THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 130 
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 9th Year-20 Pages/4 Email Sections Issued monthly by G J Berghold)
July 31, 2004
(c) 2004 G. J. Berghold-all rights reserved)

* ARE YOU USING THE BB HOMEPAGE URL LINK? YOU CAN ACCESS RELATED WEB SITES 
WITH A CLICK. INTERNET EDITOR ANNA KRESH MAINTAINS AND UPDATES A LARGE
LIST OF WEBSITES OF INTEREST TO BB MEMBERS. *

** BB ANNUAL MIDWEST PICNIC AUGUST 8! SEE ARTICLE 4 BELOW. **

RECIPIENTS PLEASE READ: You are receiving this email because you are a BB 
member or have asked to be added to our distribution list. To
discontinue these newsletters, email with message "remove". ("Cancel" will 
cancel membership, website listings and mail.) Send address and listing changes 
to the same place. Sign email with your full name and include BB in the subject 
line. Send no attachments or graphics unless well known to me. Please keep 
changes to a minimum. To join the BB, see our homepage. If you join, your email 
address will be available from our websites. We can't help with 
non-Burgenland family history. Appropriate comments and articles are appreciated. 
Staff and web site addresses are listed at the end of newsletter section "C". 
Notes and articles without a by-line are written by the editor and reflect his views. 
Members please exchange data in a courteous and cooperative manner-not to do so 
defeats the purpose of our organization. 

This first section of our 4-section newsletter concerns:

1. Update To Previous Articles & Correspondence - Two Szombathelys, Another 
   Bean Soup, No Newsletters Received, How To Change Mailing Address, Looking 
   For Jewish Records, Grafenschachen Contact Unavailable, Sepp Kametler's Book, 
   Descendants Of Frank Derdits
2. Mattersburg-Mattersdorf
3. Frauenkirchen Birth Certificates?
4. Midwest Picnic Information


1. UPDATE TO PREVIOUS ARTICLES & CORRESPONDENCE

* Two Szombathely's - In a message dated 6/3/04, Luvcaro writes: You had sent me 
the name of the town that is the same as I'm looking for Rima-szombathy. I 
lost that e-mail.

Bob Strauch replies: I am the Lehigh Valley/PA editor for the Burgenland 
Bunch and noticed your info in the membership list. The name "Rima Szombathely" 
sounded familiar to me, but not from Burgenland or Western Hungary. There is 
indeed the city of Szombathely near the Burgenland border, but the prefix "Rima" 
pointed me in another direction. There is a town called "Rima-Szombat" (or 
Rimaszombat), which is now located in southern Slovakia and called Rimavská 
Sobota in Slovak. The town and surrounding area have a sizable ethnic-Hungarian 
population.
 
I checked the Ellis Island Database (www.ellisislandrecords.org) for the 
surnames Farkas, Fabry, and Kiss. Farkas and Kiss are almost impossible to search 
without a first name (there were over 3300 Farkas' alone). There were about 
200 Fabrys, and most seemed to come from either Slovakia or territory that was 
part of Hungary until 1921 and is now part of Slovakia. I hope this info will 
be of help to you.

* Another Bean Soup - Eva Brunner-Szabo, from southern Burgenland, sent me the following 
recipe for a simple bean soup, such as my grandmother and mother also used to make: 
Soak brown or white beans in water, then boil so that they are soft. Keep the 
liquid. Mix 1/4 liter cream with 1-2 Tbsp flour, mix well so that no lumps 
remain. Mix with the liquid, add 1 piece of garlic (can be mashed), a bit of 
ham extract, trace of salt, and boil for some time on low flame. Kurt Heinrich

* No Newsletters Received - In a message dated 6/13/04, Charles Stuparits writes: 
Herr Berghold: I have changed my email address and I wondered why I haven't been 
receiving any mail from you and the Burgenland Bunch. Please start again. Charles Stuparits. 

Reply: Yes - it is necessary to advise us of address changes. Three non-deliverable 
newsletters and you are auto-removed from the distribution list. You can still read 
or download our newsletters by clicking on the archives site address from our homepage. 

* How To Change Mailing Address? - In a message dated 6/14/04, Charles Stuparits
writes: How can I correct my email address on the Burgenland Bunch 
roster, as well as information on my father. Charles Stuparits. 

Reply: Send me your old listing marked "old" and the new listing marked "new" in the 
format as shown on the membership list as well as the Invitation Letter from our 
homepage. 

* Looking For Jewish Records: In a message dated 6/13/04, Ron Bower writes: 
Thanks for your reply. I will of course follow the leads you have 
given me. I should have mentioned the records I am looking for are Jewish 
Records, will the Churches have them? Is there still a Synagogue in Mattersburg?

Reply: Jewish records are a different problem entirely. You will not find 
them in the Catholic or Lutheran churches or their archives. Mattersburg Jewish 
Records 1833-1895 are available from the LDS as microfilm number 0700813. From 
1896 on they will be included in the civil records I mentioned previously. In 
1873 there were 712 Jews living in Mattersburg (then Nagy Marton). I am not 
certain of the status of the synagogue records, particularly as you are looking 
for pre 1833 records. Many of these were removed, perhaps destroyed. A 
monument there states "Here stood the synagogue of the Jewish Community-During the 
Reichscristallnacht-it was destroyed"-(1938?) A Jewish Cemetery still exists 
but was vandalized and later (1966) re-established as a monument with the 
gravestones (all of them or just a few?) mounted on the outer wall. They are of 
course in Hebrew. I am copying our Hebraic editor (Maureen Tighe-Brown) who may be 
better able to help you. She has studied (and visited) the Burgenland Jewish 
community and history. She has also been published. I also suggest you contact 
one of the Hebraic sites who specialize in these records (see our links list 
or contact one of our Jewish members). You should still join our group and use 
our lists for village information, etc. as well as Hebraic contacts and 
members that we have. Let me know how you make out as I am interested in 
determining where these records, if any, may be found.

* Grafenschachen Contact Unavailable. In a message dated 6/19/04, MikeGail1961 
writes: This past week I discovered that one of my Pratl relatives married a 
Frank Schutzenhofer of Grafenschachen. He went to East St. Louis, IL as did 
my Grandfather, Frank (Franz) Pratl, and both moved to Chicago. Sandy Richter 
is on the Burgenland Bunch list as the person researching Frank but no longer 
has a valid e-mail. Has this person asked to be deleted from the list or is 
it someone lost in the spam-newsletter disaster? Can you help me to get in 
touch with Sandy Richter? 

Reply: Unfortunately, when members change email addresses and don't notify 
us, we lose track of them. What I can do is publish the above in the next 
newsletter (July) and hope your contact reads it and responds. There are a 
number of Schutzenhofer families still living in Grafenschachen and you might try 
contacting them. Try the Austrian online phone book available
from our homepage URL list. 

* Sepp Kametletler's Book (Königsdorf Roots). - In a message dated 6/6/04, 
Theron Rogers writes: I saw your reference to "Sepp Kametler's book" in the 
last newsletter. Do you have any more information on the book? Availability? 
I am looking for information on the Muhr and Graf families in the Heiligenkreuz, 
Eltendorf and KÖNIGSDORF, areas. 

