Newsletter
Dedicated to Austrian-Hungarian Burgenland Family History

Current Status Of The BB:
* Members: 1852 * Surname Entries: 6402 * Query Board Entries: 4422 * Number of Staff Members: 14

This newsletter concerns:
1) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER (by Tom Steichen)
2) TOM STEICHEN AND BLUEGRASS-GOSPEL MUSIC
3) BROT & HUAMWEH (© Heinele)
4) 200! WHAT A NUMBER (Klaus Gerger)
5) RETIRED BUT STILL VERY BUSY (By Emmerich Koller)
6) A LITTLE BIO (by Frank Paukowits)
7) MAINLY BURGENLAND - VIDEO SCENES AND MUSICAL INTERLUDES (by Margaret Kaiser)
8) THE RAILWAY THROUGH THE "HELL VALLEY"
9) THE DRIESCH MAGAZINE
10) A BIT OF A BIO (Maureen Tighe-Brown)
11) THE OSCAR WILDE FESTIVAL (Heinz Koller)
12) A REVIEW OF "EDEN WAS ON A HOLLYWOOD HILL" (by John Lavendoski)
13) JULY MEETING OF BURGENLAND BUNCH OF MISSOURI (Linda Pehr)

1) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER (by Tom Steichen)

The Burgenland Bunch is proud to note that this is the 200th regular edition of our newsletter! (There have been a few "special" editions too.) You may ask why we take time to note this simple fact; is not this issue just one more newsletter in a long line of newsletters? Well yes, it is, and we celebrate that!

One of the goals established at the founding of the Burgenland Bunch was to develop an archive of English-language articles about Burgenland history and culture. The newsletter (and its archives) was the medium by which this goal was to be accomplished. As of the 100th edition in October of 2001, founder Gerry Berghold noted that there had been "some 1300 articles in all" of which some 400 were of "major interest" (i.e., important to research). He listed those 400 and commented "If you read these articles, you will definitely advance your research." I have not counted the articles in the subsequent 100 issues nor tried to determine how many are of "major interest," but I suspect we are around 2500 articles now and have substantially increased the count of research-quality articles. We continue to be the largest source for English-language information about Burgenland, a claim that made Gerry Berghold proud and one that pleases me also.

This 200th newsletter also marks the second anniversary of a change in editorship. Gerry Berghold edited the first 176 editions, retiring from that roll after the April 2008 issue. I served as Interim Editor in May of that year and Hannes Graf took over as fulltime Newsletter Editor with the June issue. So, this month marks the completion of two years of service by Hannes as our BB Newsletter Editor. Thank you Hannes! It is my opinion that Hannes has served us well over these past two years, with newsletters that have been both interesting and informative. I hope you, the readers, agree!

As has been the tradition for newsletters that are multiples of 50, this newsletter will feature articles that are from the staff and about the staff. This time, however, they are not about what we do with the BB, rather the articles are about what we do in addition to being BB staffers. Perhaps you'll get to know another aspect of the many individuals who volunteer time to the BB. 

2) TOM STEICHEN AND BLUEGRASS-GOSPEL MUSIC

When Hannes asked the BB staff to write a bit about our non-BB life for this "anniversary issue," I quickly settled on my life as an ersatz musician. I tag myself as "ersatz" because I have no training in music and because, compared to people I consider true musicians, I have little skill. Those facts, though, have not kept me from performing music for over 40 years or from contributing to five CDs over the last 8 years (however, I did keep my "day" job as a statistician for the last 32 years!).

My musical "career" started when I bought a guitar while serving in the Army in Heidelberg, Germany. I learned basic chords and a little finger-picking and soon could play some light rock and folk music. Shortly after my return to Minnesota and enrollment in college, I ran into the young lady who became my life-long wife and musical partner... I could play... she could sing... and that drew us together. We kept at our music throughout our college careers and then, after we settled into married and work life in North Carolina, we took our music into our church, putting hymns and gospel songs to guitar on a regular basis.

Some 10 years ago, we felt the urge to expand beyond just a duo (before we became too old to perform at all!). We looked around our church to see if we could create a real band. In fact, we could... but the two musicians who were willing to join us only played bluegrass (we live in North Carolina after all!).  Not knowing whether we could make it work or not, we set about rehearsing some songs... and quickly discovered that our blend of bluegrass, folk and gospel worked well, and that the tenor and bass voices that the "boys" brought to the band blended exceptionally well with my wife's soprano. Silas Creek was born!

