05/03/2026
Sunday Funday…
As we get ready to hold our annual fundraiser dinner
Blue Jean Ball IV in June, were highlighting jeans over the next month.
Pictured here in 1949 is Angelo”Nick” Jacono (1889-1961) during the 49er Days Fest. Similar to today’s Park Fete, 49’ers
Days was held in the 30’s and 40’s with parades, games, food, antics and most of all, dressing like a gold miner honoring the history and heritage of the Gold Rush of 1849.
Nicks doing a pretty good job too, because I believed it when I saw him.
The birth place of denim may have been France but it wasn’t until Levi Strauss moved to San Francisco during the gold rush to start a western branch of his family’s dry good business that the sturdy cotton fabric took off. One of Levi’s customers was a tailor, called Jacob Davis from Reno, Davis had bought denim fabric from Strauss for his business where he made rugged items like tents wagon covers and horse blankets. Davis was commissioned by a gold mining company to create a trouser which was strong and could withstand hard work.
FUN FACT: The word “jeans” comes from the French word “Genes,” which is the name of the city of Genoa.
Original pictures taken by Dugo’s Photo Service and highlighted with color.
