Description:
The purpose of the "Gottscheer Memorial Chapel - New York Branch" is to support the activities of the Gottscheer Gedenkstätte in Graz, Austria and to act as a liaison
between the New York and European Gottscheer communities.
History: The Gottscheer Memorial Chapel - New York Branch was established in 1963 with
about 8 active members holding regular meetings throughout the year. Our ongoing activities include contributing
newsworthy information about the New York Gottscheer community for publication in a newsletter in Graz, Austria.
The newsletters are shipped to NY where they are then sent by the NY Branch to the North American membership.
The popular Gemütlicher Nachmittag (Pleasant Afternoon), which
raises funds for the upkeep of the Chapel, is a Dinner Dance held annually on Palm Sunday in Gottscheer Hall. At this affair, a raffle is held to award two college students of Gottscheer descent with scholarships from
the Dr. William Gerber Scholarship Fund. In addition to these activities, we participate in all the Gottscheer Relief
meetings and support their work. We always look for ways to promote interest in our organization.
The
Gottscheer Chapel was built in 1967 on Gottscheer Street
near the Mariatrost Basilica in Graz, Austria. The cost
of the Chapel and its property was funded by many Gottscheer contributors from all over the world. The Chapel
was erected in gratitude to God in remembrance of all the Gottscheer people and their deceased, wherever they are buried.
On the walls of the sacristy are marble tablets with the inscriptions of 1300 names immortalizing all the victims from both
World Wars and those who died during displacement and subsequent escape. A Gottscheer Archive, Gottscheer Museum, and a recreation of
a typical Gottscheer Farm-room (Bauernstube) are located on the ground floor.
The
purpose of the Gottscheer Memorial Chapel is to:
· maintain the chapel
· establish an archive for the Gottscheer history
· gather and process historical sources and documents for the purpose of continuing
the historic folklore
· maintain and preserve the Gottscheer dialect, the Gottscheer customs, and Gottscheer
folksongs
· promote awareness of our homeland and convey a feeling of fellowship
· publish a newsletter for all members
