Friday, December 20, 2013

A CHRISTMAS STORY BY LaNORMA


 



Christmas 1945 was going to be a really good one. My mother was going to be able to go to downtown Santa Cruz. All WW II restrictions against Enemy Aliens had been lifted. Actually, the restrictions on Italian Aliens had been lifted by 1943, however; my parents were very cautious and didn't want  to take any chances.

During the war years, my Mom had not become an American citizen and had been consider an 'alien'. She could not go on the west side of Mission Street (towards the ocean) so she was prevented from going into downtown Santa Cruz. But this year (1945) the war was over and it was going to be a joyous holiday.

On this particular day, I (along with my Aunt and Mom) was going to see Santa Claus or as the Italians called him: 'Sani Closi' in downtown Santa Cruz. Even though I couldn't speak English, I could understand some of it and I knew exactly what I wanted Santa to bring me.  I was so excited. Everything was so festive and people were very happy.

We went straight to the Woolworth's Store and headed for the back where Santa was suppose to be.  I remember that all the Christmas decorations were magnificent and then all of sudden, there Santa was. I don't remember waiting in line, I just cautiously walked up to him. I was so excited that I was barely breathing. Santa picked me up and place me on his lap. I hardly notice the surroundings any more. It was just 'Sani Closi' and me. He asked me my name and I barely whispered back, " Norma". I think he asked me if I had been a good little girl and again  I answered him in a whisper, "Yes".

Santa then asked me, "What do you want for Christmas, Norma?"  Well now, this is what I came here for. I got very strong and courageous and blurted out, "Voglio un carrettino rosso". After a very long pause, and a quizzical look on his face, Santa said, "You want a what?"

Horrors! My Mom said that my face got as red as Santas's suit.  I suddenly realized that 'Sani Closi' didn't speak or understand Italian and I didn't know how to say, "I want a little red wagon" in English.  Embarrassed, I reluctantly blurted out the only  English words I could remember, "A dolly". It was all a blur after that.

Later that day we bought a Christmas tree and went home "su per la costa" (up the coast). After I went to bed that night my parents decorated the tree. Next morning they woke me and in Italian they said . "Come look, Norma! Santa came last night and decorated the tree!"  I was so enthralled with 
 the beautiful colored lights and ornaments and it even had a Nativity scene under the tree.  It was awesome - a sight I will never forget. I then asked my parents if they could understand "Sani Closi" when he was doing all this. "Why yes", they responded, "Sani Closi spoke perfect Italian". All I could think of after that was, "I wish you would have awaken me so I could have told 'Sani Closi' what I really wanted"

When Christmas came, I was okay and happy with the doll I received (which I still have), because I knew that next year I was going to start going to school. Then I would know how to ask 'Sani Closi' for the little red wagon in English. But I still don't understand how Santa was able to speak 'perfect Italian' to my parents and not to me.

Merry Christmas Everybody and may your thoughts for the coming year be filled with "little red wagons in the sky."










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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

A SHORT BIO ON "FIGLIO DELLA COSTA" (SON OF THE COAST) A.E. MORELLI

IVANO SAYS:  The following is a short bio on A.E. Morelli,  posted by his Great-Grandson Richard Ameil,  on our "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast), A Santa Cruz North Coast Journal Group Facebook Page.
 
 
A. E. MORELLI

The historian of the future in making up an estimate of the basic elements of the population of the state of California will be compelled to give proper credit to the influence exerted in the development of the state by that sturdy Alpine strain so prominently represented throughout this section by many of this ancient Swiss stock who have become leaders in development work here, particularly in those great interests and industries based upon the dairy and horticultural products of the state. Any analysis of the commercial and industrial situation here will prove convincing of the important part taken in its development by the hardy and resolute representatives of this Alpine strain who got a start here when the land was being made to give up its treasures of field and orchard and who now in the second and third generation are found to be the leaders in much of this continued development, being among the most influential factors in the creation of conditions that have helped so largely in achieving California's present supremacy in her own distinctive field. Among these leaders in the Santa Cruz country there are few who are better known or who have been more influential in local development than A. E. Morelli, secretary and manager of the great Coast Dairies & Land Company of Davenport and for years one of the important agents in the conspicuous promotion of the dairy and horticultural interests of this region. It therefore is but proper and fitting that in this definite history of the region in which his services have so long and so usefully been rendered there should be presented some modest review of Mr. Morrelli's life.

A. E. Morelli is a native son of the republic of Switzerland, born in the canton of Tessin, January 20, 1868, and is a son of Michael and Santina Morelli, also natives of that Alpine country, whose last days were spent in Switzerland. Michael Morelli when fifteen years of .age made his way to Australia with his father, remaining there for about eight years and returning to Switzerland in 1864. There he married and three children were born to the union. When A. E. Morelli, the youngest of the three, was only an infant his mother died and soon after the father came to the United States and in California went into the dairy business, remaining in it until 1878, when he sold out and went back to his children in Switzerland. In 1882, after having received a fair education, A. E. Morelli decided to leave the town of Cevio, Switzerland, and come to California and be as successful as his father. On arriving here he went to work in the dairy that was formerly owned by his father, remaining there for four years. He afterward went to Oregon and was connected with construction work. Returning to California he tried the dairy, grocery and hotel business, with some success.

