The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 3
Summer 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK--- A Village Community In Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: As with previous entries, I wish to give special thanks to Sherrie Stahl for all her work in making this possible. She recognized the need to preserve our history early enough to capture valuable information while many of our ancestors from Brunnental were still living—that otherwise might have been lost forever.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 10)
The orphan children in the village were also well cared for… Some men took the children and taught them a trade an din this way made money for himself. For example, if the man taught a boy carpentry, this boy learned by doing, and any furniture he produced was the property of the teacher who in turn sold the wares. (MY NOTES: David Ehlenberger was a very skilled carpenter and woodworker, as is my father, George Brooks.)
…Not only was there mutual aid within the village but there was also cooperation between the villages of the county. Three men in each village were appointed to calculate the worth of each homestead in the village. These figures were then reported to the county officials who in turn assessed each village according to the worth of their homesteads. This money was kept as an insurance for the county (mutual insurance). Then in case of a fire, storm, or any other sort destructing element, the county relied upon this money to pay for the losses. This was the only means of this sort for protecting the property of the village people.
When we consider the instinct of self-preservation which is a part of every person’s make-up, it is not at all difficult to understand why the people took the precautions they seem to have taken.
(CHAPTER IV, THE HOME)
The average homestead in Frank covered an area of a quarter of a block, the homes being built on the corners facing the wide street. Most of the houses were built of wood but there were also others made of stone or brick. Some of the stone houses have stood for over a hundred years without crumbling. Of course, the wood used for frame work, not strong enough to stand up under the war and tear, had to be replaced from time to time. This framework probably had to be changed every twenty or twenty-vie years.
The average house included a porch, a Krielitz (inside porch), the Kuche (kitchen), and two large living rooms, the attic and the cellar. When the occupants living in the house multiplied to such a degree that it was impossible for them all to live in two rooms, a third room was usually built on the house which was occupied by the head of the family and what unmarried children he happened to have. When the family grew too large to live in three rooms, the father had to find a home for his oldest son and his family, unless the son was able to look out for himself. Sometimes the father built his son’s house in the garden instead of buying a new lot. In this way the family was kept together and the father was still head of the family, the son taking orders from him. If the son moved outside his father’s homestead, he became head of his family.
…The outdoor porch was used to gather for gossiping during the summer evenings. The Krielitz was an inner porch in which was kept a barrel of fresh water which was used for cooking and drinking purposes. Sometimes the stairs leading up the attic were found in this little hallway, though they may have been on the outside as were the stairs leading to the cellar. During the winter, the Krielitz grew so cold that the family was forced to move the barrel of water into the living room in order to keep it from freezing. In the Kuche the cooking was done during the winter time. Here was a stove, an oven, a fireplace, the doors for the stoves of the living room and also the drafts of smoke holes. The ceiling slanted upward, and directly in the center was an opening out of which escaped the smoke and steam escaping from the fire and food being cooked. This hole was never closed unless someone climbed on the roof and stuffed it with straw. Sometimes this cruel method of revenge was used by some spiteful persons, or maybe some young boys in trying to be ornery closed the outlet. If this was done, and the fire was built in any of the stoves, the house immediately filled with smoke and everyone was forced out of the rooms until the hole in the roof was again opened.
(To be continued…)
Friday, February 27, 2009
The village Frank (6)
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 3
Summer 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK--- A Village Community In Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: As with previous entries, I wish to give special thanks to Sherrie for all her work in making this possible. She recognized the need to preserve our history early enough to capture valuable information while many of our ancestors from Brunnental were still living—that otherwise might have been lost forever.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 9)
(CHAPTER III, MUTUAL AID)
…A woman during childbirth was always fortunate in having plenty of women near her to aid in housework and cooking. The neighbor women took turns in the cooking the meals, cleaning the house, laundering the clothes, and other work about the home. During the time of confinement, they made special feasts for her. There was not a physician in Frank, so the people chose a woman whom they thought would be able to help the mother during the birth of her child. This woman had no actual training or experience and many times the people objected. This often resulted in a serious matter. During any sort of slight illness, the neighbors would come in and offer to help by telling what was done for similar cases in the past. Then they put the patient in bed for a good sweat. Many of the people would not take medicine; they put their trust in their God. The neighbors cooked a special food and brought it to the sick person. If a doctor was absolutely necessary, he had to be called from Saratof. If it was necessary for the patient to be taken to a hospital, he had to be transferred to Saratof. During the winter months, the trip had to be made by sled which was a very uncomfortable and dangerous ride. At least two persons accompanied the patient, but the winters were so very cold that only by a miracle did the patient get to the hospital alive.
