The Fehmarn Cousins Newsletter
Issue #20 March 2002
Excerpt of the Fehmarn Tageblatt,
by: Karl-Wilhelm Klahn
English translation by: E. Buegge-Wood
“Peter Witt gave us a dollar...”
Merchant, shipping firm, captain, land governor and - benefactor
Fehmarn - Until the ‘First World War’ no farm equipment, like plough or harrow was allowed to be left outside in the fields during the night, on the island Fehmarn,- for it could be stricken with a cancerous thaw [mist] during the solstice, called the ‘Johannistau’; the house entrances were decorated with twigs ‘Johannimaien’ to bring good luck, preferably from the ash-tree, the ‘Thingbaum’ where the elders of the northern Germanic tribes met; in the villages they had ‘Johanni’ parades for the children, decorated with ‘Johanni’, floral wreathes, and lastly, in Burg we still have the ‘Johannimarkt’ market or solstice festival.
In the evenings at mid summer time [24th of June] the people gathered, young and old, poor and rich around the ‘Hünengräbern’ stonehenge graves, also on steeper hills (Wulfen, Johannisberg, Oldeborgshuk, Alversteen) to celebrate the all life-giving sun with ‘Bakenbrennen’ bon fires, ‘Feuerradrollen’, dancing and frolicking and to welcome and greet the ‘Johannifeuer’ solstice fire, to be grateful to the Sun-God for a good harvest year.
In the St. Petri church in Landkirchen on that specific Sunday, when the solstice-sermon or midsummer sermon ‘Johannispredigt’ was attended, the respected epitaph, honoring Peter Witt, was decorated with twigs of the ash tree, the reading of the commemorating certificate from the chancel: “Praise be to God the Lord and master, honor and thanks for his kind rescue, and to all others who helped, those on land and on sea, in desperation and danger, and furthermore awaken Christian hearts, who observe the church services in our church, and assist the schools and those in need. To those we give honor and respect into eternity!” While all believers in the crowded church were looking at Peter Witt and the epitaphs and bowed respectfully in memory of the gracious spender.
After the church service and the feeding of the poor, the three ‘Bürgermeister’ mayors, (in those days they carried the title ‘Kämmerer’), of the land districts met in the ‘Amtsgebäude’ court house, (used to be called ‘Gerichtsherberge’ judicial quarters, and drank before the beginning of the public festivities, each three glasses of spring water from the holy well ‘Hilligensood’ of the pastoral advisory, which attests to ancient traditions.
So many old Germanic cult festivities mixed with Christian traditions became the very important festivities of the Nordic people, that’s how the is summer solstice ‘Johannisfest’ on June 24th celebrated in honor of the birthday of John the Baptist.
Renewal of merrymaking
With the contribution from the midsummer sermon started the renewal of merrymaking and the midsummer festival ‘Sonnenwendfeiern’, thats where the kind Peter Witt hit the nerve of the times and rekindling the old habits of moral conduct, (although weaker), yet a reminder relict of old moral ethics.
His generous church contribution at the church sermon, which in 1912 was used up. But many years after 1713 the deceased person was still remembered as the most popular man in the central church district; and in the local dance halls they still sang:
“Peter Witt has given us a dollar now we also want to live happily..!”
Peter Witt did serve the district Fehmarn from 1692 until 1707 as ‘Landvogt’ mayor. During those unusual dramatic times of political battles over the ownership of the fief [feudality] of the dukedom ‘Schleswig-Gottorf’. Fehmarn belonged since 1397 to the dukedom of Schleswig.
Danish King Christian V. (who ruled from 1670 until 1699), tried to overtake the Schleswig-Gottorf dukedom, belonging to his brother in law, the Duke of Gottorf, Duke Christian Albrecht, to annex it as an inseparable part to Denmark. Because of the Danish occupation in Schleswig, in the spring of 1700; through the influence of the Swedish King Karl XII. assisting his brother in law Friedrich IV. (ruled from 1694 until 1702, when he died in battle), erupted the great Nordic war which lasted from 1700 til 1721, it turned the Baltic world into flames.
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Fehmarn was charged with high war debts from both sides, is occupied by the Danish King Christian V. from 1683 til 1689, when the ‘Duke of Gottorf’ again, through the influence of the Kaiser and especially the Oranier, Wilhelm III., regained his rightful ownership.
