Mary Ann Unger Page

Date 1910: Caspar Pecho Bldg., Engelsbrunn, Banat
From left: Anna Kiefer, unknown, Teresia Dukarm Kiefer & Pancratz Kiefer, Elizabeth Dukarm Pecho and Caspar Pecho. The left side of the building was the tavern and hall. The sign advertizes wine and beer. Here were held Kirchweih dances, weddings and other celebrations. The hall was long and narrow, holding about 300 people at capacity. It was known as the "Lux" tavern. The right side of the building was the butcher shop. After WWII all decorative trim was removed from the facade. It stayed in commercial use until the mid 1990s when it was demolished and an apartment house was constructed on the site. This business once belonged to the Dukarm family, but the father died young in a cart accident (it overturned on him) -- leaving the mother and small children: she did not remarry but sold to the Pecho family and retained management. (one daughter married Pancratz Kiefer, one married Caspar Pecho). Kiefer died in 1911, leaving -- again-- only women to run the business. His 8 yr old daughter was sent to live and work for relatives in Gottlob, his 13 yr. old daughter (my grandmother) emigrated to the US 3 yrs later with a girlfriend. Kiefer's two sons did not enter into the business: one had his own barbershop, the other had a hand deformity and was limited as to work. My grandmother remembered from 1911-1914 that HER grandmother Dukarm (blind) sat by the door maintained order in the saloon. She could distinguish customers by their walk and voice -- with more soldiers coming into the saloon each month in 1914, the women were increasingly uneasy. Later, the Pecho family took over the management. This photo shows that times were prosperous. After WWII, the building was stripped of its beautiful decorations and went into ruin. I'll see if I can find more period pictures of businesses in the town. They tell us much about the lives of our ancestors in the Banat.
Submitted by: Mary Ann Unger

Date 1910: Caspar Pecho Bldg., Engelsbrunn, Banat

From left: Anna Kiefer, unknown, Teresia Dukarm Kiefer & Pancratz Kiefer, Elizabeth Dukarm Pecho and Caspar Pecho.

The left side of the building was the tavern and hall. The sign advertizes wine and beer. Here were held Kirchweih dances, weddings and other celebrations. The hall was long and narrow, holding about 300 people at capacity. It was known as the "Lux" tavern. The right side of the building was the butcher shop. After WWII all decorative trim was removed from the facade. It stayed in commercial use until the mid 1990s when it was demolished and an apartment house was constructed on the site.

This business once belonged to the Dukarm family, but the father died young in a cart accident (it overturned on him) -- leaving the mother and small children: she did not remarry but sold to the Pecho family and retained management. (one daughter married Pancratz Kiefer, one married Caspar Pecho). Kiefer died in 1911, leaving -- again-- only women to run the business. His 8 yr old daughter was sent to live and work for relatives in Gottlob, his 13 yr. old daughter (my grandmother) emigrated to the US 3 yrs later with a girlfriend. Kiefer's two sons did not enter into the business: one had his own barbershop, the other had a hand deformity and was limited as to work. My grandmother remembered from 1911-1914 that HER grandmother Dukarm (blind) sat by the door maintained order in the saloon. She could distinguish customers by their walk and voice -- with more soldiers coming into the saloon each month in 1914, the women were increasingly uneasy. Later, the Pecho family took over the management.

This photo shows that times were prosperous. After WWII, the building was stripped of its beautiful decorations and went into ruin. I'll see if I can find more period pictures of businesses in the town. They tell us much about the lives of our ancestors in the Banat.

Submitted by: Mary Ann Unger