The men were also very cooperative whenever opportunity afforded itself. They took turns at watching for fires from the lookout. One man was on duty for one night and another watched during day. A shift was made every twelve hours. Twice a year someone inspected the houses to insure against the breaking out of fires. If a fire was discovered, a man ran to the schoolhouse and rang the fire bell. All the people came to the scene of the fire prepared to do all they could to extinguish it.
…The men also took turns as night watchmen. These watchmen looked for thieves, men as well as wolves. Each family was required to do its share of watching. If there were no men in the family, the mother either got a substitute or went herself. If she had a child to care for, she strapped it on her back and took it along. The watchman walked up and down the street and as he passed the window of each house, he knocked on it with a club and called out, “Nacht Wacht” (night watch) so that the people were assured of his being on duty. If the watchman caught any thieves or prowlers, he put in an alarm and the whole village was aroused. This usually caused so much excitement that no one slept any more during that night.
When a dam needed to be built or streets and bridges needed repairing, the men of the village took time off to make these repairs. They also worked together in digging wells to supply drinking water.
The people even cooperated with the swine, cattle, sheep, and horse herders. Each family drove its own cattle to the side street where they were gathered together by the herders and taken to the pastures. As the herders walked along the street gathering together the cattle, they cracked their whips and blew their horns so that the people knew they were coming and could get their cattle out. The cows were the first to be gathered together, then came the calves, then the swine. The horses and sheep remained in the fields all summer; those who wanted them before the summer was over had to go to the fields and drive them in. The herders were paid by the people, each family paying so much grain per animal. As for the geese, the people owning them had to take care of them. There were no hired geese herders.
(To be continued…)
Volume 22, Number 3
Summer 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK--- A Village Community In Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: As with previous entries, I wish to give special thanks to Sherrie for all her work in making this possible. She recognized the need to preserve our history early enough to capture valuable information while many of our ancestors from Brunnental were still living—that otherwise might have been lost forever.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 9)
(CHAPTER III, MUTUAL AID)
…A woman during childbirth was always fortunate in having plenty of women near her to aid in housework and cooking. The neighbor women took turns in the cooking the meals, cleaning the house, laundering the clothes, and other work about the home. During the time of confinement, they made special feasts for her. There was not a physician in Frank, so the people chose a woman whom they thought would be able to help the mother during the birth of her child. This woman had no actual training or experience and many times the people objected. This often resulted in a serious matter. During any sort of slight illness, the neighbors would come in and offer to help by telling what was done for similar cases in the past. Then they put the patient in bed for a good sweat. Many of the people would not take medicine; they put their trust in their God. The neighbors cooked a special food and brought it to the sick person. If a doctor was absolutely necessary, he had to be called from Saratof. If it was necessary for the patient to be taken to a hospital, he had to be transferred to Saratof. During the winter months, the trip had to be made by sled which was a very uncomfortable and dangerous ride. At least two persons accompanied the patient, but the winters were so very cold that only by a miracle did the patient get to the hospital alive.
The men were also very cooperative whenever opportunity afforded itself. They took turns at watching for fires from the lookout. One man was on duty for one night and another watched during day. A shift was made every twelve hours. Twice a year someone inspected the houses to insure against the breaking out of fires. If a fire was discovered, a man ran to the schoolhouse and rang the fire bell. All the people came to the scene of the fire prepared to do all they could to extinguish it.
…The men also took turns as night watchmen. These watchmen looked for thieves, men as well as wolves. Each family was required to do its share of watching. If there were no men in the family, the mother either got a substitute or went herself. If she had a child to care for, she strapped it on her back and took it along. The watchman walked up and down the street and as he passed the window of each house, he knocked on it with a club and called out, “Nacht Wacht” (night watch) so that the people were assured of his being on duty. If the watchman caught any thieves or prowlers, he put in an alarm and the whole village was aroused. This usually caused so much excitement that no one slept any more during that night.
When a dam needed to be built or streets and bridges needed repairing, the men of the village took time off to make these repairs. They also worked together in digging wells to supply drinking water.
The people even cooperated with the swine, cattle, sheep, and horse herders. Each family drove its own cattle to the side street where they were gathered together by the herders and taken to the pastures. As the herders walked along the street gathering together the cattle, they cracked their whips and blew their horns so that the people knew they were coming and could get their cattle out. The cows were the first to be gathered together, then came the calves, then the swine. The horses and sheep remained in the fields all summer; those who wanted them before the summer was over had to go to the fields and drive them in. The herders were paid by the people, each family paying so much grain per animal. As for the geese, the people owning them had to take care of them. There were no hired geese herders.
(To be continued…)
The village Frank (5)
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 3
Summer 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK--- A Village Community In Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: As with previous entries, I wish to give special thanks to Sherrie Stahl for all her work in making this possible. She recognized the need to preserve our history early enough to capture valuable information while many of our ancestors from Brunnental were still living—that otherwise might have been lost forever.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 8)
When anyone wished to leave for America or any other country, it was necessary for him to go to Saratof for a permit. Upon receiving his permit, he bought a passport. He sold all his personal belongings, also his home, pocketed the money and his responsibilities to the community were ended.
This was not the case when a person moved out of the village into another village of Russia. He went to the Mayer and received a permit which permitted him to move. The Mayor made sure that this person had no debts to pay and if he had, he could not leave unless he had made some sort of an agreement for paying this debt. Even though the man did move to another village he still retained al the rights of a home citizen. He also paid his share of the taxes which was two or three Rubles. (One Ruble was worth forty-seven cents in American money, while Kopek was money which was numbered according to what is was worth).
When it was time for the village to redivide the land among the male citizens, those men who had moved out of the village came back for their share of land. If he had any boys who were born in the village to which he moved, he reported the number born to the council and these boys also received an equal share of land.
This redivision of land took place about every twelve years or sooner, but they were never made in less than five year intervals. When it was time to redivide the land, every able male met at the court house to draw lots. Each male in the village received an equal share of the land. If a baby boy was born the day before redistribution of the land, he received as much land as any other male, but the baby boy born the day after came a little too late for his share and was obliged to wait for the next redistribution.
The Mayor also submitted permits for those wishing to be married for those wishing to go to a big city such as Moscow. On the permit which allows the person to go to Moscow was written the following information: name, home village, destination, date of leaving village, expected date of return, reason for going to Moscow, and other personal data. This made it easier for the village when he finally got to Moscow. After he had showed the permit to the Mayor of the city, he was not looked upon with suspicion.
For each male in the village a certain amount of grain had to be put into the Magazien each year. This grain was then used in cases of emergency such as a famine or in case a very poor family needed food.
All the mail coming into the village or leaving the village went through the hands of the authorities at Saratof. The mailman, who was employed by the state, came to Frank about once a week. No one ever thought of sending a letter to a person living in the same village as he himself lived, since the news could be carried personally much sooner than by mail. There were also no newspapers. If there had been, they would have probably closed up within a month’s time since news was carried by mouth faster than any press could print on paper.
(To be continued...)
Volume 22, Number 3
Summer 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK--- A Village Community In Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: As with previous entries, I wish to give special thanks to Sherrie Stahl for all her work in making this possible. She recognized the need to preserve our history early enough to capture valuable information while many of our ancestors from Brunnental were still living—that otherwise might have been lost forever.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 8)
When anyone wished to leave for America or any other country, it was necessary for him to go to Saratof for a permit. Upon receiving his permit, he bought a passport. He sold all his personal belongings, also his home, pocketed the money and his responsibilities to the community were ended.