Reply: As far as I know the book is not generally available. (Note - recent email 
tells me it is available from the Gemeindeamt) It's in German and lists only the 
householders of homes in Königsdorf. The other two villages are mentioned only 
if there was a marriage with someone from there. If you are certain you have people 
from there give me their full names and birth dates if possible and/or parents. 

* Looking for Descendants Of Frank Derdits. In a message dated 5/31/04, 
Albert Schuch writes: Could you please publish the following in one of the next 
newsletters: Ms Helga Kirchsteiger is looking for descendants of Franz Derdits, 
a native of Oberwart (town or district?). Franz emigrated to Chicago ca. 1920 and 
had his name changed to Frank Derditch. In 1924 he married Maria Oboikovitz, a 
native of Hungary (maybe also Oberwart district?). Frank died in 1982 in 
Ventura, Maria is also deceased.


2. MATTERSBURG - MATTERSDORF

In a message dated 6/11/04, Ron Bower writes: I am interested in joining the 
"Bunch" and receiving newsletters.

I am researching into my Great-Grandparents Josef BAUER born 1812, in 
MATTERSDORF, and Regina or Rebecca MUELLER born 1818 (NagyNarton) MATTERSBURG. 
Can anyone tell me where the archives would be where I could get copies of their 
birth Certificates? Ron Bower, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Reply: You appear to be confused as to the places of origin of your 
great-grandparents. Until 1924, Mattersburg was known under the German name of 
Mattersdorf although the Hungarian name was Nagymarton (Sopron Megye-county). If your 
grandparents had been born after 1896, I would refer you to the local 
district office or Gemeindeamt in Mattersburg. Prior to that time, the churches were 
responsible for keeping civil records and it is there that you can find birth 
(baptism) records.

In the 1960's the LDS (Mormon Church) microfilmed copies of these records at 
Budapest (years 1827-1895 only) and they are available at their family history 
centers as microfilm numbers 0700811-812.

Since your g-grandparents births pre-date these records, you must refer to 
the local Mattersburg church (Pfarrkirche Heilige Martin) which may have records
from 1770 or even earlier. Pre-1770 may also be found at the Catholic 
Diocesan archives in Eisenstadt. See our homepage for instructions on
how to find them.

Birth certificates didn't start until 1896 when civil records replaced the 
church records, and even then it's doubtful if people were given copies - most 
wouldn't have been able to read them - as late as the early 1900's, people were 
still signing their names with an "X". The record (Taufen) was made in the local 
church book (same for marriage and death) by the priest or pastor following 
baptism which took place normally on the day the child was born or the very next 
day-given the high rate of infant mortality. The record contained date, 
child's name, father and mother's names (sometimes maiden name of mother) status or 
profession of parents, residence, sometimes where born, religion, god parents 
and name of priest. A copy or translation is what the church may be able to 
provide (Latin, German and Hungarian were used depending on the education and 
ethnicity of the priest.) It's important that you supply what you know like 
exact date. Present priests may have difficulty reading the old Hungarian. 
Mattersburg church was and is an important one and probably has good records - some 
can be pretty horrible- undecipherable chicken scratching, often water stained 
and faded. It thus looks like you must either write or visit Mattersburg. The 
church office address is:

Pfarramt-Röm-kath
Hochstrasse 2
7210 Mattersburg
Austria

Write in German if possible and enclose return postage as well as about 20-25 
Euro. There is never a guarantee as to whether they will answer your request 
but money sometimes makes a difference. Priests and Pastors are in short 
supply and their days are busy-few have secretaries or people to answer queries. 
There are many Bauer families still living there and so there will be many 
entries under that name in church records. Likewise Mueller (Müller) is a common
name and there is only one family by that name left in Mattersburg-there are a 
few Müllners.

Today Mattersburg is one of the seven district towns (Bezirk) which comprise 
Burgenland. It is like a county seat and thus an important place, which may 
take pride in answering queries such as yours. It is responsible for civil 
administration for 22 other villages. It has a population of 6300 (1997). It dates 
to the year 1202 under the name "villa Martin" - in the 1500's it fell under the 
Herrschaft (aristocratic ownership) of the Esterhazys who still own nearby 
Castle Forchtenstein and other district property.

You are receiving a lengthy reply as I'll be publishing your query in one of 
our newsletters to provide help for people with similar queries. Good luck and 
we hope to hear from you again.


3. FRAUENKIRCHEN BIRTH CERTIFICATES?

In a message dated 6/22/04, Dominique Dubois, United Kingdom (POLLITZER, Hermann, 
Frauenkirchen) writes: Hermann was born in Frauenkirchen in about 1842. He is Jewish. 
He had moved to Vienna by 1872 when he married. Hermann Pollitzer is my great 
grandfather. Where do you suggest that I look for his birth certificate? In what 
language is his birth certificate likely to be recorded in? I only read 
English and French. 

Reply: Birth certificates as such were not issued until after 1896. Prior to 
that time the churches and synagogues were responsible for keeping civil 
records. In your case, the birth would have been recorded in the Frauenkirchen 
Synagogue. My sources do not reveal what happened to the Frauenkirchen Synagogue 
or records during WW-II.

Fortunately copies of the records (1835-1895) were sent to Budapest beginning 
1828 through 1921 and copied there by the LDS (Mormon Church) in the 1960's. 
They can be found in any LDS Family History Center under microfilm number 
0700859. The language may be in German, Hungarian, Latin or Hebrew. Given the 
nature of the records they are not difficult to translate and will contain what 
you would expect birth, marriage and death records to contain in a brief tabular 
format. Prior to 1921, Frauenkirchen was administered by Hungary under the 
name Boldogasszony in the then county (Megye) of Moson. In 1873 there was a 
Jewish population of 629. 

We have a Hebraic Editor (Maureen Tighe-Brown and I am copying her in the 
event she can add to what I have written. Jewish records differ considerably from 
Catholic and Protestant ones and as such I am not an expert by any means. I 
hope I have been of some help. 


4. MIDWEST BB PICNIC

The plans for the Burgenland Bunch (and other interested parties) picnic have 
been finalized. Here are the specifics: Date: Sunday, 8 August is 10:30 - 
4:00. Where: Trapp Farm Park ,Eagan, Minnesota. The cost is $5 per adult. The 
time is 10:30 - 4:00. Mark your calendars! We have the same location as last 
year. The park name is Trapp Farm Park and it is located in Eagan, Minnesota. 
Hope to see you there! Please view these websites: 
http://www.cityofeagan.com/water_resources/wr_maps/schwanz_lake.htm
http://www.ci.eagan.mn.us/commdev/compplan/maps/figure7_1.pdf 
Don't forget to bring your genealogical treasures you want to share: family 
group sheets, descendants charts, pictures, books, copies of records, 
Burgenland travel info, etc. 
 
