My Trip to Germany
Tracing my Grandparents Footsteps

In March/April 1998 I will be travelling to Germany and Retracing my Grandparents Footsteps in their "Homeland".

My Grandmother Wilhemina Friedricke HALM was born January 27, 1890 in BALTMANNSWEILER, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany the daughter of Christian Friedrick HALM and Christine Pauline BECK. She married my Grandfather Wilhelm Jacob BUECHELE April 12, 1912 in Baltmannsweiler. He was born April 9, 1886 in OSCHELBRONN, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany the son of Wilhelm BUECHELE and Katherine LAYER.

In the fall of this year the opportunity arose for me to make the trip of a lifetime and visit my grandparents homeland. I will be visiting BALTMANNSWEILER where the HALM family goes back to the 1600s and where my cousin still lives in the house my Grandmother grew up in. I will be visiting the Evangelical Church in Baltmannsweiler where the HALM Family records are kept and where most of my HALM Family Information has been abstracted and forwarded to me by a HALM relative here in the US to whom I will be forever greatful. I also plan to visit the Cemetery in Baltmannsweiler where my ancestors are buried and walk in their footsteps in this small town nestled in the Baden-Wurttemberg countryside near Stuttgart. As I do this I am sure it will be as if they are walking beside me.

Evangelical Church, Baltmannsweiler, Germany

I also hope to visit AICHELBERG where with the help of Paul ZIEGLER I will research the ancestors of our Common Great Grandmother Christine Pauline BECK who was born there. It is my hope to gain more insight into my BECK Family Lines.

I will also be visiting OSCHELBRONN my grandfathers hometown accompanied by BUECHELE relatives living nearby in BERGLEN. Anna HILDENBRAND (daughter of my grandfathers brother Gottlob) and her husband Karl will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary on April 23, 1998 and I am planning on taking part in that celebration on April 25, 1998. I will be visiting with Anna and Karl and their Children Klaus and Karin and families. I hope to visit Oschelbronn and retrace my grandfathers footsteps there. My grandfather and grandmother were close with Anna and Karl and their children. As I participate in their Wedding Anniversary Celebration, and visit Oschelbronn, I will again feel as if my grandparents and my father are walking beside me.

Throughout my visit to Germany I hope to visit many places meaningful to my ancestors as well as Castles, Churches and hopefully the Black Forest.

I also hope to visit STUTTGART which is where my father was born and lived in Germany until he came to the US in 1924.

My grandparents immigrated to the US in 1923/24 with my father Eugene R. Buechele. My grandparents returned often to their homeland for visits but my father never did. I know he will be there with me in spirit though as I make this trip, as will my grandparents.

My thanks to a HALM relative here in the US for making that LINE COME ALIVE FOR ME, Katie SCHLUMBERGER for allowing me accompany her on this trip to her hometown of Baltmannsweiler (she was a close friend of my grandmother when they both lived there), Paul ZIEGLER my cousin in Baltmannsweiler (my grandmothers step father was Christian Jacob ZIEGLER - Christian Friedrick HALM died when my grandmother was just 5 years old) for his offer to stay with him while I am there, and whose son still lives in the ZIEGLER House my grandmother grew up in, and Anna, Karl, Klaus and Karin (HILDENBRAND) hospitality while I am in Berglen and for allowing me to share in their Anniversary Celebration.

I will write more as my plans become more firm for this trip of a Lifetime as I walk in spirit with my ancestors. It is my hope that my relatives currently living in Germany will visit this page to see how my plans progress, also that they will know how much this trip means to me and that I am so very greatful to all who have made my ancestors come alive for me and are helping me to retrace their footsteps on this TRIP OF A LIFETIME.

Today I received a reply from the Stuttgart State Capital Register Office regarding my inquiry as to where my grandparents lived in Stuttgart when my father was born. They were able to give me the street address as "Elisabethenstrasse 44". This is wonderful information for me as now I can visit the street my grandparents lived on when my father was born. Maybe even the house if it still stands and wasn't destroyed by the War. I know for certain now that I certainly will be retracing my grandparents footsteps on this TRIP OF A LIFETIME.

February 9, 1998
Well, I have my passport and my ticket is booked and paid for and I am FINALLY going NO MATTER WHAT. I promised myself I would do this and I never break a promise to myself. Unfortunately, Katie will not be accompanying me due to an unforseen change in her circumstances. I will, however, be taking her with me in Spirit. I leave March 30 and Return April 28. I am like a little child waiting for Christmas.

March 8, 1998
I spoke with Katie tonight and I am thrilled that it appears her circumstances have again changed and she may be able to travel with me after all. Within the week, she will know for sure. This is very good news for me as I am sure it will add meaning to this trip for me. Very soon I will be packing my bags, I am still feeling like a little child preparing for Christmas and as the day of my departure draws closer the anticipation increases.

March 28, 1998
Two days and counting. Katie left for Germany March 26 - Looks like we will travelling together but separately - I am pleased that I will be able to meet up with her in Baltmannsweiler. The reality of this trip has not sunk in yet - somehow I won't believe I am going until that Lufthansa Jet is taxiing down the runway. Just the anticipation makes me exhausted - add Jet Lag and I will surely sleep for 24 hours once I set foot in Germany. Auf Wiedersehen America - Guten Tag Deutschland!

The name comes from a stud farm owned by the duke of Swabia, son of Emperor Otto the Great. This is why the horse is seen in the Coat of Arms. By the year 1427, Stuttgart had become the capital and home of the counts of Wurttemberg, who became prince electors, and 3 years later, Kings. The city grew and prospered under the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm I (1816-1864). At the turn of the 20th Century it had a population of 175,000. By the beginning of World War I, Stuttgart had grown to include several districts, most importantly Cannstatt, so then its land area extended as far as the Neckar River. In World War II a total of 53 bombing attacks destroyed 60% of its buildings. Not even one of its landmarks or historic buildings came through intact. After the war, Stuttgart became the capital of the newly formed state of Baden-Wurttemberg (many people still prefer to call it "Swabia"). Stuttgart's population in 1998 is about 580,000.