THE PORTER MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY - SOQUEL, CA

"Our Gang" - Bonny Doon (c. 1938) - Left to Right: Gianni Comelli, Guiliano Dughi, Reno Cantarutti, Felicino Taurian and Freddie Moro. In front (as always) "Il Diavolino" (Ivano).

IVANO SAYS: "THE OLD RANCERE" WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION AT THE PORTER MEMORIAL LIBRARY ON JANUARY 14, 2009 AT 10:30 AM.

Below is a bit of history relating to the Library which is posted on its website:

http://www.portermlb.org/

Brief History of the Porter Memorial Public Library
The story of the Porter Memorial Library begins in the year 1912. A group of Soquel women, calling themselves the Soquel Ladies Improvement Club, decided that the town needed a public library. They approached William and Mary Porter Sesnon, long time residents of the area, to donate a piece of land in Soquel for the library. An agreement was reached that the ladies would raise the money for the building and the Sesnons would donate the land and their own architects (Ward and Bome of San Francisco, who had designed the Sesnon house now on the campus of Cabrillo College) to design the building.
The money was raised, the land was donated and the building began. On October 19, 1912, the cornerstone was laid, and in January 1913, the doors of the Soquel Memorial Public Library opened to the public. The building was named the Porter Memorial Public Library in honor of Benjamin and Kate Porter, the parents of Mary Porter Sesnon.
The building was truly a community effort. Even children helped. All of the stones for the large stone fireplace were carried from Soquel Creek by the Soquel Elementary School children.
The flagpole that stands in front of the ibrary bears a plaque dedicated to Nora Angell, the secretary of the Ladies Improvement Club who was the driving force behind the movement to build the Library.
The Library has remained open since its beginning in 1913, except for brief periods following the floods of 1955 and 1982 and the earthquake of 1989. But something very important happened in 1978. With the passage of Proposition 13, the County decided it could no longer afford to offer library services in Soquel. Mona Blackholm, a Soquel resident, approached County officials with the 1912 agreement between the Sesnons and Santa Cruz County. It stated that that the land and building were being given to the County only to be operated as a Public Library. Armed with this agreement and backed by a group of volunteers, Mona convinced the County to turn the operation of the Library over to the volunteers, now known as the Porter Memorial Library Board. Many people offered their time to serve as librarians or help in other ways with Library operation. The result is that the Library is open and flourishing today due to the same kind of community spirit that built it in 1912.
In 1992, the Santa Cruz County Historical Trust awarded the building landmark status and the blue oval plaque stating this is proudly displayed next to the entrance.
In 1996, Norman Angell, Nora’s son, willed monies from his estate to the Porter Memorial Library and to the Soquel Historical Society with the hope that together these two groups could develop a Soquel Museum. With this money, the Library has been refurbished to allow a room for a display of Soquel’s history. We have Mr. Angell to thank for the new, fresh look and for the beautiful furnishings we have in the Library today.
When looking back at its history, people have often called this building “The Little Library That Could.” It is because of the many people who wished to see a library built and to continue offering library services to the many people of Soquel, that the Porter Memorial Library is here and serving us today.

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The Library is located at 3050 Porter Street in downtown Soquel (across the street from the U.S. Post Office). The telephone number for the Library is 831-475-3326.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR A TUTTI!

FIGLIA DELLA COSTA - NORA (FISTOLERA) DELLA SANTINA

THE BELOW REMEMBRANCE APPEARED IN THE SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL,
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ :

Services will be held on Tuesday for Nora Della Santina who passed away in Santa Cruz on December 4, 2008. Born in Santa Cruz, she would have celebrated her 101st birthday on December 23rd.
Born to Paul and Barbara Fistolera, her father was a dairyman on the north coast, and as a youngster, Nora was raised on the Yellow Bank Dairy and Swanton and later in Knights Landing near Sacramento. Following her marriage, many of her years were spent residing in Laguna and New Town.
She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, who enjoyed the times shared with her family and her blessings of long life.
She is survived by her sons, Rico and Paul Della Santina of Santa Cruz, and was preceded in death by her husband, Domenico Della Santina, and her son, Louie Della Santina and her first grandchild, Rick. Nora also leaves her beloved grandchildren, Elaine, Fred, Mark, Gina, Brenda, Natalie, Nicole and great grandchildren, Katie, Garrett, Jennifer, and Clark.
One of six sisters, she was preceded in death by four siblings and is survived by her sister, Lena Shaw of Santa Cruz.
Services will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel in Santa Cruz, beginning at 1 o'clock p.m.
A private committal will be held at the Holy Cross Mausoleum in Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers contributions to your favorite charity are preferred.
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IVANO SAYS:

Nora Della Santina was a close and dear friend of my mother, Valentina.

On page 252 in “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast), I included the following endnote which referred to one of Nora’s sisters, Zelda (Fistolera) Ceragioli:

“Lea (Grossi) Lambert, the daughter of Settimo and Inez (Fistolera) Grossi, has reminded me that there were six Fistolera sisters: Inez, Winnie (Giraudo), Nora (Della Santina), Zelda, Vivian (Rodoni) and Lena (Shaw). Her grandparents, Paul and Barbara Fistolera had a rancio in Swanton. Later Lea lived on a ranch with her father and mother, just north of Laguna.”

I also refer to Nora on page 111 in reference to the purchase of the Davenport Bakery (later the Miramar and now the Whale Street Bakery):

“…………….. the Caiocca’s sold their interest in the business to Dominico Della Santina and his wife Nora (Fistolera). Dominico, who was better known by the coastal Italians as “Lambari”, and Nora had two sons, Louis and Rico”.

Actually I was in error when I wrote that the Della Santina’s had only two sons. In fact they had three sons. Paul Della Santina was a late arrival “su per la costa”. Dominico and Nora later sold the Bakery to Mac and Evelyn Morelli of Davenport.

Addio Nora. Until we meet again across Il Ultimo Ponte .

PRESENTATION IN SOQUEL, CA - JAN 14, 2009

(CLICCA ON PHOTOS FOR ENLARGED IMAGE)

IVANO SAYS: THE 'OLD RANCERE' HAS BEEN INVITED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE PORTER MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY IN SOQUEL ON

WEDNSDAY, JAN. 14, 2009,
AT 10:30AM. I WILL BE PUBLISHING MORE DETAILS AS WE NEAR THE DATE OF THE EVENT.




IN THE MEANTIME I AM POSTING AN E-MAIL I RECEIVED FROM PROF. DERRILL KERRICK. IN IT HE REMINDS ME THAT SOQUEL HAD A NUMBER OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS AROUND THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY. HIS GRANDMOTHER MARIA (MARY) BERGAZZI KERRICK WAS ONE OF THEM. THE HISTORY OF THE ITALIANS IN GLEN HAVEN (NOW SOQUEL) IS RECORDED IN THE BOOK: "OH, THAT REMINDS ME" BY PHYLLIS BERTORELLI PATTEN AND EDITED BY ELIZABETH SPEDDING CALCIANO.







Ivano: As I promised (long ago) I finally got around to photocopying (for you) the book "Oh That Reminds Me" by Phyllis Bertorelli Patten. It was published in 1969. It is all about the early (ca. 1900) Italian immigrants in the Glen Haven area near Soquel. Although it is not eloquently written it is a nice addition to the overall history of Italian immigrants in the Santa Cruz area. This is where my grandma Mary's parents settled (ca. > 1885)...Mary was born in 1890...she had four brothers. There are photos of young Mary in the book and stories and pictures of her parents and brothers. The photocopy is not the greatest (it is a copy of a copy) but it is readable. After you read it, I think it would be a nice addition to the blagga. I know of one of Phyllis' relatives (somewhat younger than me) who might contribute to the blagga.
Attached are a couple of pictures I scanned from the book "Oh That Reminds Me". In the lumberjack photo my great-great grandfather is #5. In the other my grandma Mary is labeled "Mary".Sempre Avanti,
derrill

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA - JOSEPH PETER DELLAMORA

THE BELOW REMEMBRANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL:
www.santacruzsentinel.com

Joseph Peter Dellamora Jr.