The "Silas Creek" name started as a joke of sorts... bluegrass bands must have "Creek" in their names and our church, Lutheran Church of the Epiphany, was on Silas Creek Parkway, a winding road which runs along a creek named Silas... and the "Silas" part was just funky enough, so, jokingly, why not? I doubt we mentioned the name to more than three church members the first time we played in church, so we were quite surprised to find us labeled in the service handout as "Silas Creek" when we played the second time! We bowed to peer pressure and stopped looking for another name.

Before our first year as a performing band ended, we started receiving "complaints" that our music wasn't available beyond the church service. So, in 2001, I purchased a 16-track digital audio workstation and we set about recording our music for a CD. An unused bedroom became our recording studio and quickly grew a "forest" of microphones and other paraphernalia. Then, in early 2002, we held a fellowship dinner and concert at our church and proudly "released" our first CD.

Just this past spring, we held another fellowship dinner and concert as the CD-release party for our fifth CD and as a fund-raising event for the Triad Flight of Honor, a group that provided transportation to Washington, DC, for WW-II veterans to allow them to see the monuments erected in their honor. We were pleased to raise over $2000 for this very worthy cause!

Over the past eight years, we've performed over 100 songs in our church, held concerts for other churches and groups and raised funds for a number of causes. And throughout it all, we've had a great time. So, if you wonder why I might not respond promptly to one of your BB emails, it might be that I'm busy rehearsing with "the Creek"!

3) BROT & HUAMWEH (© Heinele)

Brot & Huamweh

Hot da Himml di valossn,
oarmes Land, van Rootool zua Leitha?!
Woaß ban bejstn Wülln nid weita,
Beedla-Lejbm ist die gressti Schaond!

Iwas Laond and iwas Wossa
Ejngl, sog, wou sajn dajni Fliegl?
Wiar a Rössl aoni Zügl,
duat and do reisst’s mi umanand.

Pfiat di goud - mid nossi Augn!
And in Heazn drajn is a Brinnan,
nia nid umdrahn, na, nia weida, -
nia nid zoagn, wia’s do drajn bist banaond!

Es is nid uan Toh vagejssn,
dejn i nid ba dia sajn hao kinnan,
haon in d Frejmd ols a Junga mejssn,
wo kua Blajbm mear im Huamatlaond.

Joahr and Toh haon i mi gschundn,
Oawat woa majn Lejbm -
bis voabei die größte Not.
Joahr and Toh kua Rui nid gfundn,
woa baj Gout a hoates Brot!
…

Es is nid uan Toh vagaongan,
aoni Tram va dia, schejni Huamat!
And as Heaz woa vull Valaongan:
Gab’s a Lejbm in da oldn Wölt?!

Warn die Acka bold zan schneidn,
sajn die Wiesan softi and bluamat?
Heagott, woan dejs schejni Zeidn –
Owa olls häjngt am liabm Göld!

Uans is gwiß wia’s Aman:
Ih kimm wieda huam -
waon as G’schboadi ejndli reicht.
Oft wiad miar as Heaz sou leicht!
Du, maj Huamat,
bist ma liab and taja bliebm!
Woast maj Traam va da Söligkeit,
und ih houff, es is bold sou wajt!

Majna Sööl, wiard’s wiar im Himml sajn …?

4) 200! WHAT A NUMBER (Klaus Gerger)

200! What a number, especially when you see what's behind every single issue. A big "Thank You!" to all involved in the creation of Newsletters - now and in the past.

2010 is also a year of "big" numbers for me. In the spring, I completed my 30th year working for the Siemens company. To young people (such as our daughters), this sounds boring. But, within the software division I belong to, I had the chance to work in many interesting areas. With the strategy of the Siemens group to focus on three fields -- Automation, Energy and Healthcare, I decided to move to the Healthcare branch. Here, I'm working in the Medical Imaging facility in Vienna, one of three headquarters. The other two are in Malvern, PA, and Singapore. We have projects all over Europe but none in the U.S.A. - what a pity that they have their own specialists.

