THE FIRST LAVERONI TO AMERICA
Giacomo
Jacob (Jake) Laveroni, born in the "Old Country" (Italy) in 1835
made the arduous trip to California in 1850. He came by ship from Italy to
Panama, most probably walked across the Isthmus of Panama, then secured passage
on another ship and disembarked in San Francisco. He traveled from San Francisco
to Stockton via boat; from there, overland to Hornitos, where he settled. While
living in Hornitos, he met Maria Bacigalupi. They were soon married and moved
to Deer Flat in about 1860 to become farmers. They were blessed with six children:
Victoria, Johanna, Jacqueline, Elizabeth, Giacomo, and Cecelia. Jake
Laveroni died about 1869 and Maria and the children were left alone. Maria
Laveroni later married Paolo Deferrari. Maria and the children then moved
to Groveland. Paolo and Maria were blessed with five children: Joseph, Frederick, Rose, Agostino, and Henry. |
JACOB , SON OF MARIA AND GIACOMO LAVERONI
| Jacob Laveroni married Jocunda Boitano in 1893. They settled in Groveland and had two lovely children: George and Bernice. Jacob and Jocunda purchased the house and land at 18653 Main Street in 1893 for approximately $900. Frank Martin had built the house in 1877. Jacob added a kitchen and fireplace and made other improvements. Their great-granddaughter and her husband are now occupying the property, which is known as the Mountain Sage Nursery. |
GEORGE
LAVERONI
| George
Laveroni married Mary Webb in 1943 and they soon moved into 18609 Main Street,
Groveland. Bert Holms had built this home in 1934. George and Mary did extensive
remodeling and enlarging of the home in about 1952. They were blessed with
one child, Mary. In 1938 George and Mary acquired a building and long-established bar in Groveland and renamed the building "The Iron Door." The name was derived from the massive iron doors that hung at the front entrance. George refurbished the building and the "Iron Door" got its first restroom and fireplace. George also owned a sawmill business and hardware store. Mary was a founding Director of the Groveland Community Services District, serving or 26 years. |
| Fishing buddies, George Laveroni, sister Bernice, Dorothy and Fred Conwell. Fred was the son of Victoria Laveroni Conwell, and Fred’s wife, Dorothy, was a nurse at the Hetch Hetchy Hospital located in Groveland during the construction of the O’Shaughnessy Dam. |
Laveroni Sawmill produced lumber products made from pine and cedar. Timber was harvested from the areas of Second Garrotte, Pine Mountain Lake, Greeley Hill and the Long Gulch Ranch. The mill operated for about ten years. (Photo circa 1948) |
| The Laveroni Sawmill required a crew of about ten men. They worked an 8-hour day and were paid $1.50 per hour. In that era, sawmill crews were recruited to fight forest fires. Mr. Sawyer, third from right, was killed while fighting a forest fire. (Photo circa 1947) |
| Jocunda Boitano Laveroni and Jacob (Jake) Laveroni. Their children, George (age 10) and Bernice (age 8). Picture taken in 1904. |
| In 1921 George and Bernice Laveroni, brother and sister, built the Laveroni Ice Cream Parlor. They successfully operated the business until it was sold in 1941. The Laveroni Ice Cream Parlor was located in the building that, until recently, was known as the Vintage Gold Wine Shop. |
| Is
a member of your family in this picture? Picture taken of a group on the steps on the Groveland Hotel circa 1917. |
| George Laveroni, pictured with his hunting dog Gyp in 1943. Mary, his daughter, said "Dad didn’t have much formal education, but what a knowledgeable man he was. Very self-sufficient. He knew this land. He was always being asked for advice…advice about so many different things, from mushroom picking to geology." |
| Laveroni Lumber Company was located at the southwest edge of Groveland. (Building now occupied by Foothills Antiques.) They carried a complete line of building supplies, appliances, sand, cement, gravel, as well as fishing and camping supplies. "We can handle any job…big or small" was their motto. (Photo circa 1959) |
