[Albert Starnes]

My mother was born 1921 in Vécs, a very small village in Heves county. The surrounding villages of that area include Aldebro, Feldebro, Kisnana, Domoszlo. I was lucky enough to visit my cousin in 1993 who was still living in the house my mother was born in. No indoor bathroom. Had to use the outhouse on the other side of the yard which was full of free roaming chickens and geese. While I was there in Vécs, I was able to visit the church and view the actual register books of births, weddings and deaths of family names of VERES, SIMON, MOLNAR, STIMHAUZER, DOMOSZLAI and KUDELKA. Was able to trace a few of my relatives back to late 1700’s which was prior to the church being built. What a great experience to have visited there.
I have a cousin, Magdi Czékmany, who is living in Gyöngyös today.
I hope I have the opportunity to visit there again!
Al Starnes

• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by Albert Starnes.

[Albert Starnes]

I am Al Starnes from Cleveland, OH. My mother was born in Vécs, Heves Megye. Her grandfather came to America in 1903 to work in WV coal mines to start earning money to bring family over from Hungary. In 1923 he sent for his wife, children and my mother (grand-daughter). They then moved to Virginia to own a farm. My mother and her grandmother came to Cleveland in 1937 to look for work in the Great Depression. They were very familiar with the Buckey Hungarian Neiborhood.

In 1993 I traveled to Vécs and got to see the house my mother was born in which my cousins still live in….outhouse, chicken yard and all. LOL
I wish I could go back. Only know a few words in Hungarian. Mom only spoke around her friends that also understood.

Thank you, Liz, for your Hungarian Recipe Challenge a few years ago. Was a great time participating and remembering some of the great dishes that my Mom used to make!

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