Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
555-614-018 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Date |
1906 |
Description |
Photo taken in the early 1900s, maybe 1906, by Flegonte Borgia at the entrance of the original St. Peter's Italian Catholic Church, Los Angeles, California, which was located on New High Street. The occasion was the dedication of the statue of St. Peter. The robed priest to left of the statue is Father Alexander Bucci, pastor. The woman, whose face is visible to to the right of him is Priscilla Scottini. The first man (hat in hand) on the right side is Christian Scottini. Father Bucci is facing a statue with people on either side of him standing on the entrance steps of the church. There are altar boys in the center. Photo affixed to black cardboard. The name "F. Borgia" is engraved on the cardboard on the bottom center of the frame. Father Alexander Bucci (1875-1959) was rector (pastor) of St. Peter's Italian Church, which was then located at 750 New High Street, Los Angeles, California. He was also active at the church when it moved to North Broadway, the former site of Calvary cemetery. Priscilla Scottini (1886-1949) was born in Texas. She worked as Bucci's housekeeper and was his companion for many years. Because Fr. Bucci attempted to raise funds for his poor parish during Prohibition by installing a distillery in the church and overproducing altar wines, Bishop Conaty transferred Bucci to Tres Pinos, near Salinas, California, in 1916. Scottini and Bucci remained together until her death from cancer in Burbank in 1949. She is buried at Valhalla Cemetery in North Hollywood, under the name Patricia Scottini. Bucci, although defrocked by the Catholic church, reconciled with the archdiocese, and upon his death in 1959, Bucci was buried in the priest's plot at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. The first man (hat in hand) on the right side is Christian Scottini (1875-1927); he was born in Terragnolo, Austria-Hungary and baptized Cristano but changed his to name to Christian when naturalized in 1900. Scottini was Priscilla's oldest brother. Bucci officiated Christian Scottini's wedding and baptized his children. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. At the time of this photo, Priscilla and Christian were living at 347 Bauchet Street, in Dogtown Los Angeles, California. |
Size |
4 3/3" x 6 1/4" |
People |
Borgia, Flegonte Bucci, Alexander Gerola, Christian Gerola, Fortunato Scottini, Christian Scottini, Priscilla |
Subjects |
Church Dedication St. Peter Statue Saint Peter's Church Procession Casa Italiana Parish Hall |
Search Terms |
Religion St. Peter's Italian Church |