N.Y.C. Ellis Island / Part # 2

The Journey of Stephen Emich 

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Ellis Island / Part # 2

The Front Entrance

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Since it first opened as the major hub of Immigration in 1892, over 12 million people were processed through the naturalization station at Ellis Island including 11,747 in a single day on April 17, 1903. Originally the island was much smaller and was called Oyster Island for the fish processing that took place there. When the government acquired the property, it was renamed for the previous owner, Samuel Ellis. The island was expanded over time to include about 30 buildings, most of which were devoted to a hospital. All prospective immigrants were first examined by physicians before they could be processed through the Great Hall. About two percent of all arrivals were sent to the hospital wing of the island and were then deported back to their country of origin. For those unfortunate souls the island was called The Island of Tears. In addition, over 3,500 people, who were denied access to the American Dream, died within the walls of the hospital on the island, one step away from American soil until their burial at several area cemeteries near the harbor.

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Passing Lady Liberty

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Changes in The United States immigration policy closed the facility in 1924 to mass immigration. In the years that followed, the property served many uses including a deportation station, internment camp during World War II, a Coast Guard Training base, and as a detention center for radical aliens. The sight closed in 1954 and following several unsuccessful attempts to redevelop, it was abandoned. In 1966 Ellis Island was included with the Statue of Liberty on the list of National Register of Historic Places, giving the property landmark status. The National Park Service manages the island today.    

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Katelyn Gazes over the Harbor

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One of the stories I remember was my grandfather's scare when passing the Statue of Liberty... All passengers were called on deck as the S.S. Paris entered New York Harbor to view the famous Lady who welcomed all weary travelers to the New World via New York. As my grandfather Stephen turned to see the great statue, another passenger had popped open a bottle of champagne and the spray exploded out the end of the bottle, got caught in the sea breeze, and hit my grandfather right in the eyes. His vision became blurred, his eyes burned, and turned a deep red. Knowing the medical exam was the first obstacle he would face once on land, he worried that he would be pulled aside and sent to the hospital. I can only imagine the fear he must have felt as he pondered the possible outcomes. Would he be separated from his brother and sent back to Europe alone to an unknown future? To his relief, the wait was long and his eyes began to clear and were not a point of interest for the examining doctor. He entered the Great Hall and prepared to face the 29 standard questions all immigrants faced within the winding lines of the processing stations. A five-hour ordeal lay ahead.  

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Name Location at Backpack

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Katelyn and I boarded the ferry and after viewing the commanding presence of Lady Liberty we passed through to Ellis Island. Upon arrival, we skipped the guided tour and went straight through the Great Hall to the rear courtyard outside to find the sprawling silver Immigrant Wall of Honor. I used their web site earlier to find on what panel his name would be found. The massive monument was circular in design with flanking straight walls to the one side. This is where we found panel # 657 and my grandfather's name near the bottom right hand corner. My backpack in the photo above, designates the location of his engraved name.

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Wall of Honor / Close-up

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We both crouched by the name and I called my mother on the phone so she could share in the experience when we touched it. I took a lot of photographs and then took several graphite rubbings of the name on paper, as is often done at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. It was a special moment that I will never forget. It is humbling to think of what all started here and what it grew to become over time. Not just for my own family, but for all the millions who came through here with little of their own, with the exception of great hopes and unfulfilled dreams.

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New York City Skyline

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It is amazing to think about how one person's brave journey could impact so many lives of future generations. Katelyn had trouble connecting the dots somewhat, because she had never met or heard much about Great Grandpa Steve before today. I was glad she shared the experience with me and she has since expressed interest of a return visit to see and learn more next time we find ourselves in the Big Apple.     

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Majority of Island in Decay

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Thus far, only the main Great Hall building has been restored. The remaining 28 buildings, most of which make up the hospital, continue to sit empty and die a slow death of decay. There are plans to try and save the rest of the dormant structures but little has changed on site since the initial restoration project phase was completed in 1990. The decomposing buildings give the island an uneasy, unsettled and ghostly feel. With attention and funding maybe they will all come back to life again some day and will be incorporated within the museum experience.      

