Siskiyou County
Biographies
A. J. GIRIMONTE
A. J. Girimonte, owner and publisher of La Concordia, the leading Italian newspaper of northern California, is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Weed, Siskiyou county. He was born in Casino, Italy, on the 10th of May, 1883, and is a son of Nicola and Philomena (Lamanna) Girimonte, both of whom were lifelong residents of Italy, where the father was identified with mercantile affairs. The son attended the public schools and remained at home until 1903, when, at the age of twenty years, he came to the United States. Locating in McCloud, California, he found employment in the box factory of the McCloud Lumber Company, with which he continued for three years, when he returned to his old home in Italy, where he remained for three years, assisting his father in his business affairs. In 1909 he again went to McCloud and worked in the McCloud Lumber Company’s box factory. A year and a half later he came to Weed and took a place in the box factory of the Weed Lumber Company, now the Long-Bell Lumber Company. After seven months he quit to engage in the saloon business, to which he devoted his attention for ten years. In 1913 he made another trip to his old home in Italy. On Leaving the saloon business Mr. Girimonte took a position as manager of the candy department in the Long-Bell Lumber Company’s store, in which capacity he served until 1924, when, in association with his brother Louis, he engaged in the men’s furnishings business at Dunsmuir. At the end of three years, Mr. Girimonte quit that business and established a drug store at Mount Shasta, and about the same time bought La Concordia, published at Dunsmuir. The latter he moved to Weed, where he is still publishing it. He also bought the People’s grocery store at Weed, which failed, and he has since devoted his attention to his newspaper interests mainly, though he also sells life insurance, being the local representative of the Coast Life Insurance Company. He is a notary public and acts as agent for the immigration of people from Italy to this country. La Concordia is well edited, giving all the news while it is news. Its typographical appearance will compare favorably with that of any of its contemporaries. The circulation has steadily increased until there are now twenty-five hundred subscribers, the paper being a welcome visitor into many homes of this section of the valley. It is the best advertising medium in northern California and is well patronized in that respect. La Concordia stands for all that is best in the life of the community and is progressive and public-spirited in its advocacy of those things which contribute to the welfare of the people whom it serves.
Mr. Girimonte is married and is the father of three children, Mary F. and Catherine T., who are in high school; and Nicholas J., who is in the grade school. Mr. Girimonte is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of Italy and the Foresters of America, all at Weed. He took out his citizenship papers in 1919 and in every possible way has expressed his loyalty to the institutions of his adopted country. He takes a keen personal interest in matters affecting the valley welfare and is assisting in the raising of a fund of one hundred thousand dollars for a new hospital at Mount Shasta. He is widely acquainted in the Sacramento valley and is greatly respected for his ability, character and accomplishments.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Wooldridge, J. W. Major, History of the Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 331-332. Pioneer Historical
Publ. Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's Siskiyou County Biographies