Obernburg, Town of Fremont, Sullivan County, New York The following is some history of Obernburg, town of Fremont, Sullivan County, New York as told to me in a letter by Elizabeth S. McCoo probably in the 1980's. Elizabeth was the Historian for the Town of Fremont. The Jacob Kille referred to below is 24. in the body of the book. BEGIN Obernburg, New York was settled in the late 1840's, mainly by emigrants from Bavaria and other German states. Many of the settlers were catholic and St. Mary's Church was established in 1854 with Father Joseph Roesch as it's first resident pastor. The first family to settle in Obernburg is reputed to be the Wegeman family. Father Roesch listed twenty-nine names as his first parishioners. These surnames are: Bandendistel, Brustmann, two Deckelmanns, Dietrich, Engert, Faerber, Froelich, Gabriel, Gerst, Hally, Hirsch, Hoffman, Herbert, Kimmes, Koellstadt, Krebs, Kuhn, Kutger, Laub, two Rutzs, Sator, Schmidt, Schneider, Schuhmann, Wagner, Weber, and Wegeman. In 1856, Father Roesch began to make plans for a new church, asking the congregation to elect twelve men to undertake this project. In August, 1858 the following were elected: Jacob Faerber, Wilhelm Deckelmann, Carl Brustmann, Philip Deckelmann, John Herbert, John Rutz, Baethasser Weber, Michael Antone Hoffman, Adam Kuhn, John Jaeger, Peter Rutz, and Jacob Kille. END [Ed Note - When the new St. Mary's Church was built in 1930 a document was found in the cornerstone of the old church that said the original church was built by Fr. Joseph Roesch in 1861.] From "The Town of Fremont" By Charles S. Hick Historian (also appearing in the Sullivan County Democrat, Callicoon, New York in November of 1951) BEGIN Obernburg Settlers Mostly Bavarians Obernburg, near the last border of the town, became the center of a group of German settlers, in the main members of the Catholic church. Previous to the Obernburg settlement the Catholics were served by a priest located at Ellenville. The Fremont Catholics found this service too infrequent - the priest reached the settlement not more than once a month - (usually less often), and petitioned the bishop for a resident priest. Rev. Joseph Roesch, an Austrian priest, was assigned to the Obernburg parish and served it over a period more than twenty years. He left behind him many parish records very carefully written and complete in data that make them invaluable to anyone searching for the background of any family whose records are here. [Ed Note - it is my understanding that the vast majority of these records were burned in a fire. - MEL] Quinlan lists Father Roesch as a Prussian but a statement written by Father Roesch gives Austria as the country of his origin. The name Obernburg was given this community because it was the community in Bavaria from whence many of the early settlers came to America and on to Fremont. This was particularly true of the Deckelman family. Some few years ago Charles Denner, former Obernburg postmaster, made a trip to Germany one summer. He believed that Obernburg, Bavaria, should be on his itinerary. On his arrival at the hotel at Obernburg, Bavaria, he found the host to bear the name of Franz Deckelman and learned that the village's mayor was named Wilhelm Deckelman. He was fully convinced that the Deckelman family still remained in part of Obernburg, Bavaria. Charles Denner delighted to tell the story after his return to Fremont, much to the delight of the Fremont Deckelmans. I haven't learned if Mr. Denner received any special favors because he knew the Yankee Decklemans. "Dutchtown" Picnic Big Affair No story of Obernburg would be complete without a mention of the so-called "Dutchtown" picnic. This was one of the biggest social affairs in Western Sullivan County. It was definitely a benefit affair but it was patronized far and wide by everyone. The picnic was held in a grove west of the settlement on lands now owned by Anthony Tempel. Kitz owned it before Tempel. Originally the picnic was in the Kille grove near the brewery. The church built a dance platform in the grove here together with other buildings needed to serve food and drink and necessary plank seating around the needed tables which were picnic equipment selected to remain outside in the weather during the year. I can remember going to this picnic once but that was when it was on the decline but even so it grew an immense crowd. My memory recalls the teams of horses, and horses hitched to carriages tied to trees throughout the grove (woods may be a better word). It was the day before electricity. The lightning was by use of so-called torches then in common use. A tank contained a quart or more of kerosene oil, a wick was inserted into this through a tube about a half inch in diameter. The wick was lit. There was no chimney or globe. The nearest thing to it in use today is the flare carried by trucks or in use to mark an open spot in the highway. Phillip Bietz, long-time Jeffersonville resident, then a band leader and dance orchestra man, played for the Obernburg picnic. He told me the band waited outside the church where the people gathered before going to the picnic grounds. At the conclusion of the church service the band headed the procession to the picnic grounds. I presume the band played marches on its way. Like all early