Anthony L. Sarcone – a Real ‘American Citizen’

Anthony "Tony" L. Sarcone

Anthony “Tony” L.  Sarcone once joked that when he came to Des Moines in 1905, the only English he knew was “522 Elm Street” – his brother’s address.   The feeling he experienced being a stranger in a new land led him to a life dedicated to organizing and encouraging the Americanization of the Italian immigrants of Iowa. 

Tony Sarcone was born in Crucoli, Italy on March 1, 1884.  He worked on the railroad when he first came to Des Moines.  From 1910 – 1914, he managed a shoe store.  He then went to work for the city’s health department, where he served through World War I and until 1928.  

Sarcone is best known as the founder of the Sarcone Publishing Company.  He first published the weekly Italian language newspaper Il Risveglio (The Awakening) in 1922.  In 1925, he changed the name of newspaper to the American Citizen.  During the late 1920’s the newspaper gradually converted from Italian to English, mimicking the Italian immigrants’ own language transition.  

In the 1930’s, Sarcone was extremely active in civic and cultural organizations.   As a member of the Stemma D’Italia, he publicized many of the activities and accomplishments of the Italian social club.  He was also zealous in his pursuit of honoring Christopher Columbus.  He founded the Columbus Club, which was instrumental in legalizing Columbus Day as a state holiday, renaming a park on the south side of Des Moines as Columbus Park, and erecting a monument for Columbus on the state Capitol grounds. 

Though extremely proud of his Italian heritage, Sarcone was also very passionate about the ideals of his adopted country.  He dedicated a significant portion of his newspaper encouraging his readers to pursue American citizenship.  He published preparatory materials for those studying for their citizenship, provided information on naturalization classes, and proudly reported on those who recently became Americans.

In June of 1940, Benito Mussolini declared war on England and France.  Despite having three nephews in Mussolini’s army, Sarcone demonstrated his patriotism towards his adopted country when he wrote the following front page banner in his newspaper:

The name of this newspaper, the American Citizen, stands for exactly what it says.  Therefore as American citizens, we deplore and condemn the slaughtering of innocent people in Europe by the ruthless dictators whose aggression and havoc on the world must be stopped forever by the democracies.

Sarcone was also very active in his Catholic faith.  Although officially a member of St. John’s parish, he could often be found at church dinners and bazaars of his many adopted parishes.  He always found space in his paper to promote any church-sponsored activity.  If he couldn’t go himself, he’d still buy tickets  and pass them on to someone he thought would enjoy the event.

Tony Sarcone passed away on October 6, 1964 at the age of 80.  His obituary appeared in the Columbus Day edition of the American Citizen – ironically the annual issue that he loved best.    His funeral Mass was co-celebrated by priests from St. Johns, St. Anthony’s, St. Augustin’s, and St. Joseph’s parish of Winterset.  Due to the throngs of persons who came to pay their final respects, two rosary services were held.   He was buried at St. Ambrose cemetery. 

Sarcone never forgot his Italian roots and was instrumental in maintaining the ties between his native Calabria and his adopted city of Des Moines.  After his death, a Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated in the town of his birth, Crucoli, where St. Peter’s Catholic Church was filled to capacity with residents, not only of Crucoli, but of the surrounding communities.

For a man who knew little of America when he arrived in Des Moines, Tony Sarcone helped pave the way for thousands of other Italian immigrants who followed the same path.   In his obituary, the American Citizen noted that “to many Italian immigrants in Des Moines, Sarcone was their first friend.  His newspaper was for them – printed in their language – so that they might not feel alone in this strange new land.”

American Citizen newspaper clippings courtesy of  Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa.

Luigi Jacopetti – Des Moines’ Italian Pioneer

As it was in other parts of the country, the earliest Italian immigrants to Des Moines came from northern Italy in the 1870’s to escape a life of poverty.  Once here, many of them established small businesses in the growing city. It wasn’t until after 1900 that the large wave of southern Italian immigrants arrived in Des Moines. 

