The Fehmarn Cousins Newsletter
Issue #8 October, 1999
The Fehmarn Cousins Newsletter will be sent out every other month from now on.
Well Hello Again
I can't believe it is October already! Before you know it will be
Christmas. Well for this letter I would like to ask for all of your help.
I would like to put in the December letter family traditions, customs or oral
histories passed down to you from your Fehmarn ancestors. A few of the
things I am looking for are: Recipes, Stories of Christmas in Fehmarn,
pre-Christmas events or things the family would do on Christmas day.
If you have any Christmas stories please send them also. I would like to be able
to share these things with everyone, so I would like to have your traditions by
the 20 November.
If you have e-mail please send them by e-mail to - kc7bal@juno.com.
If you need to send them through the post office send them to:
Tressie Hughes
PO Box 770
Puyallup, WA 98371.
Whats New
I have added several new sections to the Fehmarn Genealogy web site over the last two months. I hope you will check them out.
Under
the History area two new articles have been added. 400 years on the Isle of
Fehmarn, the Hofeldt family by Karin Kleingarn in Fehmarn at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/400_years_on_the_isle_of_fehmarn.htm
and Fehmarn & Rauert History found in the book by Ken Harders at
http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/fehmarn_&_rauert_history.htm
Both articles are very informative on Fehmarn history.
In
the surnames sections is now an Ancestors page, where you will find the ancestor
reports of many Fehmaraner’s at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/our_ancestors.htm
I am in the process of updating those listed over the next few weeks. If you
would like your ancestor report shown on this page please contact me.
The
churches of Fehmarn is a new section I am working on at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/the_churches_of_fehmarn.htm
It features St. Nicolai in Burg, St. Johannis in Bannesdorf, St Petri in
Landkirchen, and St. Johannis in Petersdorf. Here you find the translations of
the Epitaphs of Landkirchen at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/st.petri.htm
and the story of the wing altar of the St. Johannes church in Petersdorf at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/the_winged_altar_of_st__johannes.htm
Much more will be added in the next few months.
I am also looking for contributions to this area.
Order the Documents is a new section were you will be able to
order the pages of the church books with your ancestors baptism, marriage, or
death on them for a nominal fee of $2.00 at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/order_the_documents.htm
Four now just a limited range of dates and pages are available.
I will add additional date ranges every couple of weeks.
Our final new section is called Family Crest at http://www.fehmarn-genealogy.com/family_crest1.htm
Here
you will find the family crest of Mackeprang/Witte, Gossel, and Rauert.
If you have a Fehmarn family crest please consider having it placed on
this page.
John Kostick
Webmaster
Y 2 Germany -
March/April 2000
Dorothee Gossel a native of Fehmarn, has put together an incredible tour of Germany including a stop in Fehmarn for those who want to see the home of their ancestors.
Itinerary:
March 21, 2000 Tuesday
Depart O'Hare on LH 435 at 5:20 p.m.
March 22, 2000 Wednesday
Arrive in München (Munich) at 9 a.m. after clearing customs and
claiming luggage, validate Railpasses and catch train to München Hbf from
downstairs in the airport. At the Hbf change trains to
Garmisch-Patenkirchen
(they leave every half-hour or so and it takes about 1 1/2 hours). In Garmisch
take taxi to Hotel "Drei Mohren", Ludwigstr. 65, 82467 Garmisch -
Patenkirchen.
March 23, 24, 2000 Thursday,
Friday
Suggestions what to do:
I -Sign up for bus tour to Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig's castle.
2. Bus tour to Linderhof castle, King Ludwig's 2nd castle and different. Visit
Oberammergau
3. In good clean weather going up to the Zupspitze, Germany's highest mountain.
From there you have magnificent view over the Alpen.
March 25, 2000 Saturday
At 7:34 a.m. train departs from Garmisch to München. Arrive at 9:00 a.m. in München
Hbf. store luggage in lockers. There are different tours available to see
Munich. (see info) At 4:51 p.m. depart for Bamberg, arriving at
While in Bamberg I would like to visit with my daughter in the evening.
March 26,
2000 Sunday
Trip to Bayreuth and/or Nuernberg. The cities are an hour train trip away.
March 27, 2000 Monday
At 8:10 a.m. train departs Bamberg for Puttgarden or Oldenburg. We have to
change the trains in Wuerzburg and Hamburg. Arriving in Puttgarden or Oldenburg
around 1.30 p.m. Bus will take us to the "Hotel am Wind", Am Kai
March 28, 29, 2000 Tuesday,
Wednesday
Farmers from the Fehmarn will take you on a tour over the island and some farms.
In a church you will hear some of the history of the island. Following a meal at
a restaurant across the street, which is known for its good fish dishes (meat is
also available) could be a tour with one of the ferries to Denmark..
Some people want to do some family research, which I will try to arrange for
them. The others might visit the city of Luebeck, known for good red wine and
"Marzipan".
March 30, 2000 Thursday
The bus will take us through the Hoisteinische Schweiz to Hamburg. There we will
visit the harbor, the city and maybe a nursery. The owner is from Holland and
breeds his roses in South America.
The bus will drop us off at the Hamburg train station . The train departs to
Bremen every hour. In Bremen we will stay at the Hotel "Hanseat",
Bahnhofstr. 8, Tel.: 001-421-14688. If we have time we'll walk to the city
square were you see the statue of the "Bremer Stadt Musikanten" and
the beautiful City Hall.
March 31, 2000 Saturday
At 9:44 a.m. train departs for Köln Hbf, arriving at 12:50 p.m. Store luggage in
lockers. Visit the Cathedral of Cologne, just outside the train station. Take a
walk down to the Rhein river through the old town with its cozy restaurants and
taverns. There we could have a real "Kölsch Bier".
In Mainz we'll stay at the Hotel "Hammer", Bahnhofsplatz 6, Tel.:
001-631-611061
April
01, 02, 2000 Saturday,
Sunday
2 nights in Mainz with different sightseeing tours.
April 03, 2000 Monday
Take train from Mainz to Frankfurt airport. The United Airlines flight departs
at 1:55 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 3:55 p.m. There are earlier or later
flights, too.
The date on this itinerary may change
since it is cheaper to fly Monday through Thursday.
If you are interested, please send $250 deposit to Dorothee Gossel, 21300 E 1100th St., Good Hope, IL 61438 until Nov 15, 1999. The remaining money will be due by January 30, 2000.
I know there are many other places you would like to see. However, due to the limited time period that I had to work with, we have planned a tour that will show you a majority of Germany in detail from a native's perspective
When the dung-pile was
declared illegal by the city council ....
Fehmarn * Historical short news items, part XVI.
Collected from the city archives in Burg and republished by: Karl-Wilhelm Klahn.
English translation by: E. Bügge-Wood:
14000 years ago:
The melting of snow and ice at the end of the last
glacial period, ripped open the primeval river valley of the river ‘Trave’
and formed a drainage ditch at the presently ‘Travemünde’ into the ‘Lübeck
Bay’. (then still dry) and along ‘then eastern hilly range of Fehmarn’ now
called the steep coast of Katharinenhof ‘Steilküste von Katharinenhof’. up
to the Baltic valley “Baltische Senke”,that filled with sweet water and
formed the onset of the ‘Baltic Sea’, where we now find the ‘439 m deep’
“Gotlandbecken”.
8. October 1545:
Duke [Herzog] Johann von Schleswig und Holstein makes a
proclamation to his obedient subjects “getruen Underdan”, that for a
military mobilization against ‘Dithmarschen’ he needs to collect a
‘general war taxation’ “Pflugschatzl” of four Gulden in CURRNCY per
plough “veer Gulden in muente vor jeden Ploog” to be paid annually, on each
St. Andreas Day.
1660:
The original Fehmarn taxation of 1300 plough shares' “Steuerpflüge”,
sometimes it was lowered, is changed in 1660 to a land measure of 300 Hektar “Droamsaat”.
1670:
The duke of Gottorf Herzog Christian Albrecht (founder
of the university in Kiel) was ordered to grant feudal tenor “Lehnshoheit”
over the island Fehmarn to the Danish King Christian V.
1730 Fehmarn census:
Burg 1073, Petersdorf 529, Dänschendorf 379, Puttgarden
289, Lemkendorf 205, Staberdorf 196, Bisdorf 180, Landkirchen 161, Strukkamp
159, Bannesdorf 156.
1821:
The city council outlawed dung heaps on the marketplace
in Burg “Auf dem Schilde”.
1856:
The ‘Hochfelder Mill’ is established into a
corporation, formed by 32 farmers.