We are looking forward to renewing acquaintances from last year and meeting 
new friends and relatives this year! Dale Knebel and Hap Anderson

Newsletter continues as Number 130A.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 130A 
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 9th Year-20 Pages/4 Email Sections Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold)
July 31, 2004
(c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved)


This second section of our 4-section newsletter concerns:

1. Mixed Marriages
2. Looking For Those Who Moved From Güssing
3. Burgenland "History House" In Bildein
4. Schreyer Family Story (from Tadten)
5. Message From New Chicago BG President
6. Links To Austrian Shopping Sites


1. MIXED MARRIAGES

In a message dated 5/31/04, Lea Buzby writes:
Grandfather Andrew Berghold was Lutheran and grandmother, Anna Drauch was 
Catholic. My mother always said there was never a problem in the household 
concerning the differing religions. They each supported the individual churches. 
The sons attended the Lutheran Church with their Father and the daughters 
attended the Catholic Church with their mother. Was inter-marriage of different 
Faiths common in the area and was it usually not a problem and solved in the 
way my grandparents approached it? Were these 'mixed-marriages' usually 
performed in the Catholic Church or were Churches more tolerant then?
 
Reply: Lea - The Berghold family link to the Protestant faith goes back a long 
way. In the late 1500's and early 1600's, the faith of Martin Luther swept 
Europe like a storm. In a very brief period much of the Holy Roman Empire north 
and east of Italy and Spain became Protestant - this included Austria and 
Hungary. They (Lutheran, Reformed and Calvinist) tended to give the peasantry more 
freedom and corrected the abuses of the Catholic Church that had grown over the 
centuries, despite the efforts of various Catholic reform-minded groups like 
the various monastic orders. As near as I can determine, the Berghold 
families of southern Styria then became Lutherans - I have found them in Lutheran 
Church records as early as 1650 and hints at even earlier ties (one was a "Reiter" 
or knight of a Protestant Prince during the 30 Years War, which meant he was 
probably baptized Lutheran-perhaps around 1620.)

This Reformation soon led to the 30 Years War during which horrible atrocities 
were committed by both sides. This eventually led to much migration and hatred.

The Catholic Church underwent reform, and during the Counter Reformation, the 
Vatican sent many Jesuit missionaries into Austria/Hungary. They converted 
the nobility first since they in turn could force their peasantry to also 
convert. In this they were successful. The Catholics took over the Lutheran 
churches, confiscated their records and the Crown passed edicts that would not allow 
Lutheran pastors to preach or have churches built. It was worse in some places 
than in others. In Salzburg, for instance, Lutherans had to convert or leave - 
some came to the US starting colonies in Georgia and the Carolinas. Most lost 
their property and some had their children taken from them and given to other 
Catholic families. In Styria many Lutherans who would not convert were forced 
to migrate and our Berghold families migrated to the Batthyány and Esterhazy 
estates in Hungary before 1690. Both of these noble families were very tolerant 
for a variety of reasons. The law of the time was "He who rules decides 
religion." Other Bergholds converted and can still be found as Catholics in the area
south of Graz-one Father Alexander Berghold became a priest and served as a 
missionary to the mid-west, where he is remembered and has been memorialized 
for starting a number of Catholic parishes (see previous newsletters). 

Even though the migrants could live in Hungary, they had no Lutheran 
churches, but they did have prayer houses. For the sacraments they used the Catholic 
Churches and priests, who baptized, married and served communion, with the only 
stigma being that the records had to show that they were "ev" (evangelisch) 
or 'aug" (Augsburg profession means the same thing). I don't know what else 
might have been required - probably the posting of bans before marriage and the 
promise to raise children in the Catholic faith. While some families intermarried - 
Berghold-Drauch, Berghold-Langasch, Berghold-Schaukovits, etc. - mixed 
marriages were not popular. I know my grandfather John was never forgiven by his 
father for marrying the Langasch daughter of the Catholic schoolteacher from 
Heiligenkreuz. Other families were not so intolerant, since the Poppendorf-Heiligenkreuz 
villages were mixed Lutheran and Catholic, and living together forced 
some tolerance. I doubt if the young men and women cared one way or another.

In 1720, with the passing of the Edict of Tolerance, Lutheran Churches were 
again allowed to be built and we see a gradual decrease in the number of "ev" 
"ag" records in the Catholic church records. By the early 1800's, there were 
rarely any mixed marriages shown in Catholic Church records. Likewise the 
schools had again become segregated. Even today, there is some religious animosity 
in places like Eltendorf (still considered a Lutheran village) concerning 
Catholics. The family memories of the Reformation and Counter Reformation may be 
dim but they still exist.

I believe our mixed marriages were exceptions to the general rule. Some of 
the earlier Heiligenkreuz Bergholds became Catholics and our links to them are 
not very firm. All this is now of interest only as it explains some of our 
history. Church attendance and membership is now dropping all over Austria and 
both faiths are having a great deal of trouble finding enough priests and 
pastors. It seems that religion, once the most important part of Austro/Hungarian 
life is now becoming less important. I wonder how many civil marriages now 
replace church marriages? I have not seen the ecumenical movement as strong in 
Europe as it has become in the USA. 


2. LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO MOVED FROM GÜSSING

In a message dated 7/4/04, Stephan Schaberl writes:

Yesterday I just arrived from NYC/Philadelphia (I come from Switzerland and 
this was my first visit to the U.S.) and I got on your website by accident. So 
I decided to write you:

My Grandma Maria Mayer came from Güssing and grew up in a house located in 
the ancient Jewish quarter (just below the brook), where they sold candles made 
of wax and "lebkuchen." She's now 93 years old and I am very interested in the 
way they lived such a long time ago in Hungary. I am making a little movie 
about her. 

I also visited many museums in NY concerning the exodus of Jewish people 
from eastern European countries and I suddenly realized, if I want to continue 
my family studies, I will only succeed in doing it here.

The house in which they lived, I suppose, must have belonged any time before 
to Jewish people too. So they said in a book about Güssing. Because of your 
recent work, I thought, perhaps you can help me with further investigations.

Unfortunately, I never happened to read the book (?) about Güssing, which you 
among many others recommended.

But if you can give me some links / e-mail adresses from other persons, 
knowing about my topic, I will be very thankful! (Invitation Letter was sent.) I 
know, my English isn't that perfect. I hope anyhow, you could understand my 
request. So if you've got any questions, things I have to know better before you
answer, go on: I already found a lot of related information about my 
grandmother's case. I wish you a great 4th of July, and enjoy the long
weekend with your family! Sincerely, stephan schaberl


3. BURGENLAND "HISTORY HOUSE" IN BILDEIN

Member Adreas Lehner writes: If you want to see, hear or touch Burgenland 
history of the last 100 years - visit the Burgenländisches Geschichtenhaus, 
in Bildein (district of Güssing). Best on weekends with the "geschichtenhausdamen" 
who tell stories from their life time. The Burgenländisches Geschichtenhaus 
received the Austrian museum prize this year.

You can visit the burgenländisches geschichte(n)haus whenever you want, if 
you announce your visit.
Tel. +43/(0)3323/2579 Mon - Friday (8.00 -12.00)
You can take the bus (red line) from
Güssing every hour. Entrance fee: € 3,-- 
(adults) € 2,-- (children)
Guided tours in English possible. 
There is a brand new restaurant in Bildein, which I really recommend. 
Also I can recommend the well-known confectionary. More information can be 
found at http://www.dade.at/bildein/museum.htm


4. SCHREYER FAMILY STORY - TADTEN (from Hannes Graf)

(ED. Note: BB Membership Editor Hannes Graf brings us the following story 
concerning his Schreyer relatives.)

