This evening we went to Martin and Jutta’s home on Kolter 1 Strasse, just south of town. Martin is the son of Helmut, my father’s first cousin (son of Karl Albert “Heinrich” Laemmlen, my Grandpa Rudolf’s brother). We were also greeted by Michael Laemmlen, son of Bernd, son of Kurt, son of Grandpa’s brother, Hermann. They were waiting for us and we were so happy to be reunited after about 10 years!
They took us through the vineyard up to the Heuchelberg Turm. The Turm, or watch tower was built in 1483 and it has been a sentinel standing over Grossgartach for as long as my people have lived here. There is a wonderful restaurant up on top of this mountain called Heuchtelberger Warte, where we had dinner.
Martin said he has 15 different pieces of vineyard land, scattered around the area. Grandpa always hated that when a father died, his land was divided between his sons, making the pieces of land smaller and smaller. For example as we drove by the vineyards, Martin pointed out 10 rows he owned in one place going up the steep hillside. It’s a few rows here and a few there.
Grandpa must have been so happy to buy a farm in America that was all one piece, on flat land!
The views from on top are beautiful with a 360 degree panorama of the farmlands and towns in the area.
We had a great traditional German meal–Schnitzel and Käsespätzle–a very fun way to begin our few days in Grossgartach.
[The name changed to Leingarten in 1970. In more recent years, when the population grew to 10,000 people Leingarten qualified to be called and incorporated as a city.]
These old photos of the grape harvest were on the walls inside the restaurant–this was the life my ancestors lived:
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 