Over the years, I have written numerous columns dealing with the Italian-American experience including St. Joachim Church, or as I called it in a column I wrote long ago, "The Jewel of Chambersburg." Here's an article from my files describing the celebration of the laying of the cornerstone on this historic and legendary church.

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.

1921: HONORING MR. REMO

There is something about Chambersburg and the Italian experience that spurs me on for more and more information on that community. The above photo pictures many of Trenton Italian Americans who made an indelible mark on the local history of a remarkable people. Today we are hearing much about Spanish as a second language. When these people came to America, the custom was to go to night school and learn the English language. Many of them did indeed learn the language and went on to be very productive citizens. Just look at some of the surnames in the photo. Many of those in the photo went to back breaking jobs at Roebling, the railroad, or slave like labor on the roads and highways. However, they found the time to work those grueling day jobs and assist in building St. Joachim's Church; the jewel of Chambersburg.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I WAS LUCKY TO LIVE IN CHAMBERSBURG AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE TREATED EACHOTHER LIKE FAMILY. WE HELPED EACHOTHER, PLAYED AND TOLD EVERYONE OUR PROBLEMS, NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS AND WERE IN AND OUT EACHOTHER'S HOUSES CONSTANTLY. ST. JOACHIMS WAS THE CENTER OF RELEGION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE FEAST OF LIGHTS ON BUTLER ST. I CONSTANTLY RECALL ALL THESE THINGS AND THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAD IT IN THOSE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

I MIGHT ADD...MANY YEARS LATTER, WHEN I WORKED THE BURG AS A LETTER CARRIER, THEY WOULD ASK IN ITALIAN "ARE YOU LIZZIE'S SON". THEY REMEMBERED OUR STORE AT 123 MOTT ST.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

JoeB said...

Tom:
My parents and like most of all Grandparents that came to this country to work and improve themselves. Today there are many that receive assistance for free and when your get something for nothing you don't appreciate it. I believe that doing Community Work in return would go along way towards repaying for what you get.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Tom Glover said...

YOU TWO GUYS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALSO A FRIENDLY FRONT PORCH NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERY BODY KNEW EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE ALL RUSHED TO HELP ANY FAMILY IN TROUBLE.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

TO JOEB.....YOU BETTER BELIEVE, I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ERA WHEN THERE WERE NO FREE STUFF. NO FOOD STAMPS, NO WELLFARE, NOTHING FREE. EVERYONE WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDED STREET CLEANING, HEAVY ROAD WORK, FACTORIES THAT PAID PEOPLE 18 CENTS AN HOUR, LIKE I GOT FOR WORKING AT STAR PORCELINE. GIRLS GOT 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. MY GRANDFATHER GOT LAID OFF FROM ROEBLINGS RIGHT BEFORE BEING READY TO RETIRE. DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION OF GETTING ANY THING FREE DURING THAT TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR COMMENTING.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I WAS LUCKY TO LIVE IN CHAMBERSBURG AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE TREATED EACHOTHER LIKE FAMILY. WE HELPED EACHOTHER, PLAYED AND TOLD EVERYONE OUR PROBLEMS, NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS AND WERE IN AND OUT EACHOTHER'S HOUSES CONSTANTLY. ST. JOACHIMS WAS THE CENTER OF RELEGION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE FEAST OF LIGHTS ON BUTLER ST. I CONSTANTLY RECALL ALL THESE THINGS AND THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAD IT IN THOSE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

I MIGHT ADD...MANY YEARS LATTER, WHEN I WORKED THE BURG AS A LETTER CARRIER, THEY WOULD ASK IN ITALIAN "ARE YOU LIZZIE'S SON". THEY REMEMBERED OUR STORE AT 123 MOTT ST.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

JoeB said...

Tom:
My parents and like most of all Grandparents that came to this country to work and improve themselves. Today there are many that receive assistance for free and when your get something for nothing you don't appreciate it. I believe that doing Community Work in return would go along way towards repaying for what you get.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Tom Glover said...

YOU TWO GUYS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALSO A FRIENDLY FRONT PORCH NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERY BODY KNEW EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE ALL RUSHED TO HELP ANY FAMILY IN TROUBLE.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

TO JOE B.....YOU BETTER BELIEVE, I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ERA WHEN THERE WERE NO FREE STUFF. NO FOOD STAMPS, NO WELLFARE, NOTHING FREE. EVERYONE WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDED STREET CLEANING, HEAVY ROAD WORK, FACTORIES THAT PAID PEOPLE 18 CENTS AN HOUR, LIKE I GOT FOR WORKING AT STAR PORCELINE. GIRLS GOT 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. MY GRANDFATHER GOT LAID OFF FROM ROEBLINGS RIGHT BEFORE BEING READY TO RETIRE. DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION OF GETTING ANY THING FREE DURING THAT TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR COMMENTING.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

2012: WHY NOT HONOR OUR CITIZENS WHILE THEY LIVE?

