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Punitz
Village of 300 residents in the Güssing district.
Many houses have been built recently (in the 1920s) with "American" money.
A document of 1553 says: "Punitz has been built during the last 2 years by refugee-farmers (from Croatia)"; in 1588, 26
houses were deserted, the inhabitants had died from the plague, in 1595, even 35 houses were deserted. Punitz also
suffered during the Bocskay rebellion.
In 1662, Punitz was divided between (the brothers) Count Christoph and Paul Batthyany. The inhabitants belonging to
Count Christoph were: Mathe STERKOVICH, Lorenz KARLOVICH, Peter KRULARICH, Mathe PETRASSICS, Matecz MOAR, Ive
PISZLICSOVICS, Peter STARICS, Andreas SITAK, Bertal SCHINDELMACHER, Stipan KRUHARICH, Mikula HARASZTICS, Peter SZUSTER,
Gregor HORVATH, Ive VOYKOVICS, Mathe VELISZOVICH, Marko DRAGOVICH, Juray MAGDICH, Michael JUGONECS and Blasius STRANSA.
A document of 1677 gives the names of the following inhabitants: Thome IVANKOVICH, Mathes DRAGEVICH, Gregor ANYOS, Jure
SZOKACHICH, Jure KOVACHICH, Mathes JUGOVICH, Miko JUGOVICH, Ive MAGDICH, Ive MAKOVICH, Jure SZOKACHICH, Petar
SIMONCHICH, Mattlen JUGOVICH, Janos VARGA, Thomas SALFEY, Mihal SZOKACHICH, Jure SITAK, Mathe HANICHICH, Jure VARGA.
The Visitationen (kind of church inventories) mention the names of people working the possessions (mostly vineyards)
owned by the church: 1698: Matthias DRAGOSITS, Johann HUSITS; 1757: Josef STANER; 1779: Martin RABVET, 1812 and 1832:
Johann SAMMER. In 1871 the church owned land was sold to Ignaz HEILIMAN of Glasing. He was not able to pay the price, so
parts were subsequently sold to Johann KERTELITS (1879) and Josef MARAKOVITS (1902). The "Pfarrhaus" (parish (owned)
house) was used as an inn in the 19th century. The last inn keeper was Josef SAUERZOPF, the building was torn down in
1886.
Teachers: In 1779 Josef KERSCHBAUM; later on Georg DRAGAN (died 1806 aged 65), Karl KANZ (1812-38; from Forchtenau, aged
24 years in 1812), Johann PIUFSITS, Georg KALOSITS (1842-46), Stefan KIRCHKNOPF (1857-61), Ignaz KOKOLY (1868-73), Josef
BERGER (1873-74), Stefan KAPPEL (1874-95), Ferdinand BERGER (1895-1913), Maria LASCHOBER (second teacher, 1912), Karl
and (wife) Helene LANTOS (1913-19), Adolf HALWACHS and (wife) Emilie BERGER (1920-?)
A (wooden) church first mentioned in 1677 (Hl. Sebastian and Fabian). 1698 two bells are mentioned, also a cemetery.
1739-41 a new (solid, that is built with stones) church was built (Hl. Sebastian). 1859 the church burned down
(lightning!), a new one was built soon. In 1921 the church was renovated, with money donated by 3 American emigrants:
Stefan JELENSITS, Johann SZOKASICH and Anton MESSENLEHNER. A war memorial was also built with their money in 1925. Other
"American" donators of the 1920ies were Hermine ASCHENELLER, Anna MARAKOVITS, Anna JELENSITS and Anna MAGDITS.
Source: Dr. Josef Loibersbeck's series "Um den Eisenberg", published in "Volk und Heimat" 17-18/1956;
summarized and translated by Albert Schuch 10 Nov 1999
About 2002, a local history book ("Ortschronik") was published for Punitz (450 Years Punitz, about 50 pages, edited by
Franz Marth). (Editors Note: copies may be available by writing the village local office: Stadtgemeinde-Rathaus,
Hauptplatz 7, A-7540 Güssing, Austria.)
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