HISTORY: Altoona Italian-American Groups, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Suzanne Trznadel suztrz63@comcast.net Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Italian-American Groups Aid in Advancement of Altoona By Jerry C. Risoldi [photo] We foreign born residents should indeed have as our undying aim the immortalization of the best of our Italian Heritage: Our background which is deplete with it's art, literature, science, discovery, etc. But undoubtedly the Italian immigrant's first contribution was his brawn, his ability to work and endure untold hardships. The present- day American-born Italian may well be proud of his heritage in the thought that his forefathers have done the bulk of the hard work for the good of humanity and the progress of our new and adopted home, America, and all it stands for. We can, in reviewing the past, stand at attention with hammer, pick and shovel in our hands, as a symbol of labor and the first contribution to this new and great land of our adoption, proud of our humble beginnings, in the past we took in on the building of the great railroads, tunnels, highways, bridges, buildings, etc. I do not believe there is a single social element which has contributed more to the benefit and progress of the Italian immigrant than the great orders and beneficial societies . They have helped in a social way to make friends; they have helped in a financial way in case of sickness or death, they have helped in a patriotic way to know and understand America and be a good citizen, and in business by enabling him to come in contact with clients and trades-people. They have helped in a progressive way to fraternalize him with others and in a political way by understanding the possibility of public office and exercise the greatest American right to vote. They also have helped the Italian Immigrant to find himself. The Altoona citizens of Italian birth and descent are contributing to the greatness of America and of our community by being members of one or more of the following American Italian organizations of our fair city. The list is in accordance with the date when chartered: Christopher Columbus Society - Chartered: May 25, 1904, Meetings: first Sunday, home - 1321 Ninth avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration: President - Antonio Pompa, Vice-President - Anthony Germano, Recording Secretary - Humbert Mangiacarne, Corresponding Secretary - Angelo Mangiacarne, Vice Secretary - Joseph Branda, Financial Secretary- Nazzaceno Moffa, Vice Financial Secretary - Crist Collabove, Treasurer - Giovanni Casatelli, Trustees - Nunzio Fiore, Bart Tartaglio, and Nick Mignogna, Counsellors - Dominick De Prinzio, Michael Riccio, Joseph Pretola, Rocco Chiarieri, Nick Spagnolo and Michael Pompa, Sergeants-at-arms - Lawrence Massaro and John Carnicella. San Donato Society - Founded: Oct. 17, 1908, Meetings: fourth Sunday, home - 101 Seventh avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration: President - Michele Mirabelli, Vice-President - Rocco Martino, Corresponding Secretary - Daniel Sangenaro, Financial Secretary - John Fanelli, Treasurer - Daniel Rubino, Trustees - Daniel Spinazzola, Benny Ferdinando and Nick Gioiosa. Counsellors - Michael Grassi, Rocco Lettieri, Patsy Lettieri, Daniel Gioiosa and Pasquale Carrullo, Sergeant-at-arms - Anthony DeFrancesco. Buccinese Society - Founded: May 14, 1910, Meetings: third Sunday, home - 814 Eighth avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration: President - Frank Fasano, Vice-President - Anthony Fatigante, Corresponding Secretary - Nick Sciarrillo, Financial Secretary - Carmen Ciccarella, Treasurer - Anthony Caputo, Trustees - Guy Durio and Ralph Faretti, Counsellors - Nunzio DeLeo, Frank DeLeo, Frank Astore, Nick Caporustia, Frank Imbrenda and Carl Grieco, Doorman - Daniel Gioiosa. Italian-American Citizens Society (Political Organization) - Founded: March 13, 1913, Meetings: first Sunday, Benefits: death and political, Administration: President - John DeRenzo, Vice-President - James Corrado, Corresponding Secretary - Angelo Mangiacarne, Financial Secretary - John Chiodo, Treasurer - Luigi Mangiacarne, Trustees - Antonio Fatigante and Aristiche Prosperi, Sentry - Bernardino Ferdinando. Crown of Italy Society - Founded: Sept. 30, 1913, Meetings: second Sunday, home - 905 Eighth Avenue, Benefits: sick and death, Administration: President - Frank Riccio, Vice-President - Orlando Iannuzzi, Recording Secreatary - Joseph De Stadio, Corresponding Secretary - Antonio De Bernardis, Financial Secretary - Joseph De Cresico, Manager of Club - Joseph Carrieri, Counsellors - Giuseppe Scarpianio, Anthony Lepara, Jack Bruno and Thomas Benedicti, Sergeant- at-arms - Anthony Patti. Abruzzese Society - Gabriele D'Annunzio - Founded: Dec. 7, 1917, Meetings: Second and last Sundays, home - 1715 Ninth avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration: President - Steven DePalma, Vice- President - Orlando Musto, Corresponding Secretary - James Cantina, Vice-Corresponding Secretary - Anthony Amorosa, Financial Secretary - Verino Di Andrea, Trustees - Thomas Cataldo, Domenick D'Ottavio and Cesare Calandra, Counsellors - James Picanza, Jerry Possumato and Anthony Martellacci, Sanitary Committee - Domenick De Giuseppe, Sergeant-at-arms - James D'Ippolito. Blair Lodge 958 of the Order Sons of Italy in America - Chartered: July 27, 1919, Meetings: second and fourth Tuesdays, home - 1418 Eighth avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration - Venerable - Renaldo Sangiorgi, Assistant Venerable - Michael Di Andrea, ex-venerable - Nick Benedetto, Orator - James Corrado, Recording Secretary - Jerry C. Risoldi, Financial Secretary - Guy Landolfi, Treasurer - Frank Dieni, Trustees - Michael Tracanna, Mario Ferrucci, Angelo Callisto, Paul Vecchiarelli and Antonio Russo, Master-of-Ceremony - Martin De Leo and Antonio Nardella, Guard - Giuseppe Grassi, Grand trustee of the Grand Lodge Pennsylvania - Mrs. Mary D. DeMatteis, Commissioner of Dante School for children estate orphanage - Jerry C. Risoldi. Roman Ladies Political Society - Founded: May 13, 1923, Meetings: third Thursday, Benefits: death and political. Administration - President - Eva Marock, Vice-President - Angeline DeRose, Corresponding Secretary - Carmela De Leo, Financial Secretary - Lucy Bernardis, Treasurer - Josephine De Leo, Trustees - Josephine Fatigante, Carmela De Stadio, Mary Ricchetti and Margaret Iuzzolino. Cesare Battisti Society - Founded: May 28, 1923, Meetings: last Sunday, home - 3909 Beale avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration - President - Domenick Lestochi, Vice-President - Grimualdo Ferrara, Corresponding Secretary - Frank Ferrara, Financial Secretary - Domenick Iovannone, Treasurer - Angelo Maniglia, Trustees - Anthony Lascoli and Joseph Delaposta, Controller - Lorenzo Ricci, Counsellors - Patsy Campanaro, Rocco Di Folco, Domenico Di Folco, Nicola Ardizzone, Fred Lecce and Vincenzo Leggieri. Altoona City Ladies Lodge 1413 of the Order Sons of Italy in America - Chartered: June 13, 1926, Meetings: second Thursday, Benefits: sick and death, Administration - Venerable - Carmela Landolfi, Assistant Venerable - Marcella Cafasso, Ex-Venerable - Vincenza Franco, Orator - Rose Mazza, Corresponding Secretary - Lucy Danella, Financial Secretary - Grace Fiore, Treasurer - Jennie Stellabotte, Trustees - Mary C. Ferrer, Grace Scacco, Mary Folcarelli, Assunta Maiorino and Josephine Barrone; Masters-of-ceremony - Anna Martola and Nunziata Volpe, Guard - Carmela Grassi. Rodolfo Valentino Lodge of the Order Independent Sons of Italy - Founded: March 13, 1927, Meetings: second Sunday, home - 805 Eighth avenue, Benefits: sick and death. Administration - Venerable - Antonio De Bernardis, Ex-Venerable - Pio Coccarelli, Assistant Venerable - Elvira Pattulla, Orator - Nazzareno De Bernardis, Corresponding Secretary - Placido Pagano, Financial Secretary - James Catina, Treasurer - John Chiodo, Trustees - Domenico Ruggerio, Leonardo Grassi and Jack Bruno, Master-of-Ceremony - Francesco Pellegrino and Grazia Sassani, Controller - John De Bernardis. San Donato Auxiliary Society - Founded June 7, 1937, Meetings: third Sunday, Benefits: sick and death. Administration - President - Eveline De