Military Requirements Within 

The Austro-Hungarian Empire

by, Joe Strana

The military institutions of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1868 drew upon the idea that service was the personal obligation for subjects of the Empire. The army was composed of five separate units. The regular army, special armies (namely the Austrian Landwehr), the Hungarian Honvéds of which each were separate national institutions and the Landsturm or levy-in-mass. The regular army was under the administration of the minister of war, while the special armies were under the respective ministries of national defense. The yearly influx of recruits for the army was set by various military acts. These bills were approved by the Austrian and Hungarian parliaments. Research shows these statistics were compiled upon the basis of population. In 1905 the total number was set at 103,100 men. Austria gave 59,211 men and Hungary 43,889. In addition to these totals 10,000 men were offered to the Austrian Landwehr and 12,500 to the Hungarian Honvéds. The term of service for the empire was 2 years mandatory, 3 for the Calvary, 7 or 8 years in the reserves and 2 in the Landwehr. Men not drafted to the active army held the same mandatory service periods, which were spent in various reserve units. Those who were not drafted and called were still considered on active duty and could be recruited at any time for any reasons. Many times, the need for men to staff the divisions of the Austro-Hungarian military necessitated conscription from various territories. Numerous peasants were forcibly conscripted as cooks, carriage drivers, animal caretakers and other non-skilled forms of service. These conscriptions were not always legal, nor just. A representative of the local government may arrive in a town or village area during periods of necessity and ask for the number required. More times than not, men were taken from their farms and their homes with little hope of returning anytime soon. The last qualifying age for military service was 42. During this era individuals had a short life span for countless reasons and due to this many were conscripted and died in the military.

The administrative service of the army was sectioned into 16 military territorial districts (15 of which correspond to the 15 army corps) and 108 supplementary districts (105 for the army, and 3 for the navy). In 1902, there were 5 cavalry divisions and 31 infantry divisions, which were formed into 15 army corps. These corps were located in the following regions: I. Krakow, II. Vienna, III. Graz, IV. Budapest, V. Pressburg, VI. Kaschau, VII. Temesvár, VIII. Prague, IX. Josefstadt, X. Przemysl, XI. Lemberg, XII. Herrmannstadt, XIII. Agram, XIV. Innsbruck, XV. Serajewo. The strength of the corps was mainly 2 infantry divisions (4 brigades, 8 or 9 regiments, 32 or 36 battalions), 1 cavalry brigade (18 squadrons) and 1 artillery brigade (16-18 batteries or 128-144 field-guns). In addition to these figures there were technical, departmental units and sometimes fortress artillery regiments. The infantry were organized into line regiments, (Jäger and Tirolese), the cavalry into Dragoons, Lancers, Uhlans and Hussars and the artillery into regiments. An interesting history regarding the Hussars is their relationship to the saber. The saber was made known to Western Europe during the eighteenth century due to contact with the Hussars. This direct contact with the Hungarian light horsemen known as Hussars introduced the saber to western armies. The Hussars themselves had copied this weapon from the Turks and refined it. Their expert use of the Turks original idea made them fierce soldiers on the battlefield. Their excellent skills as horsemen, coupled with the saber, were deadly to the enemy.

The Austrian Landwehr was organized in 8 divisions of different levels of strength, the "Royal Hungarian" Landwehr or Honvéds in 7 divisions, both Austrian and Hungarian Landwehr having additional cavalry (Uhlans and Hussars) and artillery. During the time of war a Landwehr or Honvéds division would form part of each army corps except the Vienna corps, which always held 3 divisions in reserve. The numbers of men left over from the conscriptions would be incorporated into the Landsturm. Many who were taken into the Landstrum could also be classified as fit for service in the Landwehr. It was common practice for both divisions to exchange conscripts due to necessity at various times or during a conflict.

The increasing policies of the government to build the army continued and expanded. In the autumn of 1902 the Austrian and the Hungarian governments, at the insistence of the Emperor, the joint minister for war and the Austrian and Hungarian ministers for national defense, offered their respective parliaments bills providing an increase of 21,000 men in the annual contingents of recruits. 16,700 men were asked for the joint army, and the remainder for the Austrian and Hungarian national defense troops (Landwehr and Honvéd). The total contribution of Hungary would be some 6,500 and of Austria some 14,500 men. The military authorities made a mistake of detaining in barracks several thousand recruits liable for military service but in excess of the annual 103,000 enrolled by law pending adoption of the Army bills by both parliaments. The object of this step was to avoid the expense and delay of summoning the recruits again when the bills received parliamentary sanction.

