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Subject: [BURGENLAND-NEWSLETTER-L] BB News No. 75B dtd 29 Feb 2000
Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 08:32:12 EST

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS -No. 75B
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(issued biweekly by )
February 29, 2000



This third section of the 3 section newsletter contains articles about
Burgenland Immigrant Cities, A New History of Hungary, Bürgermeister Names
and URL and Member Changes.



BURGENLAND IMMIGRANT CITIES (by G. Berghold, suggested by Dale Knebel; with
thanks to Dr. Walter Dujmovits and the Burgenlandische Gemeinschaft)

As a second generation descendant of Burgenland immigrants I don't have to
research immigrant cities in America since I was born and raised where my
family settled. I've become aware however, that some members may know very
little about where their ancestors settled.

Dr. Walter Dujmovits, President and Editor of the Burgenlandische
Gemeinschaft initiated a column in his newsletter called "Einwandererstädte"
or immigrant cities. The column has been running since March/April of 1996.
The fact that it is still running is indicative of the many places where
Burgenland emigrants have settled. I've selected the cities in the Americas
since most of our members will be interested in them as opposed to cities in
Europe or elsewhere. You'll notice that South America and Canada are also
included. These places became destinations when the US Congress passed laws
in the 1920's limiting immigration by the establishment of the quota system
(the Dillingham Quota Bill of 1921, the Johnson Act of 1924 and others). In
1923, Burgenland emigration to the US reached a yearly high point of 6,683
then dropped to 523 in 1924 (data from Dr. Dujmovits, BG newsletter Sept/Oct
1998). Since they were barred or had to wait to enter the US, many emigrants
settled in South America and Canada. Prior to the "Auswanderung" to the US,
some Burgenländers had gone to South America (and other places in Europe and
North America) to work for part of the year (no work at home)-they would then
return home when seasonal work was over. South America was thus not all that
strange. Ship passage was only about $14-20 and enough money could be saved
to support a family for another year. Dujmovits tells of this seasonal
"arbeit" in his book "Die Amerika Wanderung". It even continued during the
emigration period, with returns approximating 25-30 %. Since there was this
previous South American experience, it followed that with restrictions to US
immigration, emigrants turned toward South America (mostly Brazil and
Argentina) and other places.



Burgenland Immigrant Cities (Enclaves) Alphabetized (generally, the more
detail, the larger the number of immigrants who settled there unless I just
happen to know more about a particular place!).

Allentown, PA.
County seat of Lehigh County, aka Lehigh Valley, and one of the most well
known Burgenland emigrant destinations. Many south Burgenland immigrants from
the Güssing area as well as from the villages of Eltendorf, Königsdorf,
Poppendorf, Heiligenkreuz and Zahling settled here and in the surrounding
towns. Largest number came between 1900 and 1914; followed by others in the
1920's and 1950's. Allentown was established by Pennsylvania German emigrants
who migrated here in the 1700's. Many ethnic churches, cemeteries and clubs.
The city of your editor's Berghold, Sorger, Mühl, Langash grandparents and
their "Verwandtschaft" of over 40 Burgenland families (Burkhart, Fiedler,
Gerger, Hadle, Halleman, Holzer, Krautsack, Mirth, Muhr, Pöltl, Taseovitz,
Tretter, Wallitsch, Weinhoffer, Zettle, Zwickl) all from southern Burgenland.
Many Burgenland immigrant descendants attended Allentown High School or
Allentown Central Catholic High School (Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus).
Immigrant Junior High Schools were Harrison Morton and Central Jr. High. Many
also received degrees from Allentown's Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest (colleges
later universities).

Atlanta, GA.
Had 1600 Austrians in the 1960's.

Baltimore, MD.
Emigrants from Ollersdorf named Bischof and Rothen. After WWII, several from
Unterschützen.

Bath, PA.
Home to many Burgenland descendants whose ancestors were cement workers. Site
of Austrian-Burgenland Festival in the 1970's. Many Burgenland names. Social
club and immigrant church. Many Croatians.

Bethlehem, PA.
Site of Bethlehem Steel Works. Many Burgenländers lived on the "south side "
(South Bethlehem at one time was an independent city) and worked at the steel
and breweries. Large Croatian (Windish) element. Ethnic churches and social
clubs. Originally founded by Moravians mid 1700's. Still a strong Moravian
influence. Fountain Hill and Hellertown are nearby boroughs. Many descendants
of area Burgenländers received degrees from Lehigh University and Moravian
College.

