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This view of the Rhine River is to the North, down the river toward the Atlantic ocean. St. Goar is the nearest small locality. This picture was taken from the ruins of the Rheinfeld fortress. Within sight from here there were many other castles, the seats of local princes. Many of these had the right to impose customs duties on travelers which made it expensive for the emigrants. The location here is north of Mainz and south of Koblenz. More than half of the emigrants in the 18th century would have passed by here. Note the vineyards on the opposite hill. |
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Rhine River near St. Goar |
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Kettenbach, north of Frankfurt, was the home of the Zerbe/Zerby/Zerbey family whose ancestors came in 1710, first to New York. One brother then came to the Tulpehocken region in Pennsylvania. This is a modern house painting, about six feet tall, on the side of the house. Several other houses had paintings also. This is not as common as it is the south of Germany. |
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Kettenbach House Painting |
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Eisern, a suburb of the modern city of Siegen, was the home of Wilhelm Hofmann who came to Pennsylvania in 1741 and settled in York County. The name Eisern is derived from the word for iron, Eisen, which was appropriate because the principal industry was the mining and smelting of iron ore. The hills nearby were also a rich source of gray slate which was used to cover most surfaces of the houses. Many villages have distinctive characteristics. The region around Eisern was the home of many 1710 immigrants to America. |
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Eisern Street Scene |
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Pennsylvania Chapter, Palatines to America Selected Photographs, I |