This was not the case when a person moved out of the village into another village of Russia. He went to the Mayer and received a permit which permitted him to move. The Mayor made sure that this person had no debts to pay and if he had, he could not leave unless he had made some sort of an agreement for paying this debt. Even though the man did move to another village he still retained al the rights of a home citizen. He also paid his share of the taxes which was two or three Rubles. (One Ruble was worth forty-seven cents in American money, while Kopek was money which was numbered according to what is was worth).
When it was time for the village to redivide the land among the male citizens, those men who had moved out of the village came back for their share of land. If he had any boys who were born in the village to which he moved, he reported the number born to the council and these boys also received an equal share of land.
This redivision of land took place about every twelve years or sooner, but they were never made in less than five year intervals. When it was time to redivide the land, every able male met at the court house to draw lots. Each male in the village received an equal share of the land. If a baby boy was born the day before redistribution of the land, he received as much land as any other male, but the baby boy born the day after came a little too late for his share and was obliged to wait for the next redistribution.
The Mayor also submitted permits for those wishing to be married for those wishing to go to a big city such as Moscow. On the permit which allows the person to go to Moscow was written the following information: name, home village, destination, date of leaving village, expected date of return, reason for going to Moscow, and other personal data. This made it easier for the village when he finally got to Moscow. After he had showed the permit to the Mayor of the city, he was not looked upon with suspicion.
For each male in the village a certain amount of grain had to be put into the Magazien each year. This grain was then used in cases of emergency such as a famine or in case a very poor family needed food.
All the mail coming into the village or leaving the village went through the hands of the authorities at Saratof. The mailman, who was employed by the state, came to Frank about once a week. No one ever thought of sending a letter to a person living in the same village as he himself lived, since the news could be carried personally much sooner than by mail. There were also no newspapers. If there had been, they would have probably closed up within a month’s time since news was carried by mouth faster than any press could print on paper.
(To be continued...)
The village Frank (4)
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpted)
(Page 10)
Also near the river, covering an area of about four blocks, was the Mark (fair grounds). Here, each year about the time of Kerb, wares of all kinds were sold. The weekly markets were held in the streets surrounding the churchyard.
The cemetery was not in the churchyard as would be expected but instead we find it located on the east end of town. The old one was on the west side. Each grave was marked by a wooden cross with the name of the dead person, the date of his birth, and the date of his death written on the cross bar. It is believed that there was one time a cemetery on the west side of town. During the process of playing on the western slope, the children dug up old bones and relics of human beings.
A little farther east of the new cemetery, on the slopes of Muhl Berg was the community slaughter grounds.
The wells from which some of the drinking water was taken were four feet square and from fifteen to twenty feet deep. There were several of these wells on the north end of town.
The Frucht Garden were on all sides of the village except the river side. They were plots of land used for cleaning the grain. Some people built sheds on these places in which they stored their agricultural tools. Beyond the Frucht Garden were the fields.
There were several roads leading from Frank to the other villages. The Stein Weg leading from the northeast side of town went to the Russian villages off to the northeast. Then on the east side was the road which lead over Stein Weg Berg to Kolb, while on the north side was the road to Walter. The road to Frank Chutor began after crossing the bridge which went over the Medwediza river. This road was very rough and wound in and out between the trees. It was quite an uncomfortable ride to and from Frank Chutor, but after considering the roads of the other villages, those of Frank were quite well cared for.
…None of these villages were nearly as well organized as was that of Frank. About the years 1890 and 1892 there were ten thousand inhabitants of Frank and most of them could trace their ancestors back to the very first settlers.
(MY NOTES: The next chapter in this article is “CHAPTER II, GOVERNMENT” which I will not include at this time, but may include it in the future.)
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpted)
(Page 10)
Also near the river, covering an area of about four blocks, was the Mark (fair grounds). Here, each year about the time of Kerb, wares of all kinds were sold. The weekly markets were held in the streets surrounding the churchyard.
The cemetery was not in the churchyard as would be expected but instead we find it located on the east end of town. The old one was on the west side. Each grave was marked by a wooden cross with the name of the dead person, the date of his birth, and the date of his death written on the cross bar. It is believed that there was one time a cemetery on the west side of town. During the process of playing on the western slope, the children dug up old bones and relics of human beings.