Because of the political quarrels the ruling seats on the island were not occupied and heavy mismanagement and corruption were prevalent on the farmer’s island Fehmarn.
In 1671 Heinrich Goessel, became mayor, serenely elected assistant and tax collector, as was his father Jürgen Goessel before him, on the island Fehmarn.
In 1676 the shipper and merchant Peter Witt from Lemkenhafen, along with other villages elders, accusedthe mayor of unfaithful management of the treasury and fraudulent practices concerning the community moneys. The duke ordered him discharged and began more rigorous management over the district’s treasury.
Peter Witt married in 1663, one year after his rescue, Emerentzia Koess from Blieschendorf. She came from a farm house that was active in shipping, from a wealthy home and showed her bridal wealth “Brautschatz” in the amount of 4500 Talern, of which the value then was three average size homesteads.
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Courageous Rescue Attempt
She was also a very courageous lady herself, even at an advanced age: when on the 28th of November, 1719 two men from Lemkenhafen were on the ice, fishing for wild ducks with catching lines in the frozen bay, when the fishers broke through the still thin ice. The stout-hearted woman Emerantzia Witt, the wife of the then 6 years deceased mayor Peter Witt, ventured with a wooden stick toward the icy waters, pulled the two drowning men unto the harder ice and rescued those two fathers of larger family. Emerentzia Witt died three days later of fallen body temperature. Now you can still read below the gilded epitaph in the Saint Petri Church in Landkirchen/Fehmarn:
“Mister Peter Witt from Lemkkenhafen, who served this church district for 18 years and the entire country as princely elected officer ‘Landvogt’ for 15 years honestly and faithfully, has in respect for God inspired the rescue of the shipwrecked, introduced and contributed to the vesper sermon, the music and the food for the poor on the day of St. Johanni out of his own means and also many other good deeds done for our church besides given us this epitaph, and since he has reached a full life next to his wife Emerentzia, nee Koessen, old and tired of life, died on the 24th of July, 1713 at the age of 71 years and 9 months. The soul that you have saved, Lord Jesus, now give your blessings!”
Karl-Wilhelm Klahn
Donor of the “Johanni-sermon”, mayor Peter Witt (born 1641 in Lemkenhafen, F., died 1713 in Lemkenhafen, F.)
Jurgen Kahler
From "Vol. 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer-S.J.
Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago.
Surnames: Kahler, Mildenstein, Brogren, Siemsen, Hermann, Bockwoldt,
Kraft, Ruhser
Jurgen Kahler is numbered among the representative American citizens who
claim Germany as the place of their nativity and who in this country
sought and found opportunities for advancement in business lines. Born
on the island of Fehmarn, Schleswig-Holstein, on the 11th of November,
1857, he is a son of Hans J. and Catharina (Mildenstein) Kahler, the
former a laborer by occupation. The parents are both now deceased, their
entire lives having been spent in the old country. In their family were
six children, namely: Henry; Nicholas, deceased; Mrs. Dorothy Brogren, of
Nebraska; Martha, who wedded P. H. Siemsen, a resident of Kansas; Jurgen,
of this review; and Hans, of Kansas. The entire family with the
exception of the parents emigrated to America, the eldest son, Henry,
being the first to come to the new world. He arrived in the United
States in 1866 and came to Iowa, residing in Davenport for some time.
Jurgen Kahler was reared in the place of his nativity, obtained his
education in the common schools near his home and remained a resident of
the fatherland until after his marriage. In 1883, however, thinking to
find in the advantages offered by the new world better opportunity for
advancement in business lines, he left home and country and crossed the
Atlantic to America, making his way at once to Iowa. He was accompanied
by his wife and two children, the family home being first established in
Durant. There he worked as a laborer for about six years and then became
identified with agricultural pursuits in the capacity of renter, being
thus engaged for twelve years. Throughout that period, however, he had
been imbued with the desire to some day carry an independent enterprise
in which his efforts might more directly benefit himself, and so, when he
had accumulated sufficient capital to justify such a step, he purchased
the farm upon which he now resides, to the development of which he has
since directed his energies. He owns the entire southwest quarter of
section 19, Cleona township, with the exception of the right of way
granted to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. Through
his industry and per- severance it has been brought under a high state of
cultivation and under his wise and careful management has become one of
the well improved farming properties of the township. Most of the
buildings, which stand upon the place, were erected by him and include an
attractive modern residence and substantial and commodious barns and
outbuildings, all in excellent condition. He is engaged in general
farming and stock-raising and both branches of his business are proving
gratifying sources of remuneration, for he is up-to-date and progressive
in his methods and manifests good business ability and wise judgment in
the conduct of his affairs.