Bronx, NY.
First Burgenländers lived in Manhattan around 86th Street. Between the wars,
many moved to the Bronx. Castle Harbor in Havermeyer Street is well known
meeting place. BG club holds annual picnics. Miss Burgenland pageant sends
winner to Burgenland annually in July to attend BG picnic.

Bucks County, PA.
Many emigrants to Pennsylvania had farms in this region (Limeport, Center
Valley, Coopersburg, Quakertown-towns and villages south of Allentown). Many
descendants of German-Palatinate emigrants settled in this region in the
1700's.

Buenos Aires.
When US tightened immigration in the 1920's, many Burgenländers emigrated to
South America. This was the choice destination in Argentina.

Buffalo, NY.
Large Burgenland group from Stinatz began a neighborhood between Broadway and
Emslie Street. Attended St. Anna Church. Many families named Grandits,
Kirisits, Horvatits, Resetarits, Orsolits, Sifkovits, Stoisits, Wukovits.

Chicago, IL.
More Burgenländer emigrants here than in any other place. As many as 30
thousand. First three came in 1889, names Geshrey, Fürst and Hansaleum. John
Wenzel was also one of the first. He organized transport of 5 families from
Bernstein in 1900. In the years before WWI, emigrants came from Oberwart,
Grodnau, Redschlag, Oberschützen and Bernstein. Later from the Croat
communities of Güttenbach and Neuberg. Croats from the district of
Oberpullendorf came to neighboring South Bend. Many ethnic churches, clubs,
organizations (including sick & death benefit societies and publications.
German newspaper "Eintracht"-was the organ of Austrian Burgenländer and
German Hungarians in North America. A village called "Chicago" was
established in 1912 near Kittsse by a returning emigrant Josef Zambach-today
it's named "Chikago".

Cincinnati, OH.
Between 1850-1890, many emigrants from around Oberschützen and Bezirk
Oberpullendorf.

Clifton, NJ.
Together with Passaic and Patterson, received emigrants from St. Michael,
Punitz and Gaas. Ethnic clubs.

Coplay, PA.
A Lehigh County "Burgenland" village (north of Allentown) now almost
exclusively Burgenlanders. In no other place have Burgenland culture and
traditions been so religiously maintained. Even the Hianzisch dialect can
still be heard. Most came in the early 1900's from the villages around
Güssing. Coplay was founded by Pa-German emigrants who were eventually
replaced by a colony of Burgenländers started by Josef Urschik from Rauchwart
in 1884. They worked in the cement and flour mills and cigar factories.
Today one fourth of the population have a Burgenland back ground. Family
names Stranzl, Gröller, Wechsler, Nikles, Spanitz, Yandrisevits, Reickl,
Mittl, Malits are common. Early emigrants, Josef Köppel-Inzenhoff,
Prem-Neustift, Johann Bodisch-Rehgraben, Muik-Steingraben. West Coplay
(Stiles) is also almost all Burgenlandische and is site of the Coplay
Mannerchor ethnic club.

Dallas, TX.
Had 4500 Austrians in the 1950's.

Detroit, Mich.
>From 1904 to 1914, emigrants from the District of Güssing and the Zicken
Valley (Zickental)-Heugraben, Eisenhüttl, Rehgraben; also Olbendorf and
Jabing went to work in the auto industry. 28% were from Eisenhüttl. Many
returned home between the wars. Last BG contact was in the 1960's.

Duluth, Minn.
In the 1880's, emigrants from the middle Burgenland and the region of
Oberwart migrated there. John Wenzel from Chicago brought many to Duluth. One
of the first was Michael Honigschnabel in 1883 from Buchschachen.

Easton, PA.
Along the Delaware River east of Bath. Same remarks as Bath. Extreme eastern
part of the cement belt. Many descendants received degrees from Lafayette
University.