One of these early immigrants was Luigi Jacopetti.  Born in the village of Vergemoli, located in the Tuscany region of Italy, Jacopetti arrived in Des Moines in 1879 and established a repair shop, later located at 316 Grand Avenue.  At his shop he repaired umbrellas and antiques, and sharpened scissors and knives. His display window contained umbrella handles of every description, antiques of various kinds, saws and other tools, and cans of pure olive oil.  Even when he was well into his seventies, one could look into his store window and see the short old man with white hair and moustache bending over a rusty saw, grinding away at its dull teeth. 

Despite having one of the larger families in the Italian colony, Jacopetti found the time to help establish several social organizations for the Italian citizens.  Along with Joseph Amedeo and Pietro Tambura, he founded the Stemma d’Italia Society in 1897.  In 1904, assisted by others, he helped form the Guiseppe Garibaldi Society.  He was also a charter member of the Columbus Club, formed in 1930. 

His fame grew in the community in the late 1920’s when he received a large amount of publicity from the American Citizen newspaper as the “discoverer of Des Moines” for the Italian people.  As the oldest original Italian immigrant, Jacopetti was presented a gold watch by publisher Anthony Sarcone on Columbus Day, 1929 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first Italian settlement in Des Moines.  

Jacopetti’s fame was used in advertisements by several businesses in the American Citizen.  In ads for the Utica apparel shop, a photo of Jacopetti was displayed along with the claim that he bought his first suit at their store in 1879.   The Iowa National Bank also claimed that Jacopetti was the first Italian to use their bank when he deposited his first paycheck there soon after his arrival in Des Moines.

His social life was also frequently recorded in the American Citizen.  He attended many dances where he was sought out by the younger ladies in attendance. During the height of the Depression, it was well known that he owned a V-16 Cadillac, which he often used for weekend jaunts with his friends. 

Jacopetti was very active in many Italian American civic affairs.  In 1932, he was the first member of the Italian community to sign a petition to make Columbus Day a legal holiday in Iowa.  The petition was to be presented before the state legislature the following year.  It eventually passed in 1935. 

By this time, he was the oldest living Italian settler of Des Moines.  As such, the younger generation of Italians, along with others in the city, had found him to be an invaluable source of information concerning the early history of Des Moines.  

On October 24, 1933, tragedy struck when Jacopetti was hit by a car while walking from work to his home at 1513 Bluff Street.  Suffering from injuries that included a fractured skull and two broken legs, he died at Broadlawns General Hospital soon after the accident.   He was identified by the watch he was wearing – the same one presented to him in 1929 on the Golden Anniversary of the Italian settlement in Des Moines. 

The entire Italian American community in Des Moines mourned his death.  As one of their earliest settlers, Luigi Jacopetti had arrived with little in his pockets.  By the time of his death, he had become the symbol of the success that was attainable through hard work, perseverance, and service to the community.

Story based on articles from the American Citizen.

Iowa’s Christopher Columbus Monument

This year on Columbus Day, there will be memorial observance in front of the Christopher Columbus Monument on the south lawn of the Iowa State Capitol.  It is doubtful that the crowd that attends this year’s ceremony will come close to matching the five thousand who swarmed the same lawn at the original dedication of the monument on Columbus Day, 1938.  The dedication of the monument capped the twenty-year vision of one man and a two-year effort by the Des Moines-based Columbus Club and Italians across the entire state of Iowa.

The Columbus Club, an active local chapter of the National Italian-American Civic League, was actively pursuing the veneration of their group’s namesake.  In 1935, they were triumphant in lobbying the state legislature to officially recognize October 12 as Columbus Day in Iowa.  The following year, they successfully dedicated the Columbus Park (formerly the Walker Park) in South Des Moines. To culminate their efforts, the club’s vision included the erection of a suitable memorial statue of Columbus to be located at Columbus Park.

