declared their ethnicity as "Wend" (Slovenian). Only 30
listed German.
It is quite possible that Frank had lived and worked in Szentgotthárd and still stated Alsócsalogány as his last
residence. He probably grew up in Alsócsalogány and had home rights (predating the concept of citizenship) there.
The fine distinctions between last residence and place of origin were not always precisely reflected in the earlier
ship manifests.
When you check the spelling Szollar (Szollár) at Ellis Island records, you will find the arrival of Frank's wife.
She is listed as Ferenczne Szollar, age 19, and arrived in New York on September 18, 1904, sailing from Fiume. The
Hungarian way for a wife's name was/is to say Szollár Ferenczné, meaning Mrs. Frank Szollár. Therefore, we
unfortunately cannot deduce her first name and maiden name from this manifest. Young Mrs. Szollár stated her
ethnicity also as German. Her last residence was Szent Gotthárd (adding corroboration to your family lore), on the
way to meet her husband Szollár Ferencz in South Bethlehem.
The German ethnicity of Frank and his wife are not overly surprising. The old (pre-WWI) county of Vas was ethnically
very mixed. According to the census of 1910, a bit more than 50% declared themselves as Magyars (Hungarians), more
than a quarter as Germans, and more than 10% as Vends (Slovenians). There were also less than 5% Croats. Most of the
ethnic Germans lived in the western part of the county. As a result of the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
after WWI, the western part of Vas was severed from Hungary and became the southern part of the new Austrian state
of Burgenland. The southern part of old Vas county was severed too, and became part of the new country Yugoslavia.
After its breakup in the early 1990s, it is now the Republic of Slovenia.
As to the wife of your granduncle, Pottendorf may be the town of this name in Lower Austria (near the border to
Burgenland). There is another town called Pöttendorf in Lower Austria. If it is a misspelling, the town could be
Pöttelsdorf in today's Middle Burgenland, or Poppendorf in southern Burgenland which is relatively near old
Alsócsalogány. Since the couple likely met in the USA, all these options, and perhaps others, are equally likely.
Now let me discuss the question of records. As you will see, you could do a lot of research here in the USA before
you venture on a trip to your ancestral places.
In old Vas county, most of the ethnic Slovenians lived in the district of Muraszombat, the most southern district of
old Vas county. Some ethnic Slovenians lived in the southern parts of the district of Szentgotthárd. Many of the
"Slovenian" towns had traditional Slovenian names (though slightly Magyarized). In the early 20th century, Hungary
embarked on a project to assign unique place names to all Hungarian towns and villages, and in the process replace
all place names by new names. The name Alsócsalogány is likely among the names only created in the early 20th
century. These last-minute name changes make record searching a bit more difficult than usual.
The traditional name of Alsócsalogány was Alsó-Slavecza. In the Dvorzsák book of Hungarian place names of 1870, you
will find your ancestral town under the latter name in the district of Muraszombat. To see the Dvorzsák listings,
link to:
http://kt.lib.pte.hu/cgi-bin/kt.cgi?konyvtar/kt03110501/tartalom.html.
Click Vas county, and page to the Muraszombat district (jaras). Click on the bottom right for the next page.
The Dvorzsák entry shows the place of the Roman-catholic parish (and records) as Tót Szent György (403 souls in
Alsó-Slavecza), the Lutheran parish as Bodoncz (231 souls), and the Jewish congregation at Muraszombat (9 souls). In
the subsequent reform of place names, Tót Szent György became Vizlendva, while Bodoncz became Bodóhegy.
LDS (the Mormons) have microfilmed the duplicates of the parish records of former district Muraszombat. For the film
holdings, see the LDS web site at
http://www.familysearch.org/Search/searchcatalog.asp.
Check for place names Vizlendva and Bodohegy and see what you get. You could order the films for viewing at a Family
History Center near you (check your phone directory for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
A possible alternative source for you might be the records of Szentgotthárd. Perhaps Gizella hailed from there. When
the couple already lived in the USA, it is quite likely that they sent information back to the old country about the
births of their children. This was likely a requirement (though not always obeyed). You would find the information
in the civil records. As for Alsócsalogány, civil recording may well have been in Vizlendva, or alternatively in
also nearby Felsőlendva.
My advice for you would be to first of all search the civil marriage records of Vizlendva for the marriage of
Ferencz and Gizella. If you don't find marriages of Alsócsalogány in the civil records of Vizlendva, try your luck
with the civil records of Felsolendva.