Edmonton, Canada.
Center of Burgenland emigration 1923-32. In the 20's they came from the
region of Deutsch Gerisdorf in middle Burgenland. The first were the brothers
Martin and Alois Kaufmann from Langeck and Adolf Raber, Kukmirn. In 1930
another 59 followed, all from Stegersbach (including Schabhüttl, Siderits,
Roth, Rauch, Marinits). From Neuberg, (Radostits, Novoszel), from Güttenbach,
(Kovatitisch, Kulovits, Hajszan), from Grafenschachen (Schweitzer, Simon,
Schützenhofer). Several families returned between the wars. In the 1950's a
new wave of emigrants came, including some from Kukmirn (Fiedler). Over 50
families and descendants make up Edmonton's "Club Austria".

Egypt, PA.
Just north east of Allentown. Another Lehigh Valley town, home of Burgenland
cement and textile workers.

Hamilton, Canada.
Emigrants from Kukmirn and Stinatz.

Hamilton, Ohio.
30 families from Deutschkreutz.

Hollywood, CA.
A few Burgenländers worked in the film industry. Fred Astair (Frederick
Austerlitz) from Eisenstadt, Johann Riessner from Pamhagen, Ludwig Stössel
from Lockenhaus, Maria Perschty from Eisenstadt.

Kansas City, MO.
Earliest emigrants settled in the mid-west. One of the first was Karl
Schleicher, b 1829, migrated to KC 1865. Followed in the same year by the
Höfer family from Bubendorf.
(to be continued)



A NEW HISTORY OF HUNGARY (reviewed by G. Berghold)

With the trouble in the Balkans, the breakup of the USSR and the removal of
the "iron curtain"; there has been considerable new interest in eastern
Europe. I have already written about "A History of East Central Europe" in
ten volumes (editors Peter F. Sugar and Donald W. Treadgold, University of
Washington Press 1990, 1994). Just recently I received "A History of
Hungary", Sugar, Hanak and Frank, Indiana University Press. It is available
for $12.95 plus postage from The Scholar's Bookshelf, 110 Melrich Rd.,
Cranbury, NJ, 08512. Web site: www.scholarsbookshelf.com/history/

This is a very readable paperback history covering "Hungary Before the
Hungarian Conquest-AD 896" to "Contemporary Hungary-1990" in 432 pages. The
constant invasion and counter invasion and political changes can become
tedious; however that is the history. There are maps but they are not
detailed enough to be of value to genealogists. They do establish where
Hungarian borders were over the centuries. There are excellent notes with
bibliography and an index that contains no mention of Burgenland as such (the
usual case in national histories). You will find references to the Batthyany,
Esterhazy and other noble families.

Unlike previous histories written by Hungarians with a nationalistic or
communistic influence, this history confines itself to the facts. I feel the
coverage of events affecting the western border regions is very well done. To
understand the history of our ancestors we must also understand the
historical events affecting their lives. This book provides that broad
coverage.



BÜRGERMEISTER NAMES (G. Berghold et al)

It's a fact of life that politicians exert much influence. When we find
ancestors who served in some political capacity, we can reasonably expect to
find some data concerning them that otherwise wouldn't be available. Likewise
we'll find contemporary bureaucrats and citizens more prone to helping us
(the "old boy" net work as it were). For those reasons alone it pays to
question whether any of our ancestors held office. The "Bürgermeister" (read
mayor *) or "Richter" (read judge) or "Amtmänner" (read civil clerk) along
with the village priest or pastor and "lehrer" (read teacher) were (are) the
leaders of the village. They are invariably regarded with much respect and
remembered.

*these definitions are only approximate; the Austro-Hungarian-English (US)
titles differ widely

Fritz Königshofer answers a question from the WGW Query Board which
illustrates such a search. He writes:
To:
CC: ,

Hello Elizabeth, Have you checked out the site of the Burgenland Bunch at
http://www.spacestar.com/users/hapander/burgen.html ? The BB newsletter no.
47 published some historic material on Sulz. You'll find the newsletter
easily in the BB archive. While the article does not mention the mayors (or
village judges, as they were called in earlier times), it mentions the name
Gerbach in the oldest list of inhabitants, a name that may be the forerunner
of your Gerbavsits. Incidentally, the Aloisia Koller mentioned as a
secondary teacher in Sulz from 1911 to 17 was a sister of my grandmother.

