Poland (formerly Pomerania, Prussia)
Braunsforth (now Bród), Kr. Saatzig

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Photos	Descriptions	Links
	This abandoned cemetery lies southeast of the intersection of the village road and Hwy 145 (1.1 km south of the church). It is nearly completely lost in the trees and undergrowth, although the former road into the cemetery can be ascertained by the two rows of large trees that line a now completely over-grown path. No identifiable graves can be found. Broken gravestones are lying in piles and all the marble plaques and iron crosses have been removed so no identification is possible. (Gene Maas 9/14/2003)
	Emma Maass, b. 2 Mar 1881; d. 6 Aug 1885 Martha Maass, b. 6 Jun 1883; d. 26 Aug 1885 Emma and Martha, the 2nd and 3rd daughters of Julius and Emilie Maass are believed to be buried here.

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Ornshagen (now Żerzyno), Kr. Regenwalde

Photos	Descriptions	Links
	This abandoned cemetery lies on the left side of the road as one passes through the hamlet.  Except for one restored grave marker, all the gravestones have been destroyed.	click here for more photos of Ornshagen
	A small stone chapel (15' square inside) still stands in the graveyard, but has been badly vandalized.
	It is likely, though unsubstantiated, that several of our ancestors are buried in this cemetery.  We know Johanna Maass died 24 Nov 1837 in Ornshagen. In all likelihood, Christian also died here.  Gottlieb Ludwig Ferdinand Maass, the 7th child of David and Friederike Maass, was born on May 24, 1849 and died as an infant in Ornshagen on October 10, 1849.

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Lassehne (now Łasin), Kr. Köslin

Photos	Descriptions	Links
Gene Maas (4/28/2007) (5/31/2012)	Site of the former church and original cemetery.  A beautifully decorated cross and memorial was all that remained in 2007.  On a return visit in 2012, it appeared that the memorial had been vandalized.  An outdoor shrine has since been constructed about 30 yards away on the grounds of the former cemetery. In all likelihood, our 4th great grandparents, Pagel and Elisabeth Maass were buried in this church cemetery, perhaps in the early 1800's.
	All that remains of the church and original cemetery is a pile of ruble and desecrated gravestones. In 2007 we found a large field stone engraved with the name Alwin Frenz.	A historical photo of the stone can be see on DirkPetrat's site.
	A newer cemetery, which lies directly across the road from the former church, was used up to WWII. It too was abandoned and is nearly completely lost among the trees and brush. In 2012, the local priest lead a project to restore the cemetery. Thanks to their efforts, a few gravestones were  uncovered, but as in Braunsforth, marble plaques and iron crosses had been removed making identification impossible.
	Many gravestones remain buried in the dirt and have to be dug up to determine if any names remained. Our efforts were rewarded when my sister, Carol Peterson, uncovered this gravestone for Marie Maaß, born 3 Mar 1900; died 10 Feb 1901. Marie's relationship to our Maass family is unknown, but she most likely is related.
	This well preserved gravestone for Helene and Gustav Henke was also found in the undergrowth.

© - Gene Maas
rev. 5 Apr 2013

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