Northampton, PA is one of the major places where many Burgenland immigrants settled. As in Nazareth, PA, the booming local cement industry was a source of jobs. The work was hard, dirty and a health hazzard, but it provided an immediate source of income. Many first and immigrant families were raised and educated on wages from the cement industry. It is an important part of our cultural history. Cement from this region was instrumental in building the Panama Canal. I often watched cement workers washing the dust from their throats as they drank at my grand-aunt’s tavern (West End Hotel-Ruch & Oak Streets, Stiles) after a hard day’s work.
Northampton also has the distinction of being a „sister city“ to Stegersbach in the Burgenland, the first „partnership“ of American and Burgenland cities. Albert Pany, a Burgenla“nder from Tudersdorf, who became mayor of Northampton, helped establish that relationship.
Following names and Burgenland villages of origin for some immigrants who settled in Northampton are taken from the 1951 „Deutsch-Ungarischer Familien Kalendar“(courtesy BB members Phyllis Sauerzopf and Bob Strauch and previously published in BB News Nos. 92, 93A & 93C) Village names are spelled (often incorrectly) as taken from the Kalendar but should be recognized.

  *  AUGUSTIN, Anna (Königsdorf).
  *  BAUER, Floria (Rauchwart) und Mary HATTLER (Ginisdorf).
  *  BUGNITS, Joseph(Pernau) und Catherina LAGITH (Schilting).
  *  CSAR, Karl (Ulersdorf) und Mary GASPAR (Moschendorf).
  *  CSENESITS, Paul(St. Kathrein) und Mary FRUHWIRT (Edlitz).
  *  DEUTSCH, Alois (Reinersdorf) und Theresia KISS (Kathrein).
  *  DEUTSCH, Eugene (Northampton, Pa.) und Juliana SZERENCSIS (Reinersdorf).
  *  DRAGOSITS, Joseph (Kr. Tschantschendorf) und Theresia MARTH.
  *  GOOL, Frank und Maria DEUTSCH (Reinersdorf).
  *  GROHOTOLSKY, Josef und Anna STOISITS (Reinersdorf).
  *  GROF, Joseph (Schallendorf) und Theresia SCHNEIDER (Eberau).
  *  GROHOTOLSKY, Frank (Reinersdorf).
  *  HAMEL, Rudolph (Deutsch Ehrensdorf) und Anna PELZMANN (Bocksdorf).
  *  HEIDL, Leonhard (Northampton, Pa.) und Lena REINICH ( Moschendorf).
  *  JANDRIS, Martin (DeutschTschantschendorf) und Anna KARNER (Ober-Neusiedl).
  *  JANDRISEVITS, John und Agnes KLUSCARITS (Kr. Tschantschendorf).
  *  JANDRISOVITZ, Joseph und Agnes GRODOLSKY, (Reinersdorf).
  *  JOST, Frank Sr. (Inzenhof) und Julianna KROBOTH (Gerersdorf).
  *  KERBACHER, Joseph (Deutsch Tschantschendorf).
  *  KISS, Stephen (Deutsch Ehrensdorf) und Rosia GESCHEL (Gaas).
  *  KOPFER, Robert (Deutsch Ehrensdorf)und Theresia TITZ, (Kroatisch Ehrensdorf).
  *  LAKY, Stefan (Moschendorf) und Mary STUBITS (Harmisch).
  *  LANG, Fritz( Eisenberg) und Theresia KRATZL (Moschendorf).
  *  LEGATH, Robert und Maria KOPFER (Deutsch Ehrensdorf).
  *  MAIKITSCH, Jos. (Großmürbisch) und Anna GRINWALD (Gaas).

(to be continued)

 

by Gerry Berghold <GBerghold@aol.com>