CHISHOLM, Minn. (Northern News Now) – Before 1880, the Iron Range belonged to the Anishinaabe and the Voyageurs. After that, immigrants from Europe started to arrive. Between 1880 and 1920, nearly 14 million Italians emigrated to the United States. Dionella Valentini said in a 2013 interview that many of them were restauranteurs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes they were, they know how to cook and they know how to eat,\u201d said Dionella.<\/p>\n
In 1920, the Tiburzi brothers came to Chisholm from Sarnano, Italy. They bought the Chisholm Cafe and by 1934, it was called Valentini\u2019s. Di married into the family in 1950 and became the ultimate noodle maker. She would keep a close eye on the work of the other Valentinis.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do your job right and she\u2019s right there with you but if you do it wrong, she\u2019ll let you know it.\u201d said son Robert Valentini. <\/p>\n
Di kept making noodles until she was in her late 80\u2019s. Family estimates she made 11 million feet of them; enough to stretch from Chisholm to LA and back. Before retiring, Di did share her Italian noodle making secrets with the next generation.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe taught us how to do it, she taught me right away but she wouldn\u2019t let me do it because she said it\u2019s her job until she leaves.\u201d said nephew Paul Marturano.<\/p>\n
Di left just days before her 88th birthday in 2013 and knew Valentini\u2019s was in good hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeavens to Betsy yes, this is my nephew here and he\u2019s got all his kids working here and this will go on for ever and ever.\u201d said Di.<\/p>\n
Dionella Valentini passed away not long ago at age 100 and her family\u2019s supper club is indeed still going on.<\/p>\n
The Valentini empire now includes a restaurant in Hermantown.<\/p>\n
Holding on to History in Chisholm, Dave Anderson, Northern News Now.<\/p>\n