If you make a trip to the area, remember that the Roman-catholic parish for Alsócsalogány was in Vízlendva. This
town is today called Sveti Jurij (in Slovenia. The parish may still have the original parish records. The original
birth record of Ferencz (Frank) may well contain a marginal note about the later marriage of Ferencz with Gizella.
(ED Note: What a great piece of research.)
Newsletter continues as number 168B.
THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 168B
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 12th Year - issued monthly as email by G. J. Berghold)
October 31, 2007
(c) 2007 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved
~LANGUAGE ALONE DOES NOT CREATE A PEOPLE. THE AUSTRIANS FEEL FOREIGN INSIDE THEMSELVES TO ALL OTHER GERMANS.~
Oswald Spengler, 1919
~THE AUSTRIAN IDEA CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF SPACE. IT WAS BORN IN SPACE, IT IS DEFINED BY SPACE AS IS NO
OTHER CONCEPT OF NATIONHOOD.~ Ludwig Reiter, 1946
The third section of this 3 section newsletter includes:
1. Fun With Feri Tschank - Austrian TV Anchor
2. BB Staff Member's Home Threatened By Fire
3. Lehigh Valley Ethnic Events Oct.-Dec. 2007
4. 5th Descendant Of 5th Generation
1. FUN WITH FERI TSCHANK
- from Margaret Kaiser
Burgenland TV Anchor Feri Tschank Visits NJ & Lehigh Valley
Feri Tschank, anchor for BKF TV, "Das Burgenland Fernsehen," visited New Jersey in September, 2007. Feri is the
Hungarian nickname for Ferenc (Frank/Franz). Feri's interests include publicizing the food, wines and culture of
Burgenland. He resides in Burgenland's capital, Eisenstadt, and has family in Mattersdorf. The Burgenländische
Gemeinschaft's (BG) Dr. Walter Dujmovits arranged for the Burgenland Bunch (BB) to be notified of Feri's visit.
Frank Paukowits, BB contributing editor, as well as founder of the Burgenlaenders Honored and Remembered (BH&R)
website, exchanged emails with Feri and learned that Feri was interested in the Burgenland immigration experience.
It was decided that Feri, his NJ hostess/assistant, Donna Durling, Frank, and Margaret Kaiser, also a BB
contributing editor, would meet at the NJ ferry gateway to Ellis Island. During the Ellis Island visit, discussions
would acquaint Feri with the Burgenland immigration experience; as well as with the BB, which was only days away
from enrolling its 1500th member; and the BH&R website. The chosen day was clear and sunny, perfect for filming the
impressive NY Harbor area, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Nowadays when traveling to Ellis Island via the NJ harbor side of the Hudson River, visitors first encounter the
Central Railroad Terminal which opened in 1889, and is in process of being restored. This landmark makes a fine
adjunct to the Ellis Island immigrant experience since this is the railroad terminal where many of our ancestors
boarded trains for in-land destinations. The brick, turreted, 3-level, balconied terminal has a large, impressive
waiting room with visitor information, ferry ticketing and other facilities. The many-tracked area to the rear of
the terminal is still posted with the route signs from those long-ago days. The terminal now is surrounded by
Liberty State Park, a yacht club and modern Jersey City buildings. The Art Deco ferry building on Ellis Island was
restored this year, and plans are underway to restore other original buildings as they were during the 1892-1954
years, when Ellis was an immigrant processing station.
Feri was presented with a special package containing BB and BH&R information. While sitting beside the Ellis
Island Wall of Honor, Feri interviewed Frank about the BB and BH&R. As more was learned about the program Feri plans
to produce, we suggested that he would benefit from and enjoy a visit to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley (LV) where he
could personally see where many Burgenland immigrants went and perhaps interview them or their descendants. It was
arranged that on Friday, Feri, Donna and myself would tour the Lehigh Valley with Ed and Frank Tantsits, both BB
members, lifetime area residents and fantastic LV tour guides. Frank Paukowits could not tour on Friday as he was
preparing for a trip to China, where he hoped to find a Burgenlander or two, and also visit an Austrian restaurant
in Beijing of which he had heard. Friday was a beautiful day, and we certainly experienced a serious, sometimes
amusing, and thorough tour of the Lehigh Valley. Frank Tantsits is an expert navigator of the area's one-way
streets, and Ed is quite an informed and amusing raconteur of past and present LV history. Often Feri drifted about
filming unobtrusively whatever captured his interest. We viewed the Lehigh Valley from a South Mountain perch and
from its opposing Blue Mountain perch, where we unexpectedly found overlooking the LV, a runwayless,
still-commissioned, F-14 Tomcat military, jet fighter. The jet was installed there in 2003 and represents the Egypt
VFW Veterans Memorial in Whitehall (http://news.webshots.com/album/559545620EhIuLd).