A little farther east of the new cemetery, on the slopes of Muhl Berg was the community slaughter grounds.
The wells from which some of the drinking water was taken were four feet square and from fifteen to twenty feet deep. There were several of these wells on the north end of town.
The Frucht Garden were on all sides of the village except the river side. They were plots of land used for cleaning the grain. Some people built sheds on these places in which they stored their agricultural tools. Beyond the Frucht Garden were the fields.
There were several roads leading from Frank to the other villages. The Stein Weg leading from the northeast side of town went to the Russian villages off to the northeast. Then on the east side was the road which lead over Stein Weg Berg to Kolb, while on the north side was the road to Walter. The road to Frank Chutor began after crossing the bridge which went over the Medwediza river. This road was very rough and wound in and out between the trees. It was quite an uncomfortable ride to and from Frank Chutor, but after considering the roads of the other villages, those of Frank were quite well cared for.
…None of these villages were nearly as well organized as was that of Frank. About the years 1890 and 1892 there were ten thousand inhabitants of Frank and most of them could trace their ancestors back to the very first settlers.
(MY NOTES: The next chapter in this article is “CHAPTER II, GOVERNMENT” which I will not include at this time, but may include it in the future.)
The village Frank (3)
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank" also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpted)
(Page 9)
The village church was located at the end of the widest street on the river side of town. The blocks on the north and south sides of the church were but half the normal area of the average blocks. The church, which was the only one in the village, was built of pine wood and had two towers projecting from the top; the front tower was the largest and contained three bells. Surrounding the church was a beautiful lawn which was bordered by shrubbery and trees, the whole yard being enclosed by a white picket fence of pine wood. It is said that the biggest tower of the church could be seen five miles away.
Diagonally northeast of the church was the two-story schoolhouse, containing six rooms, where six hundred children were instructed at one time. The half block directly north of the church was the property upon which the parsonage was built. This was an eight-room brick structure setting directly in the center of the space it occupied. Tall poplars surrounded the house and beyond these was a big orchard which contained apple trees, cherry trees, damson plum trees, and others. Across the street west of the church was the nine-room brick Kreis Ampt (county court house) next to which stood the Budka (jail) which was nothing more than a mere shack. Next to the Budka was the brick post office. The village courthouse was about four blocks east of the church and next to it was the fire station. In the fire station three water wagons, from six to nine horses, and three or four hoses and carts. Along with the fire station was a high tower which was used as a lookout for fires.
(Page 10)
The schoolmaster lived in the brick house located in half of the half block south of the church. The rest of the space was taken up by the two-story cedar-wood prayer house which was used instead of the church during the winter months.
There were two flour mills, one on each side of the dam. The mill on the east side belonged to the community while the other was privately owned. It seems that this was the second community mill. There were also several privately owned oil mills. The one near the church was not used during the later years due to the fact that the earth broke away because of the continuous overflow of the river.
There were several stores in the village, most of them being located in the district around the church. This part of the town was known as the business district. Of course, there were also stores located in different parts of the village, and some people had stores in the front rooms of their homes, instead of building a separate building. These stores sold dry goods, sugar, tea, coffee, and spices; things that the people could not themselves produce. The Magzien (community store house) was located about a block north of the new cemetery. Here was stored the grain which was used in case of emergency.
The five or six blacksmiths located down near the village were privately owned. The reason for their being near the river was probably for protection against fires. Since hot fires were used in the shops, there was much more chance for fire breaking out and because no other buildings were near the blacksmith, there was not much chance for fire spreading over the whole village.
The brick yards were also private concerns. There was but one brick yard until about 1903. This brick yard was located on the northwest side of town and covered an area of about two blocks. About 1903 a new brick yard was built on the north east side of town. Both these yards belonged to one family. Near this latter brick yard was a big apple orchard. We find similar orchards located all around the edge of the village. Even though the people had orchards in their back yards, only enough fruit was raised there to supply for the immediate needs of the family. One of the biggest orchards in the town was down near the end of the river just where it turned west. Here were planted non other than apple trees, and during the ripening season, the trees were literally loaded with big juicy apples, which had to be guarded day and night if the owner expected to have any to store for winter use.
