HISTORY OF BOSCONERO

Much of the historical data on Bosconero up until about 1920 has been translated from the book entitled "BOSCONERO Nella Storia e Nella Tradizione". It was written by a Salesian priest, Don Francesco Turinetti, who was a native of Bosconero. It was published in December of 1963 by the Societa Editrice Internazionale

The original dedication of the book is as follows:

The Bosconerese Professor Don Francesco Turinetti -- Salesian -- whose memory is still very much alive in many of us, in the last years of his life, already suffering from the illness that would eventually take his life and with great sacrifice, was inspired by his fond attachment to his native town, to write down some memories of Bosconero.

It is not a heavy erudite saga for historians but rather something light and popular that can be enjoyed by all people. At the same time it is, however, rigorously true to fact. This is the intent of the author as he wrote to a dear friend when he consented to write the book.

The work could not be published before the death of Professor Don Turinetti (c. 1948).

Now, fifteen years after his departure, a group of his old friends wanted to see his memoirs published. We offer it now to you in the hope that it will be appreciated by the Bosconeresi and will render honor to the memory of our late compaisano.

It is our wish that the reader can find in the pages of Professor Don Turinetti an hour of enjoyment and satisfy his curiosity to know the history of our beloved town "BOSCONERO".

(Bosconero Canavese - Province of Torino - Piemonte, Italy - September 1963)

BOSCONERO -- The Small Town that was not forgotten

Bosconero is a small town of about 2,500 inhabitants located twenty miles north east of Torino in Piedmont, the northwestern -most province of Italy. In comparison with its powerful, industrial neighbors, Bosconero is little more than a crossroads. It covers an area of approximately 385 acres (about 1 mile X .6 miles). To reach it by train, one must find a little three-car electric train located on the far track of Torino's secondary train station. By car, Bosconero is quite close to a major highway that connects Italy and France via the tunnel at Mont Blanc, a road not heavily traveled by most tourists to Italy.

Located on a flat plain 737 feet above sea level and about 245 miles north of the Ligurian coast, Bosconero is cradled by the mighty arms of the Alps to the west, north and east. It is too distant from the cavernous mountain canyons and valleys to feel the flow of their winds, but usually a soft breeze blows. It is in a Continental climate zone that can range from bitter cold in the winter (0 degrees F) to oppressive heat in the summer (100 degrees F). These are however the extremes. The temperature normally stays in a more moderate range, averaging between 50 and 60 degrees(F) in the winter and between 75 and 85 degrees (F) in the summer. Bosconero also experiences dense fog that settles in the entire length of the Po Valley across northern Italy during the winter.

Physically, it is a town that shows its age and its hope. The striking contrast of weathered rural farmhouses side by side with gleaming modern "villas" characterizes the streets of the town. Typical of the "paesi" or small villages of Italy, the Church (S. Giovanni Battista) stands at the heart of the village at the main "Piazza Martiri" or square. Here you'll also find a small cluster of shops, the bakery, the bar/cafe, butcher shop, dressmaker, drygoods store, etc. that service the local population. The town's "Municipio" or City Hall also faces the Piazza as well as the "Oratorio" a meeting place and athletic field for the young people of the town. About a block from the Piazza is the little red train station with it's big BOSCONERO sign that greets all those who arrive on the little red train. Not far beyond the tracks is the Cemetery. Within its encircling walls, grand mausoleums and humble headstones speak silently of generation upon generation of Bosconerese families who knew this was their only home.

There is also a brand new Bosconero. There are beautiful new homes, new streets and even new names and faces in the town. Modern farm equipment has revolutionized the use of farmland that has been worked by man and beast for centuries. Though bicycles still provide a good deal of transportation around town, the automobile is definitely the most popular mode of transportation in Bosconero today. And not to be overlooked are two jewels in Bosconero's crown, the "Asilo Infantile"or Nursery School and the ""Casa Di Riposo" or "Ricovero", a home for elderly citizens. Both are delightful modern facilities to serve the young and old alike and are a great source of pride for the entire town

This small town is typical of the many small towns that dot the hills and valleys of the northern Italian landscape. And as was the case in many of the small towns, the combination of hopeless poverty at home and the dream of a new beginning in a new land, compelled many of Bosconero's young men to immigrate to the United States of America between 1880 and 1930. For the most part these people maintained close ethnic and family ties in their new country and continued to communicate with family and friends in Italy. But as time past and families grew, the old ties began to fade. More and more these immigrants and their descendants were assimilated into the American way of life.

The Bosconeresi, however, have a living legacy of their past. In 1946 a legal, chartered society called La Società Bosconerese Di Los Angeles was born. For many years even prior to that date, men from the close-knit Bosconeresi Community in Los Angeles met regularly to socialize and plan special events such as dances and picnics. The major part of the profits from these events was sent to the war- stricken population of Bosconero and specifically for the development of the Asilo Infantile (Nursery School) and the Casa Di Riposo (Home for the Elderly).

This Society repressents more than dances and picnics, more than fund raisers and charity. It represents a direct line to heritage, tradition, history and family ties. It reaches into of the lives of the numerous ancestors of those first brave men and women and gives them a lifeline to their past. As was said by David Aprato, former president of the Societá.

