The Lombardis of Valle, Airolo, Switzerland

My great-great grandfather, Cesar Lombardi, wrote between 1913 and 1918 a series of letters to his grandchildren (including my grandfather Joe Barber) detailing his life history.  These letters were published for the family and enough copies given to each family.  We ended up with an extra and was able to donate a fair copy to Rice University, which Cesar Lombardi helped found. 

Lombardi notes that he first lived in a tiny village, Valle outside of Airolo in Switzerland.  Not much seems to remain of the village based on this picture from a hike through the area:

 But Airolo itself is beautiful town, nestle in the mountains, and a regular on steep road races.

Young Lombardi's life seemed to pretty good to him in retrospect: he calls his parents "honest but poor" and notes that most people in the area had about the same amount.  They owned their house, some land to farm, domestic animals.  They had food, flax to make linens, and enough to keep them warm. Still, he closes his first letter by noting:
  "But we had no luxury—no coffee, no tea, and very little sugar—nothing outside of our own production except wine, which was served as coffee is in American families."

An interesting change, but perhaps if you are working very hard, wine can work like coffee.  In front of a computer all day, I'd be very sleep.  

[I'll share some more of his adventures in future posts.]