The Grapevine: A Little Bit of Did You Know When it Comes to Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festval
By Rosalyn Queen on August 29, 2024 from The Grapevine
If you live in Harrison County or surrounding areas and know that Labor Day weekend is approaching, there is one thing that you have on your mind and that is the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. Some of you may attended all of them and some may have never attended one.
Regardless, I am going to play a little “did you know” game with you.
DID YOU KNOW?
This is the 45th consecutive festival ...
Our first Regina (queen) was Mary Frances Beto Smith, and she was chosen by competition and judges. From then on, the queen was 
chosen by a committee. Our first Regina was crowned by A. James Manchin and then the crown was passed on by each Regina.
chosen by a committee. Our first Regina was crowned by A. James Manchin and then the crown was passed on by each Regina.
Our first office was located at what is now the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library and then we moved to the old A&P building, then to Pike Street, then to the C&P Building, then to Third Street, then to the Schroath Building, then to Clark Street, and to its present location on Main Street.
The first chairman of the board was James D. LaRosa. Some additional early chairmen were Victor Gabriel, Tom Basile, Mike Oliverio, John Shields, Mike Fusco, and David Seamon.
Bernard Folio was a friend of former New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, and he brought him to the festival. DiMaggio was honored as the First Italian Man of the Year.
Mary Lou Retton served as our parade marshal. She came after she won the gold medals at the Olympics.
Roy Clark came to the festival because he was a close friend of Sam Lovello, who produced Hee Haw.
Everyone of the early Italian Heritage Festival posters were created by students in Harrison County Schools.
The popular morra contest, the Italian hand game, was always held in front of the former P.J. Kelly’s location and the finals We’re on the Main Stage.
CBS and WDTV Channel 5 broadcast live from the Italian Festival Main Stage on national television.
Legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee served as the parade marshal and professed his love for our festival and our people.
When our first Honorary Italian was Senator Jennings Randolph
When John Peters served as our MC from the Main Stage
Well, now you know the same things I know.
Take care and until next week, “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."
Editor's Note: Photo shows Mary Frances Beto Smith, the first queen, or Regina Maria, with her daughter, who later became the queen of the festival decades later.
