Von: kathyg@infospinner.com (Kathy Goodman) Datum: 07.05.98, 06:57:24 Betreff: Trip to Täbingen Dear fellow list members, First I want to thank everyone on this list who helped me prepare for my trip and learn how to research my German ancestry. Words fail to explain how much I appreciate all of you. Thank you! ------------------------------------------ I'm back. The trip to Germany, the home of my ancestors, was a dream come true. On the long plane ride over to Germany I thought, "Christian and Christina are coming home. A part of them is within me." From the time I entered Germany I felt comfortable. The scenery is reminiscent of northwestern Pennsylvania where I grew up. The German mountains are larger, but the trees and farms reminded me of home. Going to Täbingen, we traveled south on autobahn 81 from Stuttgart to Rottweil and turned east. After passing through the suburbs of Rottweil, we turned onto a narrow two-lane paved road that tightly hugged the tree covered hills. At last we rounded a sharp corner and there was the sign for Täbingen. I was nearly there. At the top of the hill the land leveled into vast green fields dotted with yellow dandelions. I could see red tile roofs in the distance. Amongst the roofs was a church steeple. It had to be the Evangelische church of my ancestors. We passed a large barn and a small apple orchard full of gnarled trees covered in soft pink blooms. There was the sign: "Willkommen in Täbingen." When we got to Täbingen it was April 30 and they were in the process of erecting a May pole in front of the fire station. The May pole was a 30 foot pine tree trimmed of branches leaving about 10 feet of branches at the top. It looked like a Christmas tree with a long trunk. Streamers of while paper hung from its branches and a green garland of branches was twisted around its trunk. Turns out that Germans begin their celebration of May Day on the 30th and continue through the weekend. Unfortunately, the local guest house was closed for the holiday. We couldn't linger in Täbingen because it was getting late and we weren't sure where we would find a place to stay. Things do close down on German holidays. So, with barely a glance around, we headed back out of town. We checked two towns before we found the Gasthaus Rose open in Neukirch. We were happy to have a bed and a meal despite the bit of rowdiness and noise from the local celebrants. They stayed up all night by the bonfire drinking beer and visiting. The owner of the Rose was quite hospitable and had a wonderful breakfast waiting for us in the morning (included in the price which was very reasonable). So, the next morning we once again traveled to Täbingen. Our first stop was the church. And, yes it was my ancestor's church. In front of the church was a stone statue of a soldier with helmet, rifle, knife and rucksack kneeling in prayer. The statue was tinged with the green mold of age. As we went through the cemetery looking for Göhring, Sautter, Link, or other familiar surnames I took pictures of the headstones. Each headstone was beautiful and over each grave was planted brightly colored flowers. (All the graves were relatively new. The oldest I have a picture of was 1974.) While we were examining the graves, a middle-aged man came into the church yard and introduced himself. He was Willie Seeman the Burgermeister (mayor) of Täbingen. He spoke some English, but my son was very helpful interpreting for me. (It sure would have been hard to communicate without my son's help.) The Burgermeister explained that the part of the church which was built 1000 years ago is a memorial to the men from Täbingen who died or were MIA in WWI and WWII. Their names are listed on a marble wall inside the memorial. Several Göhrings were listed. They are quite probably relatives born after Christian and Christina left for the US. Then he took us into the renovated portion of the church. Its white walls were beautifully trimmed in gold. In front a table, covered in a white cloth with gold trim, held a vase of pink flowers. The alter with had yellow flowers, a gold cross, bible and gold candlesticks. The pastor's pulpit was a little half-round balcony about eight feet up on the wall. Willie was quite proud of the church organ which they purchased in 1853 for 1000 guldens. The pipes were housed in white cabinets trimmed in gold. The effect was amazing in such a small church. Willie then took us to his office over the fire station and looked for records of Göhrings. However, most of the records for the years I was looking for (1843 and earlier) are stored in the church. The Göhring relative, Elisabeth, who answered a letter I had sent out about six weeks before I left had already sent me most of the names from those records. Willie explained that Täbingen celebrated its 1200 year anniversary in 1993. The town was established in 793. Can you imagine? The town has a population of 550 now. He generously presented me and my son with a book about Täbingen that was written for the 1993 celebration. It contains a wealth of information, of course written in German. On the wall in his office were pictures of Täbingen men who fought in WWI and WWII. Willie then took us upstairs to a small museum that contained clothes, a bed, wardrobe, horseshoes, farm implements, tools, a couch and other treasures from earlier times. In this room was an oven that had a stone plaque engraved with "Christian Göhring ANMC 1824." Willie said it came from the home of Christian Göhring. However, that may not be my Christian because he would have been 16 in 1824. While we were in the museum, the pastor of the Evangelische church entered. He explained that he had helped Elisabeth research the church records to discover that we were related. He said it was amazing that I had found a relative in a small town in Germany and was able to come visit that town. He said that not many people can do that. I agreed and when I tried to explain what it meant to me, I started choking up and couldn't talk. Words just can't explain how it felt to be in the town, see things that may have belonged to my ancestors, and see the church in which my ancestors had worshipped. Willie then walked us to the street that where Elisabeth lives. We walked to the house and prepared to take pictures. Elisabeth came out and invited us in. When I saw her, I started crying. The emotions were overwhelming. I tried to compose myself, my son laughed and told her I was crying because I was so happy to meet her. (He is used to the happy tears.) Elisabeth is precious. I could speak no German, but my son interpreted for us and did quite well. She showed me pictures of her mother and father and grandparents. Elisabeth said that some relatives who had gone to the US corresponded with their German relatives during the war and were concerned for each other's safety. She mentioned how the relatives were fighting in the war on opposite sides. I am sure all that was very stressful on both sides of the ocean. Before we left, I wanted to take their picture. Elisabeth took a picture of her family off the wall and handed it to me. I hated to take it because I was afraid she couldn't replace it. But when my son tried to explain this she said her mother-in-law had one and she could get another. Before we left, I hugged her and she hugged me back. I felt I have truly made a connection to Germany and my relatives who didn't come to America. It was a truly amazing journey which began about a year ago when I really started getting interesting in my family history. I have learned so much and it has changed me forever. A part of me will always be in Germany. I hope I can return one day.