Uncle Bob just returned from his trip to Germany and Europe with his friend, Eileen. Eileen is Bob’s four year dance partner from Menominee, Wisconsin; Bob jokes that she’s his niece since she's the age of his daughter but she is a fabulous dancer, follows any moves he makes no matter how spontaneous, and is not only a great dance partner but a loyal friend. They went to Siegen, Germany where they visited our relatives and friends. After Siegen, they took the Eurorail to Amsterdam for a 15 day cruise up the Danube and Rhine to Budapest.
Bob shared some information new information about Alexander and his visits to our ancestor’s homes. I included are some details thanks to Gordy.
The KernsBob and Eileen stayed with Jutta Kern who is married to Peter Kern from Siegen. From Gordy:
The Kerns have two children, Alexander and Carolina, and live in Siegen. Peter is a sales rep for a drug company, and Jutta is a teacher in a Siegen gymnasium. The gymnasium (pronounced with a hard "g" and a long Churchill-style "a") covers grades 5 through 13, and the kids are all university-bound (if they pay attention!). They stay together as a class with the same teacher for all of those years. One of Jutta's specialties is English which she speaks extremely well. Helen Ford was Jutta's host in the '60s, and Jutta knows the Fords and Uncle Bob well.
The MeinhardsBob also stayed in the very large house of Alexander Meinhard, a very interesting fellow in his 40’s and a consulting engineer now divorced. Alexander travels all over the world helping companies look at their efficiency of their operations and solving management problems. On one trip, he helped the company find 5,000 tons of steel. He remarked that you wouldn’t think it would be too hard to find some steel.
Three German Towns—Three towns are key to the Meinhard-Vitt family—Siegen in Germany, a neighboring village/bedroom community Wilnsdorf, and Rödgen, midway between the two
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Michael Meinhard came to the United States ca. 1850. He had been a baker in Siegen. The building that housed his bakery is now an historic hotel—Hotel zur Laterne (The Lantern Hotel), preserved and restored. Uncle Bob stayed and ate there on his trip. Bob said he could see the outline of the bake ovens in the wall. It may have been built in the early 1800s. When Michael Meinhard was forced to leave Germany, his farewell Notice to the Siegen people mentiond property that was to be sold. He was a burgher and not only owned the bakery but apparently he and a partner owned a flour mill giving him some vertical integration for his business.
Michael was one of the '48ers, those mid 19th-century liberals that were the driving force for a national democracy to replace the kingdoms and empires of Prussia and Austria. (This is grossly oversimplified, but I don't want to try to explain everything at once). I also believe that he was compelled to emigrate because of his participation in a movement/revolution that ended in failure. He sold his bakery and emigrated (with family?) to the U.S., ending up in Troy Grove, Illinois, where he built and operated the mill. His son Fredrick is the Union soldier whose Civil-War letters Bob has. Frederick is Dick’s dad's grandfather. Frederick married a Vitt, Dick’s dad's paternal grandmother.
The Vitts
The village of Rödgen lies about midway between Siegen and Wilnsdorf on the road south. Here is the estate of Eberhard Vitt. Like Michael Meinhard, he was a '48er. Vitt was a prosperous orchard owner, known far and wide for his innovative and progressive methods. He owned a considerable amount of land and produced excellent fruit, particularly apples. He likewise was forced to sell his property and emigrated. He eventually made his way to Missouri, southwest of St. Louis, in Washington County, where he farmed very successfully. That farm is still there, although suburban development is steadily encroaching on it. Donnas and Dorises visited it two summers ago.
Bob toured the old Vitt estate in Rödgen which still has many of the old buildings. The Vitt house is now an inn house, (Röverhoff?) like an upscale bread and breakfast, and Bob thought it would wonderful to be able to stay a night but it is popular and booked much too far in advance. Bob was impressed with how rich and prominent the Vitt ancestors were (and now who are poor and obscure today). In the family the Vitt inventory of what was sold when he left lists over 2,000 acres of land (it was in a German unit, morgens?, of about 7 acres).
Dorothea and I spent many weekends and holidays in Wilnsdorf, where Gertrude (Vitt) Achenbach and her family lived. She was ca. 10 years younger than your (Dick’s) mother (and she died last year). Gertrude was married to Werner Achenbach, and they had two children, Jutta and Gerhard, who are two years apart and very close in age to Dorothea and me. In the mid 70s, when we lived in southern Germany, we got to know the entire family well and visited them at holidays and on other weekends as well. Gertrude had several brothers and a sister who would come visit at the Achenbach house. Werner Achenbach was an "Architekt", which is more like a builder. The business was run out of the house, and Gerhard took over after Werner was too old to continue.
Werner was proud of his military service during World War II, claiming that he was an honorable, patriotic soldier who did his duty. He had contempt for those slovenly, undisciplined, garish American GIs who in his opinion were a blemish on the profession. Werner made his way up through the enlisted ranks in the Wehrmacht, marching all the way to Bordeaux and back again and then up to the Eastern Front (and back). He attained the rank of lieutenant and was assigned as a courier to the secret V-1 and V-2 project at Peenemünde (on the Baltic Sea). In this capacity he traveled frequently to occupied Poland to retrieve the test rockets that landed in the Polish countryside. He must have been acquainted with Wernher von Braun, the civilian scientist in charge of the Peenemünde project and who later headed the US space rocket program in the 50s.
We have wondered whether Alexander Meinhard is related to our family. At the time Alexander M came to N.Y. and to Donna's party, George Farris (who is expert in our genealogy) was skeptical that he was a relation but Uncle Bob thought he was genuinely related. Now Alexander has found a document definitely establishing the relationship and he gave a copy to Bob. Apparently Alexander and George have traced the Meinhard family back to the 16th century and now can show a direct connection with Alexander. The documents Bob received showing this relationship need be translated.
Cruise from Amsterdam to BudapestBob and Eileen took a Vantage Cruise Company for their trip up the Danube and Rhine. Bob raves about the company and said the cruise “was perfection, very well run and complete.” There was always something interesting to do and the food was great. Many side trips were walking tours but unfortunately Bob has some arthritis in his right hip which had deteriorated rapidly. Walking had become painful but still he says he didn't miss out on much, often taking an alternative to the walking tours. He had a walker and cane for limping around, but the manager of tour group, a young Hungarian, was most helpful as was Eileen.
The tour brought a swing band on board the cruise ship and they played tunes of the American military old days that Bob thoroughly enjoyed. Bob enjoys swing most of all and the music was irresistible. The doctor had given him some spinal injections for his pain before the trip but recommended he have his hip replaced before he could recover his movement. Of course the great music meant he had to at least try to dance. “Come on, Eileen,” he said. And as always happens when he hears good music, a kind of a minor miracle occurs.
“We went through most of our maneuvers. One is rather complex. Into a cuddle, then out, I start turning under her and keep her going. I keep her turning and go under her arm again. Seemed to stumble through it but finished to wild applause. So many people came up days after and said how good we were. Also a double turn, back to back, a fun move. “Eileen says that as long as you lead, I can follow.”
The tour company arranged many side trips including a wonderful tour of Vienna ending with an ensemble concert in a recital hall at Vienna Orchestra Hall.
Bob continues a fascinating life discovering more history. This week he met an 87 year old women who was in the Womens’ Air Force Pilot Association. She speaks frequently and is quite a fire brand. And he continues to enjoy his historic society this week and his other meetings. He sets a high standard of scholarship and fun for our family.
Bob with his family and Donna
The Alcoke grandparents with Liz and Matt
The new family
Both grandparents with the new family
Grandparents
The Kiss
Cute and spoiled already