Colonia Italiana 1888-The Beautiful Forest
In 1888, Alesandro Mastro-Valerio, realizing the plight of fellow Italian immigrants living and working in hazardous conditions in many northern states, bought land here to attract colonists. He advertised in newspapers around the country and many Italian families bought plots of 10 to 40 acres. Colonists lived a pioneer lifestyle, clearing land in Belforest and building homes. They farmed, operated general stores, and built a saw mill, a cotton gin, and packing sheds. Just 30 years later, many sons served in WWI and returned home to continue the heritage of their hard working ancestors. Two of their sons became Mayors of Daphne, Arthur Manci in 1952 and Victor Guarisco in 1976.
in 1895, the settlers purchased land for their first church, The Church of the Assumption. Father Angelo Chiariglione, affectionately called Padre Angelo, arrived in 1898 as the first resident priest. The Queen of Italy, very pleased with the colony, sent gifts to their new church for use among Italian Catholics.
The Founding Fathers of the Italian Colony
1889 Domenico Trione · 1896 Celeste Pintarelli
1889 Cesare Castagnolli · 1897 Giacomo Rolando
1889 Domenico Castagnolli · 1897 Luigi Boni
1891 Cipriano
Allegri · 1897 Francesco Manci
1891 Paolo Napolillo · 1897 Epifanio Pilato
1893 Michele Berga · 1898 Angelo Corte
1893 Modesto Berga · 1898 Constante Bertagnolli
1894 Antonio C. DeFilippi · 1898 Giovanni Predazzer
1894 Giacomo DeFilippi · 1902 Allesandro Bertolla
1894 Giorgio Marconbsp; · 1904 Antonio Polizzi
1894 Guiseppe Latini · 1905 Agostino Guarisco
1894 Salvatore Latini · 1909 Giuseppe Drago
1894 Camillo Rossi · 1911 Giuseppe Cometti
1894 Romeo Tagliabue · 1928 Calogero Guarisco
1896 Vittorio E. Lazzari
The Progressive Italian Benevolent Society, formed in 1913, purchased six acres of land for the Italian Cemetery. In 1918, a large cross with steel reinforcement was erected at the center of the cemetery. Father Angelo's remains were placed in a crypt at the foot or the cross in 1940. Around 1968, the cross and crypt were destroyed by lightning. A granite cross now stands in its place.
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