Columbus Park Dedication

Prior to 1936, however, business conditions were too poor to begin organizational work to raise funds for a memorial. Yet despite the weak economy, the ambitious members of the Columbus Club decided it was time to form a memorial committee.  They named Anthony L. Sarcone as the chairman of the committee.   Sarcone, the local publisher of the American Citizen, the Italian-American newspaper in Des Moines, dreamed of dedicating a Columbus memorial in Des Moines for almost twenty years – now he finally had the chance to fulfill his aspiration.

Sarcone began by traveling the state interviewing progressive Italians and enlisting them in the project to raise funds for the memorial.  He received enthusiastic response from all parts of the state, including Granger, Centerville, Mystic, Sioux City, Davenport and Council Bluffs.  He also received the support of Cav. Uff. A. Castigliano, the Royal Italian consul from St. Paul to Des Moines.  St. Paul, like other major cities in the Midwest, had recently dedicated a Columbus memorial on the Minnesota state grounds, despite opposition from many Scandinavians in the state.

Columbus Day Bill Signing

On April 18, 1937, a dinner meeting was held at the Stemma D’Italia Hall in Des Moines to discuss ways and means for raising funds for the memorial.  A blanket invitation was sent to all prominent Italians throughout the state.  Over four hundred Italians, representing the cities of Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Albia, Waukee, Madrid, Davenport, Mystic, and Centerville, attended the meeting and pledged over $1,000 towards the memorial.  In addition, letters from representatives in Granger, Oelwein, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, and Mason City were received expressing the wholehearted support of their towns’ Italian representatives.  The Italian-American groups in the Des Moines area, including the Garibaldi, Figlia D’Italia, Societa’ Vittoria Italiana, and the Stemma D’ Italia, pledged to bond together to work on the project.

Honored speakers at the meeting included Cav. Uff. Castigliano and Cav. Fred A. Ossanna, president of the National Italian-American Civic League.  Cav. Ossana, an eloquent speaker, remarked that the Iowa monument and all monuments to Columbus were “more than memorials in bronze and granite – they are the spirit of a movement that will go through the years.”

By Columbus Day of 1937 funds had been collected in the amount of $1,030.55.  Sketches of the memorials were submitted to the committee by some of the country’s best designers and sculptors, but it was decided that none would be selected until the memorial fund had enough money to pay for the monument in cash upon delivery.

Over the next 12 months, the Italian communities throughout Iowa announced pledges towards the campaign.  Many non-Italian individuals and groups also donated to the fund, including one man of English descent who contributed because he “had a warmer feeling for Italy on the Ethiopian conflict than the stand England had taken.”

Anthony L. Sarcone was relentless in publicizing these contributions and promoting the monument fund campaign in the American Citizen.  Frank Cortesio of Mystic Iowa, chairman of the fund committee in southern Iowa, was singled out as one who had “done more to date than any other one individual on the committee, working constantly for the fund.”

Sarcone and other leaders on the committee continuously travelled the state by train in order to solicit additional funds.   By June 10, 1938, the memorial fund totaled $1,226.00.  The financial goal of the committee is unclear today, but by July of 1938, it was announced that due to extremely poor business conditions, it seemed doubtful that the statue would be unveiled by Columbus Day.  Still, the committee planned a vigorous fall campaign with the goal of having every pledge to the fund paid by the October holiday.

The threat of possibly missing the financial goal and the  unveiling of the statue on Columbus Day must have provoked a burst of contributions to the campaign, because by late August, over $2,000 had been collected – the equivalent of over $31,000 in today’s dollars.   More contributions were expected, and the committee felt comfortable that they would now have the funding necessary to erect the monument without debt.

Columbus Monument Ground Breaking

Plans for the dedication ceremony began.  Because the memorial was made possible by contributions of Italians across the entire state, it was decided that the monument should be located on state grounds rather than in Columbus Park as originally planned.  Normally an act by the state legislature would be required to approve the placement of the memorial on the capitol grounds, but the attorney general’s office intervened and ruled that by acceptance of the executive committee, it could be erected there.

