Old Valaskovce is located in the Carpathian Mountains of
northeastern Slovakia, on the northern slope of the extinct volcanic peak called Vihorlat. The nearest city is Humenne, located in the valley below to the north. According to an early 20th century German topographic map [Uzgorod quadrangle], the village was reached via a side-road from Humenne to Kamienka, and from there via a windy cart-path up the mountain. There were similar paths from Modra and Bela, and from Nemet Poruba and Felso Remete on the south. Valaskovce was at the end of the road in all cases. It appears to be a place one would not pass through or stumble upon by accident, being high and remote in the Carpathian forest at 646 meters, about 500 meters higher and nine miles as the crow flies, from Humenne.
Over the past two centuries Valaskovce has been known by a handful of names, all but one of are variations on the word 'valaske', which was a peculiar type of ax used by shepherds. The Hungarian name, Pasztorhegy, translates as 'shepherd mountain.' Following is a list of the village names and the dates they were used*:
1786 Walaszka, Walaszkocz
1808 Valaskocz, Walasskowce
1863, 1888-1902 Valaskoc
1873-1882 Valyaskoc
1907-1913 Pasztorhegy
1920-1937, 1953--[current] Valaskovce
*Source: Nazvy Obci na Slovensku za Ostatnych Duesto Rokov, by Milan Majtan
Bratislava: 1972, Vydavatelstvo Slovenskej Akademie Vied.
Held in the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2 comments:
Congratulations on opening this site. I hope that it will be a great success.
Bob Balog
How interesting! Researching Jim's mother's German family was very enlightening (she was born in Regina, Canada, speaking German.) First she was from Germany. But then it seemed Austria. THAT sounded better somehow! (Danielle studied a semester in Vienna and looked the part, and her German was so good they all thought she was a native.) But then as I FINALLY figured out her town's name was NOT Chichidorf like her parents had said, but actually Zichifalva or Zichydorf in HUNGARY, well that was somehow deflating. But revelatory, as there is an association in Canada, all these descendents from that very town who all relocated to Regina and all went to Church there together!! Much easier to find family now. When we look further, I'll have to get advice from you on researching Hungary.
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