In addition, I'm turning 50 this year. Our younger daughter, Viktoria, is a High School student in Arvada, CO, for six months. Picking her up there and doing some sightseeing in the Southwestern States will bring me and my family to Las Vegas and to the Grand Canyon on my birthday. What a big treat to me.

I'll promise to send a picture postcard from there.

5) RETIRED BUT STILL VERY BUSY (By Emmerich Koller)

On Monday, June 7th, I e-mailed Hannes Graf wanting to know what I should write about. People already know enough about me through my book and I have limited time right now since I am involved in some serious construction work at my house. Part of its  foundation was recently replaced and now I am busy remodeling the entire basement: framing, insulating, putting up drywall, plumbing, electricity, tiling, etc. Hannes responded with: “Write anything. Why not about your building project?” Even though the project dominates my waking hours, I doubt anyone would be interested in the details. However other things come up all the time that may be of modest interest. Here is a seven-day slice of my rather busy life.

On Tuesday the 8th, I get an e-mail from Hubert Hanzl in Güssing. Hubert is a teacher and works part time at the Auswanderermuseum in Güssing. He is an open-minded man interested in all things historical and political. Ever since he has read my book a year ago, we have been corresponding with each other and I consider myself fortunate that he is now my friend. I value his opinion.

A while back I asked Hubert if he would check out the gravesite of the murdered Jews in Deutsch-Schützen mentioned in the first chapter of my book Good Dogs Do Stray. He wanted to combine the visit with a bike tour of the area but the unending rainy weather made that impossible so he drove there on Fronleichnamstag, on Corpus Christi. He found a plaque attached to the ancient Martinskirche of Deutsch-Schützen and a monument of sorts at the gravesite itself.

I expressed my gratitude to Hubert and commented also about his assessment of the recent elections in Burgenland. He bemoaned the Schlammschlacht, the mud-wrestling nature of elections. I assured him that we here in the USA are used to such political campaigns.

Hubert also asked me if I knew that the oldest bell of the Burgenland comes from Deutsch-Schützen. It dates back to the 12th or 13th centuries, it narrowly escaped being melted down during WWII and is now displayed im Museum der Glockengießerei, in the bell pouring museum in Niederösterreich.

On this day my youngest son Andrew also graduates from 8th grade. After the ceremony we celebrate by taking him to his favorite sushi restaurant. In August it’s on to New Trier High School. Andrew is an uncle to five nephews. In the evening, 10 – 12 of his friends show up again, settle down on our deck for a few hours of socializing, drinking pop and going in and out of the house a thousand times. I take pity on them and decide to feed the hungry multitude. I grill hamburgers. The kids, boys and girls, are all happy and will surely be back tomorrow.

On Wednesday the 9th, I make some progress in the basement but look forward to tonight’s game: the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia. Chicago wins the Stanley Cup and I go to bed with a smile on my face. My thoughts also turn to the World Cup in South Africa. All those great soccer games to watch! My work in the basement will take longer than I anticipated.

On Thursday the 10th, my construction work is interrupted again by a request for some information from Willi Schmidt, a fellow Pernauer and BB member from Allentown, PA, who is writing the history of our home village Pernau/Pornóapáti in Hungary. He needs some facts contained in the only published history of the Pernau abbey. The problem is, it is written in Hungarian and Willi doesn’t know Hungarian.

On Friday the 11th, my family and I drive to Des Moines, Iowa, for a wedding. It’s a six-hour drive from Chicago. Just before leaving for Iowa, another translated chapter of my book arrives from Germany. The German version of my book will hopefully be published soon and for that reason it is currently being translated by my good friend Ulli Auffhammer in Hof, Germany. I read through it and send comments back to Ulli. Hannes and Elfie have been working for months to find an Austrian publisher for my book and I am so grateful for their efforts on my behalf. Clemens Berger, the celebrated young Viennese author who visited us in March, has also been promoting my book and looking for a publisher. Hubert, Hannes, Elfie, Clemens! I am lucky to have such great friends in Austria.

On Saturday the 12th, the wedding ceremony is scheduled at the same time that USA plays England in South Africa? Ahh, frustration of all frustrations!! Fortunately the ceremony is short and sweet and I catch the second half of the game. The USA did well holding off the favored Brits. A very good day is capped off with a fabulous wedding reception at the Echo Valley Country Club in Des Moines.

