Immigration to Berlin, New Hampshire
Russian immigration started in Berlin, New Hampshire during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of these Russians that came to Berlin were from Minsk, Volyn, and Grodno providences of the Russian Empire. Volyn and Grodno are often called Wolensk and Gordensk because of their names in Russian, Volynski and Grodnenski. According to the United States census of 1900, early Russian immigrants lived on Exchange, Mechanic, Green, and Union streets. Among these early Russians living in Berlin were, William W. Freedman, William Addelson, and Emile L. Nathanson.
To me, these names don’t sound Russian so they may have been “Americanized” at Ellis Island or they may have been Jewish. Altogether there were 48 Russian (around seven families) living in ward one in 1900. The reason why our ancestors came to Berlin is because of the pulp and paper industry. The first mill, here in Berlin, was built in 1878 by the Forest Fibre Company. This mill was run by Henry Hart Furbish, and had an output of twenty-five tons of pulp per day.
In the 1890’s, this company closed due to a fire that destroyed most of its mill. Other businesses in the pulp and paper industry were, The White Mountain Pulp and Paper Company, The Glen Manufacturing Company (later bought by the International Paper), and the Berlin Mills Company (later called the Brown Company).
To me, these names don’t sound Russian so they may have been “Americanized” at Ellis Island or they may have been Jewish. Altogether there were 48 Russian (around seven families) living in ward one in 1900. The reason why our ancestors came to Berlin is because of the pulp and paper industry. The first mill, here in Berlin, was built in 1878 by the Forest Fibre Company. This mill was run by Henry Hart Furbish, and had an output of twenty-five tons of pulp per day.
In the 1890’s, this company closed due to a fire that destroyed most of its mill. Other businesses in the pulp and paper industry were, The White Mountain Pulp and Paper Company, The Glen Manufacturing Company (later bought by the International Paper), and the Berlin Mills Company (later called the Brown Company).
As far as religious matters goes, there were two faiths of the Russians living in Berlin, Russian Orthodox and Jewish. In 1890’s, the first Jewish services were held in houses and, perhaps, local businesses. Finally in 1918, the Universalist Church was purchased and was converted into a synagogue, known as the “Beth Israel.”
The first Russian Orthodox services were held in the early 1900’s and was led by Reverend Macarius Affendick of Montreal, Canada, but there was still no permanent church. At a later date, Rev. Arcady Piotrowsky came to Berlin and held services the basement of the original wooden St. Barnabas Church, and later in an old Fire Department garage. On May 1, 1915, work began on a building, we now know as the "Russian Church”.
The first Russian Orthodox services were held in the early 1900’s and was led by Reverend Macarius Affendick of Montreal, Canada, but there was still no permanent church. At a later date, Rev. Arcady Piotrowsky came to Berlin and held services the basement of the original wooden St. Barnabas Church, and later in an old Fire Department garage. On May 1, 1915, work began on a building, we now know as the "Russian Church”.
Which dialect of Russian did the immigrants who came to Berlin speak? The answer to this question depends on which part of Russian Empire/Soviet Union they came from, and if they came from a city or a village. If they came from a city, then they most likely spoke a dialect of Russian, similar to the one you would hear in Moscow. If they came from a village, then they might have spoken Ukrainian or Belarussian, or in some cases, a slang language like Trasianka (a mixture of Russian and Belarusian) and Surzhyk (a mixture of Russian and Ukrainian).
Personally, I believe there were more people who spoke languages like Trasianka and Surzhyk in Berlin because they came from uneducated families in small villages, at least most of them anyway. I recall my family saying that my great-grandfather spoke a “Russian slang language”, which was most likely Trasianka because his mother and father came from a small village in modern-day Belarus.
These “slang languages” became further and further apart from “real” Russian when the children and grandchildren of these original Russian immigrants began learning some phrases in their ancestral language. Tyotya became chorcha, dyadya became jahjah, dyed became jed, etcetera. Today in Berlin, there are few people who can hold a good conversation in Russian, but the interest in learning it still prevails in some of their descendants.
Personally, I believe there were more people who spoke languages like Trasianka and Surzhyk in Berlin because they came from uneducated families in small villages, at least most of them anyway. I recall my family saying that my great-grandfather spoke a “Russian slang language”, which was most likely Trasianka because his mother and father came from a small village in modern-day Belarus.
These “slang languages” became further and further apart from “real” Russian when the children and grandchildren of these original Russian immigrants began learning some phrases in their ancestral language. Tyotya became chorcha, dyadya became jahjah, dyed became jed, etcetera. Today in Berlin, there are few people who can hold a good conversation in Russian, but the interest in learning it still prevails in some of their descendants.