Embedded Files
Francis was born April 7, 1894 in Arca, Spain. In 1907 he stowed away on a freighter bound for South America.
According to the story, while the freighter was in the harbor of Rio De Janero, Francis escaped the watching eyes of the ships cook, slipped over the side and swam to shore. For the next four years he worked for coffee plantations, coffee refineries, hotels and restaurants. He studied coffee from bean to brew.
Francis moved to New York in 1910. The story goes that his experience in South America had given him a 'sixth' sense about roasting and brewing coffee. After two years from his arrival in New York, He had learned English and landed a job at the Majestic Hotel in Manhattan. In a few years he had saved enough money to open a coffee house on Pearl St. in Lower Manhattan. His experience with coffee growing and brewing gave him the ability to select beans and roasting procedures that produced a quality cup that appealed to the American habit of coffee. His Brazilian Coffee House prospered and he opened a second on West 43rd Street.
Francisco Laredo married Mary Collins. They had three children. Gerard was the oldest, born in 1919. Dolores was born on January 13, 1922. And little sister, Lorraine was born in 1925.
Frank returned to Arca, Spain on a visit in about 1978, returning to the house in which he was born and that night died.
The house in Arca. Frank's place of birth and death
Frank in Wyndanch, LI with his wine.
Google Sites
Report abuse