(To be continued…)
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank" also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpted)
(Page 9)
The village church was located at the end of the widest street on the river side of town. The blocks on the north and south sides of the church were but half the normal area of the average blocks. The church, which was the only one in the village, was built of pine wood and had two towers projecting from the top; the front tower was the largest and contained three bells. Surrounding the church was a beautiful lawn which was bordered by shrubbery and trees, the whole yard being enclosed by a white picket fence of pine wood. It is said that the biggest tower of the church could be seen five miles away.
Diagonally northeast of the church was the two-story schoolhouse, containing six rooms, where six hundred children were instructed at one time. The half block directly north of the church was the property upon which the parsonage was built. This was an eight-room brick structure setting directly in the center of the space it occupied. Tall poplars surrounded the house and beyond these was a big orchard which contained apple trees, cherry trees, damson plum trees, and others. Across the street west of the church was the nine-room brick Kreis Ampt (county court house) next to which stood the Budka (jail) which was nothing more than a mere shack. Next to the Budka was the brick post office. The village courthouse was about four blocks east of the church and next to it was the fire station. In the fire station three water wagons, from six to nine horses, and three or four hoses and carts. Along with the fire station was a high tower which was used as a lookout for fires.
(Page 10)
The schoolmaster lived in the brick house located in half of the half block south of the church. The rest of the space was taken up by the two-story cedar-wood prayer house which was used instead of the church during the winter months.
There were two flour mills, one on each side of the dam. The mill on the east side belonged to the community while the other was privately owned. It seems that this was the second community mill. There were also several privately owned oil mills. The one near the church was not used during the later years due to the fact that the earth broke away because of the continuous overflow of the river.
There were several stores in the village, most of them being located in the district around the church. This part of the town was known as the business district. Of course, there were also stores located in different parts of the village, and some people had stores in the front rooms of their homes, instead of building a separate building. These stores sold dry goods, sugar, tea, coffee, and spices; things that the people could not themselves produce. The Magzien (community store house) was located about a block north of the new cemetery. Here was stored the grain which was used in case of emergency.
The five or six blacksmiths located down near the village were privately owned. The reason for their being near the river was probably for protection against fires. Since hot fires were used in the shops, there was much more chance for fire breaking out and because no other buildings were near the blacksmith, there was not much chance for fire spreading over the whole village.
The brick yards were also private concerns. There was but one brick yard until about 1903. This brick yard was located on the northwest side of town and covered an area of about two blocks. About 1903 a new brick yard was built on the north east side of town. Both these yards belonged to one family. Near this latter brick yard was a big apple orchard. We find similar orchards located all around the edge of the village. Even though the people had orchards in their back yards, only enough fruit was raised there to supply for the immediate needs of the family. One of the biggest orchards in the town was down near the end of the river just where it turned west. Here were planted non other than apple trees, and during the ripening season, the trees were literally loaded with big juicy apples, which had to be guarded day and night if the owner expected to have any to store for winter use.
(To be continued…)
The village Frank (2)
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank" also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpted)
(Page 9)
The fields were located on the hillsides and in the lower places between the hills; in fact, they were everywhere where it was at all possible to do any sort of agricultural work. One plot was called a Sotnick. Each Sotnick was divided into four Desedien and Desedien was divided into five or more strips. The strips were not all the same size, but most of them were about seventy feet wide and three hundred and fifty feet long. In some instances these were further divided into strips two and three-four acres of land.
The meadow and pasture lands were located along the river and ditches. The cattle also fed upon the fallow land which was that land which had been used for agricultural purposes for two years and was at the time lying idle. The Born-Wiese was the meadow land which gave clear water with digging. This land was located upon the southeast side of the town. If the men were in the meadow and grew thirsty, all that was necessary for them to do to quench their thirst was scratch the earth with their hands and then lie on their faces. During the first years in which Frank was being populated, it is believed that there was a mill located here on the Born-Wiese which was run by water power; but after the land had drained to such a great extent, the mill was moved to another site.
