[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Roots Report From Ukraine

[Marlo50]

Don,  I loved your writing about your trip.  I envy every one who made 
contact and those who didn't but saw their ancesterland.  It must be really 
hair-raising when you suddenly
realize you have found something.  I am happy for each and every one. 
Margaret
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Miller" <dnmiller at whiz.to>
To: "Volhnia Mailing List" <ger-poland-volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org>
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 5:47 PM
Subject: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Roots Report From Ukraine


> May 26, 2008
> Zhitomir -- I have just returned from the Kiev airport where I dropped off
> the last of our tour members of another wonderfully successful Volhynian
> Village Adventure Tour. We had twelve people on our tour, a number of whom
> were born in Volhynia, which really heightened the expectation.  I am
> pleased to report that they were not disappointed.  A number of our tour
> members made significant discoveries in their villages.
>
> Adolph Sonnenburg, Kitchener, ONT. found the grave stone of his great
> grandfather in Karlswalde.  Magda Kemp,from Edmonton, AB. discovered that
> the table and bench in one of the homes we visited in Gruental was made by
> her grand grandfather.  It was quite a thrill for her to sit on the bench
> at the table and enjoy the hospitality of the hostess.  A few days later
> she stood at the edge of the pond on her father's farm in Zelanka.  She
> was three years old when the family was resettled to occupied Poland, so
> she didn't remember much, but it was a very emotional moment when she
> stood on the land where her cradle once hung.  Glenn Auchtung, Fort Wayne,
> IN. found the windmill of his great grandfather in Mokliaka.  He rounded a
> corner by the school and suddenly there stood the impressive windmill at
> the top of the hill, built over a century ago.  It was totally unexpected
> and absolutely breathtaking.  Adolf Hill from Edmonton, AB., also found a
> grave stone in the German cemetery of Kuraz, his village.  Though it
> didn't relate to his family, it was nevertheless significant in that it
> was that of one of his friends.  In addition, Giesla Taber from Sequim,
> WA., had the privilege of speaking in the old German Baptist Church in
> Neudorf (the mother church)which her grandfather, Eugen Mohr served at the
> turn of the century, when the beautiful red brick building was
> constructed.
>
> Others made some worthy finds in the archives in Zhitomir and Rovno.  I
> found some important information on Ernest Fritz, a pastor, that I had
> been looking for some time.  All in all, it was a good trip.  Much
> more than was expected, as one tour memory was told before he left on
> tour, "Why are you going there?  There's nothing left!"  His significant
> findings proved his friend wrong.    A more detailed report will appear in
> an upcoming issue of the SGGEE JOURNAL.
>
> DON MILLER, TOUR LEADER
> PS. Nancy (my wife) and I are staying on for an additional three weeks to
> help complete the construction of our Widow's House in Pulin.  Its been
> quite an experience undertaking a $300,000 construction project in a
> country that is just beginning to enter the 20th C in this area
>
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