…wandering the rural highways of Colorado – stepping visually into the past…
…connected to Colorado by family rather than residence, I love to visit, to feel the pull of the Italian immigrants who were my grandparents; their children, one of whom was my mother…
Filed under Family history, Travel
Always interested in family history, I have now become the family historian.
A favorite quote from ‘Healing Old Wounds’ by Judy Ryden speaks to my love of the subject:
“All children deserve two things: one is roots, the other is wings.”
As the ‘children’ have gotten older and found their wings, they, and their spouses and children have become more interested in their roots. Beginning with Christmas 2001, and every year since, I have given a segment of their history to each one interested. Choosing an individual or two,
I copy pictures,
documents,
correspondence,
newspaper clippings,
– all things pertinent, interesting and many times, beautiful.
To this I add short written summary or vignette of the ancestor’s life,
then a ‘Key’ to explain where and how to integrate the new segment into those already given,
and wrap them with love as a gift from my heart.
Filed under Art, Family history, Holidays
Entering the corrugated metal building, directly off the sidewalk at the corner of Anacapa and Ortega in downtown Santa Barbara was like stepping back in time…..
notes still on the chalkboard
tools seemingly just laid aside
a wall where hand forged branding irons had been tested
protective gear hung, ready for the next day…..as though the workers had just left for the evening
The Craviotto brothers, E.J. (Erasmus) and Fred, were the founders of the business established in 1916. Brothers, Charles and Daniel, later took over the iron works from their father, E. J.*
*information from Santa Barbara New Press obituary
Since 2000, when the doors were closed on the Craviotto business, the building had languished, full of history, memories and potential, awaiting yet another set of brothers to breathe life back into the space.
to be continued……………..
Forging Ahead – Part 2 – the Patterson Brothers – Santa Barbara Forge & Iron
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 