Pictures

Street scene in Durmersheim

The interior of St Bernhard Catholic church in Durmersheim

The Rathaus (City Hall) in Durmersheim

St Bernhard Catholic church in Durmersheim

The main street of Hilpertsau, most of the houses on this street were built in the early 1700s

Typical old houses in Hilpertsau

Typical old houses in Hilpertsau

Typical old houses in Hilpertsau

The interior of the old St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Durmersheim

The old St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Durmersheim

Please join me as I present a small part of my most favorite photos in this gallery. These pictures are from visits to my ancestral villages in Germany, the Province of Alsace, and Ukraine. In taking these pictures, I tried to capture the undeniable beauty of these quaint picturesque villages. Each of these visits provided a glimpse of the life into our ancestors. Additionally, the period of my visits allowed me to immerse myself into the local culture. The most gratifying aspect of my visits to the villages was realizing that I was able to walk the same streets and view some of the same sites that my ancestors had experienced centuries before.

Busenbach, Baden Germany

The German ancestral village of our Becker ancestors.

Modern dwelling in Busenbach

Typical old house in Busenbach

Catholic Church in Busenbach

Gambsheim, Alsace

The Alsatian ancestral village of our Jundt ancestors.

The Mairie (City Hall) of Gambsheim. It was originally built before 1700. It sustained some damage in a1717 fire, and was completely restored in 1823. It sustained some damage during WWII and was completely restored in 1961	Typical Street scene in Gambsheim	Typical old house in Gambsheim	This is one of the oldest houses in Gambsheim. It was built before 1700. In 1717 it sustained some fire damage and has been restored. It was at one time used as the Gambsheim Postal station; today it is a restaurant

Typical old House and yard in Gambsheim	Typical residential yard in Gambsheim	The old chapel in Gambsheim. Village historians estimate that the Chapel was built in the 15th Century	Another view of the old chapel in Gambsheim

Hilpertsau and Durmersheim, Baden, Germany

The German ancestral villages of our Ell ancestors

Jockgrim, Pfalz Germany

The German ancestral village of our Goldate/Goldade and Reiss ancestors.

Kamenka, Ukraine

These pictures are from the former Kutschurgan enclave village of Mannheim, Russia.

While our ancestors were living in Russia, Mannheim was the home for our Schatz ancestors.

The Nativity of Mary Catholic Church. Due to Communism it was allowed fall into ruins

The interior of the Nativity of Mary Catholic Church. Due to Communism it was allowed fall into ruins

A typical house in Mannheim, which had been built by the German settlers

La Petite Pierre, Waldhambach and Keskastel, Alsace

La Petite Pierre, Alsace. During German rule this village was known by the name of Lützelstein

The Alsatian ancestral villages of our Mügler/Migler ancestors.

The Mairie (City hall) of Keskastel	House with mural in Keskastel	Street scene in Keskastel	St. Nicolaus Catholic Church of Keskastel. The first church on this site was built about 1385. The current church was built about 1840

The Interior of St. Nicolaus church of Keskastel	Sainte Croix Catholic Church in La Petite Pierre. The first church on this site was built in the early 1400s. The current church was built before 1600. During German control, La Petite Pierre was known as Lützelstein	The Castle in La Petite Pierre; it was built in the 12th Century. During German control, La Petite Pierre was known as Lützelstein	This Stone Belfry in the village of Waldhambach was built in the 15th Century. Whenever a new church was built, it would be attached to this existing Belfry

Street scene in Waldhambach	Part of the old village wall of Waldhambach	Typical modern dwelling in Waldhambach

Lymanskoye, Ukraine

These pictures are from the former Kutschurgan enclave village of Selz, Russia.

While our ancestors were living in Russia, Selz was the home for our; Goldade, Becker, Jundt, Reiss, Sander and Ell ancestors.

The Catholic Church of the Assumption in Selz was built about 1901. A distant relative of the author, Lilly (née Grad) Jundt, generously provided this photo. Due to the condition of the original photo it has been computer enhanced. This same photo can be seen on page 269 of Joseph Height’s book “Paradise on the Steppe"	The Catholic Church of the Assumption in Selz was built about 1901. Due to communism it was allowed to fall into ruins	The Catholic Church of the Assumption in Selz was built about 1901. Due to communism it was allowed to fall into ruins	Interior view of the Catholic Church of the Assumption in Selz was built about 1901

A typical house which the Germans settlers had built in the village of Selz

Niederroedern, Alsace

The Alastian ancestral village of our Schmidtheisler ancestors.

Street Scene in Niederroedeern	Street Scene in Niederroedeern	Typical Old house in Niederroedeern	Typical modern house in Niederroedeern

Typical home court yard in Niederroedeern	Typical home court yard in Niederroedeern

Schtscherbanka / Scerbanka/ Cherbanka, Ukraine

These pictures are from the former Kutschurgan enclave village of Elsass, Russia.

While our ancestors were living in Russia, Elsass was the home for our; Migler, Schmidtheisler and Germann ancestors.

St. Gabriel Catholic Church. The church was built about 1891/92. The Communists used the church as a sports complex, a function which it still serves today

A typical house in Elsass, which had been built by the German settlers.

Seltz, Alsace

The Alsatian ancestral village of our Schatz ancestors.

Spessart, Baden Germany

The German ancestral village of our Schneider ancestors.

Typical old house in Spessart

The Spessart Rathaus (City Hall)

Family Pictures