Italian immigrants pioneered Dayton ranching

My friend Grace Ricci is the Dayton Museum Historical Society's treasurer. She's been keeping the books balanced to the penny since the present group formed more than 15 years ago.

Grace is a mother, grandmother and custodian of one of Dayton's historical ranches, also one of the few left in Dayton Valley that hasn't been sold to developers.

Her husband, Joe's, mother, Eliza, and father, Bernardo, were born in Lucca, Italy. They were married in 1912. Bernardo was born in 1877, and moved to Dayton in 1900. He worked for friends who raised vegetables and sold them in Virginia City and Tonopah.

Bernardo built a ranch house on the ranch property in 1912. The Riccis had two sons, Olinto and Joseph. Joe attended Dayton schools, graduating from high school after playing basketball for the Dayton Haymakers. He married Grace Testolin on Nov. 29, 1954, in Fallon.

Grace is one of seven children, all born in Fallon.

Grace and Joe raised commercial Hereford cattle and horses, both dude and riding stock. Crops raised included hay grown in fields irrigated from the Carson River. They had two children, Butch and Joey.

Ricci was the first Dayton ranch to use trucks and tractors, and he pioneered the use of electric power. He was one of the few who didn't lose his ranch during the Depression.

Joe and Butch have since passed on, leaving Grace and her son Joe to follow in his father's footsteps, running the sheep and cattle ranch. They also carry on the Ricci tradition of growing alfalfa for hay to feed their livestock and raising a big garden.

Joe and his wife, Suzanne, have two children, Domenic and Christi - third- generation Dayton natives attending local schools.

Grace is not only an asset to the museum and historical society but has spent a lifetime volunteering in the community, including being a longtime 4-H leader and volunteering for St. Ann's Church.

The Dayton Museum is located on Shady Lane and Logan in Old Town Dayton. It is open during the week at random hours and on weekends beginning in early spring. Call 246-5543 or 246-0441 for details.

n Ruby McFarland is a member of the Dayton Historical Society.