The BB published some other stories about Sulz and environs (no. 41). You
probably know this, but Sulz is the source of a famous natural mineral water
which today is bottled and sold all over Austria as "Güssinger." (Ed. Note:
Available inflight on Austrian Airlines). As a child, I was still able to
drink it from its natural spring which had not yet been commercialized.

I am sure that with some effort you would be able to establish when your
greatgrandfather served as mayor. There might be an almanac or chronicle, or
some jubilee booklet. You might want to write your question to the current
mayor of Sulz. (Bürgermeister, Gemeindeamt Nr. 47. Gerersdorf bei Güssing,
A7542, Burgenland, Austria, Europe.)

G. Berghold writes:

The Bürgermeisters of Sulz (now Gerersdorf-Sulz) that I have from "Burgenland
Geschichte, Kultur and Wirtschaft in Biographien"-Edition Roetzer are:
Chsekits, Johann 1947-53; Dujmovits, Martin 1953-58; Berzkovits, Adolf
1958-1970

Gerersdorf-Sulz
Miksits, Friedrich 1971-73; Pammer, Alois 1973-75; Berzkovits, Adolf
1975-1989; Pammer, Wilhelm 1989-1993?

Before that I have Gerersdorf only;

Pammer, Martin 1921-27; Jost, Johann 1927-1945; Luipersbeck, Michael 1945-47;
Jost, Alois 1947-50; Neubauer, Johann 1950-58; Bruckner, Johann 1958-70

If any other members feel that their ancestors held office, please write
giving name and village. I may have details as above including birth dates
and professions, but only from the period 1918 forward.
(end of article)

BURGENLAND BUNCH INTERNET LINKS - ADDITIONS, REVISIONS 2/29/00
(from Internet/URL Editor Anna Tanczos Kresh)

CROATIAN INTERNET LINKS
o Burgenland Croatians <http://www.HrvatskiCentar.at>; - (English site is
planned) Kroatische Minderheit in Österreich; Informationen über Geschichte,
Herkunft, Sprache, Siedlungsgebiet und aktuelle Situation der
Burgenlandkroaten. (Franjo Schruiff) (can someone provide a better
description of this site?)

GENEALOGY RESEARCH LINKS (U.S)
o Topozone <http://www.topozone.com>; - USGS online topographical maps for the
contiguous US; may include location of churches and cemeteries at the
1:25,000 scale; enter name of town desired and choose the correct one from
the menu provided (Bob Unger)

For an interesting insight into what our emigrant ancestor's experience might
have been like, visit these sites:
o Castle Garden <http://members.tripod.com/~Silvie/CastleGarden.html>;
o Immigrant Story <http://www.maxpages.com/ourlostfamily/Stories>;

GENEALOGY RESEARCH LINKS (OTHER)
o World Flag Database <http://www.flags.net/>; - choose any country for good
images and details of its current flag(s); includes Burgenland provinces
o Influenza 1918 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/>; - information and
videotape available on The American Experience program by the Public
Broadcasting (PBS)
o VitalChek <http://www.vitalchek.com/states.asp>; - info on where to obtain
vital records for all 50 US states, US Territories, Canada, Mexico, UK,
American Citizens Born Abroad, etc.
o Gensite <http://www.genealogy.org/>; - continually-updated report of the
1400 most-frequently visited genealogical sites on the web; usually contains
links of use to BB researchers (Bob Unger)

MAP SITES ON THE INTERNET
o Administrative Atlas of Hungary 1914 <http://www.talmamedia.com>; - (for
purchase - no endorsement implied) (Kósa Pál)

PASSENGER SHIP INTERNET LINKS
o Passenger Lists on the Internet <http://members.aol.com/rprost/passenger.htm
l> - links to sites containing passenger list data; also immigration-related
links

URLS DROPPED - LINKS BROKEN/CHANGED - INFORM URL EDITOR IF YOU KNOW ALTERNATE
URL
o Arpad <http://www.arpad.com>; - deals with cultural, historical, etc.
issues; Arpad was the leader of the Magyar tribes who brought them from the
steppes of Russia into the region known as Hungary today; the Europeans
thought the Magyars were every bit as bad as the Huns, hence the name
"Hungary". (content has changed - no longer useful for Burgenland research)


MEMBER CHANGES
>From 2/15/00
----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors, they will be
removed from the distribution list-----







ZIMANYI_PATRICK/
: the user "" was not found
: the user "" was not found

NEW MEMBERS

Stephanie Cooley; (); Ontario, CA. LUISER, Oberbildein
(Bildein-Ober-and Unter-)), Bezirk Güssing; NOVOGRATZ, Pornoapati (Pernau),
Vas Megye, Hungary. Family members emigrated to St. Louis,MO.

