I am very new to Ancestry.com and Asturian-American Migration forum. I must say I am so pleased to be viewing all this great info on our migration from Asturias to Cherryvale and then to Donora.
My grandparents, Rafael & Consuelo Suarez settled in Donora, Pa, I believe in the late 1920's after leaving Cherryvale, Kansas. They lived on Martin St, right across the street from the Edgar Zinc mine. My father is Joseph M. Suarez, born in Cherryvale, Kansas, attended school and played baseball in Donora, has since passed away in 1992, leaving very little information to search my Spanish heritage.
I can remember visiting my grandparents every summer and attending the Spanish Club picnics along with my aunts, uncles and cousins. I have been told that my grandparents ran a small butcher store in Donora. I can also remember walking downtown to the fresh bakery to buy bread and pastries for my grandmother. I also remember the horse/mule driven wagon delivering fresh items to my grandparents door!
I truly miss all the wonderful cooking that took place in my grandparents home and her delicious sheet empanada, that she took frequently to the picnics.
My other relatives who were from Donora, some passed away and some are still alive and living in the area, are:
- Ceferina (Sef) alive and now living with her daughter Marylouise in Michigan;
- Mercedes (Bertha) passed, married Harry Dudro; both worked at "Williams" clothing store in Donora;
- Carmina, living, married John Patrick;
- Joseph Suarez, my father married/divorced Lyda Bell Bou (spelling?), whose oldest son Joseph Suarez may still live in the area, and
- Rafael Suarez, the youngest sibling, who passed away very young in 1952.
Thank you so much!
Linda Suarez