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A History of
the Tamanini Family
My Great Grandfather Henry Tamanini’s family came from St.
Anton, Austria. High in the mountains, west of Innsbruck and east
of Liechtenstein, it is a land of beauty amid snow-capped peaks.
My great Grandmother Victoria’s family came from the town
of Sagren, Primiero, the Providence of Trento, not far away.
In the time of our Great Grandparents, the picturesque valley
of Vigolo-Vattoro, Tyrol, in the Providence of Trento was still
part of Austria. It is now Italian
as a result of the 1921 peace accord between Austria and Italy after World
War I. The nationality of this area is still being debated among its people.
Both languages are still spoken there and some towns have two names: Italian
and German.
Vigolo-Vattoro is nestled amid the Dolomite Mountains. It is 200 miles
northeast of Milan in an area of many mountain lakes, reflecting white-mantled
peaks
at an altitude of more than 4000 feet.
Henry’s father came to the United States in 1883 with his cousin. He
worked as a miner in Mt. Carmel, Pa. until 1886, when they returned to Austria
to marry their sweethearts. In 1911, they made the voyage back to the United
States where they settled in Vineland, New Jersey along with many other Tyrolean
families.
Victoria and Henry met at Our Lady of Pompeli Church in East Vineland
in 1911 and were married in that very church in 1912, by Father Anthony
Carussillo.
They settled in Hazleton Pa. where they had 10 children: Anthony, Ellen,
Frank,
George, Irene, James, Lucy, Pauline, Robert and my Grandmother Elsie.
My Great Grandparent’s were blessed with a coliseum full of grandchildren
and great grandchildren.
Every July the Tamanini family reunion is held in Hazleton, Pa.;
It’s
a time to reflect back on our history and to discuss new family business.
“Papa Joe”, Joseph Catalano was our good friend Ricky Catalano’s
Grandfather. Ricky and his father opened Papa Joe’s in 1984 and built their
business by serving great food with Italian hospitality. Ricky welcomed me into
the Papa Joe’s family in 1992. After 14 years of working along side the
Catalano’s I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to buy the restaurant.
In 2004 my wife RaeLynn and I purchased Papa Joe’s. We are very proud
of our little Italian Eatery and know they would be proud of the way we represent
the recipes and embrace our Italian heritage as we welcome our customers as
we
would family.
Thank you,
Michael & RaeLynn
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