Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 I got up at 5:00am.  At 7:00, we had to go to the luggage hall where the suitcases were managed.  From there, we were quickly transported to Ellis Island [via ferry] where we were examined.  We came into a large hall where everyone was shown to a specific location.

Since I had given the address of my uncle, I was directed to go to an area for Peoria, Illinois [Peoria is 170 miles SW of Chicago].  Then I came to the luggage room, where I had to find my things.  I got my ticket to Peoria, which cost $18, and that was that.  We had to wait until 3:00pm to get on a ship which left at 5:00 for the train station.  [This was likely a ferry from Ellis Island to the mainland.]  Everyone was decorated with a large piece of paper.  We didn’t have to ask, every employee knew where we belonged.

We stayed in the train station until 7:00, then we were led to the ready trains.  Shortly before 7:30, the train began to move.  There were twelve Germans in my section of the train and we made ourselves comfortable.  There was no difference between First and Fourth Class.  Every section of the train was the same and was furnished something like our Second Class.  Now the train was moving thru New York City, beyond and to the West [towards the city of Chicago].  Night came and we laid down to sleep as good as possible.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal and see photos of Ellis Island from the early 1900’s by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 It was 11:30am [Germany time] when I got up; 5:30am New York time.  [Kurt now switched to New York City time in his journal.]  At 9:00, we saw land far on the horizon.  At 10:30, we could recognize the buildings of New York City fairly well.  At noon, we rode past the skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.

We docked at 8:00pm [in Hoboken, NJ which is a couple miles from Ellis Island].  From a distance, one could see the thousands of people at the arrival hall, who were expecting us and shouting well wishes.  It was a great joy.  Shortly before docking, a heavy rain came down, but it soon stopped.  First and Second Class disembarked, while we had to remain in the lower decks overnight.  There was much to see on the docks from the ship.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal and see photos of what New York and Ellis Island actually looked like in 1914 by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 Nice weather today.  Rain began to fall in the evening.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 I got up according to German time at 8:30am.  The food tasted good again.  It was the most beautiful weather the whole day and the sea was quiet.  In the evening, there was hearty dancing.  We had gone half way [across the ocean].  I went to bed at 1:00am [Germany time].

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 When I got up at 6:30am according to German time, it was 12:30am New York time.  On these days, not much happened that is noteworthy.  The sea became more turbulent, the ship swayed and many become seasick.  I myself had to vomit.  I went to sleep for six hours.  I couldn’t eat anything.  I finally ate the evening meal and went to bed at 8:00pm [Germany time].

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt