First entries into the Story Vault received!

We’re glad to be starting off the Story Vault with some wonderful contributions from Thomas J. Damigella on his family connection to the North End Italian Newspaper, La Notizia, which was originally located on Battery Street. Thank you Tommy! Read on…

History of the La Notizia – North End Italian Newspaper By Thomas J. Damigella

11/3/2017

My great Uncle Emanuel LoPresti  immigrated to the North End, Boston, in 1910. He brought later his 2 children Laura and Alfred, and his wife Alfonsina (Amalia) from Licodia Eubea, Sicily. His other child Inez remained in Sicily with her grandparents and later joined her family in America.

My great uncle established and became the first editor of the all Italian daily newspaper La Notizia (The News) in the North End.

The newspaper’s office  was located at 30-34 Battery Street in the North End. This paper was one of 2 all Italian daily papers that were printed in the North End that was instrumental in serving the continual growing Italian immigration population of the North End.

 

In 1918 my great uncle, Emanuel LoPresti died from Influenza which at that time there was a worldwide epidemic of the disease. His daughter Laura continued as editor of the newspaper. He was honored with a grand public funeral. (See accompanying article.)

Later the La Notizia newspaper became very involved with the Sacco and Vanzetti murder trial and in 1920 became the initial headquarters of the Sacco Vanzetti Defense Committee . The headquarters was later moved to 251 Hanover Street in 1925 where they continued to fight for a retrial until the eventual execution of Sacco and Vanzetti in 1927.

La Notizia continued to be published and managed by the Husband of Laura LoPresti, Graziano Longarini, who was a Captain in the Army during World War I and later graduated from Boston University. He was also a member of the elite Governors Council.  He continued to run the paper until his retirement and closing of the La Notizia in 1976 which was around the same time that he wrote the book The American Miracle. The Graziano was a staunch supporter of the Constitution and promoted the economics of capitalism which ironically was contrary to the  La Notizia original political position on socialistic principles which were popular  within the Italian communities in the 1920’s.

Story submitted by Thomas J. Damigella, Great Nephew, 11/2017