Lindquistics the Musings of Marian Lindquist: Hillmanns 2 1900 Abroad

The Hillmanns of Brooklyn

Chapter 2

1900 Abroad

Last week I introduced you to the Hillmanns of Brooklyn, John and his wife, Emma, along with their children, Herman and Louise. Herman was my great-grandfather. In 1900, at the age of 17, Herman traveled to Europe with a group of other young men from his church. These are the pictures he brought back.

Herman is showing us what it looked like when he left New York. You are looking at these pictures in exactly the order Herman placed them in his album.

Relaxing in steamer chairs

Ireland, the Road to Killarney

Killarney, Ireland

Clyde, Scotland

Dunollie Castle, Scotland

I look at these pictures and sometimes wonder how the same place looks today. The below picture was taken from internet.

The Oban waterfront of Scotland

A thatched roof in Scotland.

After Scotland they journeyed to Holland.

After they went to Holland, Herman and his group traveled to Germany. This is a picture of a country station in Germany, taken from the train on the way to Worms. Herman’s father, John, and his mother, Emma’s, parents were all born in Germany.

Herman took this picture Heidelberg from his hotel window. So far as we know Herman’s mother, Emma, never saw Germany, nor is it likely his father ever saw as much of Europe as Herman got to see on this trip.

Rhine rafts.

In 1900 Herman was proud to be of German descent. By the time my father, Herman’s grandson, was old enough to understand concepts of ancestry, which was after the two world wars, Dad reports his grandfather was ashamed of having any association to Germany.

The Rhine, taken from the train.

Do you ever go somewhere and take a picture because you are filled with the beauty of the place? And then you see the picture and realize it does not capture the entire feeling of beauty. At least it can bring back the memory.