From: Malcoci, Dobrudscha
26 February 1927

Dear Staats-Anzeiger!

Through the newspaper, I found the address of my Uncle Jakob J. Ereth in Outlook, Montana. After getting in touch with him, he kindly subscribed to the Staats-Anzeiger for me. I sincerely thank him for that. We have already received two editions of the Staats-Anzeiger and also the wonderful calendar for 1927, for which I thank the editor Mr. Brandt very much. (*Editor: The first editions and the calendar were dispatched from here at the end of January. Greetings from the editor.)

Since my uncle has challenged me to write more often in the Staats-Anzeiger, I will meet this challenge and rightly so, because there are quite a few people from Malcoci in America who would like to hear something from their old homeland.

I am Friedrich Mack, 25 years old and the son of Johannes Mack. My mother Margaretha Mack, nee Kiefer is no longer alive.

A lot of things have changed here since the start of the world war. If one of you over there would come to our village now, you would not recognize it any more with the exception of the church in the lower area of the village. The village now is considerably larger than before.

From Joseph Malinsky’s place up to the country road leading to Brislau, there are all new buildings. In the village, a row of new houses has also been built. There are also many homes, which already have tile roofs. Franziskus Schmidt owns a tile press and manufactures the tiles for Malcoci. There are three wine taverns in our village. One of those belongs to Joseph Tuchscherer, and Stephan Mack operates the other two. Stephan Mack is the son of Gregor Mack. One of the two taverns Stephan has leased from Ludwig Mack, who had declared bankruptcy. Previously there were two windmills in the village. Now there is only one. Joseph Wotiusky’s mill was destroyed during the war. The mill, which previously was owned by Friedrich Spiess, now belongs to Peter Baniki.

There is a shortage of land here. That is why there are so many poor people that are especially bad off during the winter, because they can’t earn a living. Last year’s harvest was average here. To the contrary, the corn harvest was very good. Because of the drought in fall only a little bit of winter wheat had been sown, and that which was sown has grown miserably.

This winter has not been too severe, but we did have much snow and rain. It was so cold from the 21st to the 23rd of February that the Danube River iced over.

Anyone who would like to know anything from over here should ask questions. I am always ready to provide information through the Staats-Anzeiger.

Uncle Jakob, grandfather has received your letter and he sends his kind greetings. Uncle Mathias also sends his greetings.

In closing, I greet all readers and my brother Joseph.

Friedrich Mack

From: Fairmount, Canada
25 April 1927

Dear Staats-Anzeiger!

First of all I want to thank the dear editorship for the beautiful and momentous 1927 calendar.

Presently, we have warm weather. If it should stay like this, then we soon will be working in the fields.

In my last report dated 19 March, a mistake had occurred. The name was not supposed to be Margaretha Koch but Margaretha Menges instead. I apologize to my sister.

We send greetings to everyone.

Michael Wagner and
Wife, nee Plotzki