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Mildred and Stephen Emich 

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After my mother got married and moved out of the city, her parents followed and built a ranch style house right up the street in a new housing development south of Lititz, PA. Above is one of the last pictures of my grandparents and me before Grandpa Steve passed away. I never got to really know him or hear his stories first hand... But I now live in that ranch house he built, and can look out across the yard at all the mature trees he planted as saplings so long ago. My visit to Ellis Island has helped pull me closer to him and I hope the engraving of his name on the Immigrant Wall of Honor is accepted as a small token of thanks for all he did to make my life in America possible.       

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 Last Picture with Grandpa Steve

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PLEASE SEE RELATED BLOG...  

Ellis Island / Part #1

http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-ellis-island-part-1.html

N.Y.C. / Ellis Island Part # 1

The Journey of Stephen Emich
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Part # 1

 The Old Country / Homeland

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Katelyn and I were soon about to travel to New York City for a "father daughter" day trip touring the Big Apple. I really wanted to visit Ellis Island where my grandfather, Stephen Emich, entered the country in 1921 at the age of ten. He was originally from a small village called Bastaji in a section of Eastern Europe that would be called the Bosnia and Serbia region today. The area was full of ethnic tensions and may be the reason why the family decided to emigrate to America. His father, Adam Sr (my great-great grandfather) came to America alone first... to get a job, find housing, and then save enough money to pay the cost of passage for his family to come join him in the United States.

Village of Bastaji Map

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Adam Emich found a sponsor near Pittsburgh and soon made his way to Lancaster where he found employment in construction and a place to live in the German section of Lancaster City known as Cabbage Hill. He was ready to send for his wife and family back in the Old Country but world events would decide otherwise. A Serbian national assassinated the archduke of Austria which sparked World War I and communication between Adam and his family ceased for the four long years of the war. Following Armistice Day that ended the violent conflict, there was still no word from his wife and children. He traveled back to Austria-Hungary (Yugoslavia) to try and find his family. He soon discovered his wife had died from tuberculosis during the war and the new location and welfare of his two sons remained unknown.

 S.S. Paris Passenger Record

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He soon found the two boys, Adam Jr. now sixteen and Stephen now ten years of age, living in a barn on a nearby farm and herding a flock of sheep as shepherds to earn their keep. Reunited for a short time, Adam made his way alone, back to the coast to arrange for his sons' passage to the New World. Next, he returned to America to make the arrangements and apply for permits and legal rights for his sons' entrance into the country. In time, the two boys received instructions and made their way west to France where a ship called the S.S. Paris was preparing for its maiden voyage to New York City.

S.S. Paris Arrival N.Y.C.

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In late September of 1921, the S.S. Paris departed the port city of Le Havre, France on its maiden transatlantic voyage to New York City. Adam Jr. and Steven were among the 1,953 passengers on board, in third class status. The ship arrived in New York Harbor on November 19, 1921. The ship's arrival is documented in the rare photograph pictured above where families have gathered to greet their loved ones arriving on the new ship. It is a special image to have, knowing this is the exact voyage my grandfather was on and he may be one of those passengers seen on the distant deck.

Artist Charles Demuth 

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One other note of interest was that the most famous artist of Lancaster, Charles Demuth, was also a passenger on board, returning home from studying art techniques abroad. He is most well known for his highly acclaimed painting entitled The Figure 5 in Gold which he painted seven years later. The home and art studio he shared with his mother in Lancaster on East King Street is now a museum devoted to his Precisionism Movement paintings and life story.

Ellis Island Processing Sheet

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After all passengers exited the S.S. Paris, the undocumented were transported to Ellis Island for processing where individuals and families navigated through a series of check points to see if they were fit to enter the country. Adam Jr. and Stephen arrived at the island in the evening and are listed on the daily manifest at the bottom of the page as entries seven and eight logged in at 7:00 PM, as seen above. As a result, they stayed the night in the dormitory on the grounds and were then ferried to the train station on the New Jersey side the next morning. From there, they made their way toward their new home.