A site was chosen on the south side of the capitol, just east of the Soldiers and Sailors monument.  A ground-breaking ceremony was conducted on September 23rd and the Glendale Memorial Company of Des Moines began construction of the monument.  The cast bronze bust of Columbus selected for the memorial was commissioned to an Italian sculptor.

Columbus Day, 1938 began with a parade from Seventh and Locust Streets to the state capitol grounds where Anthony L Sarcone opened the dedication ceremonies.  Over five thousand guests from across the state were in attendance at the ceremony, which was broadcast over radio stations KRNT and KSO.   Sarcone expressed how pleased he was to see his twenty-year dream finally become a reality.  He credited the fine work of the committee and the dedication of Italians statewide in contributing to the project.  Sarcone then presented Melio Tonini, chairman of the dedication ceremony, who declared that the statue of Columbus paid “just tribute to your first Italian-American, who made possible this movement in a truly democratic republic – the greatest in the world.”

Columbus Monument Unveiling

Finally, while the Woodward State Hospital Band played “Stars and Stripes Forever”, Anne Gianni and Mary Crivaro pulled the cords revealing the monument. It consisted of two columns of granite which framed the bronze bust of Columbus. Governor Nelson G. Kraschel accepted the memorial gift on behalf of the state of Iowa.  In his speech, Governor Kraschel stated: “I am only a symbol speaking for the state and we all join you in being proud of the fact that your countrymen played such an important part in the establishment of government on the North American continent.    Your people have also played an important part in the social life of our state and we of the state of Iowa take pride in your lot in life and are grateful.”  After the governor’s speech, Monsignor L.G. Ligutti of Granger blessed the memorial.

From those who could not attend, hundreds of letters of congratulations were received, including telegrams from such dignitaries as Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of New York, Mayor Robert S. Maestri of New Orleans, and Mayor Angelo J. Rossi of San Francisco.

Following the ceremony, over six hundred people packed the Hotel Fort Des Moines for a banquet celebration.  Cav. Fred A. Ossanna reminded the crowd about the day’s events and the real reason we honor Columbus.  He said, “The soft warm rays, reflected in the sun light from the dome of your capitol, were bright in the eyes of those attending the dedication and I could even see the rays permeating the eyes of the bronze bust of Columbus, framed by the magnificent columns of granite.  In these eyes, though gentle, set in a face that was grave but determined, shone the purpose and courage and very persistency which qualifies the great.”

Information for this story was gathered from articles written in the American Citizen newspaper from 1936 to 1938. Click on photos for larger views.

Related Links:

Columbus Monuments

Columbus Monument Dedication Program

The History of the Vittoria Lodge

From the Dedication Program of the Vittoria Lodge Building and Park Grounds on June 20, 1954 (click on photos for larger views):

The year 1954 stands out as an epochal one in the history of the SOCIETA’ VITTORIA ITALIANA DI MUTUO SOCCORSO.  The long cherished dreams of the membership of this lodge are culminated in the dedication of our lodge building today.

The history of our lodge is closely related to the history of the migration of Italians from Italy to the mining camps of Polk, Dallas, Boone, Marion and Lucas Counties in Iowa.  Our lodge traces its origin to the Court Romana No. 49 of the Order of Foresters of America which was founded on March 11, 1911.  On December 1, 1913, the Court Romana and the Court Emiliana No. 50 (also of the Order of the Foresters of America) separated themselves from the latter order and were legally incorporated under the present name of our Lodge: SOCIETA’ VITTORIA ITALIANA DI MUTUO SOCCORSO.  The original incorporators and first officers were: Pellegrino Castelli, president-general; Angelo Silvestri, vice-president; Valente Logli, treasurer; Angelo Lenzotti, financial secretary; Domenic Piagentini, vice secretary and Domenic Matteucci, doorkeeper.  To these men we owe much for having planted the seed, which today is one of the oustanding American-Italian organizations in the State of Iowa.

