The goal of our site is to rescue the memory of our dear immigrant forefathers and mothers and to render homage to their lives. Our forebears had to abandon their homes, families, friends, property, absolutely everything, on their way to a great unknown in a new world. Wars, hunger, plagues, unemployment, and other factors drove them to look for opportunities their native land could not offer. Taking advantage of their considerable mountain skills, willingness to work, and initiative, the immigrants of Capracotta were successful in creating a new future for themselves and for us, their descendants in the Americas. It is our wish to share new knowledge with their offspring and with others interested in the subject. In addition, we hope this site will serve as a link to Capracotta.
Los autores de estas páginas hemos pensado crear un sitio con el objeto de rescatar la memoria y rendir nuestro más cálido y sincero homenaje a todas aquellas sacrificadas personas, oriundas de Capracotta, que debieron emigrar, que tuvieron que abandonar sus hogares, sus familias, sus amigos, sus afectos, absolutemente todo, para partir rumbo hacia lo desconocido, buscando una oportunidad que por entonces y por distinatas razones (guerras, hambre, pestes, falta de trabajo, et.) su lugar de origen no les ofrecía. Sacando partido a su rica herencia montañesa, su laboriosidad, e iniciativa, los emigrantes de Capracotta lograron a crear para si mismos, y para nosotros sus descendientes, un nuevo futuro en las Américas. Es nuestro deseo el compartir y profundizar entre los descendientes de esos emigrantes y los interesados de esas sus historias, como así también una conexión con el pueblo de origen.
Gli autori di queste pagine hanno pensato di creare un sito con l’obiettivo di riscattare la memoria e rendere un sincero e caloroso omaggio a tutte quelle persone oriunde di Capracotta che si sono sacrificate, che son dovute emigrare e che hanno dovuto abbandonare i propri luoghi, le proprie famiglie, i propri amici, gli affetti, generalmente tutto, per partire verso l’ ignoto, cercando una opportunità che allora, per diversi motivi (guerra, fame, peste e mancanza di lavoro ecc.) il loro paese di origine non offriva. Facendo tesoro della loro ricca esperienza di montagna, del loro impegno per il lavoro, dell’intelligenza e iniziativa; gli emigranti di Capracotta riuscirono a creare per se stessi e per noialtri, loro discendenti, un nuovo futuro in America. È nostro desiderio condividere e approfondire tra i discendenti di quegli emigranti, e gli interessati alla loro storia, una connessione con il paese di origine.
Per noi che viviamo ancora a Capracotta è sempre un grande onore vedere come gli oriundi rimangono attaccati alle nostre terre. Saremo felici di collaborare con quest’iniziativa!!
We have a new post on the historic solidarity movement of 1949-50 to purchase a snowplow for Capracotta. The campaign involved capracottesi and other Italian communities from several US states. The effort gathered $20,000, which purchased a new modern vehicle, christened the Capracotta Clipper, to send overseas. The gift arrived at the Port of Naples on January 14, 1950, equipped with a US engineer to instruct Capracotta’s highway crew in its operation. Two days later, in Capracotta, it was greeted by cheers from the entire town.
I will have more later as I gather details from old newspaper clippings.
For extensive coverage in Italian, click here, from Capracotta’s official website:
http://www.capracotta.com/en/node/775
Ben
We have a new link with an excerpt from Antonio Virgilio Castiglione’s recently published book on the history of his home town of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. The page, in Spanish, relates that the first Italian appointed as viceroy in Spain’s American empire was the Count of Capracotta. Click here to view the link: http://www.immigrationfromcapracotta.com/conde-de-capracotta-en-la-historia-de-sudamerica/
Ben
In this picture (link below) the third man (far right) sitting in front row appears to be Giacomo “Jack” Liberatore b 19 May 1882 d 03 May 1931.
http://www.immigrationfromcapracotta.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Parkersburg-Italian-Men.jpg
I have another picture that may confirm that it is Jack Liberatore.
Mike,
Thanks so much for adding another name to the Parkersburg photo! It’s great when we can rescue a person’s name from the past.
If you have another photo, I’d be interested in adding it to the Parkersburg page.