In 1906 Mr. Morelli joined the Coast Dairies & Land Company of Davenport and in time was elected secretary of that organization, the affairs of which he since has been managing. This has brought about the development of a new and important industry and the distribution of a product which has become famous as a food delicacy throughout this country. For some time after its establishment this company confined itself to the dairy industry, the lumber and hotel business, but in 1916 began in a small way to experiment in the culture of artichokes, starting with a tentative bed of fifty-two plants. It was found that soil and climate in the Davenport region were particularly well adapted for the proper cultivation of this toothsome vegetable and the products of these initial beds passed so admirably all the tests provided that it was determined to pursue their culture on a commercial basis. The introduction on the market of the Davenport artichokes created an instant demand and that demand has increased with the growing fame of this particular brand of edible until now the company has about one thousand acres devoted to artichoke culture in Davenport. Other farmers have become interested in the business and today there are over three thousand acres in Santa Cruz county planted in artichokes, so that the business now exceeds two million dollars annually. Nine hundred acres of this land was formerly used for pasture and had to be cleared of brush and greasewood. Where first only five men were employed to care for the crop there are about four hundred men engaged in this work today.

In addition to his extensive interests in this company Mr. Morelli has considerable holdings in other lines and has long been recognized as one of the substantial citizens of Santa Cruz county and of this section of California. He is the vice president of the Ocean Shore Canning Company of Half Moon Bay, is a member of the board of directors of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce and in other ways takes an interested and helpful part in the general affairs of the community.

It was in 1892, at Salinas, that A. E. Morelli was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia Leoni and they have five children, Lilly, Michael, Roy, Adelina and Mable, and ten grandchildren in whom they take much pride and delight. Mrs. Morelli is a native daughter of California, born at Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, and is a daughter of John Leoni, who was one of the early settlers in that section. He was of Swiss birth and his wife, Juanita Artellan, was of French stock, though born in Monterey, California. The Morellis are republicans and have ever taken an interested part in local civic affairs. Mr. Morelli was one of the organizers of the local lodge of the Foresters of America at Davenport and has long been active in the affairs of that organization.

Source: History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California : cradle of California's history and romance : dating from the planting of the cross of Christendom upon the shores of Monterey Bay by Fr. Junipero Serra, and those intrepid adventurers who accompanied him, down to the present day. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1925, 890 pgs.
A. E. MORELLI The historian of the future in making up an estimate of the basic elements of the population of the state of California will be compelled to give proper credit to the influence exerted in the development of the state by that sturdy Alpine strain so prominently represented throughout this section by many of this ancient Swiss stock who have become leaders in development work here, particularly in those great interests and industries based upon the dairy and horticultural products of the state. Any analysis of the commercial and industrial situation here will prove convincing of the important part taken in its development by the hardy and resolute representatives of this Alpine strain who got a start here when the land was being made to give up its treasures of field and orchard and who now in the second and third generation are found to be the leaders in much of this continued development, being among the most influential factors in the creation of conditions that have helped so largely in achieving California's present supremacy in her own distinctive field. Among these leaders in the Santa Cruz country there are few who are better known or who have been more influential in local development than A. E. Morelli, secretary and manager of the great Coast Dairies & Land Company of Davenport and for years one of the important agents in the conspicuous promotion of the dairy and horticultural interests of this region. It therefore is but proper and fitting that in this definite history of the region in which his services have so long and so usefully been rendered there should be presented some modest review of Mr. Morrelli's life. A. E. Morelli is a native son of the republic of Switzerland, born in the canton of Tessin, January 20, 1868, and is a son of Michael and Santina Morelli, also natives of that Alpine country, whose last days were spent in Switzerland. Michael Morelli when fifteen years of .age made his way to Australia with his father, remaining there for about eight years and returning to Switzerland in 1864. There he married and three children were born to the union. When A. E. Morelli, the youngest of the three, was only an infant his mother died and soon after the father came to the United States and in California went into the dairy business, remaining in it until 1878, when he sold out and went back to his children in Switzerland. In 1882, after having received a fair education, A. E. Morelli decided to leave the town of Cevio, Switzerland, and come to California and be as successful as his father. On arriving here he went to work in the dairy that was formerly owned by his father, remaining there for four years. He afterward went to Oregon and was connected with construction work. Returning to California he tried the dairy, grocery and hotel business, with some success. In 1906 Mr. Morelli joined the Coast Dairies & Land Company of Davenport and in time was elected secretary of that organization, the affairs of which he since has been managing. This has brought about the development of a new and important industry and the distribution of a product which has become famous as a food delicacy throughout this country. For some time after its establishment this company confined itself to the dairy industry, the lumber and hotel business, but in 1916 began in a small way to experiment in the culture of artichokes, starting with a tentative bed of fifty-two plants. It was found that soil and climate in the Davenport region were particularly well adapted for the proper cultivation of this toothsome vegetable and the products of these initial beds passed so admirably all the tests provided that it was determined to pursue their culture on a commercial basis. The introduction on the market of the Davenport artichokes created an instant demand and that demand has increased with the growing fame of this particular brand of edible until now the company has about one thousand acres devoted to artichoke culture in Davenport. Other farmers have become interested in the business and today there are over three thousand acres in Santa Cruz county planted in artichokes, so that the business now exceeds two million dollars annually. Nine hundred acres of this land was formerly used for pasture and had to be cleared of brush and greasewood. Where first only five men were employed to care for the crop there are about four hundred men engaged in this work today. In addition to his extensive interests in this company Mr. Morelli has considerable holdings in other lines and has long been recognized as one of the substantial citizens of Santa Cruz county and of this section of California. He is the vice president of the Ocean Shore Canning Company of Half Moon Bay, is a member of the board of directors of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce and in other ways takes an interested and helpful part in the general affairs of the community. It was in 1892, at Salinas, that A. E. Morelli was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia Leoni and they have five children, Lilly, Michael, Roy, Adelina and Mable, and ten grandchildren in whom they take much pride and delight. Mrs. Morelli is a native daughter of California, born at Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, and is a daughter of John Leoni, who was one of the early settlers in that section. He was of Swiss birth and his wife, Juanita Artellan, was of French stock, though born in Monterey, California. The Morellis are republicans and have ever taken an interested part in local civic affairs. Mr. Morelli was one of the organizers of the local lodge of the Foresters of America at Davenport and has long been active in the affairs of that organization. Source: History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California : cradle of California's history and romance : dating from the planting of the cross of Christendom upon the shores of Monterey Bay by Fr. Junipero Serra, and those intrepid adventurers who accompanied him, down to the present day. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1925, 890 pgs.
                                                               A. E. MORELLI

