International Industrialist, Shipper, Trader and Land Developer

The story of the Rosasco brothers, William and Albert, is like a movie, as they moved about the world, taking advantage of multiple, international business opportunities.

(Submitted by John Appleyard)

One of Northwest Florida's more unique family trees belongs to the Rosascos', industrialists, shippers, traders, land developers and more. The story began in Italy, in 1825, with the birth of Paul Rosasco, who became skilled as a mariner, came to the United States, married a lovely Massachusetts lady and then set himself up in the China trade, sailing out of California. The young family had two sons, William Sebastian and Albert T., and the father's enterprise became increasingly successful.

But then the mother died. Heartbroken, the father sold his business and, with his sons, returned to Italy. There he remarried and had a third son whom he called Peter. And so things stood into the 1870s.

By now the elder sons were grown, and both resolved to return to the land of their birth. They came, then separated briefly, the one finding employment in Mississippi, the other in Philadelphia. And then Pensacola entered the story.

In the late 1870s, one of the new and successful mill owners operating locally was an Italian named Perodi. How he learned of the presence of Rosasco is not known, but wishing to hear something of "the old country" he extended an invitation to the young man in Mississippi to come for a visit. The youth did, and a fast friendship quickly emerged. Anxious to be helpful, Perodi offered to give financial backing to the two young men if they wished to enter the lumber business here. The pair promptly accepted. Within months their enterprise was under way, with lands leased (and later purchased) along the Blackwater River. Their firm, called Rosasco Brothers, Pitch Pine Exporters, found ready markets, and soon the brothers were among the rising financial stars of the region.

William married the daughter of Adolphine Bronnum, Danish immigrants who by now were operating the Bagdad Sash & Door Company, and a new family line developed.

In 1885 the brothers elected to make a major change in their business. Albert returned to Genoa, the family's native city; and the younger half brother, Peter, came to the United States to become part of the enterprise here. Back in Italy, Albert opened the Rosasco Brothers' continental sales office, and then the Rosasco Brothers Steamship Company. Through the one the firm channeled huge quantities of yellow pine to Italy, which was just then developing as a united sovereign nation. The trademark GENOA PINE became famous as a recognition of quality. Albert prospered as did the others; soon he was able to build a huge mansion which rivaled the homes of the old nobility (just after he left the Presidency of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt visited Italy and stayed at the Rosasco home).

In Santa Rosa County the Rosasco interests soared. Their Bay Point Mill, acquired from the Perodi's, was new and modern, and their 68,000 acres of cutting forest were well managed. To house the staff for their mill the family created a village near the river, close to the huge waterfront antebellum mansion which was built there. The firm's steamers (the Unione, the Escambia, and the Santa Rosa) sailed regularly, carrying Italian manufactured goods westward and pine products to the east. Family legend reports that often, in summer months, the arrival of a Rosasco vessel was the signal for a social gala on board, attended by the community's elite. In 1904 Peter Rosasco became the mill manager, while the older brothers, the one usually in Italy, branched into still other ventures, including banking and land development. Up to World War I nothing seemed to stand in their path to success. But when the war came, disaster struck. First there was an expropriation of their vessels by an unfriendly, Italian government. Then, in 1916, a terrible hurricane swept across the area, downing millions of feet of the Rosasco's standing timber.

Reluctantly, the Brothers changed courses. They sold portions of their woodland, keeping other acreage for land development (which would become highly profitable). At war's end new vessels were obtained, and the family continued as lumbering agents, helping local mills find markets in Southern Europe. Even in Depression years the family fared well, and was able to assist local mill owners. When World War II struck, the misfortunes of the Rosasco shipping fleet were repeated, and so, after half a century, the family abandoned that portion of their business.

By this time, the original Rosasco brothers were retiring or dead, and a new generation had taken charge. Into the 1990s their roles became those of financiers, land planners and developers, with heavy emphasis on community service, especially in Milton and Santa Rosa County. Regrettably, the riverfront village had disappeared, and the mansion, which had stood vacant for some years, burned and is no longer part of the community's setting. In 1993 large portions of the old river front mill site were sold to other potential developers.

William S. Rosasco is buried in 3 North Section 33.His brother Albert had resided in Genoa, Italy many years; he is buried in Genoa.