Between 1900 and 1930, most of Madera’s immigrants from Italy
had made the Atlantic crossing. The vast majority came through
Ellis Island and then onward to Madera, although some were
temporarily rerouted to the sugar plantations of Louisiana to
work off their third class passage. Upon arriving in Madera,
many found work with Miller and Lux. Others were employed by the
Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company. A good number of the newcomers
to America found work in the Mission Bell Winery. Eventually,
however, most of them rose above their humble beginnings and
became farmers and business owners. These immigrants from
northern Italy found opportunity in Madera County and took
advantage of it. By the 1940s, they had become patriotic
Americans, even when the government took away their cameras,
radios, and rifles with the coming of World War II. Because
Italy had joined the Axis powers, many of those who had left her
shores earlier were suddenly looked upon with suspicion. Were
there seditious elements among them? ...