Traveling to Pohl, Moravia to trace my dad's family.....

Discussion in 'Travel Tips & Advice' started by hougreg1965, Jan 27, 2006.

  1. hougreg1965

    hougreg1965 Member

    I posted this earlier in the week in the "Ancestors" forum, but in retrospect it's probably better suited for "Travel Tips and Advice." Sorry for the double-post.




    I am planning a trip to Polom, Moravia to find any remaining traces of my dad's family. The town is located about 20 miles directly east of Olomouc (formerly Olmutz) in northern Moravia.


    My g-grandfather, Johann Rabel, died in Pohl (now Polom, Moravia) in 1885 at age 35. Family lore is that he died while in the Pohl city/county jail, but we have no actual documentation of this, or the circumstances surrounding his death.

    The following year his widow, Carolina Heinrich Rabel, my great-grandmother, immigrated with my grandfather Alois Rabel (then 7 years old) to New York City via Castle Clinton, pre-Ellis Island. After another boat to Galveston, TX, they settled in central Texas.

    The Rabel/Heinrich family tree is very well established and traced back at least to the early 1700s, so tracking the ancestry is not an issue. Also, I am able to track their 1886 arrival into NYC and later Galveston via the "Czech Immigration Passport Lists Volume VI," by Leo Baca.

    My main issue is, how do I find out if anything still remains of Polom from the era my g-grandmother immigrated? Churches, homes, schools, the city jail (or equivalent), any landmarks that would be relevant and still standing from the 1880s. We have a home address of my g-grandmother, but I have no way of knowing if that neighborhood is fully or even partially intact. How affected by World War II was the Polom area?

    I'm hoping someone can put me in touch with anyone in the Polom area (especially English-speaking), and someone who can help me find affordable accomodations there. Also, someone to contact at the Polom city hall or equivalent for family birth and marriage records, either prior to my arrival or once I arrive in Polom. I would need train schedules and ticket prices from Prague to Polom (if available). I know Polom has a train station, just don't know if it connects out of Prague. Also, how large a town is Polom?

    Thanks in advance for any responses.

    Greg Rabel
    Houston, Texas, USA
     
  2. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

  3. hougreg1965

    hougreg1965 Member

    Through idos.cz, (thanks Dana) I was able to find a train route from Prague to several locations around the Polom area, and, if I read the schedule correctly, even a train that runs through Prerov and then directly to Polom. If nothing else I can get as close as a neighboring town, Hranice (formerly Weisskirchen). This town is important to my family history.

    So, I am still hoping to get hotel/boarding information for Polom, cemetery and church info., and the remaining info. I previously posted.

    Thanks again Dana for your help so far. Things are starting to come together.
     

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