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Subject: [BURGENLAND-NEWSLETTER-L] BB News No. 92 dtd Jan. 31, 2001
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 08:23:00 EST

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS -No. 92
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(now issued monthly by )
January 31, 2001
(all rights reserved)

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WE HOPE WE'VE ELIMINATED THE TRUNCATION PROBLEM WHICH SURFACED IN NEWSLETTERS
N0S. 91, 91A & 91B. IF NOT, YOU'LL BE RECEIVING ANOTHER ADDENDUM

THESE NEWSLETTERS ARE SENT TO 615 ADDRESSEES


NOTE TO RECIPIENTS. If you don't want to receive these Burgenland Bunch
newsletters, email with message "remove". ("Cancel" will
cancel membership, homepage listings and mail.) Send address and listing
changes to the
same place. Add your full name to email. To join, see our homepage. We can't
help with non-Burgenland family history. Comments and articles are
appreciated. Our staff and web site addresses are listed at the end of
newsletter section "B".
Introductions, notes and articles without a by-line are written by the editor
and reflect his views.

This first section of the 3 section newsletter contains:

* Comment From "Allentown Affairs"
* Correct Way To Advise of Address Changes
* Village Names Change But Records Remain
* Best Time To Visit Burgenland
* Genealogy From Bohemia
* Passenger Lists 1901



COMMENT FROM "ALLENTOWN AFFAIRS"

This article from the Dec. 31, 2000 issue created a lot of comment. As
stated, titles to music can be difficult to translate. I was correct on some,
wide of the mark on others. Fortunately we have some members who can set us
straight.

* From: (Ingeborg Schuch)

A short note to clarify two of the musical titles you listed in the section
ALLENTOWN AFFAIRS (from Robert Strauch)... annual "Sautanz" ...:
> "Mama, geh bitte schau oba" - "Mama, please watch over me from the heavens
above"
> "Schön is so a Ringelspiel" - "Oh what fun it is to be on a merry-go-round"

A mere trifle, but maybe interesting nonetheless.


* From: (Kurt Heinrich)

I have some information concerning the songs cited by R. Strauch in the last
ALLENTOWN AFFAIRS article:

re: Wiedersehn, right, that is: see you again.
Cerny Cigan: crn is black in Serbocroat, so that title is the same as the
German: schwarzer Zigeuner.

Mama, geh bitte schau oba: oba is incorrect German: darüber or hinüber, or
over there.
Geh mach dein Fensterl auf: alludes to the custom of visiting one's
girlfriend by means of a ladder, and entering by her window, - provided she
opens it. Compare: illegit. births.

Ringelspiel, is the merry-go-round, or Carrousel. So, this means: How nice is
such a merry-go-round!

The Fasching Ball is a Carnival dance festival. (with masks, as you said).

* Gerhard Lang however, not only commented on the titles. He sent me the
words to some of the songs and best of all, even sent "midi" attachments of
the music itself. My wife will attest to the way I laughed with joy as I
played the music while reading the words. I then copied Bob Strauch via
surface mail. It would be nice if I could add music, graphics and attachments
to the newsletters, but I'm afraid that will have to wait until we have
better email consistency. At the present time, we have too many problems
among different computers, software and servers.

Gerhard writes: I just came back from a "Sylvester-Party", where I played (as
part of the band) and on going through my e-mail I found the BB-Newsletter
91A. I read through the article about Robert Strauch and wanted to answer him
directly, but I couldn't find any e-mail address in the member board of BB.
(ED> Bob is not on the net.) Probably you could forward my mail to him, it
includes the text and a midi-version of "Mama, geh' bitte schau owa", "Die
schöne Burgenländerin", "Ja, mir san mit'n Radl da (the refrain is taken from
"over in the glory land"), "Du schwarzer Zigeuner". Maybe it will help at
their "Fasching Ball".

Du schwarzer Zigeuner (as far as I know it)

Heut' kann ich nicht schlafen geh'n, heut find ich keine Ruh'.
Ich will Tanz und Lichterglanz und Musik dazu.
G'rad weil ich so traurig bin, d'rum bleib' ich nicht allein,
will mein Herz betören bei Musik und Wein.

Du schwarzer Zigeuner, komm' spiel mir was vor,
denn ich will vergessen heut', was ich verlor.
Du schwarzer Zigeuner, Du kennst meinen Schmerz,
und wenn Deine Geige weint, weint auch mein Herz.

Spiel mir das süsse Lied aus gold'ner Zeit,
spiel mir das alte Lied, von Lieb und Leid.
Du schwarzer Zigeuner, Du kennst meinen Schmerz,
und wenn Deine Geige weint, weint auch mein Herz.

* I've added to some of your translations as follows:

Mama, get bitte schau oba (Mama please look at Papa?) - Mama, please look
down (at me)
Schön is so a Ringelspiel (I give up on this one-Pretty as a ringdance?) -
not really!!! ;-)) a "Ringelspiel" is a dialect word for "carousell"
(spelling correct?), I would translate as "How beautiful is a carousell".

