1921: AMERICAN-ITALIANS aka ITALIAN-AMERICANS: A WELL DESERVED HERITAGE

I spent over an hour piecing this graphic together in order to allow for comfortable reading. The original was on the front page of the Trenton Evening Times and on column spanned the entire page from top to bottom with a continuation on page 4 which had the balance of the column spread out over multiple columns. To my Italian-American visitors, you will be proud to read of the remarkable accomplishments your ancestors made when the came to America for a better life. This graphic is quite apropos as we confront differing views on immigration in this 21st century. FASCINATING article and quite informative.

1935: MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN AMERICAN SPORTSMEN CLUB DEER HUNT

It took a bit of cutting, pasting, enhancing and focusing, but we finally have an interesting photo of some of the area's more prominent members of the Italian American society. There will doubtless be visitors who are related or acquainted with one or more of these members of the IASC.

1994: ROBERT "BOB" IMMORDINO - A TRUE HISTORIAN

The fascinating graphic took some time to re-format and put together. It tells the little know story of the city of Trenton as the very first American city to manufacture spaghetti and noodles. The gentleman's name was Giovanni Baptiste Sartori; a devout Roman Catholic and also instrumental in the founding of St. John's Roman Catholic Church on Lamberton Street in 1714. St. John's ultimately became Sacred Heart Parish at the intersections of South Broad, Centre Street, and Greenwood Avenue. 

Bob Immordino was a dear friend and true student of American-Italian history in the Mercer County area. He was also a viable contributor to Dorothea's House in Princeton. When Bob Immordino, Maury Perilli and I got together at one of our monthly lunches, local history took us well past a normal lunch hour. The aforementioned gentlemen were true local legends in the history of the Italian Americans from the early years. Bob took issue with the term "Italian American," insisting it should be referred to as "American-Italians." I have been using that term ever since.

1906: "LA MANO NERA" ALIVE AND WELL IN TRENTON

Shades of the move "The Godfather" where that neighborhood shake up artist terrified the honest men of the neighborhood with threats of violence. Many of these criminals were seen on the streets where new immigrants tried to make a life for themselves. The above article from 1906 tells of Black Hand activity in Trenton.

1933: THE CASA LIDO-A CITY OF TRENTON LEGEND

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....AS I RECALL, THE PONTANI FAMILY ALSO OWNED THE LIQUOR STORE ON HAMILTON AVENUE NEAR CHAMBERS FOR QUIT SOME TIME. REGARDS.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Omad said...

Is this the same liquor store owned by the Lucidis in the
1940s? They were three doors down from our restaurant.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Anonymous said...

I just assumed that such names were associated with the town from which the family had it's origins, perhaps a coastal fishing village? Or, perhaps to give a simple place in Trenton some "zing" or flair. As a kid I was always puzzled that the Hudson Beer Garden was nothing like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Where were the toga draped young ladies playing harps amid trays of grapes, figs and other exotic fruit?

Ed Millerick

Saturday, June 23, 2012

omad said...

LOL Ed

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Anonymous said...

Tom:

Descendants of the Pontani family might be able to tell you the origin. The Pontani brothers run a Jewelry store at five points in Mercervill where the old Exxon Station was.

Regrards

Mike Kuzma

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The Pontani family brought their exquisite Italian cuisine to center city Trenton ad immediately found that the new restaurant found favor with citizens from far and near. As the success piled on, the restaurant hosted many local service clubs, civic associations, and just plain citizens. Local talent also found a performing audience at the late great Casa Lido. I would be interested to learn why they chose "beach house" as the name of the restaurant, given the fact that the nearest beach to Trenton is some 35 or 40 miles east.

1936; GERARDO RADICE

With apologies for the very poor quality of the photo of the late Mr. Radice, founder of the San Felese Society. Note the very prominent Italian names in the graphic

1933: ROMULUS RIMO

Mr. Rimo is still another notable person in the annals of Trenton history. His son, Romulus ("Rom") Rimo was a member of the Hamilton High class of 1949.

1933: The Blue Dragonettes Girls' Club

That has to be a relative of Larry Penardi in this bevy of daughters from the American-Italian community. I would guess that there will be a number of sons and daughters of Italia who are visitors to this site who will recognize many of the other names of the "Dragonette" ladies in the photo.

Larry Penardi was very close to the DiNatale family. I remember Larry when I was a boy hanging around Rocky DiNatale's garage on Edwin Avenue in Hamilton. I would meet up with him again some 25 years later working together in our St. Anthony annual Spaghetti dinners. Larry was a class act.