Biase, Vice-President - Josephine Barone, Corresponding Secretary - Esther Grassi, Financial Secretary - Arminia Di Noia, Counsellors - Carmela Grassi, Rosina Corrado, Joan Cerrallo, Ella Spinazzola and Teresa Corrado, Sergeant-at-arms - Maria Giannini and Teresa Capece. San Giovanni Battista Society - Founded: July 11, 1937, Meetings: third Sunday, Benefits: sick and death. Administration - President - Teresina Colella, Vice-President - Aleviara Mattassa, Corresponding Secretary - Ernest De Bernardis, Financial Secretary - Paolo Vecchiarelli, Treasurer - Eva Marock, Trustees - John De Bernardis, Mrs. Anthony Collabove, Biagio Colella, Vincenzo Carnicella and Teresina Vecchiarelli, Sentry - Teresina Turchetta, Counsellors - Lucia Pretola and Domenico Ruggerio. St. John the Baptist Feminine Society - Founded: July 10, 1938, Meetings: first Sunday, Benefits: sick and death, also a high mass. Administration - President - Mrs. Mary D. De Matteis, Vice-President - Angeline De Rose, Corresponding Secretary - Nettie Lardieri, Financial Secretary - Mary Di Nicola, Treasurer - Carmela Landolfi, Trustees - Eva Febbo, Maria Evangelisto and Rosina Cursio, Counsellors - Carmela De Stadio, Teresina De Tosti, Angela Maria Macchiarola, Rosina Vollani, Jennie Casale, Carmela Piccirilli and Anna Grassi, Sergeant-at-arms - Mary Giannini and Mary Vitoli. Saint Gabriel dell' Addolorata Society (Religious Society) - Founded - Oct. 22, 1938, Meetings: fourth Sunday, Benefit: High Mass to deceased members. Administration - President - Lucrezia Muccitelli, Vice-President - Josephine De Leo, Corresponding Secretary - Maria Miraglia, Financial Secretary - Angeline De Rose, Treasurer - Marie Carnicella, Trustees - Elconora Corso, Catherine De Antonio and Teresina Fideli. Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Society - Founded: July 15, 1939, Meetings: second Sunday, Benefit: High Mass to deceased members. Administration - President - Leonardo Cursio, Vice-President - Francesco Marinelli, Corresponding Secretary - Lucia Caputo, Financial Secretary - Eveline De Biase, Treasurer - Nicola Mignogna, Trustees - Teresa Corrado, Catherine De Antonio, Vincenza Franco and Rosina Corrado, Spiritual Advisor - Rev. Father John Flannelly. The following Italian-American Organizations of the city will participate in the Fraternal Day Parade on Thursday, August 11, at 6:30 p.m. as one group: Blair Lodge 958 of the Order Sons of Italy in America, San Donato Society, Cesare Battista Society, Abruzzese Society, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Buccinese Society, Loggia Rodolfo Valentino of the Order Independent Sons of Italy, Altoona City Ladies Lodge 1415 of the Order Sons of Italy in America, St John the Baptist Feminine Society, San Donato Auxiliary Society and St. Gabriel dell'Addolorata. The Above organizations have formed a general committee to formulate plans for the parade. The committee is headed by Rinaldo Sangiorgi as Chairman; Mrs. Eveline De Biase as Co-Chairman; Jerry C. Risoldi, Secretary; Mary D. De Matteis, Treasurer; Anthony DeBernardis, First Trustee, and Michele Miraballi, Domenick Lestochi, Steve De Palma, Carmela Landolfi, Lucrenzia Muccitelli and Carmen Ciccarella, Trustees; James Corrado, Italian Publicity. The group will march under the name of "American-Italian Organizations of Altoona, PA" and is entering also a float. The float will represent a Venetian Gondola and will have a throne with a queen, two accordion players and a gondolier. Dorothy De Antonis will be the queen, Joan Caporusico and Mary Teagon the accordion players and Yolanda Battista the gondolier. The group will meet at the home of the Blair Lodge, Order Sons of Italy, 1418 Eighth Avenue at 5:30 p.m. from where they will march to the assigned place of formation. All members of the various organizations taking part in the parade are requested to be present at the Sons of Italy Club with dark trousers and white shirt and the ladies with white dresses. Every person will receive an American Flag and an overseas cap. The Williamsburg band will lead the group. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday, August 12, 1949