On Sunday the 13th, we return again to Chicago. The weather is great and we enjoy driving past endless fields of corn. The verdant abundance of the fields in Iowa and Illinois fills us with a sense of wonder and gratitude.

Tomorrow it’s back to the basement.

6) A LITTLE BIO (by Frank Paukowits)

I worked for the government my whole career as an auditor., and retired in June of 2001. My wife, Elsie, and I have taken full advantage of the free time as pensioners and have traveled extensively over the last few years. We have been back to Austria three times since 2001, and are planning another trip this Summer, primarily to visit Oberammergau (Passion Play), but with a side trip to Burgenland. In between, we have gone to China, South America and the Holy land. Unfortunately, in none of these places was I able to find any Burgenländers.

I have three children.... all of whom are in their thirties. My daughter recently gave birth to a girl (Sophia) on May 2nd. My guess is that she is the youngest Burgenland descendant of anyone in our group--but maybe not ? I also have a grandson who is one-and-a-half years old. I'm hoping that the brood continues to grow, and that they choose to become BB members as they get older and get interested in their ancestry.

7) MAINLY BURGENLAND - VIDEO SCENES AND MUSICAL INTERLUDES (by Margaret Kaiser)

If you're in the mood to relax with Burgenland scenes and rhythms, or if you'd like to recall a previous trip to the Burgenland, or if you're planning your first or next trip, here are a selection of videos for your pleasure, mostly in English, about the Burgenland  region. These are posted on Youtube.com where you can search for many more interesting area videos.

First up, a 4:32-minute Holiday Vacation in Burgenland showing scenes of Jennersdorf in Südburgenland, Morbisch, Breitenbrunn, and Podersdorf am Neusiedler See. Jennersdorf

Next, Golfschaukel in Stegersbach, southern Burgenland, has long established itself as Austria's largest golf resort. Two 18-hole golf courses, a 9-hole course and the Simon Tarr Golf Academy are at the center of an unforgettable mecca for golfers. Three top wellness hotels and many cozy and homely guest houses surround the golf course. Golfschaukel is imposingly set on no less than 190 hectares, the equivalent of 530 football pitches. Without a cart it is the equivalent of a day's hiking tour just to get to know the whole grounds. There is hardly a resort in Europe that is spread over such an enormous area. Golfschaukel (5:50 minutes)

Then comes an overhead circular exterior tour of Burg Forchtenstein (25 seconds) Burg Forchtenstein 1 followed by Burg Forchenstein (40 seconds) with interior and exterior views. Burg Forchtenstein 2

See Schloss Esterhazy in Eisenstadt (40 seconds) with interior and exterior views. Schloss Esterhazy

For a 1:42 minute tour of Burgenland. Burgenland

When you journey to Burgenland, you are likely to travel by way of Vienna, where you might naturally think of the Johann Strauss' Blue Danube, and so here is an lively, nearly 6-minute, orchestral variation "On the beautiful Danube" with a Cuban cha cha rhythm, recorded in Oslo in February 2010. On the beautiful Danube

Should you might care for something lively and unusual, and just wee bit west of Burgenland, here is a surprise filmed in May 2010 at the central market in Budapest. The setting is populated with shoppers, and four operetta singers/dancers costumed as market employees and as a bum. Unexpectedly, they begin to sing from a Ferencz Lehar operetta entitled, "You Raggedy Life." The first line of the piece goes, "You raggedy life, you raggedy life, why are you as sweet as honey? Enjoy the scene, music, dance, charm and fun of this 9-minute video. You Raggedy Life

Picture yourself in this scene.

8) THE RAILWAY THROUGH THE "HELL VALLEY"

Everybody knows my volunteer work for the Frowos, the railroad from Oberwart to Oberschützen. But this is not all I do in railroad stuff. I only reported about the Frowos, because it is in Burgenland.

My start in working on railroads was at the Hell Valley railroad in 2006. I took a year's break in order to help the Frowos in 2008, but then I went back to the Hell Valley railroad work.

It is at a very beautiful place, between the viaduct of Payerbach of the Semmeringbahn and Hirschwang, which is in the middle between the Schneeberg and the Rax, the two Viennese house-mountains in Lower Austria.

In 1917, a 5 km. normal gauge connection from the Semmeringbahn at Payerbach to the little industry village Hirschwang was built, including a tunnel. The civil works' company used a railway with 760 mm. narrow gauge for materials' transportation with locomotives built 1903, used formerly for construction of the Karawanken tunnel. One year later, after end of World War I, the construction was stopped and the tunnel was abandoned.

The industry in Hirschwang was linked only by this little materials' transportation railway and its funny electric locomotives, until 1926, when Austria's first gondola ropeway to the Rax was opened. The materials' railway was reinforced and extended. Huge and, at that time, ultra-modern 4-axle motorcars with trailers were purchased. The so called "LBP-H" (Lokalbahn Payerbach-Hirschwang) hauled millions of wanderers, ski-tourists, school kids, and industry workers until 1963, when it was replaced by a bus line, following the fashion of that time.

In 1977, the "Austrian Light Rail Association" (OeGLB) was founded, which established a museum railway service at the line, with freight trains still in service till the early 1980s.

Some technical data:

length: 5 km
gauge: 760 mm (so called "Bosnian gauge")
max. gradient: 2.5%
min. curve radius: 60 m
max. service speed: 20 km/h
catenary voltage: 550 V DC
energy supply: rotating and static AC-DC transformers
E-loco E1 built 1903, 2 axles, 2x18 kW
EMU vehicle TW1 built 1926, 4 axles, 4x28 kW
2 diesel locos and some motor railcars
original EMU trailers 11 and 12
self-adapted trailer 21 (from normal gauge trailer)
many freight wagons used for internal transports

Today, the railway is maintained and operated by a small group of volunteers in their free time, and service is thus limited to Sundays and holydays during summer. In addition to the train rides, guided tours show vehicles and technical devices as well as the work of the volunteers from the backstage view. Enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year, the Hoellentalbahn is a lovingly preserved technical monument, while at the same time operating through delightful scenery.

Enjoy yourself! Timetable and additional information at

http://www.lokalbahnen.at/hoellentalbahn/index.html

9) THE DRIESCH MAGAZINE

Some years ago, Elfie and I joined a group of people who are located in Drösing, Lower Austria, north of Vienna and at the border to Slovakia. This was a communications' group of artists, scientists, medical doctors, literature writers, and musicians from several countries. We are people from India, USA, Uzbekistan, Turkey, China, Hungary, Austria any many others, who have come together at several times for eating, laughing, watch some readings or hearing music at several places in Lower Austria, but mostly in Weinviertel. Everybody has to give some of their creations since the last time we met.

One of the results of this meetings is the founding of a small publishing company, and the last result is the Driesch Magazine for literature and arts. I, as satirical artist, am a part of this "creative" people and Elfie is one of the editors.

Our head is Dr. Haimo Handl, who studies Political Science at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and does some other studies in Austria. He is a cultural manager of many projects.

Next, the original portrait for our magazine:

DRIESCH - Quarterly for literature & culture, ISSN 2078-6433
Published by Driesch Verlag, Bahnstr. 39, A-2265 Droesing, Austria

Dr. Haimo L. Handl, publisher and editor in chief; Franz Blaha, Gabriele Folz-Friedl, Elfie Resch & Elisabeth Zahlmayer, editorial staff

This new literary magazine started in 2010 and publishes texts in various languages: German and English in original version, all other languages additionally with translations into German or English. Beside prose, lyrics, and cultural essays, as well as book reviews and graphics (artistic photography, cartoons, satire).

The four issues of the first volume, 2010: Sucht & Süchte (addiction and addictions), Würde (dignity), Privatheit (privacy) & Zukunft (future).

Each issue at least about 100 pages, format 150 x 230 mm, brochure, cover in color.

Subscription yearly Euro 40,00 (Austria), Euro 50,00 (Europe); other countries on inquiry; including postage. Single issue Euro 11,00 plus postage.

Authors and artists from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Uzbekistan, Russia, India, China, Argentina, USA.

www.drieschverlag.org

10) A BIT OF A BIO (Maureen Tighe-Brown)

I am one of the few Burgenland Bunch staffers without ancestors from the Burgenland region. Currently, I am finishing my dissertation in history for the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. My working title is: "Two Separate Worlds? Jewish and Catholic Households and Demographic Lives in the Habsburg Village: Deutschkreutz, Hungary, 1683-1920."

