Learn about the Pusch Family Crest created by Hans-Jorg Pusch of Echzell, Germany.
Pusch Family Crest created by Hans-Jorg Pusch of Echzell, Germany
Back in 2009 Oliver Pusch of Echzell, Germany corresponded via email to a member of the OVHS. He shared a photo of the Pusch family crest painted on glass. Oliver is the grandson of Wilhelm Pusch, who was the brother of George Pusch. (Got that, genealogists?)
Fast forward several years later: Oro Valley Historical Society board member, Jim Skalicky, took a detour to Echzell while touring Germany and met Oliver and other Pusch family members, Ottilie Pusch Pfluger (niece of George Pusch), Heinrich and Sigrid Pusch (nephew of George Pusch and parents of Oliver). Jim shared the Pusch “American” family tree with his German hosts and stories of Pusch ranch life in Arizona.
Later in 2019 when several OVHS Collection Committee members wanted to find out more about the family crest. Did it have a long history? What did it denote? What did it say?
Sue Chambasian resurrected Oliver’s email address and took the chance that it still might be active. It was! Oliver related that the crest was designed by his brother, Hans-Jorg Pusch, as a high school project.
Thus, the images on the crest depict wheat stalks and a plough. It was quite difficult to decipher the “old” German spelling and lettering but with a bit more investigating OVHS member, Gail Munden, determined the lettering is old German Fraktur. The word aus means from. The word Bisses has a “sharp s” in place of the double “s”. Bisses was a small village which is now a part of Echzell, Germany (30 miles northeast of Frankfurt). Hence; “Pusch from Bisses”.
Pusch Family Crest Painted by Gail Munden, c. 2019 – 2020
Visit the Pusch House Museum at Steam Pump Ranch to Gail’s reproduction. A photo of the reproduction was sent to Oliver. His response? “The picture is very nice! I hope to see it in a few years at the ranch.”
Pusch Family Crest with Artist Gail Munden, c. 2019 – 2020
If sleuthing and researching history is up your alley, consider volunteering with OVHS!