1887:
The Postmaster Berg ordered the widening of the small
Priester Straße at the entrance to Burg, that's why the row of linden trees,
planted by Bierwirth in 1847 are missing.
1901:
The committee for "Enhancement of the city
Burg" decided to purchase 2 swans for the Berger-End pond and have a
beautiful swan hut built by the carpenter master Pries.
1904:
The captain Hans Ruser, from Burg received the red eagle
medal ‘Roten Adlerorden’, for being the leader of the Antarctica research
ship “Gauss” ‘Südpolar-Forschungs Schiffes’ "Gauss” from Kaiser
Wilhelm II. (and so did Captain Mellenthin 1864).
28. March 1905:
Attire for the dead with accenting pillow, now less
expensive and improved quality, H.C. Olderog.
1913 until 1926, first principal of the middle school in
Burg is Detlef Drenckhahn, 1926 - 1934 Ernst Sievers, 1934 - 1938 Karl Jessen,
1938 - 39 Claus Franzenburg, 1939 - 1943 Otto Rohweder, 1943 - 1945 Emil Polchow,
1947 Erich Koglin, 1947 - 1955 Wilhelm Quednau, 1955 - 1964 Arthur Schweichler,
1964 - 1989 Giinther Dwenger and since March 1, 1989 is Harald Obloch the
principal of the 1966 renamed secondary school ‘Realschulel’ of the Fehmarn
learning institute ‘Lehranstalt’.
4. July 1916:
On the property of Mr. Albert, restaurant owner in
Bannesdorf blooms the legendary peace poplar.
3. December 1916:
Jakob Treimer sells his 88 Hektar large farm, located at
Süderende, Burg a.F. for 360,000 RM to Nico Mackeprang from Staberdorf.
1. October 1924:
Estate owner (Hofbesitzer) Ernst Witte in Strukkamp
purchased a 600 tons large sailing ship, a four-mast schooner, named "'Margarethe
Witte" for to start voyage to America, - (enraging the coast guard of USA /
during the Prohibition!)
1937:
The city of Burg owned 3 busses (each 45 HP) for
transport to the beach-area ‘Burg-Tiefe’, they are driven by workers from
the city's electric works. Oberlotse Schwenn owns three motor boats, forming a
flourishing shipping line between Burgstaaken - Burgtiefe.
Chronicles of the
Landkirchen/ Fehmarn church district.
Collected and translated into English by: E. Bügge-Wood.
1846
The teacher Holzmann, presently teaching in Hinrichsdorf
was voted and advanced to teach in the northern church district "Puttgarden".
The student of the seminar in Hadersleben Beetz was voted to be teacher in
Hinrichsdorf. In spring Mr. Joachim Wilder from Gammendorf established a
brickyard and promises to give it out for rent.
Marginalia: It is the first brickyard for Fehmarn. The brick-burning master
REDEKE with his other 5 assistants came from Lippe Detmold.
This summer a new deacon's home is being built, not at the old place but (on my
advise) on the eastern side of the garden, it will be advantageous for the
deacon's home, since the garden will be enlarge to twice the size when part of
the cow stall will be part of the construction site and save the walk along the
garden of the smith master Kornehl's. Also the house will be closer to the barn,
where it gives more comfort. The old deacon's house is sold to (the resident of
the island) Kleingarn from Vadersdorf for 900 Mark, who is going to use it as a
living quarter (wohnhaus). Carpenter master Kragh from Bisdorf has a contract to
build for the amount of 4.450 Mark. All 5 stoves for this house will be
furnished, he is to set them up and put in the necessary pipes; free
transportation shall be furnished by the members of the church district. The
first bricks to be used for the construction are purchased from my home the
district of Bornau (Borauer Gemeinde) on the estate "Großnordsee"
'Gut Großnordsee', the other bricks were purchased in Kiel.
Zeitner, name of probate pastor Enforced during a special visit: Oct..18,
1846
1847
Mr. Fr. Mackeprang from Mummendorf had built straw
mounts, 3 weeks ago, which was set on fire, (probably by criminal hands). On the
13th of December 1847 the barn of Anton Marquardt in Mummendorf burnt down, (the
fire was probably set).
From the 26th to the 27th of December burned in Vadersdorf at 2 AM 6 buildings.
Two people lost their life in the fire, it was the aged mother of Mr. Wulf [a
citizen], and the night watchman Joh. Asmus Muus. The poor Mr. Wulf, in whose
house the fire started, he lost everything he owned, horses, cows (accept two).
