Snapshots of the histories of the Boggeri and Pohl Families in Hughson

The History of Hughson: The People, The Places, The Traditions of a Small Town

The August 2019 meeting of the Hughson Historical Society welcomed Angela Pajaro and Janet Pohl-Schollenberg to share the history of their families in Hughson. Louis and Victoria Boggeri family and the Deronda and Alice Pohl family were honored by the Hughson Historical Society at its annual fundraising dinner in August 2019.

The Boggeri Family

Sandro and Arolido Chiesa came to the United States in 1903 from Selvangassi, Italy, encountering New York City and culture shock. According to their great-granddaughter, Angela Pajaro, the two brothers were amazed at the number of churches…and at aerosol cans, subsequently covering the backseat of the car with shaving cream.

Victoria was known for her kindness and compassion, still talked about generations later.

The family worked together to dig out the basement in the Boggeri Hughson farmhouse, leading to legendary stories of family gatherings in that basement centered on food in true Italian tradition.

But on ordinary days, the women worked at the cutting shed. The men worked tirelessly. “Every success they accomplished, they accomplished together.”

Of the 13 descendants of Louis Boggeri, eight still live on the original acreage purchased in 1918.

The Pohl Family

Deronda and Alice Pohl, along with her brother David Pohl, moved from Prussia to Missouri, to Texas, and finally, to Hughson. One move was motivated by neighbors who threatened violence against their dry-goods store during World War II because of their German accent. The family survived the depression by sewing sacks for beans in exchange for free beans each week.

Deronda Pohl played piano, even on the rooftop, while another well-known Hughson resident, Sam Vaughn, played bass.

Martin Pohl designed a peach grader and made other advancements for large-scale farming. Janet suspected her ancestors might look at the advancements and say, “My goodness, son, what have you done with our farm!”

Originally published in the Hughson Chronicle & Denair Dispatch on August 27. 2019. The Hughson Chronicle & Denair Dispatch is part of MidValley Publications - committed to the power of the positive press. Reprinted with Permission.

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