Several years ago, when I was writing and researching my novel, “Until We Reach Home,” my sister Peggy and I took a day trip from her home outside New York City to visit Ellis Island. As I’m sure you know, Ellis Island was the iconic landing place near the Statue of Liberty for millions of immigrants who came to U.S. shores seeking a new life. My novel tells the story of three sisters, Elin, Kirsten, and Sofia Carlson, who leave Sweden to come to America, so I wanted to walk around the grounds of Ellis Island and get a feel for what they may have experienced.
As Peggy and I toured the Great Hall and other buildings, putting ourselves in our great-grandparents’ shoes, I became intrigued with this cluster of islands that greeted our immigrant ancestors. Their ordeal, in a babble of languages, was likely very frightening and frustrating at times, but most newcomers passed inspection and were released from the island within 3-5 hours. One of the reasons why 2% of immigrants were detained was if they showed symptoms of a contagious illness. Authors love to put obstacles in their characters’ paths to create tension and spin an exciting story, so of course the Carlson sisters ended up staying in the hospital and detention center on Ellis Island.
You’ll have to read the novel to see how they fared, but in the meantime, you’ll have a chance to hear me speak about my research, do a reading from my novel, and answer your questions in a free virtual event that I’m excited to participate in on October 20. The event helps support the non-profit organization, Save Ellis Island, which is raising funds to restore the Historic Ellis Island Hospital Complex – twenty-nine buildings on the south side of Ellis Island. Registration is free, but you’ll receive an autographed copy of “Until We Reach Home” when you make a $25 donation. You can go to their website: www.saveellisisland.org to register and see the amazing work they are undertaking to save this valuable piece of history. I hope you’ll be able to join me.
Besides gleaning new ideas for my novel, one of the other happy results of our visit to Ellis Island was the information we were able to discover about our great-grandparents who came here from Germany in the 1890s. We knew a little bit about their journey from the stories that our grandmother told us over the years, but seeing their names in the registration book was an amazing moment. Also listed, was the name of the town and region in Germany where they came from, something that had been lost to us over the years. Using that information, I was able to visit their village of Bornstedt on a trip to Germany a few years later.
The little town in the countryside is very small, but I was thrilled to wander through the remains of a castle on the hill above it, dating from the time of Charlemagne. How fun to imagine my adventurous great-grandfather playing in those castle ruins as a boy. And maybe dreaming about America?
It’s hard to visit Ellis Island or Germany in these days of Covid restrictions, and I have missed meeting with readers through various live events in churches and libraries and bookstores. I hope this virtual event for a very worthy cause will give us a chance to meet together and talk for a little while. Please join me on October 20 at 7 pm EST.
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Waving to you from Germany 🙋♀️ Hope you are well?
So glad you could visit the village of your ancestors. Due to the time difference I won’t make it to virtual event but I have fond memories of meeting you on your previous book tours and “Until We Reach Home” is one of my favorite books of yours. Have a nice event.
Thanks coco. I was supposed to visit Germany last month but it was canceled because of the virus. I was so disappointed! Maybe I’ll see you next year.
What a pity 😢 2020 is really a peculiar year. In spite of all the possibilities of connecting online and events via video it isn‘t the same as meeting in person. I‘m looking forward to that 😊 Have a blessed day.
Thanks for the great blog about Ellis Island! I visited Ellis Island in 1996, and it was a haunting and enlightening visit. My parents and I emigrated from the Netherlands in 1956, so we didn’t go through Ellis Island, but my imagination ran wild while we were visiting! I just donated, and it felt good to do so! Thanks so much for the great story about your own family history, too. And of course, bless you for your beautiful story-creating talents!
Thanks Hilda. It is an amazing place. But it must have been frightening for the immigrants!
How fascinating that you were able to learn the town from which your ancestors came from Germany and then visit that town! I love your books with all the historical information included in them.
Thanks Suzanne. Yes, it was amazing to visit that town. I wished I spoke German so I could try to look up any relatives.
How cool! My grandfather and great grandparents came through Ellis Island from southern Italy, so I’m always enjoy hearing stories (real or fiction) about others with similar experiences.
They must have been courageous people to immigrate to a new country and learn a new language. I think that’s amazing!
How amazing to see your ancestors names in the Ellis Island registration book! And I think it’s wonderful that you had the opportunity to visit their German town and walk the streets that they would have knows so well. 🙂
Both of those experiences made my ancestors come alive to me. It was amazing.
Oh, how I loved my research trip to Ellis Island (which birthed the Coming to America series). I could have stood and read the names and ages and occupations of the passengers for hours and hours. The history seemed to ooze from the walls. My own ancestors immigrated to America before Ellis Island became the gateway, but it still felt very personal.
I felt that way too, Robin!
How special for you to discover more information about your ancestors, Lynn! Reading your post makes me want to take a research trip (praying for more “normal” times for us all!) and also do more research on my genealogy.
Thanks so much for sharing with us. 🙂
Blessings, Patti Jo
Yes, I miss being able to go on research trips. That’s when the book comes alive for me.