Horn of plenty
Ida Grove hospital builds to meet growing health care demands - IDA GROVE, Iowa - You can't drive through Ida Grove on Highway 175 and not notice the construction going on at Horn Memorial Hospital on the east side of town. What began three years ago continues. It won't end until 2008. « Read More »
"Last week was a big week for Holstein, IA!"
Last week was a big week for Holstein and exciting for the community. Not only was there the Quasquicentennial book arrival and distribution, the grand opening of the Country Store, the American National Bank Open House, but there were also visitors that came all the way from Germany.
Joachim Reppmann also known as "Yogi" was in Holstein for the whole week to see the town and do a LIVE interview for Germany. Yogi is from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and recently wrote a book entitled "Building a Bridge." This book was written by Professor Joachim "Yogi" Reppmann and assisted by fellow Schleswig-Holstein author Erhard Bottcher and Holstein, Iowa, history buff Virginia Degan. "Building a Bridge" is about how the citizens of Holstein, Iowa, renewed contacts with their ancestral homeland. Although the book's focus is one Holstein, Iowa, the story it relates is a clarion call for the citizens of any community to learn more about themselves by learning more about their ancestors."
"Building a Bridge" was published approximately 10 days ago and Roger Clausen of VT Industries bought the first box of books that will be distributed free at the Stubbs Memorial Library as soon as they come in.
Schleswig-Holstein is the Home State in Germany and is located North of Hamburg and South of Denmark. In 1983 Dee Eicke and Yogi had invited 45 farmers from Holstein, Iowa, to their ancestral home state of Schleswig Holstein. These 45 farmers and several others had learned Low German as their first language. It started coming back to them once they arrived in Holstein, IA. Frances Earnest of Holstein, still speaks her evening prayer in Low German.
Yogi brought Martin Bechert, a famous North German anchorman, along with him to town last weekend to do the LIVE interviews for the huge NDR TV and Radion Station, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. (NDR = Norddeutscher Rundfunk = North German Broadcasting). The interviews took place on Sunday, December 17, 2006, at 10:00 AM at the Holstein Public Library and at Delores Witt's home on Altona Street (this was significant because Altona is the name of a city in Northern Germany). Featured in the interviews were Gloria Leonard, who talked about the Quasquicentennial Celebration, Mary Gross talked about her position as Bergemeister (Mayor), Sophie Bauer and Evelyn Jochims did some Low-German greetings and Frances Earnest gave the evening prayer in Low-German.
KTIV Channel 4 out of Sioux City arrived at Virginia Degan's home and interviewed Virginia and Yogi about their book. It was premiered on the Sunday evening new at 10:00 PM and also on Monday morning, December 18th.
While the interviews were taking place, Delores Witt and Frances Earnest prepared "Pfortchen," which is similar to a donut hole. This recipe is from the first settlers who brought the recipe from their homeland. At Christmas time many of the progeny of the early immigrants still make the special recipes of their forbearers. There is something about Christmas that moves people to reflect on their roots and it is also a good time to pass on some of the customs to their children and grandchildren. This German fritter recipe can be found in Delores' new published cookbook on page 188 or you can ask almost any woman with German ancestry for a recipe.
Yogi also brought some famous "Marzipan" and shared with guests. "Marzipan" is a family owned company in Germany and has been in production since 1806. Everyday 34 tons of this specialty chocolate is shipped worldwide.
For a chance to go visit Schleswig-Holstein Yogi has arranged a trip for anyone interested from September 15 to the 24th in 2007. During this trip, you will see a variety of places in Germany and learn more about ancestral roots, the language, and lots more. For further information about this tour, please contact Virginia Degan at 368-4497.