The Ente Friulano Assistenza Sociale Culturale Emigranti (EFASCE) di Pordenone has evolved from an organization first established in 1907 called “Segretariato di Emigrazione.” In the periods following both World Wars, during times of poverty and reconstruction, millions emigrated from all regions of Italy to many corners of the world. Hearing cries for help coming from Friulan emigrants, the Bishop of Concordia responded by delegating some diocesan priests to support his emigrants in faraway lands.
After more than a century EFASCE exists today as parent to many adjunct entities around the globe, with a mission of continued cultivation of the ethnic identity and indissoluble bonds which still connect Friulans and their descendents throughout the world to their homeland.
EFASCE di Philadelphia – History
EFASCE di Philadelphia was established in Chestnut Hill in 2008, to help promote renewed interactive relationships with the Friulan-American community in the Philadelphia region, the US and other Pordenonesi of the world. Through various social and educational events and programs, we strive to make the homeland feel closer for our Friulan emigrants and their descendants.
Many Friulans settled locally in the Chestnut Hill area of Philadelphia. Italy’s loss soon became Philadelphia’s gain. Skilled masons were employed to quarry, cut and erect the sparkling Wissahickon Schist stone which has been used to construct many prominent residences in Chestnut Hill. Accomplished craftsmen and artisans still work at many local companies providing skilled stone masons, bricklayers, and tile-marble-terrazzo craftsmen.
Although EFASCE di Philadelphia was not established until 2008, there has been a thriving cultural link between Friulans in the area for more than a century. The photo below taken in 1924 shows some members of the Friulano community enjoying a day of relaxation at the “Baraca” (shed, shown to the right). Recognizing the need for a more permanent meeting place efforts were made for the purchase of a property at 8030 Germantown Avenue, previous site of The John Gilbert Elementary School. This prominent building in the heart of Chestnut Hill remains the home of The Venetian Social Club today.
The Venetian Club, affectionately dubbed “The Club” by many, has remained a place for fun, friendship, and fellowship since 1924. Many social events including evening dinner dances featuring alpine music, sports banquets, holiday parties and similar events have taken place in the ballroom over the years. The Club has provided a needed tie between the “Old” and “New” worlds, where Friulans could socialize and speak their native language amongst family and friends. Bocce and tennis courts on the adjacent lot no longer exist, however the Club still features a game room with card tables, pool and shuffle board; full size ballroom with a stage; bowling facilities; and a full service bar (for members only).
Provincia di Pordenone
The area surrounding the Noncello river (ancient Naone), which runs through Pordenone
, has been documented as early as 897. In 1192-94 this area was called Portus Naonis (Naonis Port), which later became known as Pordenone. Because the Noncello is navigable, it became one of the major trading routes of the northeast region of Italy and Portus Naonis became an important port where goods were unloaded on their way to Austria. In the 14th century it became part of the Habsburg Dynasty and in the 16th century it was conquered by Venice. Pordenone has been part of Italy since 1866. In 1968, it became a Province and was granted special autonomy with regard to the administration of the city and the surrounding territory.
The Province of Pordenone is divided into 51 comuni, that is, municipalities or county towns. Each comune is further divided into many frazioni, which are small outlying wards or hamlets of the county town. Listed below are the 51 comuni and the major frazioni of the Provincia di Pordenone followed by the official web sites. These web sites are all in Italian. One of the sites are not accessible- Morsano and two had no web site listed – Meduno and Vajont.
Information can be found in English for many of the comuni in the Province of Pordenone by searching Wikipedia and entering the name of the comune.
