By Carie Canterbury

Rigirozzi, DiNardo, Merlino, Carochi, Scutti — and dozens more — all names of Italian families who have made positive contributions to Fremont County for several generations. These families are recognized in the Italian Heritage Booth during Royal Gorge Sons of Italy's Italian Festival, which is annually at Macon Plaza. The families represent bakers, butchers, orchard operators, nurses, military service personnel, market and restaurant owners, dairy workers, teachers, miners and more.

Royal Gorge Sons of Italy charter member Ray Dunn built a replica of the Wolf Park Mine to display during Saturday's Italian Festival. The mine was in operation from 1895 to 1934 south of Cañon City, near Prospect Heights. The mine's shaft — 1,029 feet deep — was the deepest in Colorado and, at its peak, employed 150 miners. Dunn's grandmother's first husband was one of three men killed during an accident there.

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Source: http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/