Monday, July 20, 2009
Augustino and Dorina Lucca--where the Lucca family started
The Lucca family was first started with the union of Antonio and Dorinna Lucca. Great Grandma Dorina grew up in the northern region in Italy in a town named Rotzo. Rotzo is located in the Veneto region and is approximately 63 kilometers from Vicenza. In talking with my mother, she lived a hard life as a sheep herder.
Antonio Lucca, however grew up in the town of San Pietro Mussolinio which is a town also located in the Veneto region and is in the province of Vicenza.
When they were able to immigrate to America, only Antonio went at first to try to make a living in America and to live the American Dream. He worked hard and would send money to Dorina to save for her travels to America which took longer than expected because her brother Josh Pretto kept stealing the money.
Once in America, they started a life together in International Falls, Minnesota which was referred to by the Lucca Boys (Geno, Livio, and Tranquillo) as slabtown. They eventually opened up their own store called Lucca's Grocery and added on to the building where they would have their home. They sold any type of grocery item, jewelry, knitted items, penny candy, Italian sausage, and even home brewed wine and beer (even during the prohibition). They had four sons. Geno Lucca, Livio Lucca, Augustino Lucca, and Tranquillo Lucca.
Geno Lucca attended the seminary, however, but when he met my Grandmother Jennett Barnes, the priesthood would be exchanged for marriage and 15 children. He worked in the Boise Paper Mill, bought a house near Lucca's Grocery, and Grandma Jennett stayed home and raised the kids. Geno was stationed in Texas for a while when he enlisted in the army and had active duty status during WWII. Later when Antonio Lucca passed away, he would run Lucca's Grocery as well making sure that Great Grandmother Dorina was taken care of. All of Geno's children can tell you stories of either working in the store, stealing beer from the store, as well as staying over at Great Grandmother Dorina's each night. It was said that Great Grandma Lucca never spent a night alone and all of her grandkids took turns sleeping over night. One memory that I have of my Great Grandmother was that she loved to watch her soap operas, drink coca-cola in the glass bottles, and knit. In fact, every Christmas all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren would receive knitted mittens and all of her grandsons received wool knitted socks. Some memories that my mother Julie Lucca Earnest has of Grandma Lucca is how when she would get mad, she would shout in Italian, pinch their cheeks so hard that it actually hurt, and that if they stayed the night, they could go into the store and choose one treat of anything in the store.
Augustino Lucca was the second child of Antonio and Dorina Lucca and he gave up his marriage vows to be married to the church. When he became a priest, it was one of Great Grandmother's proudest moments considering she wanted all of her sons to be married to the church. He eventually lived in Texas and Dorina Lucca would spend time with him in the winter. I personally remember that when he was in town, we would have huge family Masses in Great Grandmother's back yard and a great Italian meal afterward.
Livio Lucca was the third child of Antonio and Dorina Lucca, and he too exchanged the priesthood for marriage and had 10 children. He entered the Marine Corps, but had to be fattened up before they would take him. Rumor has it that he ate bananas to fatten himself up. He received a bronze medal and a purple heart for his courage in WWII. He later took control of Lucca's Grocery and made sure that Great Grandmother Lucca had a house to live in. When he no longer ran the store, he passed it on to his son Tom who was still running the store until recently. Some of my memories of Livio was when he would come over and he and Geno would talk about the war, politics, and religion. The way they spoke was quite eloquent and passionate about their shared memories.
Tranquillo was the baby of the family, and although he wasn't married to the church, he had the fewest kids of the Lucca family. Tranquillo ended up having six. He was enlisted in the Navy and sometimes Livio and Tranquillo were stationed in Honolulu where they were able to spend time together. Livio has spoken of one time when Tranquillo was in the water and Livio was on the land during WWII and Tranquillo was shooting over their heads at the enemy. The joke is that Livio could have been killed by his brother in what they have coined as "friendly fire." Trank was also quite an entrepeneur through the years. When he was a young man he invested money in land, and sold some of that land to investors that would later build the Rainy River Community College.
The following blog entries parallels the lives of Antonio and Dorina, their children, and six generations. After reading and learning about my ancestry, I can honestly say that I am even prouder now to be Italian and a Lucca than I was even before. I hope you all enjoy this small, but priceless collection of our ancestry and history.