Andreis: Frazioni: Alcheda, Bosplans, Prapiero, Rompagnel www.comune.andreis.pn.it
Arba: Frazioni: Colle www.comunearba.it
Arzene: Frazioni: San Lorenzo www.comune.arzene.pn.it
Aviano: Frazioni: Beorchia, Castel d’Aviano, Costa Ornedo, Giais, Marsure, Pedemonte, Piancavallo, San Martino di Campagna, Somprado, Selva, Villotta www.comune.aviano.pn.it
Azzano Decimo: Frazioni: Corva, Fagnigola, Fiumesino, Fratte, Tiezzo, Borgo Facca, Capo di Sopra, Capo di Sotto, Cesena, Colle, Mantova, Piagno, Runtine, Villacriccola, Zuiano www.comune.azzanodecimo.pn.it
Barcis: Frazioni: Armasio, Arcola, Cimacosta, Fontane, Guata, Losie, Mighet, Molassa, Pentina, Pezzeda, Ponte Antoi, Portuz, Predaia, Ribe, Roppe, Vallata www.barcis.fvg.it
Brugnera: Frazioni: Maron, San Cassiano di Livenza, Tamai, Villa Varda www.comune.brugnera.pn.it
Budoia: Frazioni: Dardago, Santa Lucia, Val de Croda www.comune.budoia.pn.it
Caneva: Frazioni: Fischetti, Fratta, Sarone, Stevenà, Crosetta del Cansiglio, Gaiardin, Lama de Carpen, Malconsei, Pradego, Tambruz. www.comune.caneva.pn.it
Casarsa della Delizia: Frazioni : Boscat, Centata, San Giovanni, Comunale, San Floriano, Sile, Versa, Versutta www.comune.casarsadelladelizia.pn.it
Castelnovo del Friuli: Frazioni: Castelnovo è costituito da circa una quarantina tra contrade e località. Tra queste: Almadis, Celante, Costa, Franz, Graves, Madonna dello Zucco, Michei, Molevana, Mostacins, Oltrerugo, Paludea, Praforte, Vidunza, Vigna www.comune.castelnovo-del-friuli.pn.it
Cavasso Nuovo: Frazioni: Orgnese, Dreon, Grilli, Mas, Petrucco, Runcis, Vescovi. www.comune.cavassonuovo.pn.it
Chions: Frazioni: Basedo, Taiedo, Villotta, Torrate, Villafranca, Villalta, Villutta www.comune.chions.pn.it
Cimolais: Frazioni : San Floriano. www.comune.cimolais.pn.it
Claut: Frazioni: Cellino di Sopra, Cellino di Sotto, Contron, Creppi, Lesis Stoc, Matan, Vit. www.comune.claut.pn.it
Clauzetto: Frazioni: comprende una quarantina di agglomerati sparsi come Celante di Clauzetto, Dominisia, Francescuz, Gerchia, Orton, Pradis di Sotto e Pradis di Sopra, Tascans, Triviat, Zuanes. www.comune.clauzetto.pn.it
Cordenons: Frazioni: Nogaredo, Romans, Sclavons, Villa d’Arco. www.comune.cordenons.pn.it
Cordovado: Frazioni: Belvedere, Saccudello, Suzzolins. www.comune.cordovado.pn.it
Erto e Casso: Frazioni: Cavalle, Col della Ruava, Forcai, Liron, Pineda, Val del Pont. www.comune.ertoecasso.pn.it
Fanna: Frazioni: Borgo Sottila, Madonna di Strada. www.comune.fanna.pn.it
Fiume Veneto: Frazioni: Bannia, Cimpello, Pescincanna, Praturlone. www.comune.fiumeveneto.pn.it
Fontanafredda: Frazioni: Camolli, Casut, Ceolini, Forcate, Nave, Ranzano, Romano, Talmassons, Vigonovo, Villadolt www.comune.fontanafredda.pn.it
Frisanco: Frazioni : Casasola, Poffabro, Cudili, Fornasette, Fulin, Gobbo, Pian delle Merie, Piè d’Uviel, Polaz, Preplans, Valdefrina, Valdestali, Vallavan, Vals. www.comune.frisanco.pn.it
Maniago: Frazioni: Campagna, Dandolo, Fratta, Maniago Libero. www.comune.maniago.pn.it
Meduno: Frazioni: Navarons, Avon, Ciago, Cilia, Costa, Del Bianco, Mizzeri, Pitagora, Romanis, San Martino, Sottomonte, Valle. (no web site listed)
Montereale Valcellina: Frazioni: Grizzo, Malnisio, San Leonardo Valcellina. www.comune.monterealevalcellina.pn.it