 
A. E. Morelli Packings Shed - Davenport, CA

 
 
A.E. Morellie (wearing strawhat) at a  BBQ 'su per la costa' (up the coast)
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Thursday, December 05, 2013

VINTAGE SAN JOSE POLICE FACEBOOK ACCOUNT OF THE ST. JAMES PARK LYNCHING IN SAN JOSE, CA 1933

  • IVANO SAYS:  AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW I WAS A SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICER FROM 1959 TO 1989. THUS, I ALWAYS CONSIDERED THE HISTORY OF THE SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS BEING PART OF THE "LA NOSTRA COSTA (0UR COAST STORY [LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST) THE BOOK, PAGES 319-337]   THE HISTORY OF SAN JOSE POLICE IS MOSTLY GOOD, HOWEVER, AS IN ALL BIG CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SOME IS BAD AND ON RARE OCCASION IT IS UGLY.  SOME MIGHT REGARD THE HANDLING OF THE ST. JAMES PARK LYNCHING AS BEING "THE UGLY".  WHAT FOLLOWS IS A PHOTO ACCOUNT OF THE  LYNCHING AS INITIATED BY BOB EMERSON (SON OF  A FORMER SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICER) AS FIRST PUBLISHED ON MY VINTAGE SAN JOSE POLICE FACEBOOK PAGE.
                                               
  • 4 days before Thanksgiving in 1933, 80 years ago, the accused killers of Brooke Hart, heir to the Hart’s Department Store of San Jose, were lynched by a mob in St. James Park. This badge is that of William J. Emig, who had arrested the  (accused. The badge is part of a collection from Harry Farrell, a reporter at the Mercury News, who wrote the definitive book on the subject, "Swift Justice."

4 days before Thanksgiving in 1933, 80 years ago, the accused killers of Brooke Hart, heir to the Hart’s Department Store of San Jose, were lynched by a mob in St. James Park. This badge is that of William J. Emig, who had arrested the accused. The badge is part of a collection from Harry Farrell, a reporter at the Mercury News, who wrote the definitive book on the subject, "Swift Justice."


Unlike · · · Unfollow Post · November 28 at 3:02am
  • Via Bob Emerson >John Holmes became fascinated with outlaws and what he saw as, their exciting lives. He frequently mused over dreams of committing the perfect crime. In Henry Farrell's book, Swift Justice, the author said, "He would pore over the newspapers, analyzing the crimes reported and the errors that led to the perpetrator's detection." In his mind, Holmes must have thought he could commit crimes that would make him lots of money and not get caught. He soon found out quickly that crime doesn't pay and he wasn't as smart as he thought about committing crimes.


    • Via Bob Emerson >Thomas Thurmond was taken in by Holmes and with Thomas liking of Holmes idea of making some fast money, they set out using Holmes' inside info on the oil company, they planned the abduction of a courier who worked for Union Oil Company. On September 25, 1933, they kidnapped and robbed the employee. The victim was released unharmed and the two men split $716, which was a large sum of money during the Depression era. Barely one month later, on October 23, Thurmond and Holmes robbed a Shell Oil company messenger and made off with $700. With this kind of money they were hooked and Thomas just followed the orders of John Holmes. Now they were off to bigger crimes.


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