There was a collection taken up for him and his relatives, who had lost
everything. A collection in the central district, pastor Zeitner collected 100
Rtl. and about 400 Mark by the deacon. The exact sum can't be mentioned because
some gifts were in grain, straw and other material things. In the western
district 600 Marks were collected. Also the northern and eastern districts as
well as in the town of Burg.
Otherwise there was nothing important to report in this year. The harvest was
good and the prices were high, wheat brought 16 to 17 Mark, barley 9 Mark. The
potato blight was not as bad this year as it was in the two previous years.
Zeitner Schmidt, deacon
1849
A new poor house was built this year in Avendorf for the
central church district and the cost came to 7,000 Marks. The first manager of
the institution was Johann Friedrich Maaß from the church district in Karbye
near Schwensen. He was a very good person. Later he moved to
America. Last summer Mr. Nissen from Stedesand was voted to be school
teacher in Gammendorf.
Sign.: Schmidt, deacon
1852
On the 3rd of Oct. the school house in Gammendorf burnt down.
1853
In this year a new school house was built in Gammendorf and the school building in Vadersdorf was enlarged.
1854
The old organ in this church broke and a new one was built by Marcussen in Apenrade. This organ has 18 tunes and the cost of same was 2,832 Marks.
1855
Around New Year the organist Leonhardt Selle gave up his
job and moved to Rendsburg to become a music teacher there.
Sign.: Zeitner, Schmidt, deacon
1856
In the spring of this year the poor people's shacks (The
so called: God's huts) near the church cemetery were sold and broken up.
Schmidt, deacon
1857
In this year nothing worth mentioning happened.
1858
The cemetery in Landkirchen was improved by placing a
gate made of cast iron (in 1837 when the witness in this case started) he didn't
see one single grave that was made even or decorated with flowers. Now it is
more like a flower garden, at least in some places and it seems that a better
spirit has been raised.
Sig.: Schmidt
1859
The teacher Nissen from Gammendorf was called and
promoted (by: the bishop in Ripen) to teacher and cantor in Amrum [in the fall
of 1858]. On Jan.18.1859 the 28 year old Adolf Theodor Johannsen was introduced,
he received his training in the Seminar of Segeberg. This year the island
Fehmarn had a unusual good
Luxury has increased for several years. The simplicity (poverty) that we knew on
this island and the economic life has disappeared. A farmer 'Landmann' brags,
In fidem: Schmidt.
1882
On March 26, 1882 Christoh Odefey was
voted in as main pastor for the Petersdorf church. Pastor Michler was advanced
to main pastor in Burg and started his new placement in May 21st.
We had a good harvest on the island. Wheat was
On the 13th Of Oct. the newly built house of the fisher Kühlsen in Lemkenhafen
burnt down to the outer walls.
Since the fall of 1881 we had many cases of scarlet fever, it started in the
western part where 2 or 3 children died of it. Since spring we had many cases in
our district, first in Lemkenhafen and then in Landkirchen, alone in the month
of August 10 children died, later at the end of the year it moved to Burg and
many cases were reported until in the Winter.
1883
On May Ist cantor Kühl moved to Burg, to
manage the newly organized boy's school. After the present teacher Drews from
Dänschendorf was promoted to cantor and middle school teacher, later he was
introduced by
1884
On July 25th the general superintendent
Godt did the general school- and church inspection. On the 15th the synod was
kept in Peterdorf, afterward there was a mission festival held (the first one
for Fehmarn). Pastor Koch from Bannesdorf was voted in for, jailhouse preacher
in Glückstadt; they voted for Mr. Cl. Grams from Grube as replacement.
The harvest this year was good and brought into the barn dry. Prices for same
were low, Wheat 15 M.
H. Dechnis
1885
On July 3th 1885 the synod meeting
was held in Landkirchen. The harvest was a very good one. Wheat brought 16 -
20-fold, prices came to 15 Mark, the cost of labor was very high.
All year long we had many cases of typhoid fever, we had 21
persons dying during the year.