First Banana Encounter

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One story of interest I remember hearing was an example of the sudden culture shock many came face to face with on the island. At the meal provided on the island, my grandfather sat down with hundreds of other new immigrants in the vast dining hall that could serve 1,000 people at a time. They were served bananas with the meal and no one at his table had ever seen such a thing and had no idea how to eat it. The logical thing to do was follow the routine associated with other fruits. They pealed the banana, ate the skin and let the large white seed or pit on the plate! If you think about it, bananas are one of the few fruits where we eat the seed. So my guess is, they were probably not too impressed with the taste of this new exotic fruit and probably were a little weary of trying new cuisines in America after that!

The S.S. Paris Departs N.Y. Harbor

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The brothers arrived in Lancaster by rail and then began their lives in the New World. The brothers took two different paths in life with Adam going right to work at Armstrong Industries, where he would work the rest of his life on the plant floor. Adam never assimilated to America very much. He lived his whole life in the German speaking area of Cabbage Hill. He never learned to read and write and the lack of an education somewhat limited his opportunities in life. Cabbage Hill offered a home away from home where the residents of German decent could retain their Old World customs and culture.

Stephen Emich Confirmation

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Stephen, pictured above at his church confirmation, attended public school at Manheim Township School District for several years where he learned to speak the language well. He continued his education until the school building was destroyed by fire. He then followed in his older brother's footsteps to Armstrong where he also would be employed for the rest of his life. However, with his ability to read and write, more doors were open to him and he was promoted off the plant floor and became part of the office personnel.

 Certificate of Naturalization

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Stephen grew up, got married and raised a family of his own on Jackson Street right behind the Armstrong Plant in Lancaster city. He had two daughters, my mother being one of them. Above is an image of my mother's most prized and cherished possession, her father's naturalization certificate. He died of a heart attack at work in 1969 when I was just a toddler. My mother and I visited Ellis Island soon after the Main Hall was restored in 1990 and opened as a museum to the public. Since that time, they have erected an Immigrant Wall of Honor where you can pay to have a name added to the monument. The following Christmas, I had his name placed on the wall and received a certificate for my contribution. I had it framed and gave it to my mother as a surprise gift on Christmas morning. That was over fifteen years ago and I have never seen his name on the monument. Katelyn and I were on a mission to make a journey of own own to seek out and find it.

PLEASE SEE RELATED BLOG...

Ellis Island / Part # 2

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http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-ellis-island-part-2.html

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Middletown / Scenic Railway

Middletown Scenic Railway

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Today Katelyn and I had to go to another quick routine check up at Hershey Medical Center and since we were in the neighborhood... We hit the Middletown / Hummelstown Scenic Railway... An eleven-mile, hour and a half long ride along the historic Union Canal and Swatara Creek. Surprise! How exciting! I couldn't wait! Katelyn could hardly contain her enthusiasm! A ride along the Milk and Honey Line, here we go!

 The Swatara Creek

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The three train cars were huge and could probably hold at least seventy-five people each. The eight passengers on our trip crowded into the last car, which was a little beat up but very historic and mostly original. The entire ride out was a historical narrative of points of interest along the canal. Problem was... you had to use your imagination because everything was so overgrown you couldn't really see anything. The Union Canal turned out to be a barely visible ditch which was now dry, full of vegetation, and hard to pick out from the other surrounding woods and plant life. The big break in the green curtain of foliage was when the train crossed the Swatara Creek. The information was well described and centered a lot around the flooding associated with Hurricane Agnus, which I remembered from when I was a kid. I found it interesting, Katelyn looked lost and confused? I asked her if she had any questions and she replied... "How much longer is this ride?"

