16 May 2012

A Genea-Gift: Heimat an Netze Brahe Weichsel


Imagine my surprise when I opened an envelope from Germany and found a book titled, "Heimat an Netze Brahe Weichsel" in it.  I received this book through a Fredrich researcher, Michael, who lives in Groβ Kiesow, Germany.  Michael sent it to me because it contains pictures from the area where our ancestors lived, the Prussian area around Bromberg, now Bydgoszca, Poland.  I have always said genealogists are the most generous people.  Thank you, Michael.

The first thing I had to do was google translate the title: home networks to Brahe Vistula.  This didn't make a lot of sense to me.  I did a little more research and realized that Netze, Brahe and Weichsel are rivers in what use to be Prussia, now Poland.   I believe the book is, "Home to Netze Brahe Weischsel".  The book was edited in 1940.

Netze is the German term.  Today it is called Noteć.  Present day towns along this river include: 
I have a marriage record of Henriette Fredrich and Johann Zobel, my great aunt and uncle, from near Nakel, which is Nakło nad Notecią today.

Brahe is the German term, today it is called Brda.  Present day towns along this river include:
Weichsel is the German term.  Today it is called Vistula.  There are 53 major cities and towns along this river, which is Poland's longest river at 651 miles.  One of the cities it flows through is Bydgoszcz (Prussian's Bromberg).

Bromberg, Prussia, now Bydgoszcz, Poland is the area that Michael believes our ancestors come from.  He plans to visit the area this summer.

Heimat an Netze Brahe Weischsel is an 80 page book filled with historical pictures of the area.  There are pictures of beautiful, old churches, buildings, statues, street scenes, farmland, and more.  I have only translated about half of it, using Babylon translator.   The cities I have come across so far are Bromberg (Bydgoszca) and Thorn (Toruń). 

This genea-gift is wonderful.  It gives me a feel for the area where my Fredrich ancestors first came from. 


3 comments:

  1. Generous indeed! Having spent much of NGS lingering over atlases and books about specific locations I am thrilled for you.

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  2. Thanks, Susan. I wish I had been at NGS looking at books too. It looks like it was a great time.

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  3. Thank you for the information. I will be visiting your blog soon.

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