Opposition, consisting chiefly of the independence party led by Francis Kossuth offered dissent and decided to obstruct ministerial measures until the recruits could be discharged. There was great turmoil trying to have these bills withdrawn or if adopted, counterbalanced by concessions to the Magyars. Anti-government feeling was reaching high levels within Hungarian territories and the Magyars were making many demands upon Vienna. Coupled with political problems within her boarders, turmoil in the Balkans, a poor economy and the threat from outside (the Russian Imperial Army was growing) the Emperor and his government felt if they expanded the army properly, stability in all areas would ensue.

It is not surprising that many tried to become exempt from any form of mandatory military service. There were few releases granted from military service and what few that were mainly served the nobility who were officers. For numerous individuals who were from the poorer regions and classes the only way to avoid this was to immigrate. Vast numbers during this period were leaving for America, Canada and other countries within Europe due to economic depression, political instability and other factors. It is of interest to note that the Austro-Hungarian Empire choose to increase the numbers needed for the army at this time. It was necessary politically from the governments view point but also, intelligent strategy. If subjects were to leave the Empire not only the army but also all governmental institutions, including taxation, would suffer. If individuals were conscripted into the military, active duty or not, the numbers leaving the country would be stopped in theory.

In 1905 Austria-Hungary was on a peace footing and the numbers in her military showed the increases in policy. Conscription had not stopped and legal or not, it was being implemented within the entire Empire. Thousands were forced to join the military and many times, they were kept well beyond the terms their service had originally intended. A breakdown of figures from documents offers the following:

INFANTRY:

Common Army: 10,801 Officers, 187,604 Men, and 1,152 Horses. Austrian Landwehr: 1,883 Officers, 23,905 Men, and 174 Horses. Hungarian Honvéds: 2,258 Officers, 21,149 Men, and 262 Horses.

CALVARY:

Common Army: 1,890 Officers, 45,486 Men, and 40,740 Horses. Austrian Landwehr: 170 Officers, 1,861 Men, and 1,282 Horses. Hungarian Honvéds: 390 Officers, 4,170 Men, and 3,510 Horses. Field Artillery: 1,630 Officers, 27,612 Men, 14,520 Horses and 1,048 Guns. Fortress Artillery: 408 Officers, 7.722 Men, and 131 Gorses. Technical troops: 588 Officers, 9,935 Men, and 19 Horses. Pioneers, and Railway and Telegraph Regiment Transport Service: 461 Officers, 4,312 Men, and 3,097 Horses. Sanitary Service: 85 Officers, 3,062 Men. TOTAL: 20,564 Officers, 336,818 Men, 64,887 Horses and 1,048 Guns.

BREAKDOWN BELONGING TO THE COMMON ARMY: 

Common Army: 15,863 Officers, 285,733 Men, 59,659 Horses and 1,048 Guns. Austrian Landwehr: 2,053 Officers, 25,766 Men, and 1,456 Horses. Hungarian Honvéds: 2,648 Officers, 25,319 Men, and 3,772 Horses.

The military stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1905 (376 officers and 6372 men) are also included in the total for the common army.

The strength of the active army during periods of peace was about 350,000 officers and men, inclusive of the two Landwehrs, the Austrian guards, the Hungarian crown guards, the gendarmerie, etc. The numbers of the Landsturm and the war strength of the entire armed forces were not published. Estimates for war indicate that the first line army would consist of 460,000 infantry, 49,000 cavalry, 78,000 artillery, 21,000 engineers including non-combatant soldiers. The Landwehr and Honvéd offered 219,000 infantry, 18,000 cavalry and other reserves of 223,000 men. These figures give an approximate strength of 1,147,000, which does not include the Landsturm. These numbers were needed as the Empire had many territories to protect. Some of the fortifications that the Empire held prior to World War I and which would have seen service from many soldiers were:

Krakow and Przemysl in Galicia, Komárom, the center of the inland fortifications, Pétervárad, Arad and Temesvár in Hungary, Serajewo, Mostar and Bilek in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Alpine frontiers, especially those in Tirol, all the military roads leading into Carinthia had strong defense works such as Malborgeth and Predil Pass, On the Adriatic coast, the naval harbor of Pola, Trieste, and several places in Dalmatia, notably Zara and Cattaro which had strong fortifications.

