Schiffferstadt

Schifferstadt   is the ancestral home of the LaForce family for one hundred fifty years (1700- 1857), so naturally, we wanted to visit and research the original records. In 2014, Rebecca contacted the retired town historian,  Johann Benedom while she was living in Mannheim, a short train ride from Schifferstadt. And then it was a short walk to the center of town.

We had an appointment with the delightful Herr Benedom first thing in the morning, meeting him in front of the Town Hall or Rathaus, as it is called in German. Soon after meeting him, a photographer came out and snapped our pic for the local paper. We were celebrities! Then we commenced our tour of the church, the Rathaus, and the town itself.  Schifferstadt has many old homes still standing, since it was never bombed in WW2.

Inside, the oldest German Town Hall, dating from the mid-sixteenth century, , we were given a  fascinating history lesson. Among other things we learned was that there are close ties with a sister city of Frederick MD. The town hall also functions as the the local history museum and we were taught via old maps, art, and artifacts.

Of course, history is never static, and the town moves into the 21st century, as a fresh wave of immigrants makes their home in the Pfalz. I was thrilled to recognize the Peace Pole erected in the back of the town hall. There is one on campus at SUNY Fredonia as well as Studio Panterra in Westfield NY where Mike and I take yoga classes.

But I digress, Rebecca did her best to translate what Herr Benedom shared with us as we made our way across the street to the church of St. Jacobus, some of which dates from the twelfth century and the home to many LaForce baptisms.

A walking tour of town was next.

As so many towns of this size, (about 20,000), it was clean, well-kept, with glorious gardens, plenty of watering holes, and charming half-timbered homes.

Herr Benedom then took us to his to his “kingdom.” This was the golden treasure for the genealogists among us! The room was filled with case after case of historical documents, including census and other population records. It’s because of the extensive work Herr Benedom has done sorting through the ancient records, that so many of us have been able to learn about our ancestral lines. For angels like that, we are most grateful. I inquired about the books that he had transcribed so many records of marriages and births and was able to purchase a set to bring home for my own research. How we would ever carry them in our suitcases on the plane, since they weighed around 12 pounds and were quite thick, I would figure out later!

We were hoping to find the origins in France of our line of La Forces. Unfortunately Herr Benedom showed us the record and all it says was France …..most disappointing.

Herr Benedom apologized on behalf of the mayor, who was unable to meet with us, but he presented a lovely print of the Rathaus, done in charcoal around 1930, I believe.

We were thrilled with the hospitality we encountered in Schifferstadt and hope to visit again –perhaps in time for the Radish Festival! This year Herr Benedom sent a Christmas card….and what was on  Schifferstadt: we LOVE you !!!

Back home in Fredonia, using the info. in the Schifferstadt record books, I was able to determine our relationship with the Fredonia Bernatz family, also originating in Schifferstadt.  Two of them (Mike’s 6th cousins!) are neighbors of ours! Who knew????