About Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950
Hurley, Wis. (1913-1950)

La Nostra Terra, Our Land, and Iron County News

Launched as a weekly Italian-language newspaper serving the town of Hurley, La Nostra Terra debuted on January 23, 1904. Touted as the first Italian newspaper in the state by its editor, proprietor and Italian immigrant, Frank Marta, the title was introduced as "a small, weekly periodical with which we can bring forth our little contribution towards the material and moral wellbeing of our community. We believe that by establishing the small periodical we will cover the gap felt here amongst us Italians." This first, four-page issue set the standard for the content that would be featured each week. The offerings in Italian included news items relating to Italy, Italian political or national events, the Vatican, information on transatlantic ocean travel, and serialized Italian novels. The newspaper also offered in both Italian and English local news items and events in Iron County, comments and opinions, and advertisements for local vendors.

Italian immigrants had first started settling in Wisconsin in the late 19^th century. In 1890, 1,123 Italians had made the state their home and that number doubled by 1900. Most of the new immigrants had arrived from southern Italy and Sicily, and they were seeking work in urban factories. Others, however, moved to northern towns like Hurley where mining and lumbering opportunities beckoned.

In 1908, the newspaper added the tagline "Corriere Poplare del Nordvest," followed by the English translation, "Italian National Weekly Paper of the Northwest," to its masthead. In 1913, the newspaper's title, scope, and intended audience changed dramatically. While still promoting itself as a weekly "family journal," the audience was expanded to include all residents of Hurley and the Iron County. The new title appears in bold print: Our Land, preceded by "La Nostra Terra." A message from the editor, most of which is missing from the damaged copy, references the hope for the paper to continue to meet the needs of its subscribers.

The September 20, 1913 issue introduces the new editor, Fritz A. Emunson, and officially notes the change of ownership that had occurred years prior. The following issue boasts the new title, Iron County News, with the subheading "Formerly La Nostra Terra." Emunson addressed the change, stating that it had occurred for aesthetic and logistical reasons, while promising continued availability of the Italian pages "for the benefit of our Italian friends." Notwithstanding this promise and the extended length of the paper, subsequent issues in 1913 provide no articles or advertisements in Italian.

With the release of the first issue of 1916, the News eliminated the subheading "Formerly La Nostra Terra." At this point any connection with the original La Nostra Terra – its purpose and audience – was lost. The paper, now fully in English, nevertheless offers a snapshot of a changing community and of noteworthy events in American history as seen from the perspective of those who lived through the events of WWI and America's involvement, presidential and local elections, baseball news, and women's suffrage, to name just a few of the topics it covered.

Provided by: Wisconsin Historical Society