H. Dechnis
1886
On July 26th the synod meeting was held
in Burg. On Oct. 24th pastor Michler did the special church- and school
visitation here in this church. The 65 year-old teacher Tillegaard from
Albertsdorf was retired. His
1887
Pastor Odefenz moved as chosen pastor to
Chusby near Flensburg. On the Ilth
of July did general
1888
A mourning came over our German
fatherland. On March 9th 1888 our Kaiser Wilhelm, almost 91 yrs. old and on the
15th of June 1888 die our German Kaiser
The synod meeting was held on July 24th in Burg.
1889
As replacement for the church teacher Björnsen
in Vadersdorf was the seminarian Miran voted in and
The harvest was a good medium harvest and yielded 22 - 38 sach per Hektar. Price
came to 19,50 Mark. Barley 15 - 16 Marks.
Pastor Harms in Bannesdorf moved on the Ist of August to (not legible) and was
replaced by Pastor Mödling P., Pastor Bromann from Petersdorf was transferred
to be pastor in Eygebreck.
Dechnis
1890
On March
9th the candidate Oldenburg was voted in as deacon of the church in
Petersdorf. He was introduced to his duties on 21't of June by the pastor
Michler because the superintendent Kaftan was ill.
On September 13th the general superintendent Kaftan held the annual church- and
school visitations. On Dec. 1st the organist Dashler moved to Toenning as
organist and higher girl's school teacher. Voted in on December I9th at
Steinkirchen as his replacement was the teacher Jehsel and was introduced to his
ecclesiastical duties on February Ist, 1891.
At the beginning of the year we had an epidemic of unknown illnes on the island.
Between January lst and March lst we already had 31 dead.
The harvest this year was good even though we had wet and cold weather. The lord
blesses us with great earnings. Only to God be the honor!
Dechnis
1891
During the night of June, 7th to 8th,
1891 a fire broke out in the barn of the diocese. During the strong north- west
wind the fire spread quickly. At first it took the barn of the veterinary Mr.
Muus, later it spread to the barn of the pastor's council, then to the cantor's
1902
The summer of this year was unusually wet
and cold, that's why the farmers couldn't start the harvest until the end of
September, grain was harvested very damp. It resulted in a good medium harvest.
We were spared the usual bad luck.
On April 24 the general superintendent Kaftan held the church and school
visitation in our church district. On the 1st of April the teacher Bennöhr
started teaching in Gammendorf. On the 1st of May Paulsen in Lemkenhafen,
Dechnis
1903
On the 6th of July ecclesiastical council
was held in Burg. The 1st of October the teacher from Avendorf Esrom, who
had been transferred to Tiebensee was replaced by Ms. Sophie Kleist.
The harvest this year brought a rich yield. Because of much rain the harvest was
brought in and stored.
Dechnis
1904
The year was noticeably dry, the animals,
could hardly find enough food and water. The harvest was plentiful and could be
harvest in good condition.
On the 13th of November the pastor held the church- and school visitation.
This year we had good fortune. Only on the 13th of October a barn of the estate
Augustenberg burnt down, the same happened on the 2Bth of December, when two
barns belonging to the farmer Rahlff in Mummendorf
Dechnis
1905
On the 22nd of May the church- and school
visitation was held in our church district by the general superintendent Kaftan.
On the 12th of July the meeting of the ecclesiastical council was held in Burg.
All together we enjoyed a very blessed and peaceful year. The farmers had a
great harvest with good weather condition.
It is to be noted that on the 6th of June the house of Gustav Kortum in
Neujellingsdorf burned down. On the 2nd of July a cow was killed by lightning in
the field of the farmer Sievert in Sartjendorf. On the 7th of Sept.
H. Dechnis
1908
On April 1,1908 the teacher Hammer moved
from Avendorf/F. To Altona, Erwin Frahm moved from
On May, 13th the general superintendent Kaftan performed his general church- and
school-visits.
On July 4th three small homes burnt down, on July 6th the barn of the farmer J.
Marquardt burned down in Mummendorf. On Dec. 11th
the home and barn of the farmer G. Hofeldt went up in flames. In all the
three
The harvest of this year was medium. But because
of the wet weather in the early season, much of
the grain was harvested in damp condition. In the fall
and until winter we had to suffer much deficiency.
We were
H. Dechnis
Newsletter submissions
by E-mail: kc7bal@juno.com
or mail to:
Tressie Hughes
PO Box 770
Puyallup WA 98371
The FEHMARN COUSINS Newsletter
Created using Microsoft Frontpage and maintained by:
Editor - Tressie Hughes, 9312 147th Street E.,
Puyallup, WA. 98375