ITALIANS OF THE GOLD COUNTRY

By Carolyn Fregulia, Arcadia Publishing, Images of America Series.

Book Review by Craig MacDonald

This book, chock-full of fascinating historic photos, is written by a descendant of Italian pioneers in California's Gold Country. It explains how a lot of immigrants from Italy's Northern Province first arrived during the Gold Rush in the mid-19th Century. Many were escaping social, economic and political circumstances. They found in the Mother Lode of the Sierra Nevada Mountains a Mediterranean climate and terrain like at home. They became successful farmers, cattle ranchers, miners, merchants, teachers & vintners.

Many also became American citizens; some even changed their names, like Bartolomeo Bianchetti to "Ben White." Merchant Angelo Rossi raised a son, Angelo, who later became Mayor of San Francisco. Anthony Caminetti, who was born in Jackson Gate (1854), became the first native-born Californian elected to Congress.

Italians supplied a lot of the fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, grain and wine in Northern California. The famous Italian Gardens, especially found throughout Amador & Northern Calaveras Counties, are still in possession of descendants today.

This book is full of 200 photos & information on a number of families, including Oneto, Molfino, Cuneo, Garibaldi, Garbarini, Garavanta, Giurlani Ratto, Marre, Solari, Fregulia & so many more.

The author shows how Italians used their native skills cutting stone to create buildings (still standing today), roads, terrace hillsides and in their wineries. In Mok Hill, Charles Gardella used dry farming techniques to grow grapes for his wines.

The influence of Italians remains in California today in the wines, foods & products first produced by pioneer ancestors. They played & still play an important role in the success of the "Golden State."