Prospero Frazzini
& Bros.
Banchieri e Commercianti
Here is Prospero Frazzini in Denver. This is the best (and only) version of this photo that the museum had. It still appears to be a multiple generation copy of some original. I had a poorer copy of this photo - this scan of the actual photo (above) from the museum is much better (but still not so good). It does clearly show Prospero standing outside front and center. An interesting note: as I was being introduced to townspeople by my cousin Giuliano, I noticed in one house, this photo on display on her fireplace mantle. I didn't get a chance to ask why it was there (my Italian was just not good enough to do serious questioning).
For a much better version of this photo (found in the US), click on the Italian-American Bank web page.
Reported to me by Frank Musilli: "Rinaldo Frazzini was Maria
Frazzini and Francesco (Frank) Frazzini’s son, not Maria’s brother. He was
my uncle and my mother’s (Ida Frazzini’s) brother."
died in Libya
Giovanni Alessandro
Luigi Perilli
Dottor Perilli, fratello del Giudice.
Faceva il Medico di bordo sulle navi.
Foto spedita da lui al Barone D'Alena.
Doctor Perilli, brother of the judge.
He was a ship's Doctor.
Photo sent by him to the Baron D'Alena.
Dottor Perilli, fratello del Giudice.
Faceva il Medico di bordo sulle navi.
Foto spedita da lui al Barone D'Alena.
Doctor Perilli, brother of the judge.
He was a ship's Doctor.
Photo sent by him to the Baron D'Alena.
A comment on the d'Alena family - they were a very wealthy family in San Pietro. Before the destruction of 1943, they had a very big house near the church. His brother was a Judge. For more about Giovanni, click here.
SPA Militia
The above photo is not from the museum. It is from Franklin Smith and is ©Copyright by him. I present it here because the museum has a much worse version. You can click on the image for a larger version.
SPA Militia
Here is the version of the photo that the musem has. Notice that it is a different photo and not in very good condition. The photo was labeled "Foto Scattata Verso Il 1932-33" or "Photo taken around 1932-33".
I have to question that date. Take a look at all three photos that I have all showing the school teacher Giacomo Scocchera (in the dark sunglasses) - click here. I think all three of these photos were taken on the same day. My mother, born in 1912, is in one of them and she appears to be 8-12 years old. This would date the photos to around 1920-1924. Luigi Lembo is in the militia photo. On my trip to the SPA cemetery, I found his burial crypt, it shows he was born 16 June 1902 and died 20 Oct 1975. He is #6 in this photo. He appears to be in his early twenties which would date the photo to around 1922-23 as well. I also note that Scocchera looks exactly the same in all three photos. It does not appear to me that there is 10 years separating the photos.
Scocchera also sent a telegram on the death of Ferdinando Frazzini and that telegram appears in Ferdinando's funeral booklet.
May 2007I found a new record on ancestry.com. It is the 1921 arrival of Armando diSanza (person #21 in the photo) on 3 Feb 1921. He was 17y and going to his uncle Luigi diSanza in Koppel, PA. I believe this is the earliest that we have him in the US. He travelled with Ostilio Rossi. He arrived in the US via St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. It had not occured to me when I first found this arrival record, but Dave Desanzo pointed out that Armando had to be in Italy when this photo was taken. This confirms the earlier date of the SPA Militia photo and possibly even dates it in 1920.
1. Palumbo Antimo 2. diFlorio Pietro 3. Flesca Loreto 4. diSano Giovanni 5. Troilo Antonio
6. Lembo Luigi 7. diMatteo Vencenzo 8. Iannone Eugenio 9. Scocchera Giacomo 10. Capone Domenico
11. Colaianni Giuseppe 12. diLorenzo Severino 13. diSanza Manfredo 14. Ciccotelli Giuseppe 15. Morelli Augusto Adelco
16. diFlorio Vincenzo 17. Gatti Antonio 18. ?? 19. Petrilli Nunzio 20. Galante Epolo Giovanni
21. (see note below) 22. Iannone 23. Frazzini Giulio 24. diSanza Alberto 25. diCapita Ernesto
26. Quaranta Lorenzo 27. ?? 28. Mariani Adamo
Mark's Notes:
I believe the surname for #4 is diSanzo.
#21 was identified by Della DeSanzo as Armando diSanza. See the email below from Dave DeSanzo.
a1) The person with black suit and hat is the school teacher with last name "Scocchera" (#9).
a2) first person at left of Scocchera is "Eugenio Iannone" (#8).
a3) third person at left of Scocchera is " Luigi Lembo" (#6).
sbcglobal.net)
in Youngstown, OH.:My
father Adamo Mariani is in
your militia photo.
Adamo Mariani #28
Mark, My grandfather's name
was
the same as mine, he came to the USA around 1912. settled somewhere in
the vicinity of Ellwood City, PA, one of the ways he earned his living
was by playing the banjo or mandollino. He had three kids in Italy and
wife (Bernalda Capone). the kids, Esterina (married Sperandino Rossi
and moved to Youngstown, Ohio),Veturia (married Domenic DiLaurentis and
moved to Youngstown, Ohio). Adamo, my father, Elvira, my
mother
(maiden name Carlini, father Giuseppe Carlini, mother Bellina
Salvatore) and I came to Youngstown, Ohio in 1956.
