Aunt Anna’s Memories, Part Four

“Not being successful in obtaining a visa for his bride, he came to the States alone and worked for two more years, returning to Italy and to Mama circa 1900. He stayed more than a year, bough farm land and initiated excavation for a house. His heart was there but opportunity was here and by 1902 he was back in Pittsburgh. Their first offspring, Assunta (Sue) was born on July 14, 1902. He continued to arrange plans for Mams and baby to join him. Mama was reluctant, fearful of the voyage, but eventually, in 1904, they disembarked at a Boston pier, after 30 days on stormy seas and unrelenting seasickness. A train rode them to New York City and then another on to Pittsburgh where Papa awaited them anxiously and relieved at their arrival.

Mama made friends with other Italians but nevertheless felt the language barrier when shopping for groceries and commodities. The living conditions and air pollution were adverse to her health. She was frequently ill, needed assistance with ordinary household duties, and could not care for or look after Sue. Papa worked extraordinary hours and provided her with a maid as needed. After 4 years of doctoring and no improvement in her health – Pittsburgh was a dirty, smoky, city because of the numerous and huge steel mills – her doctor recommended she go back to Italy for native air. This was an unexpected and great blow, emotionally and financially, to Papa. Being the provident, caring husband and father, he allowed that she and Sue go in 1908 while he remained to work here.

The following year he joined them in Castel di Sangro and continued to build their house – a 3 story structure excavated from a mountainside using dynamite. It was built of stone and mortar, so strong, it defied the bombings of the Germans during WWII and is still sound today.

The ground floor, of dirt, was used to shelter their animals – usually a donkey, a pig, two goats, and a small flock of sheep, perhaps 12 to 18. A tall wooden granary was against one wall, a small wooden bin was for dry beans or corn which sometimes were also stored in burlap sacks. Firewood was stacked there, also. Farming tools and equipment were against the opposite wall.

The second floor was one vast room with terracotta and ceramic tile border. It served as kitchen, dining room, and bedroom. A high and wide fireplace was its focal point. It was used for cooking and heating. (I have a tiny scar on my left temple from having fallen against the paracenare [fireguard] , really ash-guard, when I was 3 or 4 years old.) A white-stone staircase led to this floor. Upon entering the room, a niche on the left wall held a receptacle of water for cooking, drinking, and washing face and hands. The water was carried in from a fountain in the piazza below. The laundry was washed at the river bank away from our house.

During the twelve days before Christmas, the water cask was placed on the floor and a Creche [Nativity scene] made in the alcove. Louie (Luigi), Marie and I would go to the woods in search of and gather the greenest, smoothest mosses to lay in front and around the stones and rocks that would form the manger. We tried to simulate a brook and a lake with tinfoil. Mama would provide the figurines of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Each morning during those twelve days bagpipers came to our street, stopped in front of each house, and provided music. I can still recall their melodious tunes. Mama would compensate them with contributions of food or money.”

Okay, so Louie, officially Luigi, is my grandpa. I’m pretty sure that Aunt Marie is still kicking, marbles and all. This is awful, but I’m actually not positive if she’s the one who was at my wedding. Dancing the hokey pokey and everything, more than 100 years old. So amazing to me, to read/type this, and then think, hey, I know these people!