Pellegrino Castelli, our first president, passed away on February 5, 1954, in Highwood, Illinois.  Although unable to attend our meetings for many years, he at all times remained a true, loyal and honored member.  At his death he was honorary president.  It was through his indefatigable efforts that the lodge mushroomed into an organization with a Supreme Lodge at Carney, Iowa and Subordinate Lodges at Madrid and Melcher, Iowa.

Meetings of the Supreme Lodge were originally held in Carney, Iowa, because this was the center of the membership population.  Later, in 1918, the meetings were transferred to the IOOF Hall in Ankeny, Iowa.  They were held there until 1934, when meetings were transferred to the IOOF Hall in Des Moines, Iowa.   Since January of 1954 the lodge membership has met in the new lodge hall.  Due to the fact that many of the members from Madrid, Granger, Melcher and Williamson, Iowa found it difficult to attend meetings, subordinate groups were organized at Madrid and Melcher.  The Melcher Lodge merged with the Supreme Lodge in 1940 and the Madrid Lodge was merged with the Supreme Lodge effective with the annual meeting held on June 20, 1954.

The lodge has, throughout the years of its existance, had as its principal purpose “to unite fraternally men of Italian extraction, of good moral character.”  Once an individual became a member of our lodge, we at all times dedicated ourselves to the best interest of that member, and of his family.

The Vittoria Lodge Building in 1954

The importance of our lodge cannot be over-emphasized.  It was organized at a time when Italian migration to the United States was especially heavy.  Besides serving as a health benefit organization, it also became a vital instrument in the social life of the new immigrants and their families. 

The dedication of our new edifice marks a new milestone in our history.  With this new building we not only hope to be able to better serve our membership but also to be able to be able to play a more important part in the life of our Community, State and Nation.

The importance of having our own lodge building has never been overlooked, but the personal welfare of each member was of first importance.  It was not until 1949 that the lodge membership felt itself strong enough to embark on a program which would ultimately end with the dedication of our own building.  In that year a Land Committee was appointed, consisting of the following members: Rex Fontanini, Pete Plemone and Domenic Fontanini.  After investigating various sites in Polk County, the lodge purchased a 13-acre tract.  This tract was selected because  it offered opportunities to provide for the varied interest of the members of the lodge.  It is a rolling tract with excellent picnic grounds.  It also enabled the lodge with a minimum of expense to build eight bocci courts for the use of its members.  Finally, it offered an excellent location for the erection of our building with an abundance of surrounding parking space.

Since its purchase, the area has provided a place where our members meet on Sunday afternoons for friendly games of bocci.  Playground equipment is available for the children and croquet for the women.  With the new building we anticipate regular get-togethers for members and their families.

The Vittoria Lodge Bocci Courts in 1954

It is difficult to place special praise on any given member in an organization like ours where so many have dedicated themselves to the continued best interest of the lodge and its membership.  Besides Pietro Castelli, other presidents who have contributed much to the growth of the lodge have been Germano Pagliai, now deceased, of Madrid, Iowa.  To him we owe our new and revised constitution and many of the provisions therein  which have materially aided in the growth of the membership.  During the administration of Pete Plemone, who served during the war period, the lodge has its most important financial growth.  Amedeo Rossi, now orator, deserves special praise in that he offered the spark which ignited the imagination of the membership to definitely embark on a building program.  It was Rossi who offered to make available the necessary financing if no other means were available.  At this point the membership embarked on a pledge program among its own members which provided, with the assistance of lodge funds, the funds necessary to pay for the present building. The list of other members who have played an important part in our organization is long and demonstrates their loyalty to a cause.  Among the older members this list includes such men as: John Bertogli, Domenic Fontanini, Sam Gioffredi, Angelo Lamberti, Frank Ghitali, James Fontana, Pete Fontanini, Sesto Fiori, Joe Righi, Joe Betti, Gaspero Vignaroli, Sam Ballantini, John Butelli, Biagio Medici, Adolfo Balducchi, Valente Logli, Dominic Lolli, Valerio Zagnoli, Oswaldo Nizzi, Louis R. Fontanini, James Medici, Ermido Cerretti, Primo Rossi and scores of others whose names will forever be remembered by all of us.

