Recently, Italian Enclaves Historical Society Board Member, Stephen Cerulli, traveled to Missouri to document some lesser known Italian communities which existed in the 19th and 20th centuries. He has written small blurbs about them below.
Kansas City – Columbus Park
Columbus Park, historically known as “The North End,” has been the heart of Kansas City’s Italian-American community since the late 19th century. By the 1920s, Italian immigrants, primarily from Sicily, had established a vibrant neighborhood characterized by family-owned businesses, cultural institutions, and a strong sense of community. A cornerstone of this neighborhood is the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, founded in 1891 by the Scalabrini Brothers. Despite a devastating fire in 1903, the church was rebuilt the same year and continues to serve as a spiritual and cultural hub, hosting baptisms, weddings, and the annual St. Joseph celebrations. Among the enduring establishments that celebrate Columbus Park’s Italian heritage are Garozzo’s Ristorante and Vocci Italian Ravioli & Food Products. Italian origin third places such as The Don Bosco Center still pepper the neighborhood.
Monett
Monett, Missouri, established in the late 19th century, became a significant settlement for Italian Waldensian immigrants seeking religious freedom and new opportunities. The Waldensians, a Protestant group originating in Europe, faced persecution in their homelands and began migrating to the United States in search of a place to practice their faith openly. In 1875, a group of approximately 40 settlers, including some who had previously established a community in Uruguay, arrived in Monett under the leadership of Pastor Jean Pierre Michelin Salomon. These pioneers, primarily from Italy’s Cottian Alps, were later joined by French and Swiss Protestants, enriching the cultural fabric of the community. Central to their settlement was the establishment of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church, also known as the Waldensian Church of Stone Prairie. The original frame meeting house, constructed in 1875, was replaced in 1908 by the current building, which continues to serve as a place of worship and community gathering. Adjacent to the church lies the multilingual Waldensian Cemetery, where many of the original settlers are interred with Italian and French tombstones, symbolizing the enduring legacy of these early immigrants.
Rosati
Rosati, Missouri, formerly known as Knobview, is a small unincorporated community in northeast Phelps County, renowned for its rich Italian-American heritage and viticultural legacy. In the late 19th century, Italian immigrants settled in the area, first from the Sunnyside Plantation, bringing with them a deep-rooted tradition of grape cultivation. Despite initial challenges with European grape varieties, they found success with the Concord grape, leading to a thriving local industry and the founding of a cooperative. A cornerstone of the community is St. Anthony Catholic Church, established in 1906. This church has long served as a spiritual and cultural hub for Rosati’s residents, reflecting the enduring faith and unity of its Italian-American founders. Throughout the 20th century, Rosati’s grape production flourished, with vineyards lining historic Route 66 and contributing significantly to Missouri’s wine industry.
We hope you enjoy, and as always, we welcome your support to help us continue our volunteer work in documenting Italian enclaves and their churches, by becoming a sustaining member: https://italianenclaves.org/membership/
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