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LoginMy dad's father was Joe "Mike" Alvarez, who came to the U. S. from Aviles in 1911, and migrated to Spelter,WV and my dad's mother was Viola . Joe and Viola Alvarez had five children, Katherine, Joe Jr , Ruth Jean , Arthur, and my father Donald Eugene.
My grandfather, Joe was one of six children, three boys and three girls. See his picture under 'Joe "Mike" Alvarez, Spelter merchant', in the Forum. One brother, Jesse moved back to Spain, while his sisters remained in Asturias.
Great-grandparents were Antonio Alvarez and Josephine Garcia, of Asturias.
My first cousin, Ken Menendez, son of Katherine Alvarez Menendez (Aunt Katie) and Andrew Menendez (Uncle Pike), has been part of your forum since 2003.
We also have cousins Diana Kay Book (daughter of Ruth Jean), Caroline Alvarez (daughter of Arthur), Michael and Rick Alvarez ( son's of Jo Jr.), all grand children of Joe from Avila.
I was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Clarksbrugh, WV in 1947 when my father was either an engineering student at WVU or working at the Union Carbide/National Carbon Co. in Bridgeport, WV. Then he transfered to Niagara, NY, then to Cleveland, OH. I have 3 siblings: Steven born 1950 (deceased), Lisa Alvarez, and Lori Alvarez Casciani, the only two born in OH. in 1960.
I have some pictures of Spelter, and the store, that I will be sharing with you.
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Trans. Is
El mio pa llamabase Joe "Mike" Alvarez. Vieno d'Aviles pa los Estaos Xunios en 1911 ya emigrou a Spelter, Virxinia Oucidental. La so ma llamabase Viola. Joe y Viola tuvieron cinco fios: Katherine, Joe Jr., Ruth Jean, Arthur y el mio pa Donald Eugene.
El mio guelu Joe yera un de seis fios, tres mozos y tres moces. Mirai la so semeya embaxo'l filu 'Joe "Mike" Alvarez, Spelter merchant' nesti foru. Un de los sos hermanos, Jesse, tornara pa Espana, mientres les sos hermanes quedaron p'Asturies.
Los bisguelos asturianos llamabanse Antonio Alvarez y Josefina Garcia.
Mio primu Ken Menendez, fiu de Katherine Alvarez Menendez (Tia Katie) y Andrew Menendez (Tio Pike) fain parte d'esti foru dende'l 2003.
Tamien tenemos a los primos Diana Kay book (fia de Ruth Jean), Caroline Alvarez (fia d'Arthur), Michael y Rick Alvarez (fios de Joe Jr.), toos ellos nietos de Joe de Avila.
Yo mesma naciera en Clarksburgh, Virxinia Oucidental, nel anu 1947 de la que mio pa taba d'estudiante d'inxenieria na universida del estau y trabayando pal Union Carbide/National Carbon Co. de Bridgeport, Virxinia Oucidental. Mandaronlu pa Niagara, Nueva York, depues marcho pa Cleveland, Ohio. Tengo 3 hermanos: Steven, naciu en 1950 (morrio), Lisa Alvarez y Lori Alvarez Casciani, dambes dos nacies n'Ohio en 1960.
Tengo semeyes de Spelter, de la tienda, y voi compartilas con vos.
Hello: Donna Alvarez
Moderator: Moderators
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Donna Alvarez
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:25 am
- Location: Espanola,New Mexico,USA
- asturias_and_me:
Welcome to the forum, Donna! I'll try to translate your intro message when I have some time. I'd also be curious about what life is like in Espanola, New Mexico. It must be a totally different world out there.
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Que t'afayes no foru, Donna. Vou tentar de fader la torna de tou mensaxe de la que tenga tiempo. Prestaria que cuntaras una migaya de cumo ia la vida n'Espanola, no estao de New Mexico. Aquel.lo tien de ser outru mundu dafeitu.
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Que t'afayes no foru, Donna. Vou tentar de fader la torna de tou mensaxe de la que tenga tiempo. Prestaria que cuntaras una migaya de cumo ia la vida n'Espanola, no estao de New Mexico. Aquel.lo tien de ser outru mundu dafeitu.
Last edited by is on Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Donna Alvarez
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:25 am
- Location: Espanola,New Mexico,USA
- asturias_and_me:
It is interesting that you ask. You must know that the Spanish settled in the Rio Grande Valle starting in the 1500's, some a bit sooner. The area I live in, plazas were built to defend against the indians that date to 1495.
You see preserved eliments of Spanish food, culture, and architecture going way back. It's old. A lot of it looks Moorish ( the mud structures, the ornos, etc.). There are many small villages, especially in the mountainous areas, that preserved an old, old dialect - before Castellano. When someone from Spain comes here they claim our locals talk like babies. I don't speak Spanish at all. I grew up in Ohio, but to hear Castile sounds much more pleasing to the ear than the dialect here, which sounds very choppy to me. But I get a bit of reminder of who I am, where my roots derived, and it's a wonderful experience.