outdoor dance pavilions, the dance floor at Obernburg lay exposed to the weather, winter and summer. It furnished no ideal place for dancing. The crowd was so dense, however that it was quite impossible to do any fancy dancing and no one complained. The mere fact that a big crowd had assembled - and there always did - left the impression that every one had a good time. The "Dutchtown" picnic was an event that no one for many miles around would want to miss. Brewery Cellar Still Stands Another institution for which Obernburg was known was its brewery. This was founded by William Deckelman, a brother of Judge William Deckelman's grandfather, who later sold it to his son-in-law, Kille. It was operated until about 1905. For many years it supplied the taverns in Western Sullivan with the beer they used. A cellar with a stone arch ceiling was built as the brewery cellar. This cellar stands today quite as good as the time it was built. It was a handiwork of an early German stone mason named Meyer, whose grandson, Arthur N. Meyers, of Narrowsburg, is now Commissioner of Jurors for Sullivan County. The priest's house at Obernburg, also built of stone, is another of his jobs. A celebrity that Obernburg produced was Gunboat Smith - whose real name was Ed. Smith, an orphan boy for whom Joseph Moser provided a home. Smith enlisted in the Navy where he learned the boxing business and from this he got the title Gunboat. Gunboat Smith rated among the better heavyweight fighters and missed the championship by but a small margin. END From the Sullivan County Democrat, Callicoon, New York dated November 4, 1954: BEGIN GERMANS CAME FROM OBERNBURG IN BAVARIA TO NEW SETTLEMENT HERE; FR. ROESCH, FIRST PASTOR, LEFT A COMMPLETE [sic] RECORD. By Charles S. Hick Any person reading last week's installment would wonder how it happened so many of the early German Catholic settlers should happen to come from the one small village in German Bavaria by the name of Obernberg. There must have been a reason, economic or otherwise. Quite probably it will never be known what the moving force was that caused the emigration out of Europe to America. It's very likely that Father Roesch knew and presumably it was common knowledge among these settlers. Some of them must have brought some wealth with them from the other side. For such the reason could hardly have been one of economy. It is true there was considerable social unrest in the German states. There was no democracy as we know it but everywhere the school system was good and a fine system of universities had developed. In these the university men discussed and studied the "American Experiment." so-called. I must be remembered that the United States of America was still a young nation. These studies and discussions extended beyond the universities into the hinterland and the result was a deep interest in America and also a desire that the homeland should adopt the ways of government that prevailed in America. This latter brought on the so-called Revolution of 1848 in the German states. The powers that governed eventually learned of this interest that existed among the people in the "American Experiment" and proceeded to crush it. A great many of the best intellects found it wise to leave the German states and brought to our shores such men as Franz Siegel and Carl Schultz. Some of the men that came to this community held doctor's degrees from German universities. What I have said above will serve to explain in part why these people came from Obernburg, Bavaria, to Obernburg in the town of Fremont, Sullivan County, New York Complete Written Record Below, I give a continuation of Father Roesch's written record left by him. He mentions "parish of Callicoon." It must be remember that this refers to the town of Callicoon. The church to which he refers was built two miles north of Jeffersonville near where Alfred Wahl now lives. The acre of land is still owned by the church and there is a cemetery on it. Father Roesch wrote: "In regard to Church Affairs" "To the neighboring parish of Callicoon, a Catholic priest came occasionally. A Catholic man, Frank Breiner, from Arienbach in Rhenish Bavaria, sold an acre of land to the Catholic Church, whereupon with especial help from this parish a church was built there. In the year 1852 here also a wooden (frame) chapel was built and a Catholic missionary, Right Reverend John Raufelsen (born near Lindau in Bavaria) came here four times a year (quarterly) to conduct services. He resided in Ellenville in Ulster County, N.Y. However, since the infrequent divine worship together with the great distance of the priest, with the impossibility of spiritual help in cases of sickness, and the instruction of the children in the public schools, without religion, did not satisfy the parish, they, therefore, requested a priest for themselves with a promise to provide for his support in keeping with this position. As a result of this request, I, Joseph Roesch, born in Portschack, near Volkermarkt, bishopric: Lavant, Duchy of Corindlia, Austrian Empire, was sent here as missionary by the Right Reverend John Raffeiner, Vicar General of the Most Reverend John Hughes, Archbishop of New York and arrived here at the end of August and held the first Divine worship, September 3, 1854, whereupon the hymn "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" was sung earnestly and solemnly. Written in my own hand by me, Joseph Roesch, priest of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, missionary. 