Colonia Italiana 1888-The Beautiful Forest / The Founding Fathers of the Italian Colony

Colonia Italiana 1888-The Beautiful Forest, also, The Founding Fathers of the Italian Colony. . 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 world war one 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 Marco . 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.