Hope this info is useful to you. Amico
Hope this info is useful to you. Amico
From Tina Rossi, May 2005, Sapphy
aol.comI also noticed on one of your
pictures (I believe it was a group of militia), you had my great uncle
Adamo Mariano and mentioned an email from Amico Mariani. That's my 2nd
cousin. I have to say again, I just love
your website. It's been very informative for me!!
Ines Elvira
Carlini married Adamo Mariani.
From a guestbook entry by Mary DeLaurentis Stabile ( johnmaryzoominternet.net
), Sep 2005:My Mother was Irma Veturia
Mariani and she was from San Pietro
Avellana. She came to the USA in 1935. Her Mother was Bernarda Capone
and Father was Amico Mariani. My Great Grandfather (Amico's father) was
Adamo Mariani and he was married to Sabina Frazzini. Thanks for the
wonderful website and pictures of San Pietro.
I was looking at the photo
you
have on your
website of the SPA Militia and looking at your list of the men. I
believe that #15, Augusto Adelco Morelli, is the son of Angela Mariani
(sister to my great grandmother, Lucia) and her husband, Ruggerio
Morelli. Augusto
was "lost" in the (Second World) war.
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 12:02:55 +0200
From: "A. Vernucci" <antonio.vernucci
space.it>Subject: People from San Pietro Avellana
Cc: davide.lembo
space.itHello Mark,
While browsing the Internet I randomly came into a message of yours dated 1 Dec. 2003, in which you wrote having identified Luigi Lembo of San Pietro Avellana in an old photo. Luigi Lembo, who passed away in 1975, actually was my uncle. More specifically, I am the son of Alfredo Vernucci, the brother of Aida Vernucci who was the wife of Luigi Lembo. I was very surprised to see that photo, in which I can clearly recognize Luigi.
I work for a company in Rome where also the son of Luigi Lembo works. His name is Davide Lembo. He has one brother and two sisters.
Regards
Antonio Vernucci, Rome Italy
(Mark's note: Antonio and I corresponded a few times but neither he or Davide could add any more information about the photo)
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 14:00:54 -0700
From: Charles Lembo <clembo
cyberdata.net>Subject: Re: Lembo Family Web Page Inquiry
Hello Mark,
Thanks for the interesting email.
I had an uncle whom my father referred to as Gigi but the photo of Luigi looks like family and maybe Gigi was a nickname.
I think the correspondence from Antonio Verncucci identified my cousin Davide Lembo.
I have sent them an email and hope to get a reply. I was born in Denver but the family moved to the San Francisco bay area in 1940.
My uncle Randolfo married Elizabeth Franzini in Denver and they moved to California about the same time.
You have a great family web site and I enjoyed reviewing it. Again thanks and My best regards.
Charles Lembo
Mark DiVecchio wrote:
> Charles,
> Cathy Madonna Youngblood just sent me an email about your Lembo web site. I've added a link from my links page to your site.
> I know of a Luigi Lembo (1902-1975) but I can't tell if he is related to you.
> I have a photo taken in San Pietro Avellana about 1920-1930 which has Luigi Lembo in it.
> http://www.silogic.com/genealogy/Other%20SPA%20Photos.html
> There is also a correspondence from Antonio Vernucci who was a nephew of Luigi and from Davide Lembo who is
> Luigi's son. I have a photo of his tombstone from the SPA cemetery. I'd be happy to email it to you.
>
> Ciao.
> Mark
From: Dave DeSanzo <railone
adelphia.net>Subject: RE: Old Photos and Homewood
Hi Mark,
I did see that same picture on your Internet site. I believe the Giovanni (#4) in this picture is my Uncle John as is my Uncle Manfredo (#13). There is also an Alberto diSanza (#24) in the picture if I am remembering correctly. I do not know who he is. My cousin Della, Giovanni's daughter, told me that her father returned to Italy to get married and while he was there he was drafted into WWI for Italy. I haven't tried to correlate the dates with this picture yet but it sure looks like Uncle John.
> Mark wrote:
> If we could figure out if that really is Giovanni, it might help me date the photo. I think its from 1920-24 but
> the museo thought it was 1932-33. If we can figure out exactly when Giovanni was back in SPA and drafted,
> we might date the photo. Does Della know specific dates that Giovanni was in Italy?
I agree with your dates. If the man in the picture is Giovanni, the 1930 Census lists the year of immigration to the USA as 1925. It also lists the year he was married as 1914. Oddly enough the 1930 Census shows that his wife Maria immigrated to the USA in 1922 three years prior to Giovanni. This is opposite from all of my other ancestors. Typically the husband came over to the USA first and the wife and children followed. Perhaps the reason for the delay was his military duty. I did search the 1900, 1910, and 1920 Census records one by one and there is no mention of Giovanni in any of them so I am positive that the Census is correct stating the year of immigration as 1925.
Dave
Mark's Note: look at the diSanza page for more about this family.