Hannes writes: If you remember some weeks ago, I was searching for my SCHREYER 
relatives. I had correspondence with my G-Cousin Mike Schreyer, who sent me 
a newspaper article about what happened in 1927.

Before the article, however, some things of interest:

All my relatives who emigrated to the USA (between 1899-1905) had as a 
"sponsor" the so called "uncle Schreyer" or "uncle Andrew". I cannot find his 
relationship to the others but it looks like a cousin of my GG-parents (Lehner).

ANDREAS SCHREYER entered the USA at 1880 or earlier; he and his wife Mary, 
came to South Bend, Indiana at 1880. He sponsored in 1904 Paul M. LEHNER and 
Marton SCHREYER with wife Elisabeth LEHNER. Paul and the wife of Marton, 
Elisabeth Lehner, were siblings.

After the first years, Paul M. LEHNER came back and married Katherine LENDWAY;
they returned to USA with some children in 1912. After this, Paul M. LEHNER 
sponsored in 1923 Michael & Theresia LEHNER, his niece and nephew; and after 
1945 Paul LEHNER, with wife and son, another brother of the two before. Michael,
Theresia and Paul were all children of his brother Johann LEHNER from Tadten.

ANDREAS SCHREYER lived at 713 Dunham street; the family of Marton Schreyer 
at 723 Dunham street.

Andrew and his wife Mary and Marton and Elizabeth are buried at Notre Dame 
Cemetery. The son of Andrew was a Catholic priest at Notre Dame and is also 
buried there.

Now the article from the SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 03.11.1927(?)

ANDREW SCHRIER (Schreyer) 1855 - 1927 "CRASH"

"FORTY-SIX YEARS IN CITY BROUGHT TO TRAGIC END"

"OLD RESIDENT SUCCUMBS IN ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL"

"WITNESS ASSERTS VICTIM APPARENTLY DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING WARN HIM OF 
HIS DANGER"

Forty-six Years of residence in South Bend was brought to a tragic close in 
St. Joseph Hospital at 9:35 O'clock this morning for Andrew Schrier, 71, of 713 
Dunham by a West Bound New York Central passenger train at the
intersection of Walnut - Division streets at 5:30 o'clock this morning.

Mr. Schrier was on his way to his place of employment, the Singer 
manufacturing company's plant, was unconscious when he was picked up by
a witness of the accident. He did not regain consciousness before he died. He
sustained a skull fracture, which caused his death, and other injuries.

He was identified through the efforts of the Tribune after he had laid 
unconscious in the hospital for several hours. Tribune representatives visited the 
hospital, photographed him, and with this photograph were able to trace his 
relatives and place of employment.

Leo Kolondinski, 1135 West Division street, who witnessed the accident, told 
the police that Mr. Schrier was walking southward over the crossing and 
apparently did not see or hear the train.

Besides his wife, Anna (or Mary?), Mr. Schrier, who was born in Germany (?), 
is survived by five children as follows: Mrs. Mary M. Schneider, Mrs. Nathan 
Harringer, Mrs. Anna Saberniak, of South Bend; the Reverend Andrew Schrier, 
C.S.C. of the University of Notre Dame, and Mrs. Rose Cole of Minneapolis, 
Minnesota. The following grandchildren survive him: Frank and Martin Schneider; 
Margaret, Frank and Mildred Harringer; and Maxine Saberniak, all of South Bend; 
and John Cole of Minneapolis.

(Besides his wife, Anna (or Mary?), Mr. Schrier, who was born in Germany, 
is.....

This is a mistake by the Newspaper, because Andrew Schreyer was from Tadten 
in Burgenland, Austria. And his wife was Mary.


5. MESSAGE FROM NEW CHICAGO BG PRESIDENT

In a message dated 6/20/04, Karl Billisits writes:

Dear Gerry Berghold: As newly elected President of the BG in Chicago, I would 
like to thank you for your support of our club and for your congratulatory 
thanks in your BB newsletter. We hope that with our newly elected officers we 
will be able to strengthen our Gemeinschaft here in Chicago. Tom (Glatz) has 
been very active in both our BG and BB and we hope that both clubs can work 
together to strengthen the BG.
Sincerely, Karl Billisits, President, Burgenleandische Gemeinschaft

Our reply: Dear Karl Billisits,

Thanks you for the kind words - it is nice to hear from you. Likewise, if there 
is any way that the BB can help you, please let us know. As you are probably 
aware, we met with Walter Dujmovits a few years ago and we pledged both 
organizations to mutual assistance. Our involvement with the Güssing office is most 
harmonious and I have been writing a column in English for the BG newsletter. 
The BG-BB liason person is Klaus Gerger from Vienna and Güssing - he is a 
distant cousin - Klaus is both the BG computer website organizer as well as a BB 
associate Burgenland editor. Our BB member Inga Schuch (Wien) does the website 
German-English translations.

We are very fortunate to have Tom Glatz as one of our associate editors. I am 
very pleased that you and Tom are now leaders in the Chicago BG organization. 
Given the large number of Burgenland immigrant descendants in the Chicago 
area, I hope to see your organization grow and prosper. While our prime interests 
are slightly different, we are two organizations with many common goals. Our 
structure is such that we can supply little in the way of social contacts and 
we hope to see the BG continue to fulfill that important need. Our best wishes 
for the future and I hope that someday I may be able to personally meet with 
you both. Regards, Gerry


6. LINKS TO AUSTRIAN SHOPPING SITES (from Anna Kresh)
 
Anna writes: A BB member asked me for links for Austrian articles. I sent him 
the ones listed below and thought it might be nice to list these on the BB 
URL list, with the caution "no endorsement implied".
 
AUSTRIAN, AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN INTERNET LINKS
Shopping (no endorsement implied)

o Ask Gingka Austrian Apparel 
http://www.askginka.com/nationality/austrian.htm
- links to traditional Austrian costumes, books, sewing supplies, textiles,

bridal wear and accessories 

o Almost Europe http://www.almosteurope.com/ - Austrian, Bavarian, and Swiss 
gifts including pewter, ceramic, candles, clocks, antique barometers, snow 
globes, castle posters and calendars 

o Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc/ - Offers a variety of Austrian 
and German gifts including Hummel figurines, beer steins, dolls, cosmetics, 
hats and feathers, food and hand made music boxes. 

o Haus of Bavaria Online http://hausofbavaria.com/ - Online source for 
Lederhosen, Lederhose, Dirndls, Tracht, Trachtenmode, Landhausmode and
Souvenirs from Germany and Austria 

o 1st Bavarian Online Shop 
http://www.1stbavarianonlineshop.com/englisch/index.htm - Offers
a variety of German, Bavarian and Austrian traditional clothing 
and accessories including leather pants, dirndl dresses, shoes, and hats. 
 
