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An American Dream in Little Italy |
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Work, Play, and Geography in the Powning Addition
Hugging the north bank of the scenic Truckee River immediately west of downtown Reno is a charming residential and commercial district with a surprisingly colorful past. This leafy enclave, locally referred to as the Powning Addition, was first developed by local newspaperman C.C. Powning in the late 1880s. His intent was to create an exclusive neighborhood for Reno's growing elite. What gradually emerged, though, was an intriguing mix of humble craftsmen bungalows and modest Queen Annes, built by the founding members of what would become one of Reno's largest Italian American communities. Throughout most of the twentieth century, this area offered these hardworking immigrants a convenient and affordable escape from the hustle and bustle of the downtown shops and saloons. Now the time has come to celebrate this rich past while also looking toward the future of this distinct ethnic urban landscape.
This May, a new public exhibition exploring and celebrating this unique history will open at the McKinley Park School along Riverside Drive in the heart of the district. The neighborhood's Italian roots will come alive through historic maps and photographs as well as diverse accounts of neighborhood life from the Italians who actually lived there. Come explore a world of neighborhood bakeries, corner delis, and the determination to create better lives for children and grandchildren as well as a world of grape stomping, bocce ball tournaments, and the quest for familiarity in a land periodically thrown into the depths of uncertainty. See how cultures collide as average, hardworking women and men forge acceptance among strange new neighbors while maintaining key remnants of a past life from an old world. These are paesani—Reno style—and this is their neighborhood.
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