During our visit it was brought forth that the early immigrants found the Lehigh Valley landscape very similar to
their former Burgenland homeland with its gently rolling hills and farms.
Briefly, here is a sampling of some of the points of our tour. In Bethlehem, we visited the historic Moravian area;
the huge, former Bethlehem Steel site; the Holy Ghost Church and its cemetery, where many of our ancestors
worshipped and now rest; Moravian College, where Donna was a student, and the John F. Spirk Middle School, named in
honor of his many years in local and state education. John F. Spirk is a son of Oberradling immigrant Frank
Spirk. Frank earned the Carnegie Hero Award (http://www.carnegiehero.org/search.php)
in 1916 when he risked his life to save a Bethlehem Steel co-worker's life. He died in 1937 in another Bethlehem
Steel accident. Frank's name is among the 600 plus names listed on the Bethlehem Steel Workers' Memorial honoring
workers who died in work accidents between 1905-1996 (http://www.sitesofnj.com/Bethlehemsteel/BethlehemsteelMemorial.html).
We then traveled to Allentown and drove around the business district and the areas where Burgenlanders lived. We
cruised on to Coplay and stopped briefly at the Coplay Saengerbund, and stopped at the Coplay cemetery to pay our
respects to the Burgenlanders resting there. We visited the cement mill memorial in Coplay, and drove past the
still-active cement plants in Cementon and Northampton, where many Burgenlanders found employment. Around this time,
Feri came perilously close to poison ivy plants; and when he was cautioned to beware, we learned that these plants
do not exist in Burgenland. In Northampton we visited the Stegersbach Sister City Memorial. We passed many churches
attended by the Burgenlanders. We even walked through the historic Kreidersville covered bridge, which is located
not far from an ancestral Tantsits farm.
Over lunch and supper breaks we heard more local lore and talked about various topics of mutual interest. I asked
Feri if the strudel makers in Burgenland today still stretch strudel dough at home by hand, and he replied that most
home bakers find it is easier to buy the dough leaves in a store and simply add the fillings at home and bake. Ed
told of his agreement with his wife whereby if he found a suitable large, green pumpkin, she would make green
pumpkin soup; of course, Ed found the green pumpkin and had to explain to the pumpkin sellers why he wanted a green
pumpkin. Ed and Frank claimed that the results were excellent. Ed and Frank talked about many other Burgenland
food favorites, such as Austrian fruit bread, plum dumplings and various strudels and kipfels, especially those
filled with poppy seeds. These discussions were reminiscent and enthusiastic. Ed mentioned that he had ordered two
pairs of Nordic walking sticks, as used in Europe, for his wife and himself. Ed's cousin introduced the sticks to
them on their visit to Güssing this past July. Feri advised on the correct use of these sticks. There is a technique
of how the hands should move and be placed on the sticks. It developed that Feri was well-acquainted with Ed and
Frank's cousin, Johann Jandrasits, a retired politician. Feri didn't realize that the recently remodelled Eisenstadt
home where Johann now lives, is the birth house of Hollywood's Fred Astaire.
On Friday evenings a buttonbox jam session is held at the Edelweis Restaurant in Northampton. What a welcome we
received there! Feri immediately said that the place and the atmosphere were just like in Burgenland, and remarked
that the faces there were the faces of Burgenland. On this evening there were three buttonbox players (two men and
one woman). Much gemütlichkeit was enjoyed by all and Feri interviewed the musicians and attendees either in
German or English. We were advised that the usual, informal group of accompanying singers were absent on a trip.
Among those present was an immigrant Burgenlander who first immigrated to Victoria, Canada, then to NYC and finally
retired in the LV. One of the buttonbox players, Walter Kleinschuster, is a friendly 80-year old retired shoemaker
who took up buttonbox playing in his 40s, and is nearly self taught. The lady buttonbox player, Ida Bartholomew, is
also an avid player. Her husband and sister told us about buttonbox history and competitions. Feri interviewed Hilda
Spitzer from Northampton, who is lively, funny and still fluent in an older Hianisch dialect, rarely heard in
Burgenland today.