John Cooper, ; Stoney Creek, Ont. ZAPFEL,
Reidlingsdorf. Settled in Burlington, Ontario.

Regina Lowy Espenshade; (); Washington, DC.
LOWY; Oberwart, Stadtschlaining, Jabing. EBENSPANGER; Stadtschlaining,
Karlovac, Croatia, BRAUN, Stadtschlaining. SCHEY, Grospetersdorf, Budapest,
Hungary, ERNST, Varazdin, Croatia. HEINRICH, Stadtschlaining,
Grosspetersdorf.

Laura Funk, (), Nutley, NJ, FELLINGER, KEGLOVICH,
Gerersdorf, South Bend, IN.

Robert G. Hayes; (); Inglewood, CA. SCHIMONITZ,
PERLINGER, RONGISCH, HUZS (HUSS); in St. Johann and St. Peter, Janossmorja,
Hungary.

Frank Kappel, ; Summerland, BC, Canada, KAPPEL, GRIECHISH,
Sopron (Oedenbug), Hungary. Settled in Niagara-on-the-lake, Ont. Canada.

Linda Martin, (); Princeton, IN. LIEBENTRITT,
PAUKOVITZ , Güssing settled in Princeton, IN.

Ronald Pummer, (), San Mateo, CA. PUMMER, Fürstenfeld. Settled
in Allentown, PA. early 1900's; SCHREINER, Eltendorf, Settled in Allentown,
PA early 1900's

Susan Stahley; ( ); Hyannis MA. SCHRAMEL, ADAMS, from
Möschendorf, Güssing. Settled in Pennsylvania, I believe in Northampton
County.

Edward Ullinger; (); Seminole FL . Mother Johanna SCHATZ),
Strem. Her sister's Mary, Sabina, Theresa and brother John immigrated to the
New York area.

Eric Wendlandt; (); Walnut Creek, CA. TASCHEK,
HOLLENDONNER, PISSLER, BRUNNER, Rechnitz. Settled in Chicago and Darlington,
Wisconsin areas.


CHANGES

I have a new address. Roman Weber

From: (rosiephx), please send all future e-mail to:
Rosemary Bradford

End of Newsletter.

BURGENLAND BUNCH STAFF Coordinator & Editor Newsletter>
(Gerald J. Berghold; Winchester, VA )
Burgenland Editor> (Albert Schuch; Vienna &
Kleinpetersdorf, Austria)
Home Page Editor> (Hap Anderson)
Internet/URL Editor> (Anna Tanczos Kresh; Butler,PA)

Contributing Editors:
Austro/Hungarian Research>(Fritz Königshofer)
Burgenland Lake Corner Research> (Dale Knebel)
Chicago Burgenland Enclave> (Tom Glatz)
Croatian Burgenland> (Frank Teklits)
Home Page village lists> (Bill Rudy)
Judaic Burgenland> (Maureen Tighe-Brown)
Western Hungary-Bakony Region> (Ernest Chrisbacher)
Western US BB Members-Research> (Bob Unger)
WorldGenWeb -Austria, RootsWeb Liason-Burgenland > (Charles
Wardell, Austria)

BB ARCHIVES>(can be reached from Home Page hyperlinks)

BURGENLAND HOME PAGE>
http://www.spacestar.com/users/hapander/burgen.html

WORLDGEN WEB BURGENLAND QUERY BOARD
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Austria/Burgenland

Burgenland Bunch Newsletter distributed courtesy of (c) 1999 RootsWeb.com,
Inc. <http://www.rootsweb.com/>; P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798

Roots Web BB newsletter archives index and threaded search facility available
from http://www.rootsweb.com/~autwgw/bbnlarchx.htm

Newsletter and List Rights Reserved. Permission to Copy Granted; Provide
Credit.

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• [BURGENLAND-NEWSLETTER-L] BB News No. 75B dtd 29 Feb 2000 by <>