In connection with the 100th Anniversary of the initial immigration of Burgenländers to Chicago, I was requested to write an article relating to "Wenzel Family" memories. As a child of Burgenländer immigrants, hopefully, my series of reflections and impressions will somewhat
profile "a history" of other Burgenland immigrants and their families. 

To begin, my parents were born in Burgenland (at that time, part of the Austro-Hungarian-Empire). Ida, nee Jahrmann (1894- 1982) was born in Pinkafeld; John (1888-1981) was born in Grodnau. They were married in Pinkafeld, 1926, and shortly thereafter immigrated to the USA and settled on the South Side of Chicago. They had three  children: Ida Barbara, Emma and John. There was another Wenzel baby, unfortunately, he died at 1 1/2 years. Our family lived in a neighborhood called "Fuller Park" which had a large concentration of Burgenländer immigrant residents. Many of the fathers worked in a labor capacity at local railroad companies, including my father, who was employed at the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Co. There were other Burgenländers, however, who were very enterprising and established their own business; namely, taverns, restaurants, bakeries, meat markets, grocery stores and barber shops. Social life consisted of attending concerts, dances and other festivities at local Halls. As music has always been inherent in the Austrian culture, the Burgenländer Männerchor provided and presented the much appreciated
musical respite for the hard-working Burgenländers. On a religious note, located in this area
was a Catholic Church, St Martin of Tours, Patron Saint of Burgenland, where many Burgenland
babies were christened, including myself. 

These early years coincided with hard economic times historically referred to as "The Depression". Fortunately, Burgenländers survived this financial crises with prudent spending and saving. In retrospect, although Burgenländer immigrants were not financially able to pursue academic achievements and not weathy in monetaty terms, they were richly endowed with values of hard work, honesty, fortitude and persistence sprinkled with an abundant sense of "Gemütlichkeit" More importantly, these traits were coupled with love of family and a strong faith in God. 

Some personal notes about the Wenzel family during the above time frame. My parents, like many others, concentrated on learning the English language - reading newspapers, listening to the radio and attending some classes. They spoke the Burgenland dialect with their children, and we responded in English. Then, too, they spent hours studying lesson books to obtain their Citizin Papers. Time was spent looking at Photographs from Europe, both Wenzel and Jahrmann, so the children could in someway know their relatives. However, like many other children could of American born Burgenländers, we never had the blessing of personally knowing our Grandparents. Mother loved music and was a member of several choral Vereins. She would sit her children around the kitchen table and teach them many German-Austrian lieders. Christmas time was a memorable for the Wenzel children. We knelt in prayer and sang "Stille Nacht“ before any presentscould be opened! Father would speak with loving emotion about his father, John Wenzel (1859-1917) who organized and led the first group of 45 Burgenländer immigrants to Chicago. 

The years of World War II were fraught with much anxiety, fear and concern for all Americans, but it was extremely compounded for Burgenländers who had their relatives and friends in Austria. Many Ietters were posted to Europe and there was anxious waiting for responses as to the status of their lives and conditions in war-torn Europe. Many "CARE” packages were sent as well as home-prepared bundles of clothing and food. The American Relief Fund to Austria, Inc. -Chicago Chapter was also formed and many Austrians, including my parents, work diligently to help provide relief aid to Austria. 

The foregoing narration is a compilation of my early and teen-year experiences reflecting my Burgenland ancestry. Becoming an adult, I am more cognizant of my Austrian "Roots", and am very "stolz“ to be a member of the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft and The American Friends of Austria. 

In line with more present times, especially memorable for me was "The 1980 Chicago Woche“ celebrated in Grodnau. lt was my privilege to unveil a "Gedenktafel“ affixed to the birth-house of my Familie Wenzel im Jahre 1960, sitzend John Wenzel-Sohn (1883-1981) und die Gattin Ida, geborene Jahrmann (1894-1982), dahinter stehend die Kinder Emma, John und Ida Barbara Grandfather, John Wenzel, which commemorates the initial immigration of Burgenländers to Chicago. Then, ten years later, 1990, "The Chicago Woche“ was held in Pinkafeld, again commemorating the Burgenländer immigration to Chicago. lt was at this event that I returned and presented the historic St. Stephan Hungarian flag to the Pinkafeld Stadtmuseum. During the official ceremonies at the Pinkafeld Rathaus, I was overwhelmed to merit the presentation of "The Verdienstkreuz“ from the Burgenländische Landesregierung. 

Recently, in order to increase our understanding and knowledge of "The Immigrant Experience“, my brother John and Emma Wenzel, Enkeltochter I visited the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Museum in New York. After our parents passed away, their "Certificate of Citizenship“ documents and the study booklet entitled "Lessons in Citizenship“ were donated to the Ellis Island Museum for immigration research and historical purposes. These documents are presently displayed in one of the Exhibit Rooms at the Ellis Island Museum. Also their names are etched on "The American Immigrant Wall of Honor“. We both remembered with tears in our eyes, how proud they were to be Americans, but they never forgot their "Heimatland“. 

Looking back and remembering my heritage and traditions, there are so many persons and organizations of Burgenland and Austrian connection too numerous to mention, who have enriched and heightened my appreciation of my Burgenland- Austrian Roots, and I thank them all. Special thanks, however, go to Dr. Walter Dujmovits who has preserved and documented this important immigration history of Burgenländers in his book "Die Amerika-Wanderung der Burgenländer“. Also many thanks to my dear Cousin, Lehrer Arpad Jahrmann and his wife Rosa, residing in Pinkafeld, for always sheltering and taking good care of me whenever I visit Burgenland. 

In closing, I remember my father quoting his father’s words before he left Burgenland for Chicago: "Wie Gott mich führt, so will ich gehen, er wird Gutes wählen.“ I humbly submit that my Grandfather’s mission and prophecy has been fulfilled by Chicago Burgenländers. 

Emma Wenzel