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Francesco Giovanni Ferrari
Trina Bartel sent this photo and the following information:
This
is a photograph of Tyrolean immigrants taken in Freeland about 1907.
The gentleman to the far right sitting at the table is my great
grandfather Francesco Giovanni Ferrari. On the back of the original
photo one of Francesco's children identified the others in the picture.
First, the children are all of Francesco's sons; the other men at the
table are, from left to right: Frank Petruzze, identified as Pop's
Driver; John Corra and Fiore Albertini. The gentleman playing the
accordion is Loff Magagna; the one sitting on the chair is Francesco's
father-in-law, Frank Salvaterra; the man on the banister with the boy
on his shoulder is Toto Ravina; and the man sitting on the banister
against the house is Cinto Magagna. The woman/girl in the background is
identified as the housekeeper.My great grandfather arrived in America in 1891 from the village of Revo. He lived in the Hazleton/Weston area where he met and married my great grandmother Sylvia in 1899. They moved to Freeland about 1902-1903. I have been told by family members that Francesco owned a bar room or saloon and boarding house or hotel with his brother in Freeland. Family members have told me he owned a beer distribution company in Freeland as well. In the 1907 listing of liquor license applicants Frank Ferrari is listed under Wholesale in the Fourth Ward of Freeland on Ridge Street. I believe this may be where he either owned or managed a beer distribution in Freeland. He is listed on his WWI draft card as a Driver for Bartels Brewing Company in Freeland. When my great uncle was alive he told stories of riding with my great grandfather in the beer wagon to make deliveries in White Haven. The trip took all day but it was a special treat to go along. I have found my great grandparents and their family in the 1910 census living on Carbon Street in Freeland and then in 1920 living on Adams Street. They left Freeland in the early 1920s. I'm thinking it is because prohibition came around and they were no longer able to continue with their liquor businesses.
As you can see in the photograph there is a corner of a sign visible in the top center of the photo. I am trying to find out more about my great grandparents' life in Freeland. I was hoping maybe one of your readers could identify the house or maybe someone may have a connection to one of the other people in the photo or information about Bartels Brewing Company in Freeland.
Thank you to Tina for this. If you know anything about the Ferrari's or the Bartel businesses, please let me know and I'll be happy to pass it on to her.