The small village of Tovo

Tovo, which runs along the Gallavesa stream, was the site of many production sites that exploited its rich waters.

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The small village of Tovo

Tovo, which runs along the Gallavesa stream, was the site of many production sites that exploited its rich waters, first with the water wheels and then, from the early twentieth century, with the electric power units. The memory of these activities is still evidenced by the street toponymy (Maglio Street, Torchio Street, Folla Street) and by some structures, now transformed into homes.

The Gallavesa is the longest watercourse of the upper San Martino Valley and its valley descends from Erve to the Adda. Over the centuries its flow has dug a canyon of rare beauty for geologists and naturalists who, in its rocks, have discovered important ammonites and fossil shells.

Development

In the 19th century, the human presence around Gallavesa is very intense and transforms the Tovo into one of the driving centers of the economy of the San Martino Valley. At that time along the river, we find several grain mills, silk spinning machines and a press, all driven by hydraulic wheels of different sizes. Later on, the forge of a blacksmith, some lathes for wood, workshops for the production of bone buttons, spindles and small parts for silk spinning will also appear.

The advent of the electric units will favor the replacement of the bulky hydraulic wheels, always in need of maintenance, with the engines. The water mills went into slow and gradual deterioration. However, the Gallavesa stream remained a protagonist of the industrial activity for a long time: as many as three units, installed on its course, produced electricity until almost 2000 for important factories in the area.

To follow, following the course of the stream, the mill to water with attached house, then transformed into a hammer. The mate of the Offredi, remains the last witness of these productive activities, with the whole belt transmission system and has moved the hammer for the production of billhooks and scythes until 1981.