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Matt Burlando
1886-1930
Block 9, Lot C11
Matt Burlando was born in Torino (Turin), Italy in 1886. He came to California and married Lupie Apalatea, who was the daughter of Francisco Apalatea. After their marriage, they moved up the Kern River to one of the Edison Camps and Matt worked as a blacksmith there. They had 4 children: Isabell Blanche "Betsy", Johnny, Billy, Claud (aka "Skeeziks").
After the birth of their 1st child, Betsy, Matt decided he wanted to go into business for himself. He started what was later known as Fairview Lodge in the 1920s. After living in a tent for some time they built their first house. This served as a house, dining hall, and store. Lupie would serve meals to Edison workers as well as tourists that had discovered the riches of the area. Matt also started burro packing business, taking people into the back country. A part of their house would later be used for the now famous McNally's Steak House.
In 1915, they sold the Lodge and purchased his father-in-law's, Francisco Apalatea's 160-acre ranch, 3 miles north of Old Kernville. Matt Burlando died in 1930 and Lupie followed in 1955. Their son, Bill Burlando still resides on Burlando Road in Kernville.
The Old Kernville Historic Cemetery Tour was researched and created by Kern River Valley Historical Society members Jenny Hanley, and Richard Rowe as part of the 2010 Kern River Valley Historical Society Annual History Days, celebrating the history of the Kern River Valley.
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