What great days; visiting with Feri and Donna! It was a great experience to introduce and share the BB, BH&R and
immigrant experiences with Feri and Donna. Feri graciously offered to send us a copy of the finished program.
Perhaps Feri will visit again and we can introduce him to other Burgenland immigrants and their descendants, as well
as show him those few places of Burgenland interest missed on this visit. With special thanks to Feri Tschank, Donna
Durling, Frank Paukowits, Ed and Frank Tantsits, I submit this report until we wiedersehen.
Margaret also writes:
The visit to the LV was a fantastic experience. It involved a detailed tour of the very many locations in
the LV where Bglders lived, worked and played. Ed and Frank Tantsits (BB members) led the tour, and were amusing,
cordial and knowledgeable LV tour directors. (We even parked in front of BB vice-pres. Anna Kresh's sister's house
in Northampton for a moment or two.) I am sure everyone involved will remember this visit, especially the Bgld
immigrants and descendants Feri interviewed at the Edelweiss Haus button box jam session. We were made VERY, VERY
welcome. The Tantsits brothers certainly know the LV, many of the Bgld inhabitants and their culture. They have also
gathered much information for incorporation into the Burgenlaender Honored and Remembered website. Both are most
generous in spirit and in sharing their time.
2. BB STAFF MEMBER'S HOME THREATENED BY FIRE
By now most of you know of the terrible fires which have engulfed San Diego, CA. You may not know that charter staff
member Bob Unger lives in San Diego. He is our western US contact, has made many trips to the Burgenland and has had
many articles published in the BB news.
Recent correspondence follows:
Bob , Haven't heard from you for a while and now I see San Diego is on fire. Are you ok? Gerry
Bob responds:
Yes we are OK so far. Our son had to evacuate last night and came to our house 2 a.m. this morning,
10/23/07 (Bob's son was able to return to his house the next day-his house was not burned). The fires are burning
all over San Diego County with more than 250,000 evacuated so far. The nearest fire is about 5 miles away. The brush
is so dry that sparks flying through the fire start new fires 1/4 miles or so from the major fires. Most fortunate
for this morning is that the wind has died down. Yesterday it was gusting upwards of 80 MPH and as a consequence the
(fire fighting) planes could not fight the fires. Currently they have many planes in the air dropping fire
retardant. We keep praying for all the area. Thanks for your concern.
(ED. Note: As of this date we understand the fires are abating and the Unger home has been spared.)
3. LEHIGH VALLEY ETHNIC EVENTS
- from Bob Strauch
NOTE: The Austrian Flag Raising scheduled for Sunday, October 28th at the Northampton
Liederkranz has been postponed due to the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Our Lady of Hungary Church taking place
the same afternoon. A new date for the flag raising has not yet been set.
*Sat., Nov. 3: Bazaar, Our Lord's Ascension Polish National Catholic Church, 2105 Jennings St.
in Bethlehem, (610) 694-0164. Hours: 10 AM - 2 PM. Kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, pierogi, strudel, breads, assorted
pastries.
*Sun., Nov. 4: Bazaar, St. Stephen of Hungary R.C. Church, 5th & Union Sts. In Allentown, (610)
439-0111. Hours: 9:30 AM - 2 PM. Goulash, stuffed cabbage, kifli, kalács, palacsinta.
*Sat., Nov. 17: Bazaar, Our Lady of Hungary R.C. Church, 1324 Newport Ave. in Northampton,
(610) 262-2227. Hours: 10 AM - 3 PM. Gerschtlsupp'n (egg-barley soup), potato pancakes, assorted pastries.
*Sat., Dec. 15: Christmas Concert and Dance, Coplay Sängerbund, 205 S. Fifth St. in Coplay
(610) 262-9937. Music by the Coplay Sängerbund Mixed Chorus and the Joe Weber Orchestra.
4. 5TH DESCENDANT OF 5TH GENERATION
I'm happy to report that the 5th descendant of our 5th Berghold generation in the US arrived Monday, October 22,
weighing 6 lbs. 5 oz. We are absolutely overjoyed.
Torello Alexander Calvani, descendant of Johann and Francis Langash Berghold, Burgenland immigrants. A
new and welcome "Burgenländer." He is another link to the many Bergholds stretching back to 1650 in the Burgenland
of Austria
END OF NEWSLETTER
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