Anselmo (John) Pradolini
Pradolini family, c.1935
Dates: b. Orsaria, Udine, Italy, 18 March 1875 d. 1948
Cemetery Location: Block J, Row 17, Plot 25
Profile:
Anselmo Pradolini arrived in Canada in 1903 with his brother Gaudenzio and five friends from the Italian Alps. They came directly to Revelstoke to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway as masons, and within a few months, Anselmo began the construction of his home at 304 Second Street East (affectionately known as the ‘Pink Castle’). His wife, Rosa, and brother, Achille, arrived from Italy in 1904.
Anselmo left CPR to set up his own contracting business, with Achille in charge of cement work. The first house they built was 220 Fifth Street East for A.E. Miller, principal of the new Central School. In 1906, they built Revelstoke’s first concrete block home at 601 Fourth Street East, for the Porta family.
Some of the buildings constructed during his partnership with Mr. Foote included: the Revelstoke Court House; Selkirk School; Guy Barber’s Jewellery store; C.R. Macdonald’s Drug Store; the Howson Block; and the stone facing on the King Edward Hotel – all completed before World War I.
Anselmo served as alderman for several years and as the first Italian mayor of Revelstoke from 1934 to 1936. He was a charter member of Rotary, president of the Board of Trade in 1931, and active in the Italian lodge. He also helped fellow Italians bring out their family members to Canada, filling out government forms and guaranteeing employment on their arrival, even helping some to establish their own businesses.
Alsemo had a love for music and built a bandstand at Queen Elizabeth Park, where on fine Sunday afternoons, local residents would dress up and to listen to the Italian Band.
When a gang of criminals started an extortion racket targeting Italian families in Revelstoke, Anselmo helped track down the local offenders.
Anselmo and Rosa had four children: Linda, Mario, Elio and Alfredo, who died at the age of one. Anselmo and Rosa both died in 1948.
Rosa & Anselmo Pradolini with children
Man on horse-drawn sled with view of Pradolini house in background (far right)