The cooperation shown by all of the members in the past is assurance of a brighter future in the years to come.

History of the Society of Italian Americans in Des Moines

On April 27, 1898, a group of Italian men in Des Moines, Iowa gathered together at one of their homes to discuss the possibility of organizing a society that would benefit both them and their families.  There were hundreds of American organizations doing benevolent and charitable work, but these Italians hesitated to join because of their difficulty with the American language.  Timidity held back those who could speak English.  It was important, then, that this mass of foreign speaking, but American thinking individuals should band together and form an organization that would serve as an outlet for the charitable impulse and at the same time create for them a social atmosphere that would make their lives in their adopted country more important, pleasant and profitable.

The name Societa Stemma D’Italia, Mutuo Soccorso (Mutual Assistance) was adopted, which name signifies the main purpose of its functions.  The articles of incorporation signed in April 1898 were based on true brotherly spirit.  “The particular and principal objects of the said Society are for the benevolent and charitable purposes to aid and secure the members in case of need and practice benevolent and charity work to all.”

Following the adoption of the articles of incorporation, officers for the organization were elected.  Samuel Coppola was made the first president.  Gabriele Scarpino was elected vice president, Vincenzo Fraracci, vice secretary and Giuseppe Bianco, Secretary.  Giuseppe Amodeo was voted Treasurer and Giuseppe Comito and Domenico Cichilli, Revisori dei Conti.

On August 19, 1915, another Italian society, the Figli D’Italia lodge, was organized with Giuseppe Longo as president and Thomas Renda as secretary.

On February 28, 1932, the two lodges unified and retained the name of the Stemma D’Italia lodge.  The merger brought the total membership of the group to 250 men, climaxing a long period of hard work by members of the society to form one strong organization to support the best interests of the Italian people of Des Moines.

Also in 1932, under the leadership of its president, Cataldo “Charles” Gazzo, the Stemma D’Italia lodge purchased Garibaldi Hall from the Garibaldi Society, which dissolved around that time.

For the next several decades, the Stemma D’Italia lodge flourished and grew.  They sponsored annual Italian festivals that drew crowds in the thousands.  They supported each other, worked with the community to dedicate a Columbus memorial on the State Capitol grounds, erected a monument to honor fallen World War II soldiers from the Italian community, and attended the funerals of fellow members who had passed away.

Another group, the Club of Italian-Americans was formed in 1976 to fulfill a need for young men of Italian descent whose fathers were not Italian to have an organization to promote and preserve their heritage. Because only their mothers were Italian they were not eligible to become members of the Stemma D’Italia Lodge.  The 137 young men who were charter members of the newly formed club were led by President Thomas A. Renda; vice president John P. Civitate; Secretary John Amodeo; and Treasurer Armand Gazzo.

Realizing that there is strength in numbers, members of the aging Stemma D’Italia and the Club of Italian-Americans joined in a merger. Papers of incorporation were filled out on May 1, 1994.  The combined group named itself the Society of Italian Americans.

John Mauro, former President of Stemma D’Italia Lodge. and Rocco J. Vacco, former President of the Club of Italian-Americans, shared the presidency of the new club.   Bringing together the ideas of both clubs, a new society emerged.  Constitution and By Laws were created as both clubs became one.

Also involved in the merger were the ladies of the Society of Italian-American Women and the Stemma D’Italia Auxiliary.

One hundred and eleven years later, the Society of Italian-Americans is comprised of 240 men and 140 Auxiliary members – some original Italian immigrants, others 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th-generation Italian-Americans.  They still band together in a social atmosphere to support each other, improve their community, and preserve their precious Italian heritage.  Through strong leadership and the continued activism of its members, they plan on being around for another 111 years.

– Information provided by Pat Civitate of the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa and collected from the American Citizen, the former Des Moines-based Italian-American newspaper.