Services will be Saturday for Joseph Peter Dellamora, Jr. who passed away after a lengthy illness November 26, 2008 at home in Santa Cruz. He was 84 years old.
He was born June 2, 1924 in Santa Cruz the son of Giuseppe Curly and Almenia Minnie Dellamora. His early childhood was spent in Bonny Doon and at the age of 6 his family moved into Santa Cruz. He attended Bay View Elementary, Mission Hill Junior High and graduated from Santa Cruz High in 1942. Following High School, Joe served in the U.S. Merchant Marines until 1945.
Joe spent his life working in agriculture. Prior to World War Two he farmed with his father at the Pebble Beach Ranch in Pescadero growing Brussels sprouts and artichokes. From 1945 until 1948 he and his father farmed Brussels sprouts at Ano Nuevo Ranch. In the early 1950's Joe lived and farmed row crops in Uvalde, Texas before returning to the North Coast where he continued to grow Brussels sprouts and artichokes from Pescadero to Wilder Ranch, until his retirement in 1992. He served as president and was a member of the board of directors of the Santa Cruz Growers Association. He also served as president of the Marketing Order for Brussels sprout in the state of California.
He was an accomplished accordion player and played at the World Fair on Treasure Island in San Francisco and at the water carnivals held at the Plunge at the Boardwalk. He also and enjoyed playing at friends weddings. His mother's family, the Mori's were established in the San Francisco Bay area, where Italian immigrants would visit and stay. Mori's point was named after them.
Joe had an amazing knowledge for Santa Cruz history. He knew about the people, backgrounds and various family connections. He had an incredible memory for indigenous animals and rescued countless stray or abandoned critters. He was a quiet man, but when asked a question, would gladly share his expertise or give an opinion.
He was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards especially Pedro. He loved barbecues on the coast with close friends and family. He loved polenta meals with pheasant or quail he had hunted.
Joe was an avid outdoors man and loved to hunt and fish. He hunted in Canada, Utah, the Sierra's and on the Apache Mescalero Reservation in New Mexico. He fished on San Francisco Bay and took an annual fishing trip to the Mattole River in Northern California and spent many seasons fishing the San Lorenzo River.
He is survived by, Tiki Dellamora of Santa Cruz; son, Steve Dellamora of Scotts Valley; daughter, Jill Dellamora Grossi and her husband Billy of Santa Cruz; six grandchildren, Bianca, Bridget and Sofia Grossi of Santa Cruz; Tara Rigby of Shelton, WA and Ali Richardson of Chowchilla, CA and Joey Dellamora of Scotts Valley; two nephews, Joe Pappas of Santa Cruz and Pete Pappas of Florida; He is also survived by three great grandchildren and his brother and sister in law, Joe and Peggy Nulph and their family. Joe was preceded in death by his son, Charlie Heastings Dellamora, his sister, Maggie Pappas; his parents, Minnie and Curly Dellamora and his best friend, Jerry Kato.
Services will be Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 10:00 am at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, CA. Friends are invited to call at Pacific Gardens Chapel on Friday from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. A private cremation will follow.
Joe's family would like to express their profound thanks to Dr. William Cao, Dr. Andrew Calciano and the nursing staff from Heartland Hospice, especially, Elizabeth, Ronnie and Vanessa. In lieu of flowers contributions are preferred to Heartland Hospice, 2511 Garden Rd, B200, Monterey, CA 93940 or to Native Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Wildlife Center, P.O. Box 1001, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.

ADDIO, JOE. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, ACROSS IL ULTIMO PONTE .