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Fruit of the Vine

In the last half of the 1800s, the first Italian farmers came to the Walla Walla Valley and began developing truck gardens, some of which grew into the first vineyards in our region. Fort Walla Walla Museum’s Living History company tells the story of two of these individuals on October 7 at 2 p.m. in the pioneer settlement. The evolvement of these early vineyards and wineries led to the development of one of the major underpinnings of today’s Walla Walla Valley economy, which now counts nearly 150 wineries.

The earliest Italian to settle in the valley was Frank Orselli, played by Walla Wallan David Venneri, a musician and retired school district employee. Orselli was born in Lucca, Italy in 1833, and came to Walla Walla in 1857 as an infantryman at the fort. He settled here on leaving the military, and in 1860 owned 180 acres of land north of Main Street from 2nd to 9th, where he planted orchards, vegetables, and wine grapes, which he sold locally. Orselli also owned of a bakery and was a member of the Walla Walla Fire Department, the first in the state.

Pasquale Saturno, played by his great grandson, local businessman Doug Saturno, was born in southern Italy in 1850. He immigrated to the United States in 1875 and settled in Walla Walla the next year, where he is said to have become the valley's first commercial truck gardener. Saturno is also reputed to have been valley's first commercial wine maker, tending his own vineyard behind his home and 88 acres on Larch Street, and bringing as many as four tons of grapes from California each year. In addition, he owned 46 acres of land where Wildwood Park on Division Street is located now.

The stories of these two early pioneers help explain the great Italian heritage of the Walla Walla region. Come out to Fort Walla Walla Museum to explore the Italian Farmstead in the pioneer settlement, "Black Prince" (or Cinseault) vineyard, the Italian Herb Garden, and delve into the Italian contribution that was a significant part regional development.

Performances begin at 2:00 p.m. in the pioneer settlement at Fort Walla Walla Museum. Visitors are encouraged to question the Living History re-enactors. Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily. Admission is free to members, children under 6, and through a reciprocal agreement Tamástslikt Cultural Institute's Inwai Circle cardholders and enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; $3 for children ages 6-12; $6 for seniors (62+) and students; and $7 for adults. Your admission cost can be applied to a membership, which includes free admission to all Living History performances, priced beginning at $25. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703 or info@fortwallawallamuseum.org.