Rediscovering Mom's Childhood in Steyrling

Tuesday, July 9
Contributed by Margaret Zampini

We met Uncle Florian at his home in Wels Tuesday morning and browsed through the book he authored about the village of Allhaming, as well as a historical book on Steyrling. We then headed to the town of Steyrling for lunch at the Empress Elizabeth Restaurant. Wolfgang Dirasamer and his daughter Nora met us here where we became acquainted over a delicious lunch of Wiener Schnitzel and other Austrian dishes.

At the restaurant, a resident who knew Mom's father, Josef Riedl, introduced himself to her and spoke of her father and her early years in Steyrling.

After lunch Wolfgang suggested we take a hike in the mountains above the restaurant. We strolled on a path surrounded by ancient trees with a stream of crystal clear water on the right. We passed a quaint log cabin that served as the home to the park ranger with wooden benches and chairs and hollowed out logs that served as fountains.

Shirley had a pensioner adventure when she tried to cool her feet in the cold stream and wound up taking a dip! Thankfully she was OK despite a bruised ego and a scraped elbow.

On the ride back down the mountain, we stopped at the home Mom lived in as a child until age 12. The current residents graciously invited Mom into her childhood home and Mom excitedly found the outdoor cellar where she remembered storing apples, potatoes and vegetables. We discovered that Mom's father, our grandfather, Josef Riedl, lived in this house in Steyrling until his death. Another resident showed us a picture of Josef in his later years. Mom also remembered that the American soldiers occupied the house on the right, guarding the Russian POW's who stayed in the barn located on the property.

Wolfgang invited us for coffee and cake at his cousin's cottage in Steyrling. Gertraud and Arnold welcomed us to their beautiful garden setting for coffee and desert with quaint antique tables with beautiful handmade lace tablecloths. We were served a delicious homemade linzer tart, bundt cake, coffee and schlogg (whipped cream) followed by a tour of their charming country home.

We hiked to the church in Steyrling and the cemetery where Josef is buried. Sadly, the cross identifying his grave was no longer there.

We said our goodbyes to Wolfgang, Nora, Gertraud and Arnold and their grandson after a wonderful afternoon.

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