From Canada
Calgary, August 18
Dear World Postman!
Since I have a nice opportunity today, I would like to tell the reader family that we are still alive. Crop prospects are pretty good this year, especially here in Alberta; 40 to 50 bushels per acre are expected. Of course, the harvest was also destroyed in places by hail; but this is nothing new, because it repeats itself every year. There is no hail here. That's why our farmers insure their crop and would rather pay insurance money than lose the whole crop. In the early summer we had a lot of rain, one feared it would be too much. In contrast, it rained too little in the old homeland. It's been pretty hot here for a few weeks, but we've been waiting for it because it's time to bring in the hay. Since we had a wet early summer, there is a good hay harvest. The only fear here is the frost; if he stays away for a while, then there will be a rich harvest.
Two weeks ago, we had a visitor from Portland, Oregon, namely Peter Schlitt with his wife Katharina and Willie Spady. They told us a lot about the old countrymen from Norka, which interested us very much. The visitors also took a trip to Castor, 200 miles from Calgary, to visit friends and see farm life, which they loved. They had extended their route further, to Vegreville and Stony Plain, but the rainy weather made the roads impassable. Here the paths are mostly still bad. For this reason they came back to Calgary from Castor. The days of the visit went by too quickly for us. Our guests could not be stopped; it was like Eliezer Abraham's servant: "Do not stop us, for the Lord has given grace to our journey:, and verily, the Lord has given grace; they had reached their homeland before we believed. Their visiting days will remain in our memories for a long time, because in our conversation about the old and new homeland, many a past event was brought back to mind.
Katharina Weber from Castor, daughter of Konrad, has gone over to Portland to visit her friends, especially her sister Amalie, wife of Georg Spady. She will still be able to tell a few things about her old homeland.
Personally, I'm still fine. I'm in Calgary now, as the beginning of the letter suggests, working for the city. Of course, the dollar is the driving force; to describe the whole cause would lead too far. Our company also includes Peter Spady and Mrs. Anlis and Natalie, as well as Philipp Albrecht, all of whom are in good health. Peter Spady is dissatisfied with his brothers Johannes and Wilhelm because they don't let anything be heard from them. The ink seems to have dried up on them. Brother-in-law Johannes Kauly (Pauly? -mm) is also no longer heard from. Brother-in-law Georg Weidenkeller on the news that I received his letter of July 20th. I will send further information by letter. Johannes Schnell serves as news that I have met Philipp Dick here in Calgary; he will also report about it in the Welt-Post. Dear friends in Lincoln; Sending you lots of greetings, since there are several friends there, I'll just name Uncle Heinrich and Aunt Katharina Heusser. I wish the whole family of readers, as well as the dear Welt-Post, happy continued work.
Your friend, George Holzer (Helzer)
Since I have a nice opportunity today, I would like to tell the reader family that we are still alive. Crop prospects are pretty good this year, especially here in Alberta; 40 to 50 bushels per acre are expected. Of course, the harvest was also destroyed in places by hail; but this is nothing new, because it repeats itself every year. There is no hail here. That's why our farmers insure their crop and would rather pay insurance money than lose the whole crop. In the early summer we had a lot of rain, one feared it would be too much. In contrast, it rained too little in the old homeland. It's been pretty hot here for a few weeks, but we've been waiting for it because it's time to bring in the hay. Since we had a wet early summer, there is a good hay harvest. The only fear here is the frost; if he stays away for a while, then there will be a rich harvest.
Two weeks ago, we had a visitor from Portland, Oregon, namely Peter Schlitt with his wife Katharina and Willie Spady. They told us a lot about the old countrymen from Norka, which interested us very much. The visitors also took a trip to Castor, 200 miles from Calgary, to visit friends and see farm life, which they loved. They had extended their route further, to Vegreville and Stony Plain, but the rainy weather made the roads impassable. Here the paths are mostly still bad. For this reason they came back to Calgary from Castor. The days of the visit went by too quickly for us. Our guests could not be stopped; it was like Eliezer Abraham's servant: "Do not stop us, for the Lord has given grace to our journey:, and verily, the Lord has given grace; they had reached their homeland before we believed. Their visiting days will remain in our memories for a long time, because in our conversation about the old and new homeland, many a past event was brought back to mind.
Katharina Weber from Castor, daughter of Konrad, has gone over to Portland to visit her friends, especially her sister Amalie, wife of Georg Spady. She will still be able to tell a few things about her old homeland.
Personally, I'm still fine. I'm in Calgary now, as the beginning of the letter suggests, working for the city. Of course, the dollar is the driving force; to describe the whole cause would lead too far. Our company also includes Peter Spady and Mrs. Anlis and Natalie, as well as Philipp Albrecht, all of whom are in good health. Peter Spady is dissatisfied with his brothers Johannes and Wilhelm because they don't let anything be heard from them. The ink seems to have dried up on them. Brother-in-law Johannes Kauly (Pauly? -mm) is also no longer heard from. Brother-in-law Georg Weidenkeller on the news that I received his letter of July 20th. I will send further information by letter. Johannes Schnell serves as news that I have met Philipp Dick here in Calgary; he will also report about it in the Welt-Post. Dear friends in Lincoln; Sending you lots of greetings, since there are several friends there, I'll just name Uncle Heinrich and Aunt Katharina Heusser. I wish the whole family of readers, as well as the dear Welt-Post, happy continued work.
Your friend, George Holzer (Helzer)
Sources
Die Welt-Post und der Staats-Anzeiger, 8 September 1927
This translation is provided courtesy of Michelle Monson.
This translation is provided courtesy of Michelle Monson.
Last updated November 29, 2023