Our Aarwangen

Anna Maria Elizabeth Huber was born 17 April 1862 and her records are here in the local Reformed Evangish Church. I must confess I have not figured out why. Her mother Anna Gygax has records here and may have lived in Aarwangen before she married and moved to Biel. I think her ancestral home is nearby Niederbipp.

Aarwangen was named after the Aarwangen family which built the first Schloss or fortified castle there. It was built on the rivers edge and still stands, an awesome site. Aarwangen was one of the best crossings of the river, with a toll bridge connecting eastern and western Switzerland. It was also a major road through this part of Europe.

Each village has their own coat of arms as such. They fly it proudly on flags all around the village. Aarwangen is no different. Their flag is black and silver, though I thought for a long time it was black and white.

This baptistry dates back to 1577. It's amazing, being an American, to visualize that this is the actual baptistry where Anna or her family could have been. They sat in this very church house. It boggles my mind.

See http://www.swisscastles.ch/Bern/aarwangen.html for some great pictures, although the notation is in French.