History Lessons

Fireman and I have been organizing the photos etc.
We have them ready for updating to a flashdrive.

We came across some video.  And Audio.
I have a wonderful rough recording of my grandfather...the Hungarian one. 
I interviewed him for a school project 40 years ago.
The recording is a bit hard to hear but if we listen very 
hard we hear his voice, his story....
My father and he were estranged from one another for most of my childhood. I only met him a handful of times. 

He told us this: When he got on a train to come to Chicago after they sailed to America, he was baffled. 
People on the train were chewing and chewing.
He said, "Mom, these people chew and chew and they never put anything in their mouth!"
He had never seen gum . 

Gum is my secret weapon with staying true to weight watchers...

In knit news, I've finished front and back of the Color Block sweater. 
No sleeve work today. 
Resting my hands and enjoying a sock knit day. 

Do you have any interesting immigrant stories?

Comments

Araignee said…
My one vice is gum. I chew ALL the time. It drives everyone nuts.
I have one very interesting immigrant story....I am the direct descendant of the first settler ever hung in the new world-George Kendall. Yep...my one claim to fame-treason!
Patt said…
My Grandmother was from Hungary. She came over from there by herself when she was 14 years old! I just can't imagine that.
Most of my family had been here for a century or so, my great grandfather on my mother's side being the last to come - he came from Scotland when he was two (with his mother and older brother) escaping an abusive father.

Dave's Grandmother, however, was a war bride. His grandfather fought in the Canadian Navy in WW2. His grandmother was an auxilary nurse in Scotland. They fell in love, and after the war, they married in Scotland and came back to New Brunswick. Sadly, she did not get along with his family and it caused a lot of problems, so she left and went back to Scotland. He didn't want her to go, so he followed her, persuaded her to come back and they moved to Ontario, away from the family. They were together until he died of cancer 25 years ago. And she still hasn't lost a bit of her Scottish Brogue!
Anonymous said…
I'm sure there were many American things that might have baffled him. LOL

My father's family came to the U.S. in 1752. We do know that Peter fought in the Revolution and when he could not be paid in dollars for his service, William Penn granted him land in the northeast mountains of Pennsylvania. The town of Dauberville is named after him. He also owned what later became Schuylkill County.

On my mother's side I know NOTHING other than my grandfather was of Scottish descent.

Teresa Kasner said…
I like gum but don't chew often at all. I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and have found out all kinds of neat stuff about my ancestors. I even have a woman patriot that helped in the Rev. war. Also one of my ancestors was part of the small group of men who bought the island of Nantucket from the Indians. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Anonymous said…
What a treasure you have in that recording. I would love to hear my parents and grandparents voices again. My paternal grandparents immigrated to the U.S. In the 1890's. I remember my grandmother telling me they arrived on the same ship but didn't meet until years later in the Midwestern U.S.
Blessings,
Betsy
Tired Teacher said…
I used to chew gum but don't anymore - it wasn't good for my jaw.

I kept the taped letters my Mom and I exchanged when I was in Japan. I treasure them! Several years ago, I had them digitized and then shared them with my sisters, nieces, and nephews.
Delighted Hands said…
TMJ prevents my gum chewing but I can see how it would help curb snacking!
My maternal side were early (1730's) English settlers to the Ontario Lake region of CNY.
My paternal side are 1898 immigrants from Germany. It's fun to hear the stories but while my grands have died, my parents are still alive and will gladly tell me stories...precious times!
Judy S. said…
My grandma's grandparents came up the Mississippi River from England and settled in Morrison, IL. The house is still there, but we couldn't find it.My dad was born in LaGrange, Il, so we definitely have roots in your state, not to mention DD#1. I do the gum-thing, too, to save calories..... I still miss sweets though.
steph said…
sadly, no immigrant stories. :( liked hearing yours, though, and that is amazing that you still have that recording! a treasure
Alyssa said…
That is so interesting. I don't really have much heritage - my family is all a mish mash of fourth and fifth generations. So I don't know much of the people that came to the US.
Stefanie said…
Thank you for sharing this story. I unfortunately don't as I'm a 4-5th generation Chinese-American. But I know my grandmother (who married my grandfather and emigrated over her) was always stylish as she made her own clothes and made my mum and her sisters, who were born here, clothes. My mum said once she would a new pair of shoes once a year from her uncle; she loved that and didn't have very many toys while growing up.
SissySees said…
What a special memory! No immigrant stories here, but we are FINALLY enjoying a snow day.
Mereknits said…
Such a treasure to find that recording, I love the gum story.
Hugs,
Meredith

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