L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 www.italoamericano.org 11 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Dear Readers, Cent'anni is always a cause for a celebration be it either the life of a person, national park or an organization. "Grazie" to Alvaro Bettucchi of South San Francisco, California, pioneer Italo-American Television producer and host, Northern California Soccer Hall of Fame, Educator, Cavaliere Ufficiale by the Italian Government and longtime member and three time president of the IACC (Italian American Citizens Club) I can share this IACC Centennial committee news and history with you. *** Founded in 1916, and currently with a membership of over 400 members, the South San Francisco Italian American Citizens club will be 100 years old in December 7th. During the latter part of the 1880s and through the early 1900s, immigration from Italy began to establish itself in major American cities. To California, due to the similarities of the Italian climate, Italians immigrated throughout the state. In San Francisco, North Beach was the center of small Italian businesses, and became known as the "Little Italy". South San Francisco, known for its industries that were held mostly by non-Italians, hired Italians because they were known for their "hard working" ethics. Beginning a new life in an English speaking country, the Italian immigrants of the city first formed English classes in their homes. Next, it was the realization that voting was a very important asset in bettering their future. Thus, the first Italians, as an incentive for those to become citizens, formed a club only for Italians that became American Citizens. One hundred years have gone by, but the organization has always continued to be active. No longer just for Italians, it has opened membership to all ethnic groups. Current President Bill Green has formed a committee, chaired by Ms. Barbara Baxter, busy planning various events to celebrate the centennial. The culmination of all events will be held on Sunday, December 4th, with a Dinner Dance at the Green Hills Country Club. Italophiles are welcome to attend so circle the date. A Centennial Is Being Celebrated and with the one hundredth and numerous events occurring throughout the reminder of the year, it's important to look back at some of the reasons why the organization was initially founded. With millions of Italians immigrating in the late 1880's and through the early 1900's, feelings of resentment began to surface towards Italians, What had a hand in the spreading of negativity and prejudice towards Italians was the "Mafia" mainly in the East and South East (bringing brutality in Italians and non Italians). Incidents occurred, such as the mass lynching by vigilantes of Italians in various cities (14 just in the city of New Orleans) and death penalties given to Sacco and Vanzetti (later evidence found both to be innocent), not being accepted in certain schools, churches, restaurants, or social community activities, and finally the laws of prohibition. When the United States government established tight quotas of Italian immigration, tearing families apart, Italian organizations began to form and became more involved in supporting their community of Italian Immigrants. *** During this period, in South San Francisco, a city of various business and industrial factories, work was available. Italians took advantage of the opportunity to live here and were looking for the possibility of having a better life. But the negativity was also beginning to occur in the Bay Area. Italians could not be hired "full time". They were hired to work at lower wages. They had no benefits. And newspapers began writing negative articles, with politicians from nearby cities commenting that South San Francisco Italians were making and selling wine against the laws of prohibition. Prejudice was beginning to lift its ugly head and become widespread. As a result, a group of South San Francisco American citizens of Italian descent began to unite and saw the need to form an organization that portrayed the positive image of Italians in our area. This was the reason the Italian American Citizens Club was founded on December 7th, 1916. During the early '20s, the few members of the IACC sought to recruit Italians to become citizens, taught English to small groups in their homes, and began seeing a growing voting membership. In the late '20s through the mid'30s, the club was respected to the point that school, city, Sheriff and county candidates for office would appear before the membership hoping for their support. The social events, which were open to the community, included dinners, picnics, the sponsoring of a soccer team and two parades per year, one on Columbus Day (with an elected city-wide Queen) and one for the 4th of July (showing their allegiance to the United States). Other Italian organizations and clubs of other ethnic groups were invited to participate in the parade showing the acceptance and the unity between the various groups in the city. The monthly meetings, since 1916, were held in the Italian Language until April 1st, 1926, when English was installed. On January 6, 1927 the members voted to open their meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Centennial History of the Italian American Citizens Club, covering the years of the late 1930's through World War II, when many were "Branded" enemy aliens. *** Lucca, the medieval walled city in Tuscany, was the birthplace of several of the funding fathers of the IACC in 1916. Today Lucca, Italy is one of South San Francisco's sister cities, thanks to efforts of their descendants. When the Lucchese and other Italians arrived in South San Francisco there was an "abbondanza" of work to be had, for although the city of South San Francisco was incorporated in 1908 it was originally conceived as an industrial suburb and was promoted by representatives of the Beef Trust, a group including some of the country's largest meat packing firms. A city plan was put forward by Gustavus Swift, founder of the Swift & Company meat packing firm. The plan called for multiple individual meat-packing companies with a shared stockyard, as well as a residential area for employees. Swift proposed the name South San Francisco based on South Chicago and South Omaha, where the Swift company already had plants. Despite the name it does not border San Francisco as Brisbane is between them. In 1890 an agent of the Beef Trust, purchased additional property, and in 1891 ownership was transferred to the South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company. The area was divided into industrial and residential districts, and the company installed lighting, sewer connections, and water distributions in the residential areas. A second corporation, known as the Western Meat Company, set up stock yards and meat packing facilities on 80 acres of bay front property in 1892. Other industries soon moved in, including a pottery works, brick companies, paint manufacturer W.P. Fuller & Company, South San Francisco Lumber Company and the Pacific Jupiter Steel Company. *** In 1920 a new City Hall was opened. By the 1920's the city was "the smokestack capital of the Peninsula". South San Francisco proudly called itself "The Industrial City", a motto immortalized in 1923 by a huge sign on a hillside overlooking the city. Industry remained the city's main economic focus through the 1950s. During the depression the city maintained 35 industrial operations, including four meat- packing businesses, six iron or steel plants, a smelter for precious metals, seven equipment manufacturers of various kinds, two large paint factories, three other chemical works, and three food packing establishments. During World War II shipbuilding also became a significant operation. At the end of the war the city's focus shifted away from "Smokestack industries" towards light industry, warehousing, and residential development. The major manufacturers closed, and new development was focused on office parks, housing, high-rise hotels, and yacht harbors. The biotechnology giant Genentech opened in 1976, leading to South San Francisco's new identity as "the Birthplace of Biotechnology" with over 7000 employees. And, Bertolucci's and Buon Gusto are two Italian So. S.F. restaurants with good food. *** "SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO THE INDUSTRIAL CITY". The letters are made of painted concrete and sit flush along the hillside (in contrast to the raised steel letters of the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles). The sign was put up in the 1920s, and in 1996 was given a place in the National Register of Historic Places as an outstanding example of early 20th-Century "civic boosterism", a tribute to the past importance of heavy industry to the regional economy, and recognizing significant contributions the area made during World War I and II.

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