What a fun day we had Saturday. Each Labor Day weekend in Clinton, IN for the past 45 years, they have celebrated Little Italy Festival in honor of the Italian and other immigrants that came to Vermillion county.
We first toured the Coal Town and Railroad Museum (free). It had photos, artifacts and video to help one learn about working in the coal mines. It was a terribly difficult and backbreaking way for a man to support his family. It was interesting to hear the comments of the local residents as they watched the movie taken in 1954 at the Big Oak Coal Mine near Blanford, IN. "My Dad and Granddad worked at that mine." Others recognized some of the 35 men who worked in that mine. The mine operated from 1940 to 1965. Now all the coal mines in the area are closed. The Wabash Valley Visions & Voices has a website that provides much information including the video/movie. You can find it at http://visions.indstate.edu
We walked through the midway and carnival rides and down Water Street where the vendors had their food booths. Ahhh the fragrances. It wasn't long until we were hungry, so we purchased a spaghetti dinner from Sacred Heart Church booth and enjoyed our meal. Each year they prepare 1,200 pounds of pasta and over 300 gallons of spaghetti sauce. Mama Mia! This was followed by an ice cream cone - chocolate & spumoni. Quite a treat.
At the end of Water Street, we saw the gondola float that had been in the parade the night before. The Re (king) and Regina (queen) are chosen in August to reign over the Little Italy Festival. The gondola was specially made and imported from Italy in 1967. Until 1979 visitors to the Festival could take a ride on the Wabash River in the authentic Venitian gondola. It was then sold to L.I.F.T. (Little Italy Festival Town) and used for promotion of the Festival in parades, etc.
Also at the end of Water Street is the Quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons) fountain, "the symbol and focal point of Clinton's Little Italy Festival." The Fountain was constucted in 1967 and has been renovated three times because of erosion.
We wandered back to the main festival stage in time to watch the sausage eating contest. The kids group had a plate each of ring sausage and onions weighing 2 1/2 pounds. The winner, a youngster from New York named Joey, consumed 1 3/4 pounds. The adult group had plates of sausage, onions & peppers weighing 4 1/2 pounds. The winner, Mary, consumed over 2 pounds.
One of the major highlights is the grape stomping. Three tubs were brought out for the Queen of Grapes, her court and audience participants to "stompa da grapes". It looked like they were enjoying themselves, but I didn't feel inclined to join them. The event is accompianed by Italian music, cheering and a festive atmosphere.
I wanted to see the Little Italian House on 9th Street, so I bought a ticket for the wagon ride, while Gene drove the RV over there. The tractor pulled wagon took us past the Coal Mine Museum, down Vine Street, then 9th Street to Piazza Immigrante. The Immigrant Square contains a bronze statue of an immigrant symbolizing all the immigrants that "came to this country to make a new way of life, to better educate our children, and to seek jobs to ensure our ambitions." The Square also contains a coal fountain - a monument dedicated to their past as coal miners, and a "Toro" drinking fountain - a replica of drinking fountains in Torino, Italy.
I wanted to see the Little Italian House on 9th Street, so I bought a ticket for the wagon ride, while Gene drove the RV over there. The tractor pulled wagon took us past the Coal Mine Museum, down Vine Street, then 9th Street to Piazza Immigrante. The Immigrant Square contains a bronze statue of an immigrant symbolizing all the immigrants that "came to this country to make a new way of life, to better educate our children, and to seek jobs to ensure our ambitions." The Square also contains a coal fountain - a monument dedicated to their past as coal miners, and a "Toro" drinking fountain - a replica of drinking fountains in Torino, Italy.
Our next stop was the La Piccola Casa Italiana (Little Italian House). The kitchen was a delight to look at, but not one I would want to work in. It contained a wood stove, iron & enamel cooking utensils, and an ice box. The back porch contained the laundry tubs and wringer, and in the basement was the wine making equipment. Next to the house is Il Mercato -" a market furnished and decorated with salvaged items of the past to represent the early coal mining days." Next to that is La Cantina , the Winery (museum of cellar relics) which displays " wine presses, barrels, bottles, crocks and jugs once used by local residents". It was an extremely enjoyable trip into the past of this community.
The newpaper "Il Bollettino Della Piccola Italia", a special supplement of The Daily Clintonian, has been produced each year for the past 40 years. It contains many informative articles about the Festival, history, etc. I used this as my source of details.
Until next time,
God's blessings & our prayers are with you.
1 comment:
What a neat festival! Sounds like you are having a great time RVing again. When I think of grape stompin' I always think of that old I Love Lucy show where she stomped the grapes.
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