"My" dissertation village of Deutschkreutz has been part of the Burgenland province of Austria since 1920. In 1998, I found our dear Gerry Berghold's Burgenland Bunch on the Internet, and have been a BB member ever since. So I am a BBer because of my research interests, not for genealogical searches of any ancestral roots. Since my research involves Yiddish-, Hebrew-, and Hungarian-language sources, Gerry asked me to help out with our members interested in "Jewish Burgenland."

Before switching to history as an academic field, I earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, and taught students in a school of nursing.

Favorite Quotations: C'est la vie; c'est la guerre. Yoiiiiiiii!!
Favorite Activities: Language learning; long distance running, used book stores, chess puzzles,.
Favorite Music: International old music; instrumental jazz; chamber music, especially early Baroque.
Favorite Books: Kristin Lavransdatter, The Joys of Yiddish, Fowler's Modern English Usage, The Crucible.
Favorite Movies: Julie & Julia, Secret of Roan Inish, A Man for All Seasons.
Favorite TV Shows: Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Tennis; Golden Girls; Mad About You; The Rachel Maddow Show; M*A*S*H; BBC World News America, CNN & CNN International, Everybody Loves Raymond; British Sitcoms.

11) THE OSCAR WILDE FESTIVAL (Heinz Koller)

Güssing, Austria

This year the traditional Burgspiele Güssing theatre festival leads their audience towards a new theme, a new style and - a play from classical English world-literature. The satire ‘An Ideal Husband’ inspired this year’s artistic director to concentrate on Oscar Wilde - an unequalled genius in writing witty comedies full of humor and critique about early 19th century society. Nobody has caricatured human nature in all its contradictions so well – and his plays still remain modern – just as they were 100 years ago.

‘An Ideal Husband’ is situated in London upper class–society at the turn of the last century. The upcoming politician Robert Chilton finds himself face to face with a woman from his past – confronting and blackmailing him with errors he committed a long time ago, at the beginning of his career. Very unexpectedly he has to decide between his career and the truth.

Oscar Wilde draws his own portrait of his upper-class characters, illustrated by fireworks of witty humor. Friedl Gamerith, a writer and comedian himself, has re- translated the story into German and will be the artistic director and lead actor of the ambitious theatre-group.

A big chance for the young ones

For the last three years the ‘Burgspiele Güssing’ have been concentrating on young and up–and-coming actors. Parallel to the ‘adults-play’ there is a matching ‘children-production’. New talents and new faces very often ‘grow’ within the theatre club and this year especially lots of new young people turned up unexpectedly and are very happy to get their chance on stage and to be able to show their talents under professional direction and in front of an appreciative audience.

This year the young actors perform ‘The Canterville Ghost’ – a magical and spooky novel freely rewritten in German by Friedl Gammerith and adapted to the stage and directed ‘magically’ by Sabine James, herself a performer and artist living in Paris, with all her glittery experience in circus shows and events.

„Ein idealer Gatte“- „An Ideal Husband“

Premiere: Wednesday, July 28 2010, 19.30 h,
July 30. And 31, and
6, 7, 13, 14. 20, 20 August 2010

„Das Gespenst von Canterville“- „The Canterville Ghost“

Premiere: statuary 17 July 2010, 19.30 h
then Sunday 18 and 25 July, and 1 and 8 August 2010





 

Information and tickets:
Burgverein-Kartenbüro
Hauptplatz 7, 7540 Güssing, Austria
Tel.: 03322 43008 bzw. 0676 6129776 info@burgspiele.eu
For more information: www.burgspiele.eu

12) A REVIEW OF "EDEN WAS ON A HOLLYWOOD HILL" (by John Lavendoski)

During his lengthy professional career, recently retired Hollywood screenwriter Earl Barret was known for his considerable comedic talents (including credits on such iconic TV shows as Get Smart, Bewitched, Batman, etc).

Earl recently put those talents to use in writing a family narrative describing the struggles and triumphs of his immigrant parents as they strove to make a better life for their family by chasing "the American Dream."

His book, entitled "Eden Was on a Hollywood Hill," details the true-life story of his Romanian father and Hungarian mother and the sacrifices they made in order to create a better life for themselves and their son by moving from small-town Ohio to Hollywood in the 1940s. Each chapter is a single extended anecdote that reveals some key aspect of the family's life journey over 50+ years.

