The Brolio family
Family legend has it that Guiseppe Broglio and Alessandrina Frosca may have both lived in Issaquah just after their separate arrivals to this country, but as a couple their arrival in this area from Illinois is documented in 1914.
Joe, as he was called, first worked at the Neukirchen Mill and later as a jack-of-all-trades around town. He was born in Italy in 1867 and was apparently well-educated since he spoke several languages, but he was also well-versed in hard work.
Alessandrina, who was known as Mary, was a homebody. In her 25 years in Issaquah, she never learned to speak English and seldom left the house that Joe built on the corner of Second Avenue and Donnelly Lane. But her home was a gathering spot for other Italian families, and she loved to cook for her own family.
The couple had three sons and a daughter-Bill, Julius, Silvio and Letitia. Only Julius remained in Issaquah. His daughters, Donna Graves and Mae Brolio, live here. Donna’s daughter and grandchildren are also local residents, with grandson Brian Stevens being the fourth generation of Brolio descendents attending Issaquah schools.