Here is one (text only) for you:
"Was wünsch' ma denn dem Hausherrn
zu diesem neuen Jahr?
wir wünschen ihm a schwarze Hosn,
wo die Dukat'n drinnat losn.
Was wünsch' ma denn danebn?
Viel Glück und a langes Leb'n!

Was wünsch' ma denn der Hausfrau
zu diesem neuen Jahr?
Wir wünschen ihr a Himmelbett
mit Gold und Silber überdeckt.
Was wünsch'n ma ihr danebn?
Viel Glück und a langes Leb'n!"

This traditional New-Year's song was often heard on New-Years Day in
Burgenland and I want to wish you herewith "Viel Glück und a langes Leb'n". I
have taken the words out of a book full of old Burgenland folksongs. BTW I
thought about posting texts of Burgenland Folksongs from time to time in the
BB-Newsletter for our friends in the U.S. - let me know what you think about
that idea. I hope, you have spent the Holidays well and had a good start into
2001. Best regards, Gerhard


CORRECT WAY TO ADVISE OF ADDRESS CHANGES

We still have lots of address changes coming in every which way. Finally,
along comes Joe & Mary Morey who get it right. I was so amazed I just had to
reply. Save this for future reference and make our job easier.

In a message dated 12/31/00 4:38:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Mary Morey
Old email address:
New email address: >>

I write in reply: Mary, thank you so much for advising us of your address
change in the proper manner. It's like pulling teeth to get members to
comply. I spend more time making these changes than I do writing articles.
You are one of the first to comply and I plan to use it as a short example if
you don't mind.

Mary responds: As always, I enjoy reading the BB news and getting the
information contained in the newsletters. I have found several new "cousins"
and also several more generations of ancestors. Its great to find others
who are working on the same lines and willing to share info. Thank you so
much for the BB.



VILLAGE NAMES CHANGE BUT RECORDS REMAIN

Perhaps some confusion exits among those who find that their ancestral
villages are no longer known by their old names. They may feel that the
records no longer exist. Not so. Those records have been cast in stone by
being archived in Budapest and other places and also copied by the LDS. This
is illustrated by the following:

From: (Amanda Haft)

I just recently joined the Burgenland Bunch--you probably remember me, I'm
the one with the problem involving the Ostovich family from Fusthege. Anyway,
I was wondering how I would go about finding vital records for this family
since the village I guess no longer exists? I remember you saying something
about how it was very small, about 98 Roman Catholics. I found out from my
great aunt that my great grandmother (Theresa Ostovich) was born in September
1890 in Fusthege. I don't know who her parents were because my grandmother
always told me that her parents were orphans. Is there any way around this
stumbling block? I don't know if it helps, but Grammy (my grandmother) said
that Theresa spoke Croatian, Hungarian, German, and English fluently. So I
figure either her parents spoke those languages, or maybe it was just because
she grew up in Burgenland. I would really appreciate any tips or advice you
could give me!


My reply: Oh but it does exist! Füsthegy is now called
Rauhriegel-Allersgraben in the Austrian Burgenland in the district of
Oberwart with people attending church in Neumarkt im Tauchental and civil
matters administered from Weiden bei Rechnitz.

The church records 1828-1896 are available from the LDS (Mormon church) at
any of their history centers. Microfilm number is 0700661. Civil records
(1896-1920) -Weiden- are 0665230-231. See our archives on how to use the LDS
and read these records. Not too difficult.

What you do is order the film (costs 3.50/film for postage-you need only the
one for an 1890 birth) for mailing, read the records at the history center
nearest you (see URL list for LDS website to find where the history centers
are). You take 0700661, turn to the baptisms for Sept. 1890, find your
grandmother's name and birth date and there you'll see her parents names and
maybe their ages and place of birth. You can then go back from there for at
least two more generations. Let me know how you make out.



BEST TIME TO VISIT BURGENLAND?
From: (William Kramer) who writes:

I just wanted to take a moment and say thanks for all of your work. I read
all of your e-mails and print most of them for future reference. I also
wanted you to know that my research this year really hit a high note. Thru
the local civil registry in Ujhegy(now Neuberg 35)I was able to find the name
of a local person who pays taxes on two graves in Neuberg, having the last
name of "Ivancsics" (my grandmother's maiden name). After months of trying to
correspond in English and German, I finally had a response from a young woman
who has given me valuable information about my Mother's family. I believe she
is actually a cousin. I am still in the process of analyzing the information
she sent me, but I think it will be a great help. If I wanted to make a trip
over there this year, what would be the best time to go, and do you have any
specific suggestions for me in my research when I go there?
(Other than the suggestions in your previous newsletters, of course). Thanks
again for all your work. I really enjoy your newsletters. I wonder how many
BB members are related and don't realize it?


My reply: I find Spring and early summer (May-June) very nice with the new
fruit blossoms and everything green. Early Fall (Sept. & very early Oct.) is
also very nice what with the harvest and the grape harvest. July is hot and
August impossible, that being the European vacation month.(ED. Note: I'd
really like to try the Xmas season some time and tie it in to the Viennese
New Year celebration!).