Newsletter continues as number 130B.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 130B 
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 9th Year-20 Pages/4 Email Sections Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold)
July 31, 2004
(c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved)


This third section of our 4-section newsletter concerns: 

1. Burgenland Immigration To Canada
2. Peischl Family - Stegersbach
3. Value Of A Gulden

 
1. BURGENLAND IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

My wife and I having recently returned from a lengthy trip to Canada (Toronto 
to Vancouver by train) I thought I'd share my thoughts concerning the many 
Burgenländers who settled there. Starting in 1921 with the passage of our first 
immigration laws, immigration from southeastern Europe to the USA began to 
slow and, after the quota rules were established, it slowed to a trickle. 
Immigrants then turned to Canada and South America. It remained so until the period 
following WW-II when the passage of political refugee amendments were enacted. 
The 1950's saw a new wave of immigrants from Burgenland to the USA but many also 
went to Canada. Dr. Walter Dujmovits in his book "Die Amerika-Wanderung der 
Burgenländer" covers this in some detail, mentioning heavy immigration to 
Toronto and Montreal. It's estimated that about 12% of all Burgenland immigrants 
settled in Canada and over 4000 Burgenländers now (1990's data) live in Toronto 
alone, with an unknown number of descendants (over 10,000 Austrians). The BB 
has a number of Canadian members - see Hannes Graf's "Where We (the BB) Live" 
website. The Toronto ethnic-Burgenland clubs are most active and were included in 
the visit of the Burgenland Landeshauptmann recently. Toronto has assumed the 
role in Canada that Chicago did in the USA.

I was struck by the large number of ethnic people I saw in a too short visit 
to Toronto - virtually every race and nationality can be found among its 5 
million inhabitants. Truly a cosmopolitan city and the complexity of its ethnic 
food must be experienced to be appreciated. 

As our train headed into the western territories and the foot of the Rocky 
Mountains, I observed farms whose productivity and neatness reminded me of the 
Burgenland. As it turned out, I learned that the Canadian Pacific and Canadian 
National Railways ran immigration trains to these regions. I only wish I had 
had the chance to look for immigrant family names. Dr. Dujmovits in his book 
mentions that in 1926, the following immigrants settled in Edmonton (Alberta), as 
an example: brothers Martin and Alois Kaufmann from Langeck and Adolf Raaber 
from Kukmirn. By 1930, 59 more arrived; from Stegersbach, Josef Schabhüttl, 
Johann Siderits, Johann Ivkovits, Josef Roth, Johann Rauch, Karl Marinits with 
family. From Neuberg, Stefan Radostic, Rudolf Novosel; from Gutenbach Michael 
Kowacsits, Julius and Franz Kulovits, Matthias Haiszan; from Grafenschachen, 
Alois and Josef Schweitzer, Ernst Simon and Heinrich Schützenhofer. Several 
others, whose names we don't have, settled north of Edmonton between the Slave 
Lakes - real pioneers! Many housewives ran boarding houses where an immigrant could 
sleep for as little as 20 cents a night. Frau Marinits, who immigrated in 1928 
with husband Karl and daughter Mitzi, provided such a bit of homeland for 
immigrants and is memorialized as "Mother Marinits." While many of the immigrants
returned to Austria, there are some 50 Burgenländers in the Edmonton Club 
Austria. I wonder how many of their descendants have found our website?

In 1993, while searching Burgenland church records, we joined a local church 
outing to Styria. The only person in our group who could speak English (other 
than the Pastor) was from Kukmirn (a relative of Frankie Fiedler - then 
Bürgermeister of Kukmirn) and had lived in Toronto for some 9 years. When 
I asked why she returned, she told me she was homesick for the Burgenland - 
missed some things from Canada but was most happy to be back. Our brief encounter 
resulted in a great bottle of pear schnapps from her brother-in-law who operates a 
distillery in Kukmirn. I imagine her story was the same as the other Burgenländers 
who returned home.

While I don't have their names, a Croatian group from Neuberg, Nikitsch, 
Schandorf, etc also emigrated to Canada. There are still Croatian Catholic 
churches in Canada. Another group of 60 or 80 Hungarian-speakers are known to have 
emigrated from the region of Oberwart. Some names are Horvath, Gyaky, Boscors 
and Bogats. Others came from Kaiserdorf and Ritzing.

Vancouver is another cosmopolitan city, like Toronto, and I'm sure some of our 
Burgenländers settled there but I have no data. Dr. Dujmovits likewise 
mentions that some saw the Pacific coast. As we were sitting on a bench waiting for 
a flea market to open in Vancouver, I struck up a conversation with the woman 
sitting next to me. It turned out that she and her husband were political 
refugees from western Hungary in the mid 1950's. She was very familiar with the 
Burgenland and told me they had both Hungarian clubs and parishes in Vancouver 
and quite a large ethnic community.

It might be well for BB members to examine whether they have ties to Canada. 
I wonder if any Canadian immigrants later migrated to the USA. I haven't heard 
of any but I did hear of some who went the other way.


2. PEISCHL FAMILY - STEGERSBACH (from Donna Stockl)
  (ED. Note: A great piece of genealogical effort!)

Donna writes: Until I joined the Burgenland Bunch, I knew very little about my 
Burgenland-born grandmother, Hedwig PEISCHL, or her family. When I was a child 
in Philadelphia, she was the only relative I knew on my father's side of the 
family. My father was her only child to survive to adulthood and she was 
widowed years before I was born. In those years, I heard the adults speak (in 
German which I did not understand) of Tante Rose and Onkel Charlie. I knew that 
Tante Rose lived in Philadelphia and died there about 1970; I doubt I ever met 
Rose or Charlie.

After my grandmother's death, my mother reported that she had told her that 
Hedwig's parents had given her to childless relatives to raise. After checking 
with my paternal grandfather's family in Vienna and finding no one named Rose 
or Charlie, I knew these people had to be my grandmother's relatives.

Following my parents' deaths, I received my paternal grandparents' citizenship 
papers and their marriage certificate from Sts. Peter and Paul R.C. Church in 
Vienna. From the marriage certificate, I learned my grandmother was born 
Christmas Eve 1898 in Stegersbach. I also learned her parents' names. That's all
I was able to learn on my own.

Then along came the Burgenland Bunch. With suggestions, encouragement and 
often action on my behalf by Burgenland Bunch members, I obtained both civil and 
church records from Stegersbach and Bocksdorf to put together a more complete 
picture of my grandmother's family of origin.

Her father Josef PEISCHL's family lived at Stegersbach, House #18 for several 
generations. The surnames in that line were: PEISCHL, CZVITKOVITS, FUIK, 
CSAR, FENEZ, PIPLICS.

Hedwig's mother, Maria PELZMANN, was born in Bocksdorf, House #117. With some 
Burgenland Bunch help and my own research in an LDS copy of the Bocksdorf 
parish church records, I found the following surnames in her line: PELZMANN, 
SCHABHÜTTL, ROSENKRANTZ, ERKINGER and VUKISEVICS.

