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--------'Clicca' on Photo for Enlarged Image-----The Lorenzi Ranch "su per la costa" showing bridge over train tracks. For further information regarding the photo 'clicca' on comments at the end of this aritcle. (Photo Courtesy LaNorma and Al Wilson)
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IVANO FRANCO COMELLI SAYS: LaNorma (Norma Dinelli-Wilson) has once again dug deep into her "bag of memories" and has come up with this jewel.
IL TRENO LUNGO
There are so many stories and so many memories where do we begin and we could go on and on.
Does everyone remember the train going up along the Coast Road to the Cement Plant
Everyday?! Does anyone remember the bridge over the railroad track going over to the Lorenzi Ranch? (Think Steve Della Mora farms there now and the bridge is gone and the Road to the Ranch yard is entirely different.
While my Dad (Dante Dinelli) farmed and was a partner in the Grossi Ranch – one ranch North and almost across from Laguna we have recollection of the train so vividly.
Does everyone remember the train going up along the Coast Road to the Cement Plant
Everyday?! Does anyone remember the bridge over the railroad track going over to the Lorenzi Ranch? (Think Steve Della Mora farms there now and the bridge is gone and the Road to the Ranch yard is entirely different.
While my Dad (Dante Dinelli) farmed and was a partner in the Grossi Ranch – one ranch North and almost across from Laguna we have recollection of the train so vividly.
We kids---Lea and her sister Ida (Grossi) would wave to the train. In those days it had a caboose; the men in the caboose would smile and wave to us. At the Lorenzi Ranch we went from one side of the bridge to wave to the engineers and then ran to the other side to wave to the caboose.
Sure miss those cabooses.
In the later 40’s – after the war – my Dad’s friends from Santa Barbara sent us a big crate of Avocados. They were not ripe of course so that we could enjoy them as they ripened. Well, no one knew what they were and thought those hard things were no good and they threw the whole crate down by the railroad track – many ranceri did that sort of thing in the “old days”.
When the train came by going up to the cement plant the engineer must have spotted it. Then, as the train was coming back down towards Santa Cruz, it stopped.
Some one got off the train and climbed up the bank to the crate of avocados. "Wow" ,he probably thought – " what a treasure! "
This happened again when my Mom’s cousin from Stockton sent a crate of asparagus. The Cook at the cookhouse cooked a few; but as no
One knew what they were he cut off the tops and cooked the bottoms – not good – so the whole crate of Asparagus went over the bank by the railroad track. Next day the train did the same thing on its way back towards Santa Cruz --this time loading up with a treasure of asparagus.
Now, of course, we all know what these yummy vegetables are – however, at the time , there probably were a lot of people who would look at our beloved artichokes and say “what are these and how do you eat them?”
One knew what they were he cut off the tops and cooked the bottoms – not good – so the whole crate of Asparagus went over the bank by the railroad track. Next day the train did the same thing on its way back towards Santa Cruz --this time loading up with a treasure of asparagus.
Now, of course, we all know what these yummy vegetables are – however, at the time , there probably were a lot of people who would look at our beloved artichokes and say “what are these and how do you eat them?”
This is one of my many memories of growing up on La Nostra Costa and on the ranches. Memories of all our dear relatives. ************
LaNorma was born and raised on "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast). Thanks Norma.
L Nostra Costa Website: http://www.lanostracosta.com-a.googlepages.com/
L Nostra Costa Website: http://www.lanostracosta.com-a.googlepages.com/
17 comments:
Ivano:
RE: The Old Photo
You can see the railroad going to the old Lorenzi Ranch (now Steve DellaMoras). Obviously it is
very old. Facing the foto: the houses on the right side – 4th one up is Battista & Angelina Lorenzi,s
House – you spent some times there. This is before any of the hedges were even planted.
The barns on the extreme left of foto are the old Majors Dairy. The big house is Majors first
House and it was destroyed by fire…and a second smaller one built. Beyond that is Beltrami’s
and my old house which are not visible in foto. Beyond in the distance is Scaroni’s beach where
you also spent some time!! Look how far down the Coast Road you can see. It is too bad there
Are some water spots and it is not real clear. It is from Richard Burns collection (Majors grandson)
And it hung in his Mom’s house on West Cliff Dr. and the moisture from ocean kind of got to the
Foto. Nevertheless it is precious and goes back many years.
Saluti – Norma and Al
Oh, how I remember that train! I must have been about 5 years old then, when in late mornings I would hear that hoarse hoot of the steam whistle, and rush outdoors to see the train. It was too far to run and see it close up, but I would count the cars as the train crossed diagonally over Bay Street on the North end of Neary's Lagoon, heading "su per la costa".
Then I would run back inside and, having lost count, tell my mother, "era lungo lungo, fino ad ora". (it was long, long, and lasted until just now)
This may have been the same train crew who after the war tossed some surplus gas masks to members of the "Bailing Wire Gang", i.e. the Comelli, Degli Esposti and Rodoni boys. Thanks for the memories.
