Bill: Nice to see your message. Like so many others my line is through Anthony's son Henry "Heinrich." I know what you mean when you speak of visiting as a very moving experience. Just going to the Lower Skippack Mennonite cemetery, Lower Skippack, PA and then to Keelys Church, Schwenksville, PA, to view headstones and knowing these are my ancestors was moving. My experience with being online with so many really good people, "Hallman Cousins," makes me most grateful for our extended family. Best, Walt -----Original Message----- From: Bill Henry <mimibill@erols.com> To: HALLMAN-L@rootsweb.com <HALLMAN-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, January 30, 2000 11:05 AM Subject: A Trip to Kleinniedesheim >First, as a newcomer to the Hallman mailing list, I'd like to say "Hi" to >everyone. I am a descendant of Anthony's, through his son John, and am >hoping I can learn more about that side of the family. I have already "met" >several of you through the net, but you all seem to come from son Henry's >side. > >I don't know how many of you have had an opportunity to visit >Kleinniedesheim, the home of Anthony and his children, and thought you might >like to hear about my visit a little over three years ago. It is a lovely, >old, small village located just south of Worms and north of Frankenthal, >about an hour south of Frankfurt and an hour northwest of Heidelberg. The >first place I checked was the cemetery, which unfortunately, turned out to >be reasonably new, post 1900. There was no older cemetery and someone told >me that in Germany they may reuse cemetery space from time to time -- not >sure if that is true or not. There were several Heilman's in the cemetery, >including a Dr. Albert Heilman. I mention his name, because I next checked >the phone book and the only Heilman in town was Gertrud, his widow. I >visited her house and got no answer, but was told she was quite old and >senile, so I doubt I would have learned anything from her (especially since >I don't speak German). > >I did meet a young man (30's) named Merkel who spoke a little English. He >was a winemaker (the village is surrounded by vineyards) and his father >appeared to be the local historian. Speaking to the father, through the >son, I learned that the church was about 600 years old but its records were >incomplete before 1896 as a result of being destroyed in various wars with >the French. The church building had also been destroyed and the one >standing now was built in 1726. Since that is just a few years after >Anthony emigrated, I am guessing the reason for his departure may have been >related to troubles with the French. Why else leave such a beautiful spot? >I did spend some time in the church and at least pretended that Anthony and >Maria Salome and their children had sat in those same pews. I also noticed >the following on a building across the street from the church, "Erste >urtundliche Ern?nhnung im Jahre 1233 als." I haven't had it translated, but >assume the building dates to 1233. > >I also checked to see if there were any Salome's in the phone book, but >there were not. My winemaker friend also told me there were lots of >Heilman's in the next village down the road, but I had no time to visit >there. He also mentioned that the "traveling" minister, named Norbert >Unkvich of Gross-Niedesheimer, phone 062381796, may have some older >information, but probably not. > >All in all, it was a very moving experience. The village is the kind of >place I am glad my ancestors came from. If you are ever in the >neighborhood, drop by. > >Bill Henry >