These great-grandparents married in 1896 in a civil ceremony in Stegersbach 
and at a church wedding in Bocksdorf. They lived in Stegersbach. Later I 
learned that Maria brought a child with her to the wedding - a daughter Rosa who 
had been born several months before the wedding. (From a Burgenland Bunch 
member I learned that young men had to complete service in the Hungarian army 
before being allowed to marry. This practice resulted in quite a few births 
before marriage.) A son and a daughter, Johann and Maria, followed quickly in 1896 
and 1897. Then Hedwig (my grandmother) was born on Christmas Eve in 1898.

Times must have been difficult for this family as they gave Hedwig to 
childless relatives. (I don't know when and I do not know the identity of her 
caretakers.) My guess is they did this early in Hedwig's life, because the family 
moved to Wiener Neudorf, where their son Josef was born in 1900. Perhaps the 
family was looking for work. It doesn't appear that life was better for them in 
Wiener Neudorf; their youngest child Karl (Uncle Charlie?) was born in 
Stegersbach in 1901.

The Ellis Island records give a glimpse of this family's next movements. In 
1903, Josef's brother, Alois PEISCHL, went to Philadelphia to a friend, Gustav 
MURLASITS. Records show that Gustav was originally from the Burgenland village 
of Rauchwart. In 1904, Josef followed his brother Alois to Philadelphia. In 1905, 
Maria PEISCHL left Bocksdorf to join her husband Josef in Philadelphia. 
According to her own report, she remained in Philadelphia until 1907. What about 
the children? Who was minding them?

In 1906, another of Josef's brothers, Johann, came to Philadelphia. In 1907, 
Rosa, the oldest child, now eleven and one-half years old, arrived in Philadelphia
from Stegersbach. That same year, her mother Maria returned to Europe. In 
1909, Maria came back to Philadelphia with her twelve-year-old son Johann. In 
1910, prior to the U.S. Census, Josef and Maria's twelve-year-old daughter, Maria, 
arrived in Philadelphia. Later that year, the two youngest children Josef and 
Karl, ages eleven and nine, completed the PEISCHL household in Philadelphia. 
Notable to me was the absence of their daughter Hedwig.

Very recently, I found the family in the 1910 U.S. Census. The index had 
misspelled their surname as BEISEL and, in the Census itself, the surname was 
misspelled PEISEL. The ages and years of immigration matched what I had learned from 
other records. Josef's occupation was chandelier-maker. Their fifteen-year-old 
oldest daughter Rosa was no longer living with the family at the time of the 
1910 Census.

Needless to say, I wonder what became of my great-grandparents and their 
children. Did they remain in the U.S.? Did they return to Austria? Did they 
change their surnames to something completely different? I strongly believe 
that Rosa (known as Rose in the U.S.) remained in Philadelphia and I suspect that 
Karl (known as Charlie in the U.S.) remained in the U.S., somewhere near or in 
Philadelphia. My brother was named for Onkel Charlie, who seemed to have a 
favorable reputation. Tante Rose was not so popular; we have no children named 
for her!

Stegersbach's town hall has no record of the deaths of any members of this 
PEISCHL family. I have had no success finding them in the 1920 or the 1930 U.S. 
Censuses. These Censuses each have an online index. I went to the Philadelphia 
City Hall to examine the marriage index. No one of this Peischl family 
applied for a marriage license in Philadelphia.

I know far more now that I did when I started this search, but I know my 
fellow researchers understand that every new piece of information generates more 
questions.

Now back to young Hedwig in Stegersbach. My Viennese relatives (Hedwig's 
in-laws) told me that she said she was very unhappy during her childhood in 
Stegersbach. She was a German-speaking child and found going to school where 
everything was in Hungarian very difficult. They also think she did not feel loved
at home. While still a young girl, she found a job as a housekeeper in 
Hainburg in Lower Austria. Hainburg on the Danube is the easternmost town in Lower 
Austria. From Hainburg she went to Vienna where she worked as a maid in a 
hospital. There she met my grandfather. They married in 1920 and had a baby 
daughter, who died in three months. My relatives told me that inflation after 
World War I eroded the value of their money and they crowded many adults and 
children into an apartment meant for one small family. Hedwig wanted to leave 
this place where she had lost her child and follow her other family members to 
Philadelphia.

The Viennese relatives helped the young couple with money for the passage. 
My grandparents arrived in New York on the ship Mount Clay on 25 March 1921. 
They settled in Philadelphia and my father was born 5 August 1922. From
Philadelphia City Directory research, I found that my grandfather was a Laborer, 
Baker and finally a Butcher. The family always lived near other Burgenlanders and 
moved frequently. They seemed to have a network to keep each other informed 
about good rents or other advantages they spotted. My father complained of 
returning from school to find an empty house: his mother had moved the family's 
belongings to a better place. Each document I have from this family has a 
different address - although they were all near each other.

Let's move ahead a few decades. My father met and married my mother who was 
of Irish and German ancestry. That means that while I have my "family 
history" sabbatical from my teaching job, I have been doing research and making 
contacts in four areas. In the fall of 2003, I visited many of my relatives in the 
United States and collected family stories and photos. Then in the spring of 
2004, I visited relatives in Germany, Austria and Ireland. Following is my 
account of this, my first trip outside of North America. 

(ED note: only the Austrian portion will be published in newsletter 130C as a 
separate article. If interested in the Germany and Ireland portions, please 
contact the author.)


3. VALUE OF A GULDEN

In a message dated 7/10/04, a correspondent writes:

I came across your request from several years ago trying to find out the 
value of the gulden in relation to today's prices. Were you successful? At the 
moment I am trying to find out what 23,000 gulden in 1808 would have been in 
today's terms. If you can help me I would be greatly appreciative.

Reply: Sorry, no one volunteered an answer as this is not as easy as it 
appears. In 1518, these coins were minted in silver in order to satisfy the need for 
more coinage due to the growth of trade and commerce. There are many factors 
to consider in determining 1808 value - among them the amount of gold or silver 
in the coins (also known as Florin, Thaler or Goldgulden), the fluctuating 
value of the metal, the value of goods and labor, strength of governmental 
support, etc., etc. The gulden was the name of the original coin of Germany, Austria 
and Hungary, minted first with gold, then with enough silver to equal the 
value of a gold gulden (a smaller coin). Unless someone else comes up with a 
better way I'd peg the 1808 gulden as a silver gulden (it was replaced by the 
silver Thaler or Maria Teresia Thaler from which our dollar stems). This was the 
equivalent then (1808) of about 2-3 dollars American. A silver dollar today is 
worth at least $3 (ignoring coin collector dates) thus a thaler would be 
worth about $6-9, so 23,000 gulden would be at least $138,000 or more. In 
purchasing power however, that gulden might be the equivalent of about ten times 
that amount or $1,380,000! If you are talking about goldguldens, multiply
that by the increase of the price of gold(?) over that of silver (i.e. the old US 
Govt. price of $28 per ounce is now over $300)! I doubt if your case involved 
German gold guldens. Does anyone in our membership have a better idea concerning value?

Newsletter continues as number 130C.

