Elizabete Bernevica (Bernewitz) dzimusi 1897.gadā Jaunpils un Jelgavas mācītāja Aleksandra Hansa Bernevica ģimenē. Bērnība un skolas gadi pagāja Jelgavā. Vēlāk viņa ir pārcēlusies uz Vāciju, bet mūža nogali pavadījusi pie dēla Kanādā. Ar lielu mīlestību viņa ir stāstījusi dēlam par pavadīto laiku Jelgavā, Jaunpilī un arī Umpārtes muižā, kura piederēja viņas mammas ģimenei – Krēgeru dzimtai. Padalīšos ar bildēm arī ar jums.
Thanks to this blog I have created, I am often addressed by people from all over the world who are descendants of former Latvian citizens, residents and manor owners. One of them is Elsbeth Jenny Bernewitz's son Joachim, now living in Canada, who gave his kind permission to use the photos he sent me from his mom's photo album.
Elsbeth Jenny Bernewitz ("Ilsing", "Ilse") was born in 1897 in the family of Jaunpils/Neuenbrg and later Jelgava/Mitau pastor Alexander Hans Bernewitz. In 1908, Alexander Hans was appointed general superintendent which meant that the family had to move from Jaunpils to Jelgava/Mitau. In Jegalva he served at the Holy Trinity church and wherever his position took him ( a part of Poland or Belorussia, Lithuania or Courland) he used to travel in his coach having six horses at his disposal if necessary. Elsbeth spent her childhood and her school years in Jelgava. Later she moved to Germany. But the last years of her life, her "golden years", she spent with her son in Canada. With great love she told her son about time she spent in Jelgava, Jaunpils and also in the manor of Umpārte/Wiexten, which belonged to her mother's family - Kroegers family. I will share pictures with you too. (most comments in English by Joachim)
Abās
fotogrāfijās redzama Elizabete Bernevica. Viņas dēls īpaši uzsvēra, ka
apakšējā fotogrāfijā redzamā baltā cepurīte esot speciāli meitenei
šūdināta.
The both photos shows Elsbeth Jenny Bernewitz. Her son Joachim told the white feathered hat in the upper photo was especially made for her....
My Mom going to school in the Deutsche Landesschule, Mitau/Jelgava.....she said absorbing new material was always relatively easy...her principal was a Fraulein Paucker who controlled the school with an iron grip... She was a fearsome lady who put the fear into the young ladies. Her "back-up" was a young man who was the complete opposite of her. According to my mother, he was shy and unassuming to the point that the girls were teasing him.
An ice skating rink.....in front of the Deutsche Schule in Mitau/ Jelgava....my Mom with the white hat to the right of the gentleman walking hastily across the ice....he looks like a teacher.... Next to the German school was the Russian school with its own skating rink. I was told that some army bands used to play music while the skaters were dancing on their skates.
The Trinity Church in Jelgava/Mitau. The church was destroyed during the World War II, only the tower remained. The ruins of it remained in the center of city all the Soviet occupation time. Now it is renovated with an exhibition hall and restaurant in it.
Jelgava/Mitau Gymnasium or Academia Petrina is the oldest higher educational establishment in Latvia. It was established by the Duke Peter von Biron in 1775. Mitau was the capital of the Dutchy of Courland and Semigallia at that time. Later Academia Petrina was renamed Gymnasium illustre and Mitau Men's Gymnasium. During World War I, the school was evacuated to Taganrog (Russia) while its 42,000-volume library was burned by troops of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov. During World War II, the historical school building was almost completely destroyed, therefore school was reestablished in new premises. The original building was later restored and now functions as the Ģederts Eliass Jelgava History and Art Museum.
Mitau, Alexander prospect. Also known as Adolph Hitler prospect, Alexander Pushkhin prospect, Academy street. Now it is called Zemgales (Semigallia) prospect. The big house on the photo is one of those some buildings which remained undestroyed after World War II.
Medem's palace in Jelgava/Mitau. It was situated on 9, Upes street (now Jāņa Čakstes boulevard). It was also an Officer's Casino.
Elizabetes dēls priecājas par skaisto rokrakstu, kādā uzrakstīts raksts par viņa vectēva iecelšanu par Konsistorija locekli.
What beautifully
written document of my grandfather having been appointed member of the
Consistorium...
By Imperial Order of the Tsar of all Russians...
Ķeizars Vilhelms un feldmaršals fon Hindenburgs pie Trīsvienības
baznīcas ieejas sasveicinās ar vietējām autoritātēm. Netālu no baznīcas
ieejas bilžu īpašnieka vectēvs - Elizabetes tēvs.
Kaiser Wilhelm
and General Fieldmarshal von Hindenburg at Jelgava/Mitau Trinity Church being welcomed by
the local dignitaries. Amongst them my grandfather....close to the church
entrance.
Un te Aleksandrs Hans Bernevics sasveicinās ar viesiem pie pašām Trīsvienības baznīcas durvīm.
Imperial
Visit. My grandfather, Alexander Hans Bernewitz, at the entrance of Trinity
Church welcoming the visitors.
Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934) being guest at my grandparents’ place in Jelgava\Mitau. He became Reichspresident after World War I.
The Rectory in Jelgava - front entrance. All in wood with heavy wooden window shutters.
The interior of the rectory in Jelgava/Mitau.
The interior of the rectory in Jelgava/Mitau.
Visa ģimene kopā pie mācītājmājas Jelgavā. Elizabete ir notupusies pie suņa Treff, te redzami gan Krēgeri, gan Panteniusi, gan Bernevici.
Family
Reunion in Jelgava/Mitau. My Mom kneeling to the left of the dog Treff. The
lady at the back all black is my greatgrandmother, Johanna nee Pantenius, the
sister of the novelist Hermann P., my grandparents, Alexander Hans and
Jenny, nee Kroeger, are at the back in the middle...