1864 Pope-His Holiness Pope Plus IX, Archbishop of New York: The Most Reverend John Hughes Bishop of Lavant: The Most Reverend Anton Martin Slomsbek German Vicar of New York: Right Reverend John Raffeiner First Missionary residing here and Priest: Joseph Roesch. My brother, George Roesch, missionary in Foster's Meadow, Long Island. Note:--Father Roesch must have been moved emotionally when the parish joined in singing the hymn at the first mass he said in Obernburg. This was shared by his parishioners on this occasion. END From the Sullivan County Democrat, Callicoon, New York dated September 12, 1968: BEGIN FROM THE MAIL BOX by Arthur N. Meyers Obernburg the First Obernburg, that small hamlet nestled high in the hills in the western town of Fremont, has had at least three firsts in its over a century history. It was here that the first Roman Catholic Parish in Sullivan County was established in 1854. St. Joseph's Seraphic Seminary was started at Obernburg in 1897 with four students for the Catholic priesthood. The seminary was later re-established in Callicoon. The first brewery in Sullivan County was started here and was know as the Dutchtown Brewery. It was run by William Deckelman, a great-uncle of the Honorable William Deckelman, present Supreme Court Justice. Obernburg has an interesting history. It was founded in 1847-48 by a group of Bavarian Germans, who came from Obernburg and Aschoffenburg in Germany. The community was named Obernburg after their native city located in their beloved Bavarian mountains. In those days, Germany was not a united nation, and in a bloodless revolution Prussia became dominant and Bavaria was relegated to a minor role in the emerging nation. It had been a kingdom of its own. Religious and political differences became evident. Prussia was largely Protestant, while Bavaria was predominantly Catholic. Many of the south Germans did not exactly like these prospects and sought new locations, similar to the Separatists who left England and came to these shores. Thus, Obernburg holds a spot in history similar to Plymouth Rock. Philip Deckelman and his brother William, emigrated to America in 1843 and acquired considerable land from Solomon Royce; mainly Lots 1, 2 and 3 of the Hardenburg Patent. This was in the western part of the Town of Fremont. The Deckelmans had been burgermeisters of Obernburg in Bavaria for hundreds of years, and it is understood that a Deckelman is mayor in that Bavarian city today! In the first emigration there was Count George von Schongau, later anglicized to Schonger. The last Schonger was a well known physician in North Branch and other names still heard in that section are: Hoffman, Becker, Baundendistle, Rutz, Moser, Schneider, Kimmes, Feigenbutz, Sator, Kille, Schmidt, Herbert, Gabriels, Stoesser, Engert, Kutcher and Meyer -- spelled Mier. This was my grandparents and my father, who was then a young man, and at the time of the Civil War, was old enough to join the Union Army. My grandfather was a stone mason and at least three of his works still remain to this day: the Catholic Rectory (or the priest-house), the Banaut house, and the brewery cellar. The brewery has long been suspended but the arched cellar, used for lagering the beer, still stands. I personally can remember when a huge copper kettle was taken to Hankins and shipped to the railroad. These emigrants, coming as they did from a Catholic community, were not long organizing a Catholic church and proceeded to build a place of worship. The nearest parish was then in Ellenville, and a few times a year the priest came and said Mass. William Deckelman gave land for the church, cemetery, and convent that used to exist there. John Cardinal Hughes recognized the establishment of a parish and sent Father Joseph Roesch, who called the parish St. Mary's. He was an Austrian who spoke and read German fluently. He served Jeffersonville, French Woods, (west of Long Eddy) and also Narrowsburg where he conducted Mass in a tannery room that then existed at Hunts' Corners. He was too poor to own a horse, so he walked those distances, carrying the vestments. He served these communities well. He was a saintly man and a hard worker for his church. When I was born in 1896 both my parents had previously left the Catholic communion and I was baptized by Pastor Murey of the German Presbyterian Church of Hortonville, and later sent to the Methodist Sunday School at Fremont Center. My father told me many times of Father Roesch and the high regard he had for this devoted churchman. Father Roesch died in New York City in 1884 and, at his request, was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Obernburg. A huge cross marks his grave. He wished to be placed among the people for which he had labored so many years. Father Roesch was held in high regard by everyone in the community. Father Ignatz Delveaux followed Father Roesch as parish priest. Despite his French sounding name, he had been born in Germany and spoke fluent German. It was well in the beginning of the 20th Century that Obernburg could be called a bilingual community. German