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 130C 
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(Our 9th Year-20 Pages/4 Email Sections Issued monthly by G. J. Berghold)
July 31, 2004
(c) 2004 G. J. Berghold - all rights reserved)


This fourth section of our 4-section newsletter concerns:

1. Peischl Trip To Austria
2. Lehigh Valley Ethnic Events - August 2004
3. Ungarische Burgenland
4. Death Of Austrian President
5. Storks Bring Good Luck
6. Austrian On-Line Phone Book Changes
7. Burgenland Village Website Photos Are Great!
8. 15th Century Medieval Festival - Güssing
9. Spice Firm Recalls Half-Sharp Paprika

1. PEISCHL TRIP TO AUSTRIA (from Donna Stockl)

(Having left Germany) Next I moved on to Vienna, Austria where my second 
cousin Eva-Verena Kroll (my paternal grandfather's family) met me. She teaches 
German language and literature at the school at Erlgasse 32-34 in the twelfth 
district of Vienna. After work each day she took me to a different spot:
Lainzer Tiergarten in the Vienna Woods and the Stift Heiligenkreuz (Holy Cross 
Monastery) as well as on several car tours of the city of Vienna. Many times we 
passed Schönbrunn Palace - my cousin lives a few blocks from there. During the 
school holidays Eva and I spent an entire day at Schönbrunn. 

I had met with Dr. Albert Schuch, Burgenland Bunch editor, at a café near my 
cousin's apartment in Vienna. Albert had generously helped me early on in my 
Burgenland research. I was (and am) looking for living relatives of my 
paternal grandmother or for people who had known her or her family in Stegersbach 
or Bocksdorf. Albert gave me a book of old postcards from towns and villages 
of the Burgenland that were from the turn of the last century. I appreciate 
this visual history of the area. Since Albert and I are both teachers, we 
exchanged classroom experiences.

My grandparents were married in St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Vienna 
in 1920, which we visited. We went to an apartment that had housed eight 
adult family members including my grandparents. There was one bedroom; the family 
had lived there following World War I. Overcrowding, poor economic conditions 
and the death of their infant daughter led my grandparents to leave Vienna 
for Philadelphia in March 1921.

My cousin Eva's parents needed transportation from a health spa, Gesundheitszentrum 
Kurhotel Bad Schoenau, where they had spent several weeks. Eva's mother, 
Dr. Olga Kroll (a.k.a. Susi) is my father's first cousin on his father's 
side. She and my father had been childhood pen pals. From 1955 until 1972 my 
paternal grandmother made four trips to Austria, each time staying with her 
in-laws (the Kroll family) in Vienna. On Palm Sunday, Eva and I picked up Susi
and Walter Kroll from the spa which is located in the southeast corner of 
Lower Austria and went from there to Stegersbach. There we met Mrs. Novosel of 
the Landhotel Novosel - Wagner who showed us the hotel room in which my 
grandmother had stayed during her 1972 visit. She spoke about remembering my 
grandmother visiting the Sideritch family and their bakery, that used
to be located across the street from the hotel.

We looked for the Peischl house in which my grandmother had been born in 
Stegersbach. I took a photo of a house: actually it was not the correct location 
as the houses in Stegersbach have been renumbered. Next to this house was a 
hairdresser with the name Mandler on the window. My grandmother's family had a 
long association with a Mandler family, both in Stegersbach and in Philadelphia. 
Thanks to Mr. Ernst Freidl of the Stegersbach town hall I now know the 
correct location of my grandmother's birthplace and have arranged with 
Burgenland Bunch member Jürgen Brandweiner to email me a photo of it the next time 
he visits Stegersbach.

Because of Bocksdorf church record research I did, I knew that my grandmother's 
mother was born in House 117 in Bocksdorf. This village is right next to 
Stegersbach and has not had the houses renumbered. In vain we rode around 
trying to find House 117 - trying to figure out the house numbering system. 
Finally we met some helpful people who phoned the mayor on his cell phone (called
a handy in Europe) and obtained the directions to House 117. A gentleman drove 
his car to lead us there. House 117 is quite old; the owner met us and 
showed us around. He and his wife have a new house right next to this one. These 
houses are on a sizable farm. When I asked the owner for his name, I learned 
that he is a descendent of my great-grandmother's sister. His last name is 
Csar, the same as the man who married my great-grandmother's sister near the end 
of the nineteenth century. I found that marriage listed in the Bocksdorf 
church records. I also found death records for Csar ancestors from that same 
house. It was wonderful to find a living relative (although quite distant) of my 
grandmother. We promised to keep in touch. I was impressed with the 
friendliness of the Burgenland people. The area was picturesque and prosperous.

Eva and I spent a beautiful spring day exploring some of the towns west of 
Vienna along the Danube, the region called the Wachau. The towns hug the 
hillsides with rows of vineyards behind them. The buildings have impressive 
architecture and charming courtyards. Some of the towns we visited were Krems, 
Weißenkirchen, Spitz and Melk where we saw the large, impressive monastery. 

On Easter Sunday my Viennese cousins and I went to Hainburg on the Danube, 
the easternmost town in Lower Austria. My paternal grandmother left Stegersbach 
during her youth to be a housekeeper for a family on Blutgasse (Blood Street) 
in Hainburg. Blutgasse used to have a meat packing plant on that street: 
the former name of the street was Fleischstrasse or Meat Street. My father's 
cousin told me that blood was reported to have run down this street into the 
Danube; because of that the street was renamed. Besides being famous for its 
many gates, Hainburg has a large train station; trains pass through to Vienna. 
We guess that my grandmother took a train from that station to Vienna where she 
met and married my grandfather. We enjoyed Easter dinner in Hainburg at a 
restaurant called Zum Goldenen Anker (Golden Anchor). 

Burgenland Bunch member Jürgen Brandweiner has been very helpful in my search 
for Burgenland roots. He researched LDS copies of Stegersbach Catholic 
church records and at the diocesan archives in Eisenstadt. I tried to repay his 
kindness by sharing information from the copy of the Bocksdorf parish records 
available at my local LDS center. 

One of my plans for this trip was to meet and personally thank people who 
have helped me with family history research. So on Easter Monday my cousin Eva 
and I met Jürgen Brandweiner in Fürstenfeld (in Styria near the Burgenland 
border) and went with him to Graz. Jürgen informed us that Graz was the 2003 
Cultural Capital of Europe. We enjoyed a sunny, pleasant day taking in the sights 
of beautiful Graz.

At a birthday celebration for one of my father's cousins, I met my Viennese 
cousins. Three of my father's cousins are living and were present at the 
party, as were their spouses, children and grandchildren. It was exciting to meet 
a whole branch of family in one afternoon. One of my second cousins works for 
the U.S. software company BMC based in Texas and has been to the U.S. several 
times. I left the birthday party and in a few days, Austria with a multitude 
of photos and happy memories. (ED Note: Donna then went on to Ireland to 
continue her search.) 


2. LEHIGH VALLEY ETHNIC EVENTS - AUGUST 2004 (from Bob Strauch)

Aug. 1: 50th Annual Parish Picnic and Homecoming, St. Peter's Roman Catholic 
Church, 5th & Coplay Sts. in Coplay, (610) 262- 2417. Entertainment: Emil 
Schanta Band, 1:30-5 PM; Naturalistix, 5:30-9 PM.

