Exploring Burgenland, Part VII: Home, Faith, Schooling, Health, and the Little Burgenland Community
In which I discuss the “Little Burgenland” community that grew up in Chicago’s Back of the Yards and what life was like for them in terms of housing, religious practices (specifically at St. Augustine Church), schooling, health concerns, and community support.
Exploring Burgenland, Part VI: Life in Chicago’s “Back of the Yards,” Packingtown, and the Pullman Legacy
In which I talk about what it was like to set foot off the boat in Ellis Island, then move to Chicago — “Burgenland’s largest city” — and find employment, often at the Union Stock Yards, Packingtown, or the various railroad companies, such as Pullman.
Exploring Burgenland, Part V: A Look at Burgenland Emigration — Why Did So Many Leave, and Where Did They Go?
In which I examine why so many emigrants left West Hungary (later Burgenland,, Austria) in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s, including my great grandparents, and take a look at where they went and how they got there.
Exploring Burgenland, Part IV: A Visit to Güssing to see a Castle, an Open-Air Museum, and some Panoramic Views, plus some Batthyány Family History
In which I discuss our visit to the district of Güssing in South Burgenland, where we visited Güssing Castle, took in panoramic views in Neudauberg-Burgauberg, and explored the Freilichtmuseum Ensemble Gerersdorf (aka. The Gerersdorf Open-Air Museum Ensemble) in Gerersdorf to learn more about what life was like for my Burgenland ancestors; I also explain some history of the powerful Batthyány Family, who made Güssing Castle their home for more than 500 years.
Exploring Burgenland, Part III: A Visit to Oberdorf im Burgenland and a look at St. Anne’s Church, the Erdődy Family’s Feudal Rotenturm Estate, and the Peasant Lifestyle in Hungary
In which I describe our visit to Oberdorf, Austria, birthplace of my great grandmother Anna Halper; our tour of Oberdorf’s St. Anne’s Church; and some history of the Erdődy family, who were the feudal landlords over the area, and the life of peasants in that part of Hungary back in the 1700-1800’s.
Exploring Burgenland, Part II: A Visit to Unterwart and a Brief Look at some Hungarian History — including Attila the Hun!
In which I describe my visit to the village of Unterwart in Burgenland, Austria — the birthplace of my great grandfather John Paul Wagner (back when it was still part of Hungary) — and explain some Hungarian history, including its connection to Attila the Hun.
Exploring Burgenland, Part I: A Visit to the Capital of Eisenstadt & Some Burgenland History
In which I describe our visit to Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland, Austria; explain some Burgenland history (as a lead up to further exploring my great grandparents’ history); and share photos and stories from ours visits to Schloss Esterházy, Haydn House, Stadtvilla Eissenstadt, Forchtenstein Castle, and more.