Among other questions Marlene asks: Have any of the Burgenland Bunch addressed the advanced preparations the early emigrants had to make before making their voyage to the U.S.?
I've recently read about my early ancestors who came from Norway and all the preparations they had to make before coming to the U.S. They were months salting meats, baking flatbreads, making clothing, etc. They even had to bring brandy, vinegar and wine as well as raisins and prunes to make a soup for the seasick. Sulfur powder and ointments for the itch-a good supply of soaps and fine combs. Water enough to supply each person with 3 quarts a day.
After reading this article it made me wonder about the preparations if any, that our early ancestors had to make before their voyage to the U.S

Reply: Short of finding some diaries, it would be very difficult to answer your query with any degree of accuracy. However we can make some educated guesses as to what would be necessary. We must recognize that conditions varied with time and mode of travel.
The preparations you mention would seem to be necessary for a voyage on a sailing ship (1880's or earlier), which would require considerable time (four to six weeks or longer.) Even in the very early days of steam, it was often necessary for the cheaper fare passengers to provide their own food, bedding and other requirements. Sometimes these earlier vessels did provide bare minimum food and water and sleeping facilities, which the passengers would supplement. By the advent of steam ships in excess of 15,000 tons, the shipping line would supply these items as part of the passage fare, even for third class, steerage. I would estimate that these preparations may well have been necessary on some ships prior to 1900 and even later for sailing vessels.
After 1900 (when most of our Burgenland immigrants traveled), the requirements were much simpler. Based on my grandparents' experiences, their most pressing preparations involved securing the necessary travel papers, tickets and itineraries (these too varied with time). The only food they carried was enough to cover their train travel to the port of embarkation, they then ate and slept in shipping hostels until they boarded their ship. All four remembered the fine meals provided by the shipping firms. They did carry new clothing and blankets in steamer trunks. One grandfather traveled steerage and said the food was as good as he got at home, one grandmother said she and her mother felt like royalty as they had second class tickets provided by their immigrant brother and son-they didn't know how to eat bananas and some of the other food served in the 2nd class dining room. Perhaps some other BB members might respond to this subject.
 

by Gerry Berghold <GBerghold@aol.com>