The terraine is very dry and mountainous. Some say it is very much like regions of Spain, and it could only be the industrious Spaniards who could squeak a living out of such baren soil, and still do. Cattle is a large industry. Besides Angus, the French Limosine is one of the most popular breeds. It can do very well in heat and sparse vegetation.
My favorite thing is the way they have preserved the music, the old ballads from Espana. A teacher at our college, Cipriano Vigil, has made it his life work and is featured at Smithonian, and performs at the White House.
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Trans. Is
Paezme interesante que m'entrugaras esto. Seique sabeis que los espanoles asentaronse nel valle del Rio Grande a l'entamu del sieglu XVI, igual una migaya enantes. Na zona au toi yo, fixeron places p'abellugase de los indios que tan fechaes nel 1495. Inda ves munchos elementos que dexaren los espanoles na comida, cultura y arquitectura. Too ye mui antiguo y muncho d'ello tien un aspecto morisco (l'adobe, los fornos).
Nes aldees de montana inda caltuvieron una fala mui antigua que precede al castellan vieyo. Cuando vien xente d'Espana p'aco dicen que falen como crios. Yo nun falo castellan porque crieme nel estau d'Ohio. Pero abultame mas guapu el soniu del castellan a lo que falen por equi, que se fai comiendo munches pallabres. Sicasi, alcuerdame un poquinin d'au tengo los raigones y me presta pola vida.
Eso si, la tierra ye mui seca y montanosa. Dixeronme dalgunos que s'asemeya a delles partes d'Espana y pamidea que namai xente espanol tuviera el xeitu pa llabrar una tierra tan ermo. Tamien hai muncho ganao. Vense munches vaques de la raza Angus y Limusina francesa. Paez que nun-yos sienta mal el calor nin la poca pacion.
Lo que mas me presta ye la forma que caltuvieron la so musica, los romances que vinieran d'Espana. Un profesor de la nuesa universida, Cipriano Vigil, tien fecho munchos estudios sobre el romancero d'equi y el so trabayu de recopilacion pue atopase nel Smithsonian. Tamien tien fecho conciertos na Casa Blanca.
You see preserved eliments of Spanish food, culture, and architecture going way back. It's old. A lot of it looks Moorish ( the mud structures, the ornos, etc.). There are many small villages, especially in the mountainous areas, that preserved an old, old dialect - before Castellano. When someone from Spain comes here they claim our locals talk like babies. I don't speak Spanish at all. I grew up in Ohio, but to hear Castile sounds much more pleasing to the ear than the dialect here, which sounds very choppy to me. But I get a bit of reminder of who I am, where my roots derived, and it's a wonderful experience.
The terraine is very dry and mountainous. Some say it is very much like regions of Spain, and it could only be the industrious Spaniards who could squeak a living out of such baren soil, and still do. Cattle is a large industry. Besides Angus, the French Limosine is one of the most popular breeds. It can do very well in heat and sparse vegetation.
My favorite thing is the way they have preserved the music, the old ballads from Espana. A teacher at our college, Cipriano Vigil, has made it his life work and is featured at Smithonian, and performs at the White House.
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Trans. Is
Paezme interesante que m'entrugaras esto. Seique sabeis que los espanoles asentaronse nel valle del Rio Grande a l'entamu del sieglu XVI, igual una migaya enantes. Na zona au toi yo, fixeron places p'abellugase de los indios que tan fechaes nel 1495. Inda ves munchos elementos que dexaren los espanoles na comida, cultura y arquitectura. Too ye mui antiguo y muncho d'ello tien un aspecto morisco (l'adobe, los fornos).
Nes aldees de montana inda caltuvieron una fala mui antigua que precede al castellan vieyo. Cuando vien xente d'Espana p'aco dicen que falen como crios. Yo nun falo castellan porque crieme nel estau d'Ohio. Pero abultame mas guapu el soniu del castellan a lo que falen por equi, que se fai comiendo munches pallabres. Sicasi, alcuerdame un poquinin d'au tengo los raigones y me presta pola vida.
Eso si, la tierra ye mui seca y montanosa. Dixeronme dalgunos que s'asemeya a delles partes d'Espana y pamidea que namai xente espanol tuviera el xeitu pa llabrar una tierra tan ermo. Tamien hai muncho ganao. Vense munches vaques de la raza Angus y Limusina francesa. Paez que nun-yos sienta mal el calor nin la poca pacion.
Lo que mas me presta ye la forma que caltuvieron la so musica, los romances que vinieran d'Espana. Un profesor de la nuesa universida, Cipriano Vigil, tien fecho munchos estudios sobre el romancero d'equi y el so trabayu de recopilacion pue atopase nel Smithsonian. Tamien tien fecho conciertos na Casa Blanca.
Last edited by Donna Alvarez on Sun Aug 09, 2009 2:42 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Ron Gonzalez
- Posts: 377
- Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:08 pm
- asturias_and_me:
Hello Donna
Mike had a big family and yes ,I knew everyone of them I can remember going into Mike store to were the men play pool he would say (he called everyone Mike) no mustache Mike you better go home. The men would play cards under the street lights along side the store all night along.