Aug. 6 - 15: Musikfest, Bethlehem (www.musikfest.org). This year's festival 
features two guest bands from Europe: "Die Steirischen Musikanten" 
(www.musikmarkt.at/steirmus/) from Krieglach/Austria, and the "Offenburger 
Polizeimusikanten" from the Black Forest. 

Aug. 6 - 8: Annual Parish Festival and Homecoming, St. Francis of Assisi 
Roman Catholic Church, 11th & Washington Sts., Allentown (610) 433-6102. Polka 
Mass, Saturday 4:30 PM; Joe Wolfer Orchestra, Sunday. 

Aug. 28 - 29: Oktoberfest 2004, sponsored by St. Peter's Evang. Lutheran 
Church/Allentown (610) 437-5064, at Schnecksville Fire Company, Route 309 in 
Schnecksville.
Entertainment: Johnny Dee Orchestra, Saturday; Emil Schanta Band, 
Sunday.

A look ahead......

Sep. 9 - 12: Oktoberfest, Lehigh Sängerbund, Emmaus (details to follow). 

Sep. 12: Church Picnic, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Limeport. Music 
by the Emil Schanta Band.

Sep. 25: 2nd Raab Valley Reunion (Raabtaler Heimattreffen), St Joseph's Roman 
Catholic Church, Limeport. The event is open to everyone, not just to natives 
of the Raab Valley villages and their descendants. The deadline for 
reservations is August 15. Please send checks to Terry Deutsch, 205 Virginia Ave., 
Whitehall/PA 18052.

Sep. 26: Ethnic Food Festival, St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, E. 
Susquehanna St., Allentown.


3. UNGARISCHE BURGENLAND (from Bob Strauch)

During some correspondence concerning Burgenland's borders, Bob responds:
Speaking of border villages, have you ever heard the terms "Ostburgenland" or 
"Das ungarische Burgenland"? You won't find them on any map. I've come across 
them in reference to the once-German areas of present western Hungary - the 
Heideboden, the Sopron/Ödenburg area, the Köszeg/Güns area, the lower Pinka 
Valley, and the Szentgotthárd/St. Gotthard area. Used only as a cultural term, 
very often by the expellees from these regions that now live in Germany. 
 

4. DEATH OF AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT (from Margaret Kaiser)

Austrian President dies - 07.07.2004. The President of Austria, Thomas 
Klestil, has died only two days before ending term his in office.


5. STORKS BRING GOOD LUCK (from Margaret Kaiser)

Here is a site with 2 live webcams of stork nest activity.
http://www.poland.pl/spec/storks2004/transmission/index.htm

I've heard that it is considered very good fortune in the old country when a 
stork nest is built upon your chimney. (ED. Note: Absolutely, to the extent 
that homeowners build platforms over their chimneys to support the nests and 
prevent blockage. While many nests are found in the villages along the Neusiedler
See, the inhabitants of Güssing were recently overjoyed when three nests were 
built in their city, per Klaus Gerger.)


6. AUSTRIAN ON-LINE PHONE BOOK CHANGES (from Carol Sorensen)

I had a difficult time getting the on-line phonebook tonight. Internet 
Explorer wouldn't work, so I tried Netscape. Definitely, www.etb.at ("electronic
telephone book") no longer works. I just happened to try to use it a few weeks 
ago, and it said that they were changing to HEROLD.at, which they don't say 
anymore. The only address that works now is: www.herold.at It isn't as easy to 
print out whole family name lists as the "etb" was, but by using copy and 
paste to a Word document, you can duplicate the page. Please let the BB know.


7. BURGENLAND VILLAGE WEBSITE PHOTOS ARE GREAT! (from Carol Sorensen)

I know that you had mentioned those photographs of the Burgenland towns that 
Anna Kresh has listed (www.best-of-burgenland.com) but you may want to 
mention it again. I just received an e-mail from my St. Paul, MN, relatives who were 
so happy I told them about it. They have, in turn, sent it to others. It is an 
absolutely wonderful travel log! How nice to be able to see some of these 
villages again. I now have a photo of the house that my 3g-grandfather lived in 
(Jormannsdorf). When I had visited the town in 1999, I had not yet done research 
with the LDS microfilm, which gave the house numbers of where he lived, and 
where my 2g-grandfather was born. I had walked past these homes, not yet knowing 
their relevance.


8. 15TH CENTURY MEDIEVAL HISTORICAL CITY FESTIVAL (courtesy Bob Strauch & 
Margaret Kaiser)

Part of Burgenland Project, "A Pannonian Beginning", Stadt Güssing will 
sponsor "The Knights' Play" on August 13, 14 & 15. See for more information. If 
visiting Austria don't miss it! From BB member Hildegard Koller and Walter 
Krtschal, Güssing Tourisimus. Also see Burgspiele Gussing 2004 at 
http://come.to/burgspiele (includes many photos).

 
9. SPICE FIRM RECALLS HALF-SHARP PAPRIKA (from Margaret Kaiser)

Margaret tells us that Penzey's Spices recalled their half-sharp (hot) 
paprika due to bacteria problems. 

My reply: Thanks - I buy spices from Penzey's all the time, including Paprika, 
but I have not bought half-sharp for some time. It is quite HOT and one time 
Molly used it instead of the regular by mistake - OOOHHHH - such a goulasch! 
If you don't get their catalog, order one (free) from their website - 
good reading re spices and many good recipes - I've found Pensey's to 
be a good operation and very fine spices. Too bad about the recall but these 
things happen. I believe most reputable firms protect our interests. 

END OF NEWSLETTER

BURGENLAND BUNCH STAFF (USA residents unless designated otherwise)
Coordinator & Editor Newsletter (Gerald Berghold)
Burgenland Editor (Albert Schuch; Austria)
Home Page Editor (Hap Anderson)
Internet/URL Editor (Anna Tanczos Kresh)

Contributing Editors:
Austro/Hungarian Research (Fritz Königshofer)
Burgenland Co-Editor (Klaus Gerger, Austria)
Burgenland Lake Corner Research (Dale Knebel)
Chicago Burgenland Enclave (Tom Glatz)
Croatian Burgenland (Frank Teklits)
Home Page village lists (Bill Rudy) 
Home Page surname lists (Tom Steichen)
Home Page membership list (Hannes Graf, Austria)
Judaic Burgenland (Maureen Tighe-Brown)
Lehigh Valley Burgenland Enclave (Robert Strauch)
Szt. Gotthard & Jennersdorf Districts (Margaret Kaiser)
Western US BB Members-Research (Bob Unger)
WorldGenWeb-Austria, RootsWeb Liason-Burgenland (Charles Wardell, Austria)

BB ARCHIVES (can be reached via Home Page hyperlinks) 

BURGENLAND HOME PAGE (WEB SITE)
http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org

http://go.to/burgenland-bunch (also provides access to Burgenländische 
Gemeinschaft web site.)

The BB is in contact with the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft, Hauptplatz 7, 
A-7540 Güssing, Burgenland, Austria. Burgenl.gem@bnet.at

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