Names Day

by, David Kuchta

Not too long ago, many people were named for a Patron Saint. Although popular throughout Europe, Russia and many other parts of the globe, it does seem to be going by the wayside. In some countries it was the custom to name a child after a Saint and therefore, the day of the child’s birth was not important but, the day commemorated for his or her "Saint." In the Slavic countries it was popular to give the first born male child the same name as his father. For some families this went on for generations. Many different ethnic groups don't only celebrate the birthday of a person, but his "Name Day," and also think it just as important to honor the day of his or her death. For the Russian Orthodox Christians (and those who were Greek Catholic) "Names Day" is supposed to be a spiritual holiday. In the old times, before the communist revolution, people normally visited church on their particular "Names Day" and prayed to the Saint they were named after. Usually people that were celebrating the certain "Names Day" would be congratulated on his special day. Since the Russian Orthodox Christians thought this to be a spiritual time, presents were not appropriate unless it was a spiritual present such as a book or icon.

Of course, the modern generation's ways of doing things are fast changing. Lil Junas gave me a little input on how the school kids celebrated their "Names Day" while in school (This was while she was working in Slovakia). She said, "They were celebrated just like birthdays, with cake and other sweets. The school kids would bring something sweet to pass around to the class." The teacher would acknowledge that person's, "Name Day." Gifts weren't given in school, but some did get gifts at home. Some people claimed that the "Names Day" was more important then a birthday. Maybe this was so, a few generations back, but in modern Slovakia a persons birthday is more important then his "Name Day" according to Martin Lipocky, who is a citizen of Slovakia. Lipocky claims that some people appreciate "Names Day" the same way as they do birthdays. He thinks of it as a special day for reminding a person you like, how much you think of them. Lipocky said, "The person usually treats the congratulating person for a cup of coffee and some cake or goodies. The appreciated gifts are chocolate, some candy, or a bottle of spirits and/or flowers for the women."

During our modern times, it is appropriate for the celebrant of the "Names Day" to do the supplying of goodies, coffee or liquid refreshment. Even birthdays are being celebrated the same way at business's or work areas. At home, the celebrant of the "Names Day" or birthday, may receive gifts and is treated to some type of party by family members. Times are changing! For those who would like to know what day is their particular "Names Day" I am listing a link below that I think has the best listing of the days of the year with all the Saints that represent each day.

No Work, No Pay!

Memories of Genevieve Andrzejczak

In 1920 my family lived in the City of Paterson, New Jersey. Things were very difficult and I had to find work to help my parents. Since I was the eldest, this was very common. Many families were forced to send their eldest son or daughter to work in those days. I will tell you about my first job. Finding work was not that difficult but finding good work was. All you did to find work was walk from one factory to the other and eventually you would be hired. The factories that were the most unpleasant had unskilled immigrants and American women working in them. Many men preferred to work in the silk mills as the pay was better and they had a union. If you had no experience working with the machines making silk and silk products you could not get a job there. The only option for those who were unskilled was to take one of the lower paying jobs that were in the textile and manufacturing factories. Most factories at this time in Paterson were unionized but the smaller ones were still fighting against the union. It was in these few mills that they could do whatever they pleased with you.

I remember applying for this job. I was not much older than 17. The man in the office took one look at me and told me to write down my name and address. When he saw that I could write in English fairly well, he told me to report for work tomorrow morning. I was told later that if you were able to read and write in English you were given a "better" job than those who had no English skills. This "better" job I will tell you about. The job was located in a four story brick building. The building had very few windows and looked more like a prison than a factory. This was a jute mill. A jute mill is a place where they used to make Hemp Hawser, which was heavy rough rope that was used to tie the big ships to the docks. The process of making this was hard. They used some form of glue in the processing of the hemp and you could smell this terrible odor 3 blocks from the factory. The smell was a burned glue type smell. Once inside the factory it was combined with heat, smoke from the heavy machinery and dust. The smell inside was almost overwhelming. During the summer it was common to see many of the women fainting from the smell and the heat. There were a few windows on our floor but they were very high up and never opened. Most of the women wore as little as possible and kept kerchiefs on their heads. The glue was in the air and if your head were uncovered, it would be stiff by quitting time.