About one-third of the land in the Colony was forest and of the remainder, one-tenth was pasture and meadow. There was much forest land which was private property but there was also that which belonged to the community. In the hills and along the Medwediza River were the forests.
The river varied in width. At the mill dam, it was four blocks wide, while at the bridge it was but one block wide. The bridge was about four hundred feet long and about sixteen feet wide, while the bridges crossing the ditch on the north and east sides were only about one hundred feet long and fourteen feet wide.
When the ice melted in the spring, the river rose so high that the blacksmith shops located along the banks became full of water and the men were not able to carry on their work. The ground, three Werst on either side of the river “swam” with water. At such a time, all the ditches had quite a little water in them.
During the winter, it was soo [sic] terribly cold that the people were either forced keep a fire in their animal sheds or bring the young and weaker animals into the house, if they wished to keep them from freezing. If anyone wished to look out of the window, he had to breathe a little peaking hole on the glass in order to be able to see through it.
That part of Frank upon which the homes were built was from twenty-five to thirty feet higher than the level of the river. The village seems to have been planned very carefully. The blocks which were longer ran north and south, and were approximately three hundred and thirty-six feet long and two hundred and ten feet wide (336’ x 210’). The streets were of two widths, the wide and the narrow streets. Through the center of the village running east and west was the widest street of the whole village; this being about seventy-feet in width. A few blocks north was another wide street. This street and two others located on the south end of town were about sixty feet wide. These four streets were the only wide street which went east and west through the village. The narrow streets were only twenty feet wide.
(To be continued…)
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, continued from the previous post. Frank is the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank" also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpted)
(Page 9)
The fields were located on the hillsides and in the lower places between the hills; in fact, they were everywhere where it was at all possible to do any sort of agricultural work. One plot was called a Sotnick. Each Sotnick was divided into four Desedien and Desedien was divided into five or more strips. The strips were not all the same size, but most of them were about seventy feet wide and three hundred and fifty feet long. In some instances these were further divided into strips two and three-four acres of land.
The meadow and pasture lands were located along the river and ditches. The cattle also fed upon the fallow land which was that land which had been used for agricultural purposes for two years and was at the time lying idle. The Born-Wiese was the meadow land which gave clear water with digging. This land was located upon the southeast side of the town. If the men were in the meadow and grew thirsty, all that was necessary for them to do to quench their thirst was scratch the earth with their hands and then lie on their faces. During the first years in which Frank was being populated, it is believed that there was a mill located here on the Born-Wiese which was run by water power; but after the land had drained to such a great extent, the mill was moved to another site.
About one-third of the land in the Colony was forest and of the remainder, one-tenth was pasture and meadow. There was much forest land which was private property but there was also that which belonged to the community. In the hills and along the Medwediza River were the forests.
The river varied in width. At the mill dam, it was four blocks wide, while at the bridge it was but one block wide. The bridge was about four hundred feet long and about sixteen feet wide, while the bridges crossing the ditch on the north and east sides were only about one hundred feet long and fourteen feet wide.
When the ice melted in the spring, the river rose so high that the blacksmith shops located along the banks became full of water and the men were not able to carry on their work. The ground, three Werst on either side of the river “swam” with water. At such a time, all the ditches had quite a little water in them.
During the winter, it was soo [sic] terribly cold that the people were either forced keep a fire in their animal sheds or bring the young and weaker animals into the house, if they wished to keep them from freezing. If anyone wished to look out of the window, he had to breathe a little peaking hole on the glass in order to be able to see through it.
That part of Frank upon which the homes were built was from twenty-five to thirty feet higher than the level of the river. The village seems to have been planned very carefully. The blocks which were longer ran north and south, and were approximately three hundred and thirty-six feet long and two hundred and ten feet wide (336’ x 210’). The streets were of two widths, the wide and the narrow streets. Through the center of the village running east and west was the widest street of the whole village; this being about seventy-feet in width. A few blocks north was another wide street. This street and two others located on the south end of town were about sixty feet wide. These four streets were the only wide street which went east and west through the village. The narrow streets were only twenty feet wide.
