My object is my Opa’s Ice Stock. It is a weight with a smooth “plate” on the bottom and a handle affixed to the top of the weight. My grandfather’s (Opa in Austrian) ice stock has a homemade tassel with the colors of his home province of Austria around the handle. Eisstockschiessen (Ice stock) is a game like American curling that my Opa and his friends played back when he was a boy in St. Johan bei Heirberstein, Austria. After he immigrated to America, he quickly found other friends from southern Germany or Austria that also played the game. The group of friends made their own “league” and would play every weekend when the winter froze the rivers’ water thick enough to play on. It was his way of bringing a piece of Austria to America. He never missed a cold winter day to go “out on the ice”.  His passion for playing this game from his hometown was passed down to all the members of his family here in America. From his children to his grandchildren and then to his great grandchildren. We all enjoy going out to play a few games on the cold winter days just like my Opa did as a boy in Austria. I hope to continue this tradition for many more generations to come. 
 

– Jessica Wilfinger

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant