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From: "Vee L. Housman" <>
Subject: [FOLKS] Swiss- Germans in Niagara County
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 02:41:52 -0400


Dear Folks,

It's awfully late this evening but I know that I can't go to sleep without telling you about my story about the Swiss-Germans of this area. Now they certainly didn't have a settlement such as the German immigrants had in Burgholzs (sp?) but I certainly knew a Swiss-German family who lived in North Tonawanda. The were the parents of my "good friend Fred," (Gottfried Hienz Walker). Fred's parents were Gottfried and Freda Walker and they grew up together in Switzerland, got married and eventually emmigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Because I was a close friend of Fred, I eventually felt comfortable calling them Ma and Pa.

Pa Walker had early on established a very successful and respected jewelry store in North Tonawanda called Walker and Monroe Jewelers. But along with their jewelry bussiness, they were also noted for their grandfather clocks and the intricate repairing of them.

Meanwhile, back at their house, both Ma and Pa were noted for their exquisite skills in cooking dinners. I can't begin to tell you of the delicious Swiss dinners they prepared. After Ma started to fail in health, Pa still cooked up delicious dinners and Fred and I scoffed them all up!

Also in the meantime, at least Fred and I attended the annual summer Swiss picnic that was held south of Buffalo. It seems to me that it was held on a special date in July(?) to celebrate some glorious occasion in celebration of Swiss history. Everyome was there and among the old-timers they talked to each other in their old Swiss-German language (Schwieitser-Deutch(?). Although I didn't have a clue what they were talking about, I at least appreciated their common old-world bond. I can't really recall if any yodelling went on at the picnic but I certainly remember the Swiss music that was being played there and the dancing that went on.

Now Ma and Pa and Fred are no longer a part of my life, but I can stilll remember a few choice Swiss-German expressions Not all of them are poiite but at least I remember learning some expression to give to every a casual person you would come in contact with in Switzerland. It was something along the lines of "Greise Gott"and Fred made it more easy for my to just reply with "greasy goat.." Hey, that worked real well!!

I eventually learned how to saying thank you with "Danke foomo (or whatever the spelling is) (Thank you very much.)

Danke fooma for listening to me this evening.
vee



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