By all means read our previous trip articles and guides. Since you'll be in
the Güssing area, be sure to read the magazine article I did from my 1993
trip there-You can get it by clicking on the first archive segment of the
homepage (not the Roots-L one). I'd consider staying at the Gasthaus
Kirchenwirt in Eltendorf, but there are many just as good.

Try to get a local to help-maybe the person you're corresponding with. You'll
want to make previous arrangements to visit the churches and cemeteries at
both St. Michael and Neuberg as well as the village office (Gemeindeamt). Be
sure to have your questions written down-again best if you can get local
help. You should also plan a walking tour of Güssing, castle, book store,
supermarket, cemetery, Szt Nicholas 12th Century church, Güssing Church and
Cloister and stop in at the BG office and spend $15 to join. They may have
some books you'd like as well as arranging for a tour of the emigrant museum.
If you go in July, the BG picnic is July 8 at Moschendorf. I'd also visit,
Stegersbach, Oberwart, Olbendorf, Rotenturm and all the surrounding villages.
A nice way to do this is to breakfast at your gasthaus (provided with room),
buy bread, cheese, wine and fruit locally, (always a nice experience) and
then drive around and picnic for lunch. Be sure you pack a cork puller and a
pocket knife.

Most important thing is to plan how you'll spend every day and be well
prepared. Take pictures of any family graves, war memorials, etc.

Last but not least, you shouldn't go to Austria without seeing something of
Vienna, maybe Graz, Innsbruck and Salzburg. Also spend a day at the
Neusiedler See (Mörbisch or Rust) and perhaps another over the Hungarian
border (day trips) to see the difference. It can be a trip of a lifetime (10
days to 3 weeks). Austrian Air has direct flights from Dulles to Vienna.
Others transfer at Heathrow, London or Frankfurt, Germany. Check around, but
rent your auto before you leave. Great auto pickup facilities in Vienna (but
read the caution in our last newsletter).



GENEALOGY FROM BOHEMIA

Jim Siefert is a correspondent of long acquaintance. He is interested in
Father Alexander Berghold (no link to your editor-I'm still searching),
Catholic missionary to Minnesota-Dakota territory in the 1880's. The local
parish in New Ulm, MN has erected a memorial to Father Berghold who has a
most interesting history, which we'll bring you one of these days. He was
from a small village near Graz, Styria. He was a Renaissance individual
(priest, educator, author, poet, historian) whose story has been neglected
both here and in Austria. Through the efforts of Jim, Fritz Konigshofer,
Albert Schuch and myself, we have been able to piece together much of his
story. As so often happens, people who get interested in tracing someone's
life, often become interested in their own genealogy. Jim now writes:


From:

I want to wish you and yours a Happy and Blessed New Year. Thank you again
for all you have done. I enjoyed the article in BB News No.91 on "Just a
Little Interest in Genealogy". A priest friend of mine at Notre Dame checked
a microfilm of parish records from Kapsch, Bohemia. Besides his own ancestors
he checked the Seifert ancestry who came from the same area. Our earliest
known ancestor was Procopius Seifert baptized July 2.1713.

He discovered that Procopius' parents were Simon and Eva Seyfert. He wrote
in part "that the "y" with an umlaut" takes the place of an "i" in early
German. I knew that there had possibly been a name change at some point. This
confirmed it. Simon had about ten or eleven children between 1707 and 1737. I
thought you might be interested in this news. Help is needed from many
sources and some of it is very unexpected.

(ED. Note: Jim lives in New Ulm where many inhabitants are descendants of
German immigrants from Bohemia. Their story is not unlike that of the
Burgenland immigrants, except that many of the German-Bohemian villages no
longer exist due to ethnic cleansing following WWII. I often reflect that if
it wasn't for the Treaty of Trianon and the Austrian border established in
1921, our Burgenland story could well be the same. If you have any Bohemian
links, see our review of the book "German-Bohemians, The Quiet Immigrants",
by Rippley & Paulson in a previous newsletter. Bohemia, just north of
Austria, is in today's Czech Republic.)


SHIPS ARRIVING PORT OF NY AUG. 9-13, 1901 (From: (Susan
Stahley)

I am researching Michael "Mike" Groller from Strem, Hungary (born in
Eisenberg, Hungary) and his wife, Johanna "Jennie" Mondschein also from
Strem, Hungary, which is now Strem, Austria. They were married before
emigrating from Antwerp, Belgium on 3 Aug 1901. They settled in Northampton,
PA and later to Moore Township, PA.

Also, since you can send email to everyone on the list, could you do me a
favor and ask people to email if they need a look up in
Vol. 353 passenger lists for ships that arrived in New York City between Aug.
9, 1901 and Aug. 13th. I am trying to write down everyone that left from
Hungary in case anyone needs it in the future, but it would be easier if I
knew if anyone was lo

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