The jute factory was located on lower River Street. This street had many small to medium sized factories and mills. There were also some stores across the street from the mill that myself and my friends would go to look in the windows at lunch break. These stores were a shoe shop, a children’s clothing store, a combination drug store and luncheonette. We only received one half hour to eat our lunch. You had no breaks and never were permitted to rest. If you had to go to the bathroom, you had to ask permission of the floor foreman. You would ask not to go to the bathroom as they call it today but to the "privy." You also had to address the floor foreman and any boss as "Mister." If he gave you permission he would watch your workstation and you ran like anything. The bathroom was just a closet with one lavatory and the old box and chain over it. It was used by both the men and the women. You would run back as fast as you could as if the floor foreman thought you had taken too much time, he would yell at you. We worked from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For lunch, when the weather was good we would go outside but there was no place to sit but on the ground. When the weather was bad we would sit down on the wooden floor at our workstation and eat.

My job was to work with the material to the right of my workstation and make sure it did not get tangled. You had a big wheel attached to the ceiling and off this wheel would come one part of the hemp. You had the other part on the side of your workstation and you would stand half bent over, for eight hours making sure these two entered the machine correctly. This would then continue to the next workstation and all the way down the production line. The heat inside the factory was terrible. We could have no fans as we were told that the fans interfered with the glue that was being added to this material. If this is true or not I never knew but, it did not make life pleasant. Once all the material to the right of your workstation was gone they would shut the machines down and you would wait for a few men to come and take the finished product away. This gave the women on the production line a few brief minutes to stand up straight, try to catch their breath and rest. Most who worked with me in this factory were poor immigrants. We did not have the skills for other factory work and many could not even speak English.

No one was permitted to talk during the day as the floor foreman said this took away from the work we should be doing. All those who worked at this factory were scared to death of losing their job. Sometimes the union men would stand across the street and talk to us about organizing. We would run away as we were afraid the bosses would see us. We all were desperate for our jobs. It was bad enough what they were doing to us but even worse would be to have no income. In those days you could be fired for anything or nothing and could not say a word about it. I saw this happen with many workers at the factory. We had no benefits as people do today and only were given Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day off, without pay. If there was a special order and they worked on Saturday you received your regular salary, no overtime. We were paid once a week in cash and you prayed the entire morning that the boss would not cheat you. What he gave you was it and if you complained, you were fired on the spot. I was shortchanged a few times but dared not say a word. There was also no vacation time. The motto of this factory was "no work, no pay." I always wondered why the people in this factory were mostly young. I was told it was because that once you got older, you just could not take this type of work. The bosses did not like to hire anyone over 40, as they could not keep up.

It was at this time that the union movement was making great progress into these factories. Many in the union movement were really trying to help us. Since I could read and write English, it was easier for me to get out of that place. A friend of mine had spoken to someone at the union office in Paterson and he came to my house. This kind man asked if I thought I could learn to keep various accounts in books. I told him that I would try my best and would learn anything I was taught. In a few days my father told me to go to a silk mill by the River Street Bridge. I spoke with the man and to my surprise he said to report the following Monday. This new job paid much more than I was getting after many years in the jute mill (and where I never saw a raise) and, had a union! When this man told me of the benefits that were to be given (paid holidays, raises, and better working conditions) I thought I was dreaming! The next day I went to the jute mill only long enough to get my pay. While leaving I took a last look at this horrid place. My heart was so heavy for those who had no choice but to remain under those terrible conditions. Sometimes I wonder what happened to all those poor people. I wished that they also could leave this factory and find something better but they had no choice at that time. Later, all of these factories became unionized and I am sure those bosses did not like that one bit. After I was working for a few years in the silk mill I heard the jute mill closed and moved away as they did not want the union. For myself, I was happy the union helped to get rid of that sad place. Maybe the people who had to work there found better jobs in the city. I always hoped that they did find a job where they were treated more decently than we ever were at that jute mill.  