In this reader’s opinion, the writing is sparkling and the anecdotes are well chosen to illustrate the type of dilemmas which many of our ancestors faced as they made their way in American society.

This book is especially enjoyable because of the skillfully written characters, each of whom seems to "jump off the pages" so effectively that one truly feels that they are close friends by the end of the book.

Of particular note to BB readers is the fact that Earl's maternal grandparents were from Szentpeterfa, Hungary (which is one of our larger Burgenland Bunch communities) and his mother, who emigrated to the USA along with her parents, was born in the village. Her and her father’s background feature significantly in the book.

Earl got the impetus to write this book, in part, based on some genealogy research that I helped him with 5+ years ago. This was the type of research using LDS microfilms that Gerry Berghold and other BB Bunch members taught me years before, the skills of which many BB members routinely try to "pass on" to others. One can say, therefore, that it was the work of Gerry and the BB that helped inspire this book ...a great illustration of the role that the BB has played in people's lives.

"Eden Was on a Hollywood Hill," is available online at Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Hollywood-Hill-Earl-Barret. Current Amazon price for a new copy is ~$15 and the ISBN number is 978-1450576161.

Notice to Prospective Readers: While 95% of the book is G-rated, there is one rather high spirited and humorous chapter from Earl’s teenage years that definitely gets a PG-17. This alone is sure to increase sales!!!

Staff Member Margaret Kaiser added the following:
Here is Earl Barret's filmography: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0056958/ and Amazon's description of "Eden Was on a Hollywood Hill":

"The memoir tells how a Romanian chauffeur and an Hungarian-American waitress marry after a one week courtship and spend the next fifty years pursing the American Dream through the Great Depression, WWII, and finally to the enchanted hills of Hollywood where they hope their tap dancing, violin-playing son will break into the movies. And why shouldn't he? Wasn't anything possible in America? This and many other questions of even less importance are answered in this lovingly told tale by that son. Who did he turn out to be? No, not Clark Gable. No, not Sidney Poitier. Clue: Try one of TV's top ranked comedy writers. No, not Tina Fey."

Editorial Note: As always, the BB does not formally endorse any commercial product, including this one... but, informally, it looks to be a fun read!

13) JULY MEETING OF BURGENLAND BUNCH OF MISSOURI (Linda Pehr)

Dear Friends

Just a reminder that the quarterly meeting of the Burgenland Bunch of Missouri will be held on Thursday, July 15 from 7 pm-9 pm. We have reserved the East Room at the Headquarters of the St. Louis County Library, 1640  So. Lindbergh Blvd. 314-994-3300.

In addition to a presentation on the genealogical assets of the Library we also plan to choose photographs that we will use on the Burgenländers Honored and Remembered website.  We want to create a collage of photos representing our St. Louis area.  If you have a photo of an original site please bring it. We will need actual photos, not digital images. We also will be looking at the Library resources for additional photos. We are seeking pictures of churches, schools, places of employment that were frequented by Burgenland immigrants.

Ron Markland has three relatives coming from Modling, Austria in early July. Should anyone have questions that might be answered later by "feet on the ground" it would be a wonderful opportunity to meet with them. Ron would try to arrange a meeting sometime between July 2-10. Please contact Ron directly if you would like to take advantage of this wonderful offer.

Please let Ron know if you plan to attend the meeting. We would appreciate hearing from you even if you will be unable to attend.

Ronald E. Markland
15908 Wetherburn Road
Chesterfield, MO 63017
636-227-3634
cell 314-605-0106
fax  636-227-3634
email: remron1@sbcglobal.net

We will be sending a brief reminder of the meeting a few days before the event.

NOTICE (Terms and Conditions): The Burgenland Bunch (BB) was formed and exists to assist Burgenland descendants in their research into their heritage and, toward that end, reserves the right to use any communication you have with us (email, letter, phone conversation, etc.) as part of our information exchange and educational research efforts.
• If you do not want your communication to be used for this purpose, indicate that it is "confidential" and we will abide by that request.
• Correspondents who communicate with the BB without requesting confidentiality retain their copyright but give a non-exclusive license to the BB allowing us to forward to BB members, publish in our monthly newsletter or on our website, and/or subsequently and permanently archive all or parts of such communications.

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http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/

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Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (c) 2010 by The Burgenland Bunch
All rights reserved. Permission to copy excerpts granted if credit is provided.