Above is a very small chronological listing of just a few of the subjects from the *"AMERICAN-ITALIAN" folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Collection.The coming of the fall and winter season brings my summer 2012 music programs at the Kuser Farm Gazebo to a close. With the seasonal change comes change in venue the Kuser Farm Mansion where I will be presenting my history and music programs to those citizens who are interested. I have been collecting. digitizing enhancing and saving local historical bits and pieces of local history in subjects ranging from "A" (Abbott) to "Y;" (Yardville.) I will be presenting some the the vast collection of folders I have amassed over the past 50 years and are a part of what is becoming a huge database of local history in the Local History Collection of the Hamilton Township Public Library. Above a preview of coming attractions that I have have stored in my computer for just one of the future program which will be presented as an on-screen presentation at the Kuser Farm Theater. The large green space at the bottom of the graphic beginning with "An on-screen presentation..." will be replaced with the date and time which this program will be presented. Based on the number of citizens who saw the first Chambersburg presentation of a few years ago, I am sure there will be an interest in this up-dated version which will also touch on many of the articles and photos I have in an allied computer folders entitled, "American-Italian" and another "St. Joachim's Parish." My interest in the Italian families who came to America and settled in a country that at the time was not too cordial in welcoming these foreigners into the area is a fascinating story. Included are stories of how they labored at back-breaking jobs on the railroad, John A. Roebling's factory, and other labor intensive jobs, but still managed to go to night school to learn the English language, and volunteer their time to help to build a church of their own.
*My dear friend, the late Italian historian Bob Immordino corrected me many years ago when I used the then-common term "Italian-American." Bob asked me to please use the term
"AMERICAN-ITALIAN," and I do that to this very day.
RALPH LUCARELLA said...
HI TOM...MANY OF THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS IN CHAMBERSBURG STAYED IN THE NEW YORK AREA AFTER ARRIVING AT ELLIS ISLAND. MY BROTHER LOU AND SISTER ROSE WERE BORN IN NEW YORK AND MANY MADE THEIR WAY TO TRENTON TO SEEK WORK. ROEBLINGS WAS THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER BUT MY FATHER FOUND WORK IN THE POTTERY INDUSTRY. I CAN RECALL MOST OF THE FAMILES DURING THE 20'S AND THROUGHOUT MANY YEARS. REGARDS.
HI TOM...MANY OF THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS IN CHAMBERSBURG STAYED IN THE NEW YORK AREA AFTER ARRIVING AT ELLIS ISLAND. MY BROTHER LOU AND SISTER ROSE WERE BORN IN NEW YORK AND MANY MADE THEIR WAY TO TRENTON TO SEEK WORK. ROEBLINGS WAS THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER BUT MY FATHER FOUND WORK IN THE POTTERY INDUSTRY. I CAN RECALL MOST OF THE FAMILES DURING THE 20'S AND THROUGHOUT MANY YEARS. REGARDS.
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