From the Republic of Volga Germans
Norka, March 25, 1929
Dear editor, As I have been repeatedly asked in the WeltPost to send in a report, I want to put my pen to paper today. From my own experience I have witnessed how great the longing for home is when one lives outside one's fatherland. I worked as a locksmith in Savotten for 25 years, and especially when it came to spring, I thought of my dear homeland, because there seemed to me no place in the world that could compare to springtime at home. The place where he was born, baptized, confirmed, and matured into a man will always be remembered by those who live far away. I would often send you a report over there in America, but unfortunately my kopecks are not enough for the postage; I would be happy if my friends over there would give me some money. Conrad Sauer (Gartensauer), G. H. Miller, Portland, Oreg., Heinrich Urbach, Hastings, Peter Spady, Conrad Miller and Georg Helzer in Alberta, Canada, I turn to you and know that I do not ask in vain. On February 15, the annual accounts were read at the municipality of the credit union and new elections took place, but the old administrators remained in their posts. Adam Nagel, chairman, Heinrich Reusbich in Oberndorf, Heinrich Jakozi, father of Johannes, secretary, Alexander Klein, father of Jacob Miller on the Volga, Wilhelm Koeller, the old secretary, is charged. The former administrators of the credit union were jailed for a year: Heinrich Voegler, Jacob Claus and Johannes Weber. Heinrich Hinkel had to stay in Balzer for two weeks because he had spoken too rudely to the chairmen of the aid committee. The theft of food is steadily increasing, many a cellar and closet has been emptied without mercy. The administration has set the amount at 26 thousand rubles, which will be used for the construction of the Boluize Hospital, a fee house, various repairs to bridges and wells. We are expecting seed wheat from the government again as we now have good weather for sowing.
On February 15, Conrad Gruen, the Gärber, died at the age of 61, and Bastian Bluem von Unterdorf, who lived to be 60. Conrad Kaiser in Portland, Ore., if I ask again for a sign of life in the Welt-Post, or if he can no longer afford the paper, I am willing to sell some chickens to order him the Welt-Post. Send greetings to my relatives in Bayard, Nebr. Got the letter from my brother-in-law but no money. Thanks to my nephew Heinrich Bott of Hastings for remembering me in his report of February 8th.
Greetings everywhere, Conrad Bott
On February 15, Conrad Gruen, the Gärber, died at the age of 61, and Bastian Bluem von Unterdorf, who lived to be 60. Conrad Kaiser in Portland, Ore., if I ask again for a sign of life in the Welt-Post, or if he can no longer afford the paper, I am willing to sell some chickens to order him the Welt-Post. Send greetings to my relatives in Bayard, Nebr. Got the letter from my brother-in-law but no money. Thanks to my nephew Heinrich Bott of Hastings for remembering me in his report of February 8th.
Greetings everywhere, Conrad Bott
Sources
Die Welt-Post und der Staats-Anzeiger, May 16, 1929, page 7.
This translation is provided courtesy of Michelle Monson.
This translation is provided courtesy of Michelle Monson.
Last updated November 25, 2023