Forums

69: Re: Abruzzis in Pennsylvania

Heritage Forums - September 2000

Posted by losacano- AT - csonline  --  NAME: Susan Losacano

on 09/21/00 at 7:38 PM
Subject:   Re: Abruzzis in Pennsylvania

In Reply to: Abruzzis in Pennsylvania posted by Deborah DeChurch (di Cioccio) on 09/21/00 at 4:59 PM:

: I'm new here, and have read many of the past posts. It sure seems to me that many of our Abruzzi ancestors settled in the coal mining areas of Pennsylvania. My family lived in north central PA---the DuBois area.

: I wonder if coal mines recruited poor farmers from Abruzzo to come, or why so many ended up in Penn? Perhaps they still wanted to be in a mountainous, snowy area?

: Does anyone know anything about this?

: Thanks
: Deb


Deb,
My grandfather was from Santo Stefano and he also came to Pennsylvania to work in the coal mines near Bentleyville, PA. I have no idea if he was recruited or not, but it is an interesting thought. My other grandfather came from Czechoslovakia and he also worked in a coal mine in Ohio. Some of the reasoning may also be that the coal mines usually offered them company housing along with the employment which would make the job more attractive to people coming over that did not have a home of their own. If you find the answer, I would be happy to hear it. I will do likewise. Thanks, Susan Losacano

Follow Ups: