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when I lived in a Castle

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I lived in a Castle named Gross Stein for a short time during WWII

I was born a Baroness in Berlin Germany during the war, at this time the bombings grew more intense, that's when my father was invited by his good friend Count von Strachwitz to his family castle up North named Gross Stein (Large Stone) at that time it was located in the German sector, which now is in Poland. Count von Strachwitz was one of the most decorated German soldiers, I believe he was involved in trying to kill Hitler.

Interestingly enough I do have memories of this place, even though I was just a few years old. One of my memories where of the Nuns and a huge statue of a man on a horse. Another memory was at Xmas time a soldier brought us little toys, this man was Hannes Stelzer, a good friend of my parents.

The photo above shows my dad, sister and myself sitting on the front steps of Gross Stein. I recognized the front steps shown in pictures on a website someone had sent me... Wow I could not believe it, finally I found a website of the actual story about the Castle and the owners...now I don't have to feel like I was telling a tall story...no one believed me, and all this information was even confirmed by my Aunts in Germany.

Table of Contents

  1. The steps of Gross Stein, dad, me & my twin sister
  2. Gross Stein the Castle as it looks now
  3. Gross Stein then
  4. Gross Stein as it looks today in color
  5. Baron Alexander von Meyer
  6. Red Baron
  7. Link List to various things mentiond in this lens
  8. Squid Angel Blessings
  9. Family Related stories
Baron Alexander von Meyer on the Steps of Gross Stein

The steps of Gross Stein, dad, me & my twin sister 

Gross Stein (Camminetz)

The steps we sat on as seen in the B/W photo above 

Gross Stein the Castle as it looks now

A Castle to visit and stay in Poland

My mother used to talk about the times at Gross Stein, however when mom died, it occured to me that I never bothered to ask any questions. I didn't know where the Castle was and who the people where, even though I heard the stories many times, you where just too used to it...

Then in 1999 I got a computer looking up the name Gross Stein I came across a website were members talked about Castles, I put in a query, and within a day I got three responses about this Castle. Coincidently the renovated building just opened up and now is a tourist place to stay and have conventions.

In the last 7 years I have been able to talk with my last aunt who is 96 now, she told me many things about my family...funny how you think things aren't important when you are young, but family history is what makes you...genetics is ingrained whether you realize it or not. Eventhough it does not change things in my life, it does complete it knowing my families past, especially the German side...I'm still working on the American/English side of my grandmother Georgianna Ives from Connecticut.

Gross Stein is quite a beautiful place, the renovations of the building and inside are marvelous, everything looks so grand.

I hope someday to be able to visit this place again.

Make sure to visit the website and check out the pictures.
Gross Stein (Camminetz)

Gross Stein then 

Gross Stein as it looks today in color

(photo credit ePromocja)

Baron Alexander von Meyer

a little bit about my father

My father spoke 11 languages mostly learned from his nannies and schooling. He was very artistic and most likely I got my talent from him. Dad had two Photography Studios, one in Berlin and the other in Dresden, he did not have to work for a living because he had a trust, so taking photos was his hobby, he photographed well known people. I wish I had all those images now, they where destroyed during the war. Some of the interesting ones left include the one of him and the Red Baron.

My father was also in WWI fought in Turkey receiving the GallipoliStar which you can view and read about on my lens link...during WWII he did photography for the German Army.

My Mother met my dad when he took promotional photos of her while she was making a German Movie "die drei Codonas" (the three Codonas - famed Aerialists) mom did the stunts for the Trapeze scenes.

Red Baron

another friend of my dad's

Here is a photo of my dad sitting in the back of the bi-plane and the Baron Manfred von Richthofen the "RED BARON" in the front seat...

I am so very fortunate to have this photograph, a one of a kind.
See some items here for more lens stories related to these subjects
Red Baron and my father in the back seat

My father & the Red Baron (colorized by a friend)* 

*

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

This notice is for those that have inquired about the Photo(Red Baron)displayed above here on this lens. It is NOT for SALE at this time. This image can not be used, saved, copied or transfered to any other individual...a copyright restriction applies and it is illegal to use this image for the purpose of reproducing, for personal use or profit and or any other purposes.

Link List to various things mentiond in this lens

Gross Stein Castle, Graf von Strachwitz and more information

Turkish (Ottoman Empire) "Gallipoli Star" Medal of WW1
This lens is about an item I inherited from my father many years ago...the Gallipoli Star (Ottoman Empire)a medal from Turkey during WW1
Definition of Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz
Dictionary - Definition of Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz
Rafal's Vacation Pictures (Obraz 323) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
I found these great new photos on Flickr showing the Castle inside and out...more below
Obraz 318 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
More photos on Flickr!
Hyazinth von Strachwitz
Very interesting website with formation about Count von Strachwitz...

Squid Angel Blessings

Thank You!

http://www.zingerbugimages.com/backgrounds/fantasy_angel_with_castle.jpg

Tipi 1/12
KimGiancaterino 1/12
oxfordian 1/12
KonaGirl 4/11
WeddingZazzle 3/11
Light-in-me 2/11
charlino 10/10
whitemoss 9/10
CDT 9/10
eclecticeducation 3/10

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other items I paint featured here other items and things I paint on

Some interesting things written about the Place and People mentioned

Gross Stein, von Strachwitz, Hannes Stelzer

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Please Respect the Copyright Law, you may not use, copy or save any part of the stories and writings by Delia Pacheco they are protected by copyrights, including images of photographs. All rights reserved.

Originally Created 06/25/2007

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d-artist

Yes, I can say that I actually lived in a Castle, even though for a short time, it still was so.
Really how many people can say that?
My parents had... more »

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