"What else is there? What is more important than knowing who we are, and where we came from? It is a gift that we can give our children and our children's children."

The Origins of Bosconero ( c. 882-1500)

The town of Bosconero was neither born with that name nor was it founded in its present day location. To know its remote origins, it is necessary to go back almost 1500 years in time. Its original Latin name, Roveredum (Roveredo) first appeared in documents dating back to 882 A.D. The name Roveredo translates to "Forest of Oak" or "Bosco di Quercia" which is, in fact , the same as the translation of the name Bosconero, "Dark (wood) Forest". It is believed that the name Bosconero is nothing more than a translation of the Latin Roveredum (Roveredo) into the colloquial language of the people during the middle ages.

The first written usage of the name Bosconero did not appear until 1500, long after the town was founded. The first written mention of Roveredum, however, is noted in a decree in 882 issued by Charles the Fat, Carolingian Emperor of the Franks. At that time, most of Italy belonged to the Holy Roman Empire under the reign of Carolingians. Even though they did not directly govern each region of the empire, their feudal network extended to every corner of the empire, to every lord, vassal and serf. In this decree, Emperor Charles ceded the villages of Roveredo, Biello and Foglizzo to the Bishop, Count of Vercelli. Although this does not give a clear indication of the actual location of Roveredo, it can be assumed that it was located on the banks of the Orco near the village of Foglizzo since it was also mentioned in the decree.

The next written notations regarding Roveredo appear in the year 1000. By this time, the Carolingian Dynasty had fallen and with it, the structure of the Holy Roman Empire. Though the Princes of Italy tried to attain independence from outside forces, quarreling amongst themselves weakened their attempts and left them prey to the Germans, particularly to the powerful Lords of Saxony. In 961 Otto I led his armies through Italy and had himself proclaimed Emperor of Rome. This began almost three centuries of rule by the German Holy Roman Empire in which Italy and Germany were united under one crown. During this time the independent power of the feudal lords was reduced and power was consolidated under one central government, which lasted until 1324. In order to achieve this, the emperors supported the bishops and counts of the cities against the feudal lords of the countryside.

Arduino, Marchese of Evrea, fiercely hostile to the church and its growing power and prestige, laid siege to the city of Verchelli, assassinated the Bishop and usurped his political territories (c.989). In retaliation the German emperor exiled Arduino from the empire and reinstated the territorial boundaries of the Count, Bishop of Vercelli. On November 1, 1000, Otto III granted Roveredo, Rivarolo, Fivarotto (no longer in existence) and Canava to the Count, Bishop of Vercelli.

This document lists the villages in geographic order from south to north along the right bank of the Orco River. From this document and others it is possible to deduce that Roveredo was located halfway between Feletto and what was to become San Benigno on the right bank of the Orco almost directly across from Foglizzo in the area known today as Lotti. This document does not mention Feletto because it was under the jurisdiction of the Count of Burgundy, Marchese of Evrea.

Oral tradition past from one generation to the next supports the argument that the Lotti area was the original site of Roveredo or Bosconero. In addition, starting in 1500 when the name Bosconero first comes into use in documents in the archives of Rivarolo and Torino, it is always referred to as Casine (farms) di Bosconero e Lotti.

Regardless of the imperial decrees and titles, the Count of Vercelli never set foot on their holdings along the Orco. Neither they nor the emperors of France and Germany ever enforced the decrees. In reality, the Counts of Ivrea continued to treat this area as a part of their feudal territory.

In the year 1000, Roveredo was completely surrounded by an immense forest that extended north toward Feletto and Rivarolo and continued beyond the Malone river down to the Stura di Lanzo. This was the Gerulfa Forest, named by the barbarian Lombard tribe who had built a castle in the area today known as Lombardore.

The Comune Di Bosconero in 1676

Between the 11th and 14th centuries, Europe underwent drastic social and economic changes. The feudal land system declined and the cities grew and became the new centers of wealth and commerce. There was a migration of peasants from the country to the city which offered them protection, variety and alternative ways to make a living. Those remaining in the country also benefited. The feudal lords were forced to make concessions, including giving the peasants plots of land of their own. In this way they were able to raise crops themselves in additions to those for the feudal lords.

The cities grew not only wealthy but also powerful. The Comune was born. The Comune represented the organized federation of citizens who united to exercise self government. These local Comunes were the first step to the development of the nation states that the later came into being in Europe and then spread to the new world. Comunes were organized in both urban and rural communities.

Unfortunately, Roveredo did not benefit right away from the social changes and improvements sweeping across Europe. The village of Roveredo was disappearing or rather relocating during this time period. What caused this relocation? Popular reasons include the theories that Roveredo was destroyed by invaders or by torrential flooding of the Orco. However, there is no substantiation for either of these suppositions.

In 1500 there is mention of a nucleus of farms near the Lotti region known as "Le Cascine de Bosconegro e Lotti". By 1700 there were few inhabitants left in Roveredo, for most of them had already relocated to farms at the present site of Bosconero. This was in no way an overnight phenomenon.

The abandonment of Roveredo happened very slowly over a period of six centuries. Many factors contributed to the gradual deterioration of Roveredo the constant warring of rival feudal lords, attacks by marauding bands that lived in the forests and intermittent flooding from the Orco. Roveredo was the only town located on the low lands along the river. The others were built on higher, more protected ground. The population gradually shifted to a nearby location that offered more security but was still within working distance of the fields that had been cleared and cultivated by generations of painstaking work.

By 1670 the inhabitants of this new village had laid the cornerstone for its church. This was the original church in Bosconero that was built on the same site as the present day church of St. John the Baptist. In 1676 there were approximately 560 inhabitants and they had belonged to the parish of Rivarolo, seven kilometers to the north. In 1694, Bosconero formally became a Comune with an organized and independent local government run by the (Parrochial Assembly)community leaders.

The Building of The Church

By 1765 Bosconero had been an established Parish for 100 years and an autonomous community for 80 years and had grown in population to 1202 inhabitants. Life had generally improved in the town and the Comune had proven effective in resolving problems within the community.

Several of the leading families including the Cerutti's Meaglia's Pagliassotti's Pene's Vayra's and others had already given the town many educators priests lawyers doctors engineers and other respected professionals. The majority of the population however still belonged to the large rural class that formed the foundation of the town's society.

During the 18th century new churches sprang up throughout Piemonte. The people of Bosconero had seen the new larger churches rise in nearby Rivarolo Foglizzo and San Benigno which reflected the rising spiritual consciousness of the population. Not to be outdone the Bosconeresi voted on January 31 1765 to enlarge the existing church. The Comune decided to provide the funds to be supplemented by individual contributions to build a beautiful church of which the town could be proud. Although this decision had been made the actual construction was delayed for five years until 1770. During this time period the church acquired additional land adjacent to the old church and obtained permission from Torino to reroute the Public Road that ran along the back side of the original church.

The architect Bernardo Vittone known for his design of the church of San Michele in Rivarolo was chosen to redesign the church of St. John the Baptist in Bosconero. His artistic creativity was limited by the fact that the Comune had decided to retain a portion of the old church. He therefor had to insure that the new and the old would be in harmony. Vittone succeeded and presented his plans on July 15 1770. Unfortunately he was never to see the final product of his efforts because he died a few months later on October 19 1770.

Giuseppe Domenico Marocco replaced Vittone Matteo Gardetto was named Master Builder and Giovanni Nigra was appointed notary for the project. By 1774 the main exterior walls and the roof of the new church had been raised and the existing wall between the new nave and the old sacristy was torn down. Even though it was no more than an empty skeletal structure it was impressive to the people of the town who worked so hard to complete the project.

The apse sacristy choir and belltower remained from the original church. Upon seeing the results the townspeople decided to commission Marocco to completely renovate the older section. Marocco completed the new designs for the church. However further progress was delayed for more than a century because of the depleted funds of the Comune and the unstable economic situation that followed the Napoleonic era.

Although the shell of the church was finished by 1774 it took almost three years to complete the interior including the flooring painting and erecting the side altars. The first services were held in the new church in 1777. The church's interior reflected the Baroque style popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. Multicolored marble was used to cover the walls floors as well as in the decoration of the capitals atop the tall columns. The marble work was a very slow and exacting process as well as being very expensive and was finally finished in 1819.

In 1886 the new pastor Don Giuseppe Re proposed to further enlarge the church according to the plans submitted by Marocco in 1772. He wanted to complete the church by replacing the sacristy choir loft and presbytery. Because of insufficient funds the Comune vetoed the proposal in 1890. Various other proposals for more economical modifications were submitted and vetoed by the financially burdened Comune. About this time there was a change in the council whereby the power shifted from the hands of the "Signori" to the "Rurali" who were more disposed to support the requests of the church. Finally in 1894 a project was approved that satisfied both the pastor and the Comune. In addition to the major construction the contract also included provisions for the illustration of the dome interior new choir benches and the installation of heating. Up to this time it was common to ask each parishioner to contribute firewood to heat the church.

The old belltower was a constant source of complaints it rose only to the height of the original church and could not be heard in the northwest section of town. In 1906 permission and funds were given for the construction of the new belltower and the baptistery. On July 22 1906 the cornerstone was laid. The new belltower was built as an add on to the right side of the facade and the baptistery was added to the left of the facade. Both additions were in proportion and harmony with Vittone's original design. Both were completed by the end of 1906.

For the restoration of the old portion of the church plus the construction of the belltower and the baptistery the Dezzutti brothers were named Master Builders. Giovanni Silvestro was commissioned to paint the dome and Giovanni Javelli was head carpenter. Funds for the completion of the church were raised by individual offerings generous contributions from compatriots who had emigrated to California (USA) (Societá Bosconerese di Los Angeles) and grants from the church offices in Torino.

Each pastor (provosto) made a few improvements or modifications in the church. In 1962 thru 1963 Don Manavello authorized major improvements. The heating and lighting systems were completely replaced two new confessionals were added a new crucifix and tabernacle were ordered for the altar new flooring replaced the old worn tiles and an electronic bell system was installed. Some of the churches decorations were also restored to their original beauty.