San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1482-1483
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/20/2009
LOUIS CALESTINI
An enterprising realtor of Stockton, Louis Calestini, as a former member of the firm of Triolo & Calestini, and more recently of the Louis Calestini Real Estate Company, has become one of the active promoters of country and city property in this locality. A native Californian, he was born in San Francisco, Cal., on November 15, 1884, a son of Luige and Clementina (Reboli) Calestini, both natives of Italy. Luige Calestini came to California in early days and conducted a grocery store in Stockton.
At the age of six, Louis Calestini was taken back to Italy to be educated, and for eight years attended the grammar and high schools of Parma. After finishing high school, he became a special writer on a weekly newspaper in Spezia, writing special articles on the "Life of the Students." In 1902 he returned to America and located in New York City, where he worked for the Butterick Pattern Company for two years. At the end of this time he came to California and became the receiving clerk for the Italian-Swiss Colony Company in San Francisco, which position he occupied until 1908, when he became a real estate salesman. Close attention to business and hard work brought him considerable success, and three years later, in 1911, a partnership was formed with John P. Triolo in the real estate and insurance business under the firm name of Triolo & Calestini. Success crowned their intelligent efforts; and many large real estate deals, in city and country property, were consummated by them. During the past five years, they erected and sold twelve business blocks, among them being the following: the Realty Building, the Japanese Theater, a four-story Japanese lodging house, the Nippon Hospital. They have also built thirty fine residences and a number of apartment houses throughout the city. They erected seven buildings on Lafayette street between Hunter and Center streets. Some of their buildings they have sold the second time at a handsome profit. The J.E. Penny block on East Main street netted the owner a profit of $9,000 in two years. They sold the Bronx Hotel and the Masonic Temple building, and the Hodgkin block, on the southeast corner of Eldorado and Weber. They also sold over 200 lots in the business section of Stockton, on which business blocks have been erected. The two-story business block on South California street, where their office was located, was owned by them. Country property also received their attention, as they bought, developed and sold many dairy and fruit ranches throughout the county. At one time they owned a seventy-acre dairy ranch on the Calaveras River near Linden, which was stocked with one of the best herds of Holstein cows in the county. The firm ranked among the first in the city and county. Recently Mr. Calestini withdrew from the firm, and is now doing business under the firm name of Louis Calestini Real Estate Company.
Mr. Calestini's marriage united him with Miss Mary Gianlli, a native Californian, and they are the parents of two children, Leo and Elma. Mr. Calestini has recently returned from a fifteen-months' trip to Italy. He was accompanied on the trip by his family, visiting places of interest throughout Europe.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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