Gino
Madona, Do I remember that bridge? I sure do and I remember walking across it many times. also, I see it shows our old casa there with the other houses where Lorenzi and Cherri livied. Jim
Thanks Jim. As I write in "La Nostra Costa", the houses are still there. Sorry about the recent loss of Judy, your wife. Our prayers are with you. Ivano
Hi Ivano,
How heartwarming; just got home from our trip; I left on Sept. 25th, had a great time in Oklahoma, and then riding the trains in New England. Got lots of photos. Had a safe trip; arrived back in SF last night about 10PM. Marv
Thanks Marv: With all these stories re: "Il Treno Lungo" I was betting that you would chime in with a few stories of your own. Then I realized that you already did in your previously published article on the "Blagga". You too waved to the Caboose Men and the Engineer as they passed your family ranch. I wonder if those guys ever got tired of waving at all those kids?? Probably not. ivn
I don't know what this has to do with "Il Treno Lungo",but it must have 'jarred" the "Old Professor's" memory; he came up with this "gem". He even has advise on how to prevent wayward Senators from crossing the Line.
Ivano
I ran across my old report cards from the 1st & 2nd grades. Merrill & I attended a one-room school, Jefferson School, located on Glenn Canyon Road. The school is no longer there. Mrs. Owens must have had her hands full teaching grades 1 - 8. Corporal punishment was employed extensively to keep us in line. I could never understand why Mrs. Owens whacked my knuckles periodically. I thought I was a "little angel" back then, but the report card indicates otherwise. For example, the lowest grade I received in the 2nd grade was a "C" in "Citizenship!"
I don't know why but It made me think of Senator Larry Craig.
Perhaps the SJ Police Dept. should hire some of their retirees to sit in stalls and provide them with a big ruler to WHACK knuckles that stray under the bottoms of the walls separating the stalls
Jerry Kerrick
YOUR SUPPOSE TO COOK THE TOP OF THE ASPARAGUS, NOT THE BOTTOM?? THANKS, LaNORMA. I WAS WONDERING WHY I KEPT GETTING "GERDS".
If you lightly skin the bottoms of the asparagus using a potato peeler, they will cook fairly uniformly. Things one can learn by watching TV. (couch potatos can learn things too)
Dear Couch Patata: You have saved my life. I use an (1)asparagus to stir my bloody mary's. I never could figure out what to do with it after I was finished. Now I will just 'skin it" and eat it.
BTW: I too, used to wave at all those 'bellos' on "Il Treno". Once in a while the engineer would blow an extra long "wooo-wooo" whistle for me. That would really gave me a thrill. Take care everybody. CC
Carrie: Are you sure that was a "woo-woo-woo whistle and not a "whoops-whoops-whoops"? Just asking. Don't take offense.
There he goes again. This guy doesn't have an original thought in his avocado brain. All he does is lie in the bushes waiting to pounce on me (In your dreams, Polenta-Head).
Let me tell you, that in my day I got a lot of "woo-woo" whistles.
If I weren't such a lady I would tell you exactly what to do with that unused aspargus stick. cc
Carrie: May I suggest that a nicely rounded artichoke with sharp needle points would be a much more appropriate fit for that Polenta-Head Guy.
Cut if out guys and gals. What I want to know is how do you eat those artichoke things. I understand that I am not suppose to eat the needle points, but the "fussy" stuff in the middle always gets stuck in throat. We bachelor guys need help. Johnny
Some help with carcioffi:
We can't buy suitable artichokes in Oregon, as they only get the ones almost in bloom, and they are useless, and yet they want $3 EACH.
Get very small artichokes, the smaller the better.
Trim the spiny ends off, trim the bottom skin and outer layer of leaves off.
Cut into slices, dip in egg and fry, along with your chicken. That's the only way to do artichokes.
Enjoy.
Famous Toscano chicken recipe:
First you steal a chicken. How you cook it is up to you.
DEAR ANONYMOUS OREGON: THANKS FOR YOUR RECIPE. I REMEMBER, MY MOTHER COOKING FRIED ARTICHOKES. THE BEST. ALSO TRY STIR FRYING WITH SOME ITALIAN 'SALSICCIA' BUONO, BUONO. OR YOU CAN TRY THE RECIPE THAT "BIG GRAVEL YARD" GANG (LNC:P.201) USED ON THEIR BOYS ONLY PICNICS "SU PER LA COSTA".
PICK OFF THE PLANT AND EAT RAW. (FOR JOHNNY COLTIVITA: DISGARD NEEDLES AND FUZZY PART IN CENTER.)
HEALTHY, BUT NOT SO BUONO.
DEAR ANONYMOUS-TOSCANO:
FOR A TOSCANO YOU ARE NOT BEING VERY HELPFUL. IVNO
IVAN,
PLEASE TELL ALL OF THESE ARTICHOKE PEOPLE, GO TO A FARMERS MARKET AND PURCHASE THEM OR TRADER JOE'S HAS THEM THE SMALL ONES ARE GREAT FOR FRYING, OR MAKING PASTA WITH THEM,BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE A RIDE DOWN TO SANTA CRUZ AREA AND BUY THEM.
ANOTHER MARRIED TO A TOSCANO-
Deenbob: That Toscano you are married to kept forgetting the salt for our raw arthichokes. No wonder those things tasted so bland. ivno
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