Slovak Wine Processing

by, John Mihalik

Many countries have been producers of quality wine and Slovakia is no exception. Exposure to Slovak wine has been limited on an international scale. The area surrounding the Carpathian Mountains has been producing many quality wines for centuries. The Carpathian Wine Road as it is named winds along the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains. This region is known as the "Male Karpaty" or, the Little Carpathian Mountains. The soil here is excellent for processing quality wine. Production in this area has a long history and grapevines are a common sight. It is estimated that wine production began in this region approximately 2,000 years ago. Wine production is believed to have been first introduced by the Roman army. The Carpathian Wine Road was labeled due to its use as a main transportation route. The Roman army and merchants used this road to distribute their wines. During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this road was a major route which brought wines to Hungary, Austria and all over Europe. Life in this region revolves around wine making and many families have a wine cellar. Beer and spirits are popular in Slovakia but, wine is just as important. Some families are truly skilled and have become expert winemakers. Processing techniques along with long held skills are passed from one generation to the next which makes local based wines exquisite.

There are many famous towns in Slovakia identified with Wine. Some of these towns are Pezinok, Modra, Jur and Limbach. The town of Pezinok has over 150 commercial wine makers and businesses. Penzinok was recognized by the monarchy for its wine and was granted many rights due to its quality products. There is a wine museum called "Malokarpatkse muzeum" (Small Carpathian Museum) located in Penzinok with many interesting exhibits. Penzinok is also the residence of the Penzinok Wine Company, a leader in the manufacturing of various Slovak wine. Also located in Pezinok is the Zamocka wine cellar and local wines are sold near this building. Another important town is Modra which is close to Penzinok. This lovely town offers a few wine gardens along with buildings of graceful architecture. There is a stunning castle outside of Modra called "Cerveny Kamen" (Red Rock). A visit to this castle offers a tour of the massive wine cellars which are truly fascinating. Viticulture is an important aspect of Slovak agriculture. The quality wines found in Slovakia are endless. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the diverse wines which are produced. There are many areas of Slovakia which make wine either as a full time profession or for personal use. Slovak wines have been represented at many international festivals and events including the Wine Competition in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Many awards have been won and the Tokaj region near Slovenske Nove Mesto was named for a number of awards. During the months of August until October there are many Slovak Grape Harvests or festivals held. Wines in Slovakia are made from both white and red grapes. There are also many old adages attached to wine making in Slovakia such as "Life is too short to drink bad wine."Slovak wines have not achieved broad international exposure due to the importation of wines from other countries. Since Slovakia is a new Republic, it will take time for the various brands of Slovak wine to be known internationally. Once the various brands gain better exposure, Slovak wine will most assuredly take its place among the finest wines produced by many countries.

There are many brand names of Slovak wine along with homemade versions which, can be very popular in village areas. Some of the more popular names are Plesecka Leanka, Veltlinske Zelene, Burgunske Biele, Rizling Rynsky, Frankovka Modra, Tokaj and Tramin Cerveny. These wines all have their own distinct personality and tastes. Wine produced in the village regions are surprising at times as, without knowing, an individual may think they are sampling an international brand. Wine production is a lengthy process and takes expert skill of the senses. After the grapes are gathered (all by hand in the villages) the grapes are then placed in a grape mill. This mill may or may not be capped and then, a lever is moved to crush the grapes. After the juice is collected in a barrel it is then put into a warm place to ferment. An old custom is to take a lit candle into the wine cellar to see if the wine is fermenting properly. The fermentation process distributes carbon monoxide and when enough of this gas fills the air, a candle will loose its flame. It is this simple test that a villager will know his wine is fermenting properly. The wine is left in the cellar for approximately three weeks and finally, will become "new wine" (Burchiak in Slovak). This process has been practiced within the villages in Slovakia for centuries. If a village or town was located in a region with good soil (sand and clay make for good vineyards) the crop of grapes can be very abundant. The quality of wine depends upon the period of time it is left to "age." Some wines are ready for use after a few weeks but others are not touched for a year or more.

Those in villages generally tend to make 5 or more gallons of wine at a time. The reason for this is if you are going to make wine, it is best to make enough. If a small amount of wine is made the risk is high that oxidation can occur if the storage conditions are not correct. Starting with a larger batch of wine increases successful results. From a batch of 5 gallons a villager can see a finished product of 20 to 25 bottles of wine. This amount can give the family a few bottles of wine for personal use while having some product to sell. Skill is necessary for the successful production of these locally based wines. If a wine is too sweet, most times the reason is a high sugar content present in the preparation of the mixture. A common problem that is found with an over sweetened wine is low alcohol content. When this complication occurs, the cause was a premature fermentation of the wine. There are also many other difficulties that can plague wine making such as yeast destruction, darkening of the wine and acidification, which is when wine turns to vinegar. To avoid these potential problems, the wine maker must be experienced. For centuries, many villages have produced fine wines and taken this product to larger towns for sale at the markets. Some prefer wine produced in the village or town areas instead of wine that is mass produced by large businesses. Many families have adopted wine making as their family tradition. These traditions have been passed from generation to generation. Knowledge of wine making not only helps grace the families dinner table but, is also a source of financial assistance.

