Men displaying Italian cuisine c1910

Description:
Eight Italian men, in the back yard of a home (probably near the corner of 46th Street and Shattuck Avenue in Temescal), holding samples of favorite Italian food and drink. Left to right: ravioli roller; basil with mortar and pestle; cheese wheel with grater held by Vincenzo Casazza; chicory; wicker-wrapped wine jug held by (?) Casazza, who was Carlo Avanzino's best man at his wedding in 1909 and possibly his cousin; serving tray with wine. In foreground, bread, salami, and bottles of Anchor Steam Beer. Standing in back, second from right, with bandana around his neck, is Carlo Avanzino. Vincenzo Casazza ran a small grocery store at 4609 Shattuck Avenue, next to the large (formerly U.C. Storage) building on the northwest corner of Shattuck and 46th Street In 1912, the business was sold to Vincenzo Casazza s nephews, Carlo Avanzino and his brother Luigi. Before she passed away, Ron Avanzino's Aunt Elvira told Ron that Vincenzo used to live in that area, so the photograph might have been taken in back of the store or in Vincenzo's back yard. Faintly written on the back of the photograph is an address, 557 (or 559) 46th Street.

Date of Document:
circa 1910

Document Author:
C. Uberto, 4146 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland (professional photographer)

Geographic Location:
46th Street and Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, Calif.

Context:
Left to right: ravioli roller; basil with mortar and pestle; cheese wheel with grater (held by Vincenzo Casazza); chicory; wicker-wrapped wine jug (held by (?) Casazza, who was Carlo Avanzino's best man at his wedding in 1909 and possibly his cousin); serving tray with wine. In foreground, bread, salami, and bottles of Anchor Steam Beer. Standing in back, second from right, with bandana around his neck, is Carlo Avanzino. Vincenzo Casazza ran a small grocery store at 4609 Shattuck Avenue, next to the large (formerly U.C. Storage) building on the N.W. corner of Shattuck and 46th Street. In 1912, the business was sold to Vincenzo Casazza s nephews, Carlo Avanzino and his brother Luigi. Before she passed away, Ron Avanzino's Aunt Elvira told Ron that Vincenzo used to live in that area, so the photograph might have been taken in back of the store or in Vincenzo's back yard. Faintly written on the back of the picture is an address 557 (or 559) 46th Street.Carlo Giuseppe Avanzino (1869-1945) was born in Torriglia, Italy. His wife, Pasqualina Palmira (Costa) Avanzino (1885-1965) was born in Donetta, a village that is part of Torriglia. They married in October 1909, following Pasqualina's arrival in February 1909 (via Ellis island) to the U.S. from Italy. Carlo and Pasqualina were living at 566 45th Street in Temescal when their first child, Joseph, was born on November 14, 1910. Soon after, on November 25, 1910, Carlo bought the house at 415 48th Street (it is uncertain whether they ever lived there, but they probably did). On July 29, 1915, Carlo bought the house at 409 48th Street and moved in just before their son, Tillio, was born. (In 1922, he paid taxes on the 415 48th Street house, and in January 1923 he had some painting and electrical work done at the property, so it is assumed he continued to own it.) In around 1926, Carlo moved the 409 48th Street house to the back of the property and built a new house, 411 48th Street, at the front of the property. In April 28,