Antonio Lucca, however grew up in the town of San Pietro Mussolinio which is a town also located in the Veneto region and is in the province of Vicenza.
When they were able to immigrate to America, only Antonio went at first to try to make a living in America and to live the American Dream. He worked hard and would send money to Dorina to save for her travels to America which took longer than expected because her brother Josh Pretto kept stealing the money.
Once in America, they started a life together in International Falls, Minnesota which was referred to by the Lucca Boys (Geno, Livio, and Tranquillo) as slabtown. They eventually opened up their own store called Lucca's Grocery and added on to the building where they would have their home. They sold any type of grocery item, jewelry, knitted items, penny candy, Italian sausage, and even home brewed wine and beer (even during the prohibition). They had four sons. Geno Lucca, Livio Lucca, Augustino Lucca, and Tranquillo Lucca.
Geno Lucca attended the seminary, however, but when he met my Grandmother Jennett Barnes, the priesthood would be exchanged for marriage and 15 children. He worked in the Boise Paper Mill, bought a house near Lucca's Grocery, and Grandma Jennett stayed home and raised the kids. Geno was stationed in Texas for a while when he enlisted in the army and had active duty status during WWII. Later when Antonio Lucca passed away, he would run Lucca's Grocery as well making sure that Great Grandmother Dorina was taken care of. All of Geno's children can tell you stories of either working in the store, stealing beer from the store, as well as staying over at Great Grandmother Dorina's each night. It was said that Great Grandma Lucca never spent a night alone and all of her grandkids took turns sleeping over night. One memory that I have of my Great Grandmother was that she loved to watch her soap operas, drink coca-cola in the glass bottles, and knit. In fact, every Christmas all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren would receive knitted mittens and all of her grandsons received wool knitted socks. Some memories that my mother Julie Lucca Earnest has of Grandma Lucca is how when she would get mad, she would shout in Italian, pinch their cheeks so hard that it actually hurt, and that if they stayed the night, they could go into the store and choose one treat of anything in the store.
Augustino Lucca was the second child of Antonio and Dorina Lucca and he gave up his marriage vows to be married to the church. When he became a priest, it was one of Great Grandmother's proudest moments considering she wanted all of her sons to be married to the church. He eventually lived in Texas and Dorina Lucca would spend time with him in the winter. I personally remember that when he was in town, we would have huge family Masses in Great Grandmother's back yard and a great Italian meal afterward.
Livio Lucca was the third child of Antonio and Dorina Lucca, and he too exchanged the priesthood for marriage and had 10 children. He entered the Marine Corps, but had to be fattened up before they would take him. Rumor has it that he ate bananas to fatten himself up. He received a bronze medal and a purple heart for his courage in WWII. He later took control of Lucca's Grocery and made sure that Great Grandmother Lucca had a house to live in. When he no longer ran the store, he passed it on to his son Tom who was still running the store until recently. Some of my memories of Livio was when he would come over and he and Geno would talk about the war, politics, and religion. The way they spoke was quite eloquent and passionate about their shared memories.
Tranquillo was the baby of the family, and although he wasn't married to the church, he had the fewest kids of the Lucca family. Tranquillo ended up having six. He was enlisted in the Navy and sometimes Livio and Tranquillo were stationed in Honolulu where they were able to spend time together. Livio has spoken of one time when Tranquillo was in the water and Livio was on the land during WWII and Tranquillo was shooting over their heads at the enemy. The joke is that Livio could have been killed by his brother in what they have coined as "friendly fire." Trank was also quite an entrepeneur through the years. When he was a young man he invested money in land, and sold some of that land to investors that would later build the Rainy River Community College.
The following blog entries parallels the lives of Antonio and Dorina, their children, and six generations. After reading and learning about my ancestry, I can honestly say that I am even prouder now to be Italian and a Lucca than I was even before. I hope you all enjoy this small, but priceless collection of our ancestry and history.
