April 2019   The Hartzells and the Schambers. Excursion with Brian and Terry Harzell from Passau into France.  5 days, 2 people  4 hotel nights

I met Brian and Terry in October 2018 at a workshop and lecture for the Ohio chapter of the Palatines to America in Bowling Green OH. They had plans for a Danube cruise next year and wanted to add time for a private tour to trace the life of their pioneer ancestors from Reihen (near Sinsheim) and Kirrberg (Alsace). One year later and after pre-trip research that was based on Brian's material we met at Passau where their cruise ended. After a wonderful stopover at Nuremberg and Sommerhausen and with great help of Wiltrud Flothow, Georg Grittmann and the super helpful Sinsheim municipal archive (Dinah Rottschäfer) we found evidence of the still standing Hartzells - then Hirtzel -  house in Reihen from 1692. Later in Kirrberg at the end of our tour a welcome committee was awaiting us with infos on the Schambers and wine and Alsace hospitality.

Brian has shared his research and memories to this excursion in a newsletter for the Ohio Chapter of the Palatines to America .With kind permission a reprinetd version in the Pennsylvania Chapter can be read here:  Penn Pal Newsletter Nr 2, Vol 40, April 2020 see page 6.