Working on the Railroad

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After we stopped at Indian Echo Caverns for a quick turn around I couldn't imagine how they would keep our attention on the way back across the exact same route? A few people got off and a few more got on the train at the Indian Echo platform... were they going to repeat everything a second time for those few people who just joined us? To my surprise an elderly man who was reading the paper in the back of the train got up and put on an accordion that looked about as old as the train itself. The journey back to the station was going to be a forty-five minute sing-a-long of old railroad songs from the bygone golden age of the railroad! This was gonna be good!

 Accordion Orchestra 

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The other ten passengers seemed a little passive but much to Katelyn's dismay and total embarrassment, I sang my heart out! It was a long ride for her but I was having a grand ole time! We sang song after song as the conductor and his gifted accordion playing sidekick led us through verse after verse! The train personnel were great and although Katelyn wanted to throw me overboard, I thought it was a fun, fun time! When in Rome...

 Everybody Join Together in Song

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Poor Tyler missed out on this one! Katelyn didn't talk to me for a full half hour after our journey ended. She later came around with a visit to KFC down the highway towards home. Fast food heals all wounds! It wasn't Strasburg but it was a really good time (for me)!

 Enjoy Happy Rails of History

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Cornwall / Iron Furnace Plantation

Cornwall Iron Furnace
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Quick Drive By Visit

Today, my daughter Katelyn had an early morning routine check-up up at Hershey Medical Center (cancer survivor) and after hitting Chocolate World (Bribe) we headed home and took a slight detour (I didn't tell her before now) to Cornwall to see the historic iron works and furnace of Lebanon County. (she was speechless) However, I didn't realize until we arrived at the Visitor's Center that there were 100 steep steps down into the site and then back up again with the guided tour and that wasn't K's speed. So... we did a quick self guided walking /driving tour of the grounds instead...

We stopped into the Visitor Center museum for some quick background information. The site claims to be the only surviving intact charcoal cold blast furnace in the Western Hemisphere (mouth full). The furnace was founded by Peter Grubb (stone mason) who took up mining and in time developed Cornwall Iron plantation. Following his death, the business was later passed on to his sons who successfully continued the plantation operations and became major cannon producers ($$$$$) for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

The extensive property was later purchased by Robert Coleman who went on to become Pennsylvania's first millionaire! Coleman was the Rockefeller of Iron and mining in Lebanon and Lancaster Counties. He purchased every furnace in the area (greedy) and several mines making him extremely wealthy. The furnace was later phased out of business by coal operated furnaces and was acquired by the state of Pennsylvania in 1932 where it soon became a National Historic Landmark.

Anyway... for most of our private tour we jumped in the car and drove around the plantation to see the beautiful architecture (drive by) of the site. I kept pulling the car off the road, putting on the hazard flashers, and jumping out to get the camera shots (tourist) I wanted... To my surprise, Katelyn (bored) stayed in the car (every time)! But you know something is coming here, a story of unexpected events, a Martinism...

When I was taking the shots of the old Railroad Bridge I heard a car pull up behind me and then proceed to pull up along side me... A State Police cruiser! He stopped the car and put his passenger side window down to ask me what I was doing? He then asked if that was my van (Man Van) behind us (illegally parked) with the hazards flashing? I told him I was just taking a few pictures and would now... be on my way. He stared at me for a few seconds in silence (dumbfounded) and then the window went up without a word and the car turned around and drove away... I wanted to get a picture of the car driving away but decided (logic) not to push my luck. It was time to get out of Dodge (Cornwall) my welcome was wearing out... Some people (authority figures) just don't seem to "get" artists?

I jumped backed in the car and Katelyn said, "I saw that, Now what did you do? Are you in trouble again, are you under arrest?" I told her the poor guy was lost (lie) and I was just trying to help him out (K. not buying it) And then confessed, "I'm not in trouble but we need to leave, right now!" And so we did...

Until Next Time America...