(To be continued…)
The village Frank (1)
The Village Frank Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 8)
…This village was called Frank by the inhabitants and it was considered as one of the most beautiful and well organized villages in the southwestern part of Russia. The magnificent Medwediza River and the beautiful ash, birch, pine, and linden forests which surrounded the village presented a picturesque and wonderful sight in the summer months. The village lay in a level valley with hills on the east, north, and south sides, and on the west was the rippling Medwediza which lay about twenty-five feet lower than the village proper.
Across the river about a half mile was a little lake which was about one block wide and two blocks long. This body of water which marked the old course of the river, was private property and not used by the villages. All around the lake were forest which were owned by the same man; in fact, all the land on the west side of the river was the property of one family. The forests which were used by the villagers were on the east side of the river, on the north, south, and east sides of town.
A ditch which used to be filled with water began up in Klees Berg and wound north and then west until it reached the Medwediza. This ditch had small branches which flowed down between the other hills. During the dry season there was no water in these ditches, but after a heavy rain or when the snow melted in the spring, the water flowed into the ditch and was carried into the river. Also on the south end of the village was a ditch extending back from the river into the town about three blocks. This ditch or gully was about twenty-five feet deep and sloped up gradually at the east end until it reached the level of the town. At times the water rose in this ditch to the height of six feet.
The hills on the north, east, and south sides of the village, although one continuous hill, was called by three names. That portion on the north side was called Walter Berg. This Berg was the dividing line between Walter and Frank. On the east side of the village was the Muhl Berg, which was the dividing line between Kolb and Frank. Then on the south side was the Klees Berg, which received its name because of the amount of clover which grew all over it.
(To be continued…)
Volume 22, Number 2
Spring 1993
Sherrie Stahl, editor
FRANK – A village Community in Russia
By M. Magdalene Lebsack
(MY NOTES: I owe a great deal of gratitude to Sherrie for the many years of dedication she has put into researching the Frank and Brunnental Volga Germans as well as many other villages and families. She has laid the groundwork for all of us and continues to help those searching their family ties. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity.
This is an excellent description of Frank, the village from which most Brunnentalers originated. According to David Ehlenberger’s family bible, both his father, Jacob Oehlenberger, and his wife Katherine’s father, Johannes Wagner, were born in “Chrisdowou Buerack, Frank” also known as Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak.)
(Excerpts)
(Page 8)
…This village was called Frank by the inhabitants and it was considered as one of the most beautiful and well organized villages in the southwestern part of Russia. The magnificent Medwediza River and the beautiful ash, birch, pine, and linden forests which surrounded the village presented a picturesque and wonderful sight in the summer months. The village lay in a level valley with hills on the east, north, and south sides, and on the west was the rippling Medwediza which lay about twenty-five feet lower than the village proper.
Across the river about a half mile was a little lake which was about one block wide and two blocks long. This body of water which marked the old course of the river, was private property and not used by the villages. All around the lake were forest which were owned by the same man; in fact, all the land on the west side of the river was the property of one family. The forests which were used by the villagers were on the east side of the river, on the north, south, and east sides of town.
A ditch which used to be filled with water began up in Klees Berg and wound north and then west until it reached the Medwediza. This ditch had small branches which flowed down between the other hills. During the dry season there was no water in these ditches, but after a heavy rain or when the snow melted in the spring, the water flowed into the ditch and was carried into the river. Also on the south end of the village was a ditch extending back from the river into the town about three blocks. This ditch or gully was about twenty-five feet deep and sloped up gradually at the east end until it reached the level of the town. At times the water rose in this ditch to the height of six feet.
The hills on the north, east, and south sides of the village, although one continuous hill, was called by three names. That portion on the north side was called Walter Berg. This Berg was the dividing line between Walter and Frank. On the east side of the village was the Muhl Berg, which was the dividing line between Kolb and Frank. Then on the south side was the Klees Berg, which received its name because of the amount of clover which grew all over it.
(To be continued…)
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