and English were interchangeable. It was he who organized the "Dutchtown Picnic" that became an institution in western Sullivan County. It was originally held in a grove near the brewery, later moved to Tempel Woods, where a platform was erected and bar, and well as other buildings. It was in the horse and buggy days ... there was hardly a tree on the picnic grounds that did not have a horse and buggy attached to it. The Dutchtown Picnic was talked about weeks in advance and for weeks afterwards. We lived on the road between Obernburg and Fremont Center. Traffic was heavy all through the night. At first there was no post office at Obernburg and the mail was received at Fremont Center. There was a store there and one at North Branch. The public school was taught by the Sisters for many years, but later a regulation came out that the teachers could not be attired in religious garb, so the Sisters organized their own parochial school. The public school was maintained for sometimes two or three pupils. Now both public school and parochial schools are closed and pupils are bused to Callicoon. I have always had a keen personal interest in Obernburg. My paternal grandparents are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, and I can still look at some of the handiwork of my grandfather. Also, I have a host of friends in Overnbury. [Ed Note - I'm sure this was a typo in the original article and should be Obernburg. - MEL] I spoke about the differences between the Prussians and the Bavarians. My father was particularly aggravated with anything Prussian. There lived in the community an eldery gentleman who used to make a weekly trip to Hankins, and he stopped at our house for coffee and kuchen (Mother was from Westhphalia). On the return trip in the afternoon he stopped for coffee and kuchen again. One time this elderly gentleman began boasting about his being in the Prussian Army. "Ich war ein Preusen soldat". Dad could not tolerate this and shouted, "Ich war eine Americanische soldat". That ended the conversation. Judge Deckelman's family are still prominent in Obernburg. His father was postmaster and had a small store. I remember him as a town assessor. Incidentally, the name Deckelman means "cover man" in English. Deckel is a cover. END Ed Note - I have found three Deckelmanns as having been recorded as mayor of Obernburg, Bavaria, Germany: Jakob Deckelmann, 1829 - 1835 Wilhelm Deckelmann, 1836 - 1848 Edward Deckelmann, 1894 - 1919 The following is taken from "the Echo", Long Eddy, New York, Vol. XI, No. 1, Spring 1994: BEGIN OBERNBURG NOTES Obernburg was often referred to as "Dutch Town". It is located at the end of the Town of Fremont, and was known as the center of groups of German settlers. It was named after a town in Bavaria where many of the earlier settlers came from, to America. It took a year of preparation on the other side before leaving for America. A chest had to be built and into it was packed everything essential to start a farm. Garden and other seed were included as well as implements. They tried hard to keep it to a minimum. When these pioneers landed in America they found heavy forests and no fields, gardens or meadows. They built log cabins, with cellars built in banks of earth outside. The cabins were heated with stone and clay fireplaces. Bread baking ovens were built outside and made of rocks. After the cabins were up they had to clear land to raise the crops to feed family and animals (cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, and geese) and their tools were few and crude. Some of the early pioneer skills were Bakers (Deckleman) Brewers (Deckleman) Cabinet Maker (Anthony Wolff). There were also tailors and shoemakers. The first settlers had very little cash and bartered for much of their merchandise at the country store. Each family was assessed a certain amount of labor under the direction of an official, known as "Path Master", to maintain roads. Every traveler had to carry an axe to clear away trees that may have fallen across the road. In 1852 St. Mary's R.C. Church was built by Austrian Missionary Priests. It was the first Catholioc Church in Sullivan County to have a resident priest. Wilhelm Deckelman sold the Missionaries four acres of land and a new church was built in 1861. A parochial school was also maintained. Franciscans came in 1892 and added a residence and extra rooms to provide school for boys who aspired to study for the Catholic priesthood. The "Dutchtown Picnics" were one of the biggest annual social affairs in Western Sullivan County. People came from far and wide to partake. It was held in "Kille Grove" where there was a wooden dance platform, buildings needed to serve food and drinks, table and benches that were left outside year around. Torches consisting of a wick in coal oil supplied the lighting. This grove was maintained by the church. Obernburg Post Office came about in 1880. Before that time the address was Fremont Center. Obernburg also had a brewery that was founded by William Deckelman. It operated until 1905 and supplied the taverns in western Sullivan with all the beer they used. The brewery cellar had a stone arch ceiling. It was the handiwork of an early German stone mason by the name of Meyer. He also built the stone house for the priests. -Ron Darder END