Jurgen Kahler married Anna Dorothea Hermann on May 4, 1881 in Fehmarn and
are the parents of 12 children, one being deceased as an infant. The
children are: Mrs. Wilhelm Kraft, Mrs. Peter Ruhser, Hans, Nicolaus,
Herman, Johannes, Emil, Frederika, Christine, Alma and Helen. There are
also three grandchildren.
Speck in de Pann, Beer in de Kann...
Altfehmarnsche Sprüche, Teil XVIII
Submitted by: Mr. Klahn.
Fehmarn .
1. Speck in de Pann - Beer in de Kann. Grütt in Fatt; dat
is schon wat!
Speck in der Pfanne - Bier in der Kanne. Grütze im Fass, das ist schon was!
Bacon in the skillet - beer in the can. Grits
in a vat, is already what!
2. Beer op Wien - dat laat sien! Wien op Beer - schmeckt na
mehr!
Bier auf Wein - das lass sein! Wein auf Bier - schmeckt nach mehr!
Beer after wine - leave it alone! Wine after beer - tastes like more!
3. Dree Dinge kaamt nie trüüch: afschaaten Pfiel, spraaken
woort, verflossne Doog!
Drei Dinge kommen nie zurück: abgeschossener Pfeil, gesprochene Worte,
vergangene Tage!
Three things don’t return: a shot arrow, spoken words, and passed days!
4. He maak een Gesich - as uns Preester an Karfreedag!
Er macht ein Gesicht wie unser Pastor am Karfreitag!
He makes a face like our pastor on Good Friday!
5. God’s Gnaad: Gesund Lief, goodet wief, genug to eeten -
Tied ton beeden!
Gottes Gnade: Gesunder Leib, gutes Weib, genug zu essen - und Zeit zum beeten!
God’s blessings: Healthy body, a good wife, enough to eat - and time for
praying!
6. Dat Glück kann een wenig Help verdrägen!, Jammern füllt
keene Kammern.
(Das Glück kann ein wenig Hilfe vertragen! Jammern füllt keine Kammern.)
Good luck can use a little help! Complaining does not fill the storage bins.
7. De Ehefru is för söss “K’s” tostännig [1908!]: Kamer,
Kinner, Köök, Keller, Kleeder, Kirch.
Die Frau ist für sechs “K’s” verantwortlich: Kammer, Kinder, Küche, Keller,
Kleider, Kirche.
The wife is responsible for six K’s: chamber, kids, kitchen, cellar, clothing
& church..
8. Hausbalken in Teschendorf 1667: Herberg nur för korte
Tied - de Heimat is de Ewigkeit!
Hausbalken in Teschendorf 1667: Herberge nur für kurtze Zeit - Heimat fuer die
Ewigkeit!
Carved in a house beam in Teschendorf, F. 1667: Shelter for a short time
only, home forever!
9. Wer mit de Hoffnung föhrt, - hätt de Armot ton Kutscher....!
Wer mit der Hoffnung fährt, - hat die Armut zum Kutscher...!
Who travels with hope, - has poverty as his driver...!
10. In Petersdorf is’n Turm, de Branntwien is door nicht
froorn, de Kooplüüd sind door nich knapp, - und so geiht dat immer üm denn
Kääsfatt (Dorfteich).
In Petersdorf ist ein Turm, der Brantwein ist dort nicht gefroren, die Kaufleute
sind dort nicht knapp, - und so geht es immer um den Dorfteich.
In Petersdorf is a tower, the brandy is there not frozen, the merchants are
there many, - and they go round the village pond.
11. “Iesern Veh starv nie” (18. Jahrhundert); Gewisse
Anzahl Tiere gehoerten zum Inventar.
Certain amount of animals belonged to the inventory.
12. Wer in de Höll wahnt, - sall sik den Dööbel ton Fründ
halen!