Surnames

by, David Kuchta

What I'm writing today is about our family "Surnames." If you think about it, surnames of families are one sided and very chauvinistic. Of course, this is only my opinion! For those that aren't quite sure what "surnames," are I will explain or the entire article will sound Greek to some. Your family's last name is your "surname." As you know, it is the males name. The surnames of you married gals are excluded as far as last names go! Some of you might be wondering just were and when did these surnames originate. Many names originated from the occupations of the man of the family, or from the area he lived in, certain characteristics of the person, like tall, small, heavy, etc. An example of this would be if your family was Slavic and if you were tall your name could end up as Velky. If you were small it could be Maly. If you were a carpenter or wood worker that name would be incorporated into you surname. My name Kuchta (cook-ta) would refer to cook or kitchen. In Great Britain, many names are derived as "son of," and Germans have a lot of names from the occupations that there fore fathers did. At this point you may be wondering just who gave these people their names. As you may suspect most of the poor or average people centuries ago didn't write. Many were illiterate. So many names were given to the people by the large landowners, who owned most of the land. During those days many of the people were serfs or peasants. As they were given tracts of land to farm for the big landowners they had to keep track of the workers by names. Also, as areas started to tax the people they had to keep track of them. Many Priests probably contributed names to some of their parishioners. These names stuck with the families down through the years. Some people also ended up with names that were a little strange or odd. This was because the person; the town's officials or large landlords who owned all the land wanted to be funny or cute. Yes, we can call this a trifle facetious. But the names stuck with the people.

I myself have traced my father and mother's surname back to the 1700's. This is where the chauvinistic business comes into play. Each generation on my father's side are Kuchta's, but when I trace my mother's side of the family, each generation has a different surname. Going back to the 1700's there could be as many as six or seven different surnames. When you take each generation, your grandmother on your mother or fathers' side, they also had a different surname. This is what makes researching your "family tree," so interesting. But in the same case it can become very mind-boggling! Of course in this day and age with all the divorces and remarriage some children don't have the faintest idea of what is going on. It does blow their minds! When I think of it, I think all women should also carry their name along with the husband's name. My wife's official name should be Theresa Robin Kuchta. It's only fair! Sometimes, ancestors used extra names also. My great-great-great grandfather utilized a double name. At this point I have to surmise why? There could be several reasons. If he married a woman that had a wealthy or famous family, he would incorporate her name with his. In the same instance if he married a women and moved into her father's home he would once again incorporate her fathers name with his name so people knew where he lived. This is also were nicknames came about. Nicknames also differentiated the difference of people having the same first and last names. Also, in the same town you could have many people who had the same surnames, like Smith, Brown or Miller in America. So people would know which Smith, Brown or Miller a person was, he would add or change his name to separate himself from the rest of the people with the same name. In some cases he would just use a nickname.

Doing genealogy research (a family tree) is both fun and exciting. Learning about your ancestors and your past unveils some of the secrets or mystery about your families past. Most young people couldn't care less but as we age, we start to wonder about our past. This is the sad part of doing genealogy too late in life, because as your grandparents die off, a lot of important information about your families past dies with them. This is when genealogy becomes a real challenge. Your children taking their father's name and disregarding the mother's name is wrong. This also shows up with a father naming the male children after himself. We end up with John, Tom or whomever as one, two, three, etc. When talking about any of these family members you have to use nicknames or someone might not know which family member you are referring to. We do have to admit that moms have a lot to do with contributing in making a family. So, I feel why shouldn't her name be right up there with her husbands surname?If you have a family, now is the time to make a "family tree," so that future generations have a better idea of who your family ancestors were. Above all, by tracing back your mother's surnames, you will really be surprised how many family surnames are involved with your past!