Mark,
I had Della DeSanzo look at the SPA militia picture over the weekend. Unfortunately, Della was not able to positively identify person #4 listed as "diSano Giovanni" as her father. However, Della did identify person #21 in the picture as Armando (Herman) diSanza. Armando's father was Bernardo diSanza who was the oldest child of Giuseppe diSanza and Santa LaBate. Armando lived with Giovanni De Sanzo and his family in Koppel, PA. The 1930 census for Koppel, PA states that Armando immigrated to the USA in 1927. Armando worked at the Koppel Industrial Car & Equipment Company as a laborer. Armando was hit in the shoulder while working at the Koppel Car Works and died from complications from his injuries in 1932. Armando is buried at an old, abandoned, Catholic cemetery in nearby Hoytdale, PA.
I have attached the 1930 census record for Koppel, PA for your review. Armando is incorrectly listed as Giovanni's brother. Armando was really Giovanni's nephew. I have also attached a picture of Armando taken in front of the home of Luigi De Sanzo in Koppel, PA. Armando is posing with my father Louis who was born in 1922 (Mark's note: you can see that photo on the diSanza page). There is no date on the picture but judging by the size of my father, I would estimate that it was taken around 1927 the same year that Armando arrived in Koppel. Take care.
Dave
From:
ian mchenry <ianmchenryive.com>Subject: SPA
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:14:58 +0000
Cc: Duncan McHenry <duncan.mchenry
gmail.com>hi.
What a brilliant web page.
My mother comes from san pietro. she went to England in the 50's her sister went to america. I have various aunts, uncles and cousins still in the village but their names don't come up on the page. The family name is Ciccotelli.
In fact in the [SPA Militia] photo, from your site, my grandfather, Giuseppe Ciccotelli is #14.
My mother is Fillapina Ciccotelli. She has a sister Dina and a brother, Michele. both still in San Pietro.
It would be great to find out about my mum's other sister, Rosa who was the first to go to England (my mum joined her there later) and then she went on to America, where she died of influenza. I know mum would love to know more about her and her family there.
On one of my mum's trips to San Pietro, she picked up a colour postcard of the main square and an old man standing in it. It turned out to be her dad, Giuseppe.
I'm copying my dad in on this e-mail becuase he knows a lot more than me.
thanks, Ian
From: JOHN BAYNHAM <johnbaynham01
btinternet.com>Dear Mark DiVecchio,
I was looking through Google at my mothers birth place San Pietro Avellana , and came across some old musuem photographs and spotted by Grandfather on one of the photographs, Troilo Antonio (#5). I would very much like to know if you have any more information on these photographs as I spent the first 6 years of my childhood living in this village and would very much like to know more. My name is Antonella Baynham and hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Sincerely
Antonella Baynham
elp.rr.com>Subject: Dawson/SPA connection
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:37:13 -0600
Mark,
What a pleasant surprise your web page is. My husband, Marco Milazzo (he's sleeping right now, so I'm writing for him), has a connection to both SPA and Dawson through his mother, Annina (Anita) Capone Milazzo, who was born in SPA and came with her parents, Urbino and Angelina Capone, to Dawson around 1913. My mother-in-law and your mother were born the same year (1912).
Your excellent, well organized website has a picture of the gravestone of Marco's great uncle, Pasquale Capone, as well as a picture of his great uncle Domenico Capone in the 1932-33 militia picture from the SPA museum. We've been in contact with Emily Palumbo McIntyre about her side of the family, but have often wondered how many other families moved from SPA to Dawson. Your information has answered that question for me.
So many Italian men died in the Dawson mine explosions. My mother-in-law remembers that when the Number One mine exploded on February 8, 1923, she and the other children in her class thought they were hearing dynamite. Her father, Urbino, was one of the lucky few miners who went into Number One that morning but, due to injuries, left before the explosion. Had he died that day, Anita and her three sisters would have been orphans, as their mother had died tragically around 1916 when a coal car struck her. She was holding the youngest girl, a baby, but managed to throw her to safety.
We went to the Dawson reunion in 2002 and hope to travel to Rome sometime in the next year. If we do, a side trip to SPA would be very interesting. Thanks for sharing your information. If we find anything you don't already have on the website, we'll let you know. You mention that you found some information on your great uncle in the St. John the Baptist Church records from Dawson. If you wouldn't mind telling me where you found those records, I'd appreciate it. We're still trying to find information on Marco's grandmother and thought those records would be a good place to start.
Best wishes,
Cindy and Marco Milazzo
From: renzo frate <renzo1
inbox.com>Subject: St Pietro Avellana italy
Hi Mark,
My wife has just come across your site and I have had a quick look at it, especially the photo of the SPA Militia.
My granddad was 3rd from the left, Flesca Loreto who lived to the rip old age of 96 when he died. I saw this picture for the first in my uncle's house (who was Loreto son and my mom who is nearly 93 was Loreto’s oldest daughter.)
I will show her the site although she does not talk about the war very much, I think because of what she and others like her went through.
Thanks for the site I will read it thoroughly.
Renzo Frate