The Fugitive

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Ephrata / Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister Campus 

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Ephrata, Pennsylvania

The Sister's House

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 Today I headed out to absorb some local history solo with the kids home still in bed. My suggestion to go out and tour a preserved colonial religious community campus was met with less than an enthusiastic response? I know it's not Hershey Park but... come on! Anyway, it was their loss and I wasn't about to let their Johnny Rain Cloud attitude ruin my historical fun! I grabbed the camera and headed to Ephrata almost next door to see where it all began.

The Bake House

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The story begins with a young man named Conrad Beissel from Germany who lost both parents by the age of eight. He learned the baking trade and traveled across the region wandering from place to place. On the road, he began to seek out religion and soon identified with the separatist movement where focus was more on the Bible and less about politics. Like many in conflict with the established church, Beissel sought a place where he could pursue his quest in peace, free from persecution. He soon accepted the open invitation from William Penn, proprietor of Pennsylvania, to join him in Penn's Woods and become part of the Holy Experiment.

  View of Village Buildings

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The Quakers of Pennsylvania opened the colony to people of all faiths to live side by side and worship as they pleased. So many different faiths became part of the Holy Experiment that there was no one faith to dominate the others and the open policy made Pennsylvania one of the most populated and successful colonies. Conrad Beissel made his way west through the colony on his never ending pilgrimage for the true meaning of God. In 1732 he settled near the Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County.

  Vegetable Garden

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People began to flock to Beissel and although he first intended to live as a hermit in the wilderness, people joined him on his religious journey and looked to him as their spiritual leader. A community grew up around him and the group numbered close to 300 at the movement's height. The group was divided into three groups including men and women who lived separate celibate lives in large dormitory style structures that were 4-5 stories tall. The three buildings were the tallest structures west of Philadelphia. People were in awe when they came upon them in the middle of the wilderness and today they are often referred to as colonial sky scrapers. One still stands today and is the centerpiece of the historical community. The final group were families who lived on the fringe of the community and attended services on the Sabbath which Beissel believed was on Saturday, the seventh day of the calendar week.

 Carpenter's Shop

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It was not easy to be a full member of the monastery like community. Beissel believed that Christ would return to earth within his life time and believed their sacrifices would be temporary. The group often awoke after midnight each night for a two hour watch for the return of Jesus. Their day started at 5:00 in the morning and was a flip flop of periods of work and prayer throughout the day. Beissel believed people should lived their lives in the image of Christ and he believed Jesus slept and ate little. The people of Ephrata only slept six restless hours a night on hard wooden benches using a wooden block as a pilliow. Beissel beleived that people were most vunerable to the Devil and evil during a deep sleep so his goal was to keep them from getting a good nights rest.

Beissel's Desk /Study

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The followers on site only ate one meal a day in the late evening which usually consisted of grains and vegetables. Lamb was occasionally served when the male and female groups came together in a Love Feast communion that marked special occasions determined by the church elders. The people worked in agriculture, carpentry, paper making, printing, and providing education for the area children. Beissel loved religious hymms and wrote over 500 songs despite the fact he had no formal music instruction. When Beissel died in 1768 at the age of 77 the group began to decline in membership. Beissel's proficacy of Christ returning within his lifetime did not come true and the faith of the community was effected. Peter Miller took over the congregation but had a hard time keeping the group together. Eventually the celibate church membership died off and the remaining followers formed the German Seventh Day Baptists.

Small Livestock Stable

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Some people continued to live on the campus and the last resident of the Ephrata Cloister died in the summer of 2008. The 28 acre propery is now owned and maintained by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The religious community started by Beissel has now grown to over 13,000 residents today.

Church Interior

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Overall I thought the community was beautiful in the early morning light which really brought out the greens of color throughout. The gift shop was really interesting offering a wide array of unique gifts and historical reproductions. I couldn't help but purchase one of the wooden pillow blocks for eight bucks. And as their creative billboard along Route 322 states... No Pillow Fights Allowed!

 Staircase in Sunlight

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