Wer in der Hölle wohnt, - soll sich den Teufel zum Freund holen!
Who lives in hell, - should fetch himself the devil as his friend!
13. Frühere deutsche Existenzgründung: De örs den Dood, de
tweet de Not, - de drütt dat Brot...!
Dem ersten den Tod, dem zweiten die Not, - dem dritten das Brot..!
To the first one death, to the second one poverty, - to the third one the
bread!
14. Übersetzte Inschrift eines Runensteins bei Jellingstedt:
“Besitz stirbt, Sippen sterben, du selbst stirbst wie sie; nur eines weiss ich,
was ewig lebt: Der Toten guten Taten!”
A translated inscription from a RUNEN stone near Jellingstedt: “Ownership
dies, generations die, you also die like the others, only one thing I know that
lives on are: “The good deeds that the dead have done!”
15. Goethe sagte: Der Dialekt ist das Element, aus welchem
die Seele ihren Atem schöpft.
Goethe said: The dialect is the element, from which the sould it’s breath
takes.
16. Segen (alter Burger Hafenlauf): Seden, Siede, Sied,
versumpfter, seichter Wasserlauf.
The old harbour in Burg was called Segen [blessing]: becoming a marshy,
shallow waterway.
17. Kolani (1890: hochgeknöpfte, überlange, dunkelblaue
Fischerjacke mit zwei Reihen Knöpfe).
A Kolani was in 1890 a high buttoned, overly long, dark blue Fischer’s jacket
with two rows of buttons.
18. Stiepen (leichtes Schlagen der - bald - tragenden Tiere
mit “belebendem” Birkengrün).
Stiepen (was a gentle slapping with green birch twigs, on animals that were
about to have a young).
19. Fensterköß, Fenstern (was a date at somebody’s window).
20. Krainschiet, Dummes Zeug. It was crow’s dirt.
21. Weeswark. Betahln “Na Johr und Dag”: Ein Jahr, sechs
Wochen und 3 Tage.
To be paid after one year, six weeks and 3 days.
22. Se geiht in deep Sorg. ( in Trauer). Mourning.
23. He weet siek nich to verwöörn. Ihm fehlen die Worte.
He doesn’t know how to express himself.
24. Abbelstuuv (früher ein Raum in jedem Haus unter dem
Dach.
Appel room, a place under the roof where apples were stored.
25. Schweetvoß/ Kracken (abwertend für Pferde.
When the horse got too old.
26. Vespertied, Kaffeezeit am Nachmittag.
A time to take a coffee break in the afternoon.
27. Abbel-braans-Klümp: (Mehlklöße und Äpfel zusammen
braten.
Dumplings and Apples fried together.
28. Dat geit in de Wicken. Es geht daneben.
It’s got lost.
29. Brink (erhöhter, küstennaher Grasplaatz mit
Wasserlöchern).
A Brink is a grassy place along the coastline with waterholes.
30. Dimms (Kornspeicher)
Dimms is a storage place for grain or other goods.
31. Raden un Beeden (Krankheit bannen durch psychische
Kräfte und Geheimsprüche).
Banning illness by praying and saying psychic strength and secret sayings.
32. “Dat Veh is stallstiev” Das Vieh wurde im Winter steif.
Animals got stiff in the winter when they had no exercise.
33. Drönbüütl = (langsamer Mensch), slow poke.
34. Bangnbüx (Angsthase), scared person.
35. Kapun (Truthahn), turkey.
36. “Letz Leidn” (letzte irdische Kleidung.
Last clothing worn on this earth.
37. “Groot Verdank” (Grosses Geläute). Great belling.
38. “Dodenspraak” (Letztes Gebet). The last rites.
39. “Sorge” (Trauertracht), mourning attire.
40. Platen (Schürtze), an apron.
41. Hasen (Strümpfe) knitted stockings.
42. Kruuthof (Gemüsegarten), herbgarden.
43. Weetfru (Witwe), widow.
44. “Dat weet de Kuckuck” (ungewiss), uncertain.
Low German to High German by: Karl-Wilhelm Klahn
English Translation by: E. Bügge-Wood
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by E-mail:
jkostick@bellsouth.net
John Kostick
131 NE 172nd Street
Miami, Florida 33162