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Read MoreSpring 2018 Newsletter
March 12, 2018 marked the 284th anniversary (1734) of the landing of 37 Protestant families in Savannah, Georgia following their expulsion from Salzburg, Austria, by Prince-Archbishop Firmian.
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Read MoreBoltzius Statue
The statue of Rev. Johann Martin Boltzius was placed on this pedestal as the Salzburgers mark the 275th anniversary of their forefathers’ arrival in Georgia during the 2009 annual Heritage Day celebration.
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Read MoreJerusalem Lutheran Church
Jerusalem Lutheran Church is the oldest continuous worshipping Lutheran Church in America. Established in 1733, Jerusalem is located along the Savannah River near Rincon, GA in a settlement known as New Ebenezer. The first Sunday School in Georgia was held in 1734 and the first orphanage was built in 1737.
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Read MoreJerusalem Church Cemetery
Notes from the recent rededication:
Prayers for those who died long ago filled the sanctuary and grounds of Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church on Saturday during services held for those buried in at least 250 unmarked graves outside the walls of the church’s cemetery.
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Read MoreSalzburger House
The Salzburger house was built in 1755 on a site near Jerusalem Church Cemetery. It was built of local pine cut into boards at a water powered sawmill located on the creek at old Ebenezer. The foundation blocks for this house was hewn from heart of the longneedle pine that is impregnated with resinous material that resist rot. It was removed from the village in the late 1800′ It was returned to the present site in 1973. Source: Pamphlet: “Walking Tour of New Ebenezer;” researched and written by John W. Gnann, assisted by Norman Turner. Rope Bed Children’s room Tools of yesteryear More tools Desk in Salzburger House Clothes on display Replica of a baby cradle In the bedroom: dresser with chamber pot Baby Cradle Doll funiture...
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Winter Newsletter 2018
President’s Message: Winter Newsletter 2019 publisher pdf GSS BEGINNING 285 YEARS OF SALZBURGERS IN GEORGIA Landing Day on March 9, 2019 begins the celebration of the 285th Anniversary of the arrival of the first transport of Salzburgers to Georgia and there is much to celebrate. Looking back, 2018 was a very active year for the Georgia Salzburger Society. Beginning in February, GSS had the distinction of enjoying a presentation by Christine Koch, a prolific researcher of all things GA Salzburger. In February, she came to Ebenezer and shared information from her work in progress for her thesis project, “The GA Salzburgers after Ebenezer”. On that same occasion, the descendants of the Third Salzburger Transport were recognized and presented with a small poster of the Transport list of names of families traveling together and arriving in GA on February 17, 1736. Attendance at this event also included the German Exchange Teachers visiting Effingham Co. Schools. They brought greetings from Halle. In March, the Landing Day celebration was extended to include a tour of the old Salzburger cemetery at the first settlement. The grounds were cleaned, monuments refurbished, crosses, flags, and fresh flowers placed on each known grave site, and a short remembrance presentation made. This was a very meaningful event to all who participated, including...
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Super Museum Sunday 2019
The GSS Museum will participate once again in The Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday. Last year we saw an increase in attendance touring Ebenezer on a Super Museum Sunday because we featured heirloom and vintage quilts on display throughout the buildings including Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, the old Salzburger House, and the Parsonage. You have probably visited the GSS museum before, but on 2/10/19 we plan to feature another one-of-a- kind collection in buildings throughout the grounds. Discussions and plans are in process for an exhibition of clothing from the GSS collections. Right now there are lots of things that are usually not out where the fabulous, intricate details or wonderful simplicity of historical era clothing can be seen daily. So Super Museum Sunday will be the opportunity to really see and appreciate some things from the GSS collections that you have never seen displayed before. More details will be announced at a later date prior to 2/10/19. Please call the GSS office or museum curator, Patsy Zeigler, if you would like to volunteer to assist with getting the collection of clothing inventoried and freshened up for the exhibition, or if you would like to be here on 2/10/19 to help with showing folks around the various displays at Ebenezer.~ Claudia Christiansen...
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German – American Day 2018
Oom-pah-pa! Oom-pah-pa! The lively strains of authentic German music filled the ballroom at the Savannah Desoto Hotel as German families and friends gathered to enjoy German American Day. On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, the Teutonic Council sponsored a German Heritage Festival full of fellowship, education, and entertainment. The event was well received as everyone enjoyed various aspects of the German culture. German food and drinks allowed all to meet and greet while various entertainers kept the crowd engaged...
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Fall Newletter 2018
The Salzburger Heritage Day Festival on Labor Day was a wonderful event this year. There were so many activities for the young and old. The family tents were a great way to meet and greet new relatives and share stories. The lemonade was awesome and taste so good and was free, “what a deal”. The church service and Margaret Waters who spoke on DNA as a tool for genealogy research, was a special highlight of the festival. Later...
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President’s Message Fall 2018
President’s Message The GSS is making great strides toward positive directions and as the new president of GSS, I am thankful for this opportunity to help lead our membership forward in achieving the Goals of the GA Salzburger Society. I appreciate the responsibility recently entrusted to me as president and I am working to the best of my abilities to help ensure that the GSS remains visible and relevant into the future. The most recent opportunity for visibility and...
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Spring 2018 Newsletter
Download the full newsletter here. March 12, 2018 marked the 284th anniversary (1734) of the landing of 37 Protestant families in Savannah, Georgia following their expulsion from Salzburg, Austria, by Prince-Archbishop Firmian. These Salzburgers, who finally settled 25 miles upstream in New Ebenezer, Georgia, are the progenitors of the oldest Austrian community on American soil. In anticipation of this important anniversary, the Director of the Austrian Embassy’s Press and Information Service, Thorsten Eisingerich, visited the Georgia Salzburger Museum,...
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Winter 2018 Newsletter
Download the full newsletter here. Landing Day 2018 The speaker this year is a Salzburger member, Steve Burke (left, in Redcoat Uniform, with Lee Smith). His research on the American Revolution in Georgia is extensive and the topic for his presentation will be “Life at Ebenezer during the British Occupation of the Town.” He will be assisted by Dess and Wilder Smith, as well as Lee Smith, all of whom are members and reenactors for Sons of the American...
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