Geno Lucca Family
Front row: Jimmy Lucca, Tony Lucca, Virginia Conwell, Jennett Lucca, Maryann Stone, Carolyn Gauthier, Johnny Lucca, Julia Earnest. Back row: Kathy Dunbar, Geno Lucca, David Lucca, and Paul Lucca
Geno Lucca Family--approximately 1985
Front row: Maryann Stome, Nick Stone, Virgie Conwell, Gianna Lucca, Bridgette Turner, Erin Earnest, Crystal Bieter, Matt Lucca, Darrin Dunbar, Max Dunbar. Second Row: Jimmy Lucca, Chrissy Kroska, Johnny Lucca, Beaver Earnest, Geno Lucca, Jennett Lucca, Dorina Lucca, Julia Earnest, Carolyn Gauthier, Bernie Corbett, Danny Lucca
Geno Lucca's family--approximately 1989
Front row: Stewart Seracki, April Stone, Amy Bernal, and Katie Lucca. Row 2: Susie Lucca, Katie Lucca, Nick Stone, Jennett Lucca, Geno Lucca, Henry John Seracki, Jacob Dault. Third row: Maryann Stone, Jessica Hatchette, Andrea Lucca, Angie Gauthier, Erin Earnest, Virgie Conwell, and Carolyn Gauthier. Fourth row: Peter Lucca, Bernie Corbett, Connie Lucca, Bridgette Turner, Max Dunbar, Matt Lucca, Gianna Lucca, Cathy Lucca, Crystal Bieter, Tony Lucca, Julia Earnest, Bob Dunbar, Rich Gauthier, Mike Gauthier. Fifth row: Steve Stone, Johnny Lucca, Paul Lucca, Jimmy Lucca, Beaver earnest, Chrissy Kroska
Geno Lucca's Family--approximately 1978
Front row: Gigi Lucca, Chrissy Kroska, Danny Lucca, Jonathan Lucca, and Darrin Dunbar.
Second row: Julia Earnest, Joe Lucca, Grandma Jennett Lucca, Geno Lucca, Crystal Bieter, Dorina Lucca, Bernie Corbet Back Row: Jimmy Lucca, Beaver Earnest, Carolyn Gauthier, Tony Lucca, Mary Lucca, Virginia Conwell, Bonnie Lucca, Paul Lucca, Kathy Dunbar, David Lucca, Bob Dunbar
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Josh Pretto--Jackamo. He went back to Italy to get a girl and then they wouldn't let him back into the United States.
Sidenote: Antonio kept sending money to his family in Italy trying to save enough money for Dorina to come over, but Josh kept stealing it. Great Grandmother Dorina, when asked about her brothers would state "No good. No good."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Robert Bacon
Robert Bacon, one of Livio Lucca's friends. They both were in the Battle of the Bulge. Livio was wounded and had to be rescued by a Dog Team.
Livio's Marine Days
Livio Luccas portrait with the man he served with in the 107th Platoon in the United States Marine Corps.
Immigration Papers
This is a photo of my great grandfather Antonio Lucca's immigration papers. Came into the United States from Ellis Island from Italy and worked in the iron mines on the range.
Irene and Livio Lucca
In New York when Livio and Irene Lucca went to see Great Grandpa Antonio's friend Ricardi. They then spent time in New Jersey.
Dorina Lucca's Immigration Papers
This is a copy of my Great Grandmother's immigration papers. My great-grandmother loved to travel. She came to America in 1921 and became a citizen in 1941. She passed away in 1988.
Livio Lucca
This is a photo of Livio Lucca. He is 18 years old in this photo in front of Marine boot camp.
Great Grandma Dorina and her sister
My Great Grandmother Dorina finally met her sister after 53 years.
Bronze star given to Livio Lucca for doing something heroic during WW II
In the name of the President of the United States, the Commanding General, Fourth Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, takes pleasure in awarding Bronze Star Medal to Livio A. Lucca (813925) USMC for services set forth in the following:
"For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as a mortar gunner on IWA JIMA, VOLCANO ISLANDS on 1 March 1945. When his company had received 10 casualties from an enemy rocket barrage while relieving a front line company, Corporal Lucca voluntarily moved to his wounded comrades to render first aid. Despite the continued rocket fire, he organized two stretcher bearer parties and evacuated the more serious cases. Owing to the fact that his company was preparing to move out and he could no longer continue to evacuate the wounded, Corporal Lucca contacted a Platoon that had already been relieved and directed the evacuation of the remaining casualties. His initiative and courageous conduct were an inspiration to the men of his company and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps."
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