Morsano al Tagliamento: Frazioni: Bando, Bolzano, Mussons, Saletto, San Paolo. www.comune.morsanoaltagliamento.pn.it
Pasiano: Frazioni: Azzanello, Cecchini, Rivarotta, Sant’Andrea, Visinale. www.comune.pasianodipordenone.pn.it
Pinzano al Tagliamento: Frazioni: Costabeorchia, Manazzons, Valeriano, Borgo Ampiano, Campeis, Colle, Mizzeri. www.comune.pinzanoaltagliamento.pn.it
Polcenigo: Frazioni: Coltura, Mezzomonte, San Giovanni, Gorgazzo, Range, Santissima. www.comune.polcenigo.pn.it
Porcia: Frazioni: Palse, Pieve, Rondover, Roraipiccolo, Sant’Antonio, Spinazzedo, Talponedo. www.comune.porcia.pn.it
Pordenone:Frazioni: Borgomeduna, Rorai Grande, San Gregorio, Torre, Vallenoncello, Villanova di Pordenone www.comune.pordenone.it
Prata di Pordenone: Frazioni: Ghirano, Prata di Sopra, Prata di Sotto, Puja, Villanova, Borgo Passo, Le Monde, Peressine. www.comune.prata.pn.it
Pravisdomini: Frazioni: Barco, Frattina, Panigai. www.comune.pravisdomini.pn.it
Roveredo in Piano: www.comune.roveredo.pn.it
Sacile: Frazioni : Cavolano, Cornadella, Ronche, San Giovanni del Tempio, San Giovanni di Livenza, San Michele, Sant’Odorico, Schiavoi, Topaligo, Villorba, Vistorta. www.comune.sacile.pn.it
San Giorgio della Richinvelda: Frazioni: Aurava, Cosa, Domanins, Pozzo, Provesano, Rauscedo. www.richinvelda.it
San Martino al Tagliamento: Frazioni: Arzenutto, Postoncicco, Sant’Osvaldo www.comune.sanmartinoaltagliamento.pn.it
San Quirino: Frazioni: Sedrano, San Foca, Roiatta, Sospisio. www.comune.sanquirino.pn.it
San Vito al Tagliamento: Frazioni: Carbona, Gleris, Ligugnana, Prodolone, Savorgnano, Braida Bottari, Casabianca, Rosa. www.comune.san-vito-al-tagliamento.pn.it
Sequals: Frazioni: Lestans, Solimbergo. www.comune.sequals.pn.it
Sesto al Reghena: Frazioni: Bagnarola, Marignana, Ramuscello, Banduzzo, Borgo della Siega, Borgo di Sotto, Borgo Magredo, Borgo Sacile, Braida, Braidacurti, Casette, Fratticelle, Melmosa, Mure, Venchieredo, Versiola, Vissignano. www.comune.sesto-al-reghena.pn.it
Spilimbergo: Frazioni: Barbeano, Baseglia, Gaio, Gradisca, Istrago, Tauriano, Vacile, Brindisi, Bussolino, Casasola, La Favorita, Navarons. www.comune.spilimbergo.pn.it
Tramonti di Sopra: Frazioni: Chievolis, Redona, Chiarsuela, Inglagna, Maleon, Pradiel, Pradis di Tramonti, Quas, Selva, Staligial, Valentinis, Frasseneit, Tronconere. www.comune.tramonti-di-sopra.pn.it
Tramonti di Sotto: Frazioni: Tramonti di Mezzo, Campone, Beloz, Cleva, Faidona, Muinta, Sclaf, Sghittosa, Sialin, Tamarat, Tridis, Valent, Zanon, Palcoda, San Vincenzo. www.comune.tramonti-di-sotto.pn.it
Travesio: Frazioni: Molevana, Toppo, Usago, Zancan. www.comune.travesio.pn.it
Vajont: (no web site listed)
Valvasone: Frazioni: Casamatta, Pozzo Dipinto, Ponte Tagliamento, Torricella. www.comune.valvasone.pn.it
Vito d’Asio: Frazioni: Anduins, Casiacco, Pielungo, S. Francesco, Battaias, Cedolins, Celante di Vito, Fruins, Marinis, Paveon, Reonis, Selets, Valentinis.www.comune.vitodasio.pn.it
Vivaro: Frazioni: Basaldella, Tesis. www.comune.vivaro.pn.it
Zoppola: Frazioni: Castions, Cusano, Murlis, Orcenico Inferiore, Ovoledo, Poincicco, Cevraia, San Valentino. www.comune.zoppola.pn.it