Photos taken in Eastern Slovakia, Ukraine, & Southern Poland

Wayside Shrines or Wayside Statues

by, David Kuchta

"Wayside Shrines," is something that we are seeing more and more. The first one that I saw was up along a path or road going up the side of the Broad Mountain, located in the beautiful Hauto Valley, in Pennsylvania. Someone made a shrine, and placed religious statues, flowers and even a vigil light there for years and years. Then about eight or more years ago, I saw where someone was killed along route 309, at the bottom of the Hometown hill in Tamaqua. Someone put flowers there and then started putting wreaths at Christmas time. This is something that is starting to escalate around our area here in North East PA. Where a local women got killed along route 54, the friends or family started putting up fancy bows on the tree where she met her demise.

When asking around about this, I found out that many people think that the place a person dies is where the spirit leaves the body. This to some is more important then where they bury the person.

All this reminded me that while traveling throughout Slovakia this past summer, I would see off and on statues or crosses about three or four feet tall, erected along roads, or off in a field in the middle no where. Sometimes they were along a road, sometimes, near the entrance to villages or towns and all had flowers planted at the base of the statue or, had cut flowers in a vase in front of the monument. These shrines were erected by many different heritages in many different areas, they were built and maintained by Slovaks, Ruthneians, Polish, Hungarians, Ukrainians and Czechs. All seemed to have participated in this practice which still continues until the present day.

At that time, I didn't know what it was all about or if the statues were angels, saints, cherubs or whatever. I did read that during the counter-reformation period of European history that various religious objects, which included statues of saints, standing on pedestals were usually placed on bridges, in front of entrance gateways that were used to protect the settlements that were built. I posted the question of what these statues meant, to a genealogical organization that I belong to. Here are some of the answers I received. When you read them, I think you will see that this idea, is where the local "wayside shrines," that we are seeing in our area, in Slovakia and Eastern Europe, came from.

One person claims that it seems this is a Germanic Catholic phenomenon. "Way Saints," and mostly "Way Crosses, and the Holy Virgins, have been erected in fields, pathways, valleys, mountain tops and other locations for more than a millennium. The first ones seem to have been directed by the order of "Otto 1," to commemorate his first crusade to the East. There are very few left in the northern areas of Europe, probably because of the 30 years war, but they are extremely common in outside of Eastern Europe such as in Bavaria and Austria. The Holy Virgin is by far the most common statue. Many of the crosses and virgins are quite old and have been unfortunately stolen for resale in the west. 

Another member of our organization by the name of Joe Armata passed this on to me. He had read a Polish book about "Wayside Shrines," in Poland. It seems that they have all kinds of reasons why they were erected¼to mark a spot where someone was killed or a body was found, to mark a grave (suicides or unknown murder victims were often buried on the spot that they were found.) They were also erected to fulfill a vow made to God, in thanksgiving for someone's recovery from illness or to commemorate some tragic or joyful happening.

They were also built to "bribe" a favor from God or a saint. If a place was rumored to be haunted by evil spirits, it was a good place to set up a shrine of some kind. Crossroads were often thought to be haunted, so shrines were often set up there. Some were also set up near places believed to be holy, especially waterfalls, springs, or a tree struck by lightning. Many shrines were also set up to mourn the loss of a loved one or to avert a plague. Saddest of all, the author saw some shrines erected during the cholera epidemics that wiped out entire villages. Villagers would flee the village into the forests and then erect a shrine there begging that they would be spared. Some of the shrines could still be found deep in the forest, in the middle of nowhere, with inscriptions pleading for mercy and deliverance from the epidemic. This authors note: When you think about it, this was the safest place for them to be to get away from any plague that struck the villages. If no one was carrying the disease that causes cholera or the plague, it wouldn't spread among those that took off for the deep forests.

Along Route 209 between Nesquehoning and Lansford, PA such a "Wayside Shrine," is being maintained. This is where a motorcyclist was killed. Since his death, there have been wreaths, crosses and flowers placed there. Even live flowers are planted there in his memory. A beautiful wreath made in the shape of a motorcycle is also placed there. Now, Dear Readers, we have an idea of where these "Wayside Shrines," originated from and also some of the purposes of erecting them. Funny how so many practices that are found in the former homelands of our ancestors are also here in America for us to see in our modern age.

_{From the Carpathian Religious Graphics Collection}

_{of David M. Mastroberte}

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