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Trans. Is
Hola Donna
Mike tenia una familia pergrande y si, alcuerdome, conocialos a toos. Alcuerdome de dir a la tienda de Mike au los paisanos xugaben a los billares y tratabame de Mike (llamaba a tola xente 'Mike'). Decia que si nun tenia bigote, que fora pa camin pa casa. Los paisanos xugaben partidines pola nueche allumaos poles faroles.
Mike had a big family and yes ,I knew everyone of them I can remember going into Mike store to were the men play pool he would say (he called everyone Mike) no mustache Mike you better go home. The men would play cards under the street lights along side the store all night along.
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Trans. Is
Hola Donna
Mike tenia una familia pergrande y si, alcuerdome, conocialos a toos. Alcuerdome de dir a la tienda de Mike au los paisanos xugaben a los billares y tratabame de Mike (llamaba a tola xente 'Mike'). Decia que si nun tenia bigote, que fora pa camin pa casa. Los paisanos xugaben partidines pola nueche allumaos poles faroles.
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Donna Alvarez
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:25 am
- Location: Espanola,New Mexico,USA
- asturias_and_me:
Mikes and Marias
Yes, Grandpa called every man 'Mike" and ALL the women were referred to as 'Maria', followed by some distinguishable trait when necessary. Is this conas? Their traits became their nicknames. My dad was called 'Biggy Pants'. I suppose because he held his own self in the highest esteem. Ha!
Everytime we climbed out of the car in front of the store, the pensioners on the store's front porches would call out to dad,"Eh, Biggy Pants". It was so funny to us when we were kids.
Nice to hear from you!
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Trans. Is
Si ho, mio guelu tratabalos a toos de 'Mike' y a les muyeres llamabales a toes 'Maria', seguio por daque que resaltara si facia falta mas detalle. Eso tien de ser la cona asturiana, non? La so facha tresformabase en mote nun tris. A mio pa llamabenlu 'Biggy Pants' (pantalonon). Pamidea que yera porque taba arguyosu de si mesmu. Vaya risa. De la que baxabamos del coche xunto la tienda, los xubilaos decien eso de 'Epa, pantalonon'. Facianos muncha gracia de crios.
Presta tener noticies tuyes.
Everytime we climbed out of the car in front of the store, the pensioners on the store's front porches would call out to dad,"Eh, Biggy Pants". It was so funny to us when we were kids.
Nice to hear from you!
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Trans. Is
Si ho, mio guelu tratabalos a toos de 'Mike' y a les muyeres llamabales a toes 'Maria', seguio por daque que resaltara si facia falta mas detalle. Eso tien de ser la cona asturiana, non? La so facha tresformabase en mote nun tris. A mio pa llamabenlu 'Biggy Pants' (pantalonon). Pamidea que yera porque taba arguyosu de si mesmu. Vaya risa. De la que baxabamos del coche xunto la tienda, los xubilaos decien eso de 'Epa, pantalonon'. Facianos muncha gracia de crios.
Presta tener noticies tuyes.
Last edited by Donna Alvarez on Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Donna Alvarez
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:25 am
- Location: Espanola,New Mexico,USA
- asturias_and_me:
Yikes!
Oh, no, that was awful! Pero, he had his moments. When I was learning to read and write he used to let me scribble on the walls! He didn't care, as long as I was practicing my alphabet. I wrote all over the pool room walls! He would walk by, flag his white towel that he wore at me and say "Good, Good, keep going!" and go about his work. I was in Ms. McDaniel's first grade class.We used to gather in the playground next to the store and the boys would try to get me to eat chewing tobacco. I tried it once, and ran home vomiting. We lived on the first street by the bridge.
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Trans. Is
Meca, eso ye horrible! Sicasi, tenia los sos bonos y malos momentos. De la que mos deprendien a lleer y escribir, dexabame escribir na pare de casa! Nun-y importaba un res si taba practicando l'alfabeto. Punxeme a escribir nas pares de la sala de billar! Pasaba xunto a min cola so toballa blanca que-y gustaba y deciame "Eso ta bien, mui bien. Da-y, da-y!" Na clase de la Senora McDaniels (primaria) axuntabamosnos nel recreo xunto la tienda y los nenos querien meteme a mascar tabaco. Probelo una vegada, pero marche a casa echando la pota. Daquella viviamos na cai que taba xunto la ponte.
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Trans. Is
Meca, eso ye horrible! Sicasi, tenia los sos bonos y malos momentos. De la que mos deprendien a lleer y escribir, dexabame escribir na pare de casa! Nun-y importaba un res si taba practicando l'alfabeto. Punxeme a escribir nas pares de la sala de billar! Pasaba xunto a min cola so toballa blanca que-y gustaba y deciame "Eso ta bien, mui bien. Da-y, da-y!" Na clase de la Senora McDaniels (primaria) axuntabamosnos nel recreo xunto la tienda y los nenos querien meteme a mascar tabaco. Probelo una vegada, pero marche a casa echando la pota. Daquella viviamos na cai que taba xunto la ponte.