Asturian-American Migration Forum

I'm new to the forum and would like to introduce myself. My name is Diane Garcia-Albert and my father, Manuel Garcia (Vazquez) immigrated to this country in the early 1900's from Piedras Blancas, Asturias, although I believe he was born in Arnau. After arriving in this country via Ellis Island, he lived in Cherryvale, Kansas with his sister, Lola and Basque brother-in-law Xan Jalot. He eventually made his way to Donora, Pennsylvania where I was born and raised, along with my sister Sonia (Garcia-Mandzok). My father, like many other Asturianos, was employed in the zinc works of the steel mill. The work was so hot and grueling that their shifts lasted only a few hours. I remember as a child that my father ate a type of jellied salted candy. because he perspired so profusely at work. Most of the Asturianos in Donora had nicknames and my father was no exception. He was known as "Patas" and some of his friends were "Manzanas" "Calabazas" "Wild Bill Martinez" and "Angel & Chucha Fernandez" I look forward to contributing to the conversation and learning more about "la tierra de mis padres, Asturias."