After being referred to as the "Hamilton Township Historian" for all these years, and given the fact that Hamilton Township hasn't created an official position of town historian, I will continue to refer to my passion for local history as an "archivist." That being said, I feel that I am qualified to recognize those who rightly should have worn the formal title of "Township Historian." Such was the case with my dear departed friend, Robert "Bob" Simpkins. Bob's historical knowledge of the Hamilton Township area was superb. He had the knowledge and experience of living and learning as a native of Hamilton Township dating back to the early 20th century right up to his passing on at age 102. The same situation surrounds the story of Mr. Bob Immordino; perhaps the most knowledgeable Lawrenceville area historian who devoted his life to the history of the "American-Italian" experience in the local area.
(I referred to it as "Italian-American" and Bob said, No, we are American Italians, and should be referred to as such.)
Even in his 90-plus years of life, Bob had a razor sharp mind with an incredible storehouse of local history. He was an authority on the the history of Lawrenceville, and Princeton's Dorothea House. I am proud to say that both of these dear departed gentlemen were among my very best friends.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM...SPEAKING OF OLD AGE, I HAVE NO TROUBLE RECALLING EVENTS THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO BUT ON OCCASIONS CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. MOST PEOPLE IN THEIR 90'S HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR MEMORY BUT I CAN SAY I GET ALONG PRETTY GOOD. I HOPE BOB IMMORDINO AND YOU GOOD LUCK IN YOUR PROGRAM OF THE PAST. BEST REGARDS.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Tom Glover said...

ME TOO AND MOST OTHERS, RALPH. I'M TOLD IT IS A VERY NORMAL GAME OUR BRAIN PLAYS ON US. I'M FINDING IT WHEN I WATCH "JEOPARDY" EVERY NIGHT. I OFTEN HAVE TROUBLE BRINGING FORTH AN ANSWER AND I KNOW THE ANSWER...JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE PERSON'S NAME, THE PLACE, ETC.

TOM GLOVER

Saturday, January 07, 2012

1934: CHAMBERSBURG LEGEND ANGELO CAMERA OBIT

Angelo Camera was a Chambersburg legend during his lifetime in the city of Trenton. Above is a mini biography of this noted American Italian. Below is a BING map of the home in which he died at 299 Hamilton Avenue. These graphics from the "AMERICAN ITALIAN" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection, along with the every growing "CHAMBERSBURG" folder will be among the many programs to be featured in one of my upcoming Local History and musical presentations in the
"Hamilton Township Public Library Local History Theater:"
a free series of history and music programs to which the public will be cordially invited. Look for the first program in January 2012.

1919: HONORING LOCAL WW I ITALIAN AMERICAN CITIZENS

We had our patriots in all the wars in which the U.S. was involved. These local gentlemen were honored for their service to our country in a special ceremony at Rev. Vito Cordo's St. John's Italian Baptist Church in Chambersburg.

This graphic has been modified to fit within the area of the average monitor. The original was much longer that it was wide, and required much cutting, copying, and pasting.

1975: LEGENDARY ITALIAN COOKING!

I spent two and a half years in Italy when I did my 3 year Army Security Agency assignment during the mid 1950's. Talk about a fox in a chicken coop! I was already a fan of the Italian cuisine long before I reached draft age. During my time in Italy, I spent more time eating in the local Italian restaurants than I did at the PX where Italian food was only an occasional treat. I have always been a lover of all sorts of pasta dishes. Back in the 1940's when we played sandlot baseball over in Plaag's Grove, my fellow Yankee fan and buddy the late Alex Bencivengo would bring over a slice of one of Mom Bencivengo's home made "ah-beetz" as Alex referred to them. The operating word: HEAVENLY! Turn me loose on many Fridays and you will find me ordering a tomato pie from Ricky DeLorenzo's true old fashioned "pizza" restaurant on Hamilton Avenue. The charming graphics above show the dedication to the art of cooking that is so typical of the Italians in our midst.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....ITALIAN COOKING MAY BE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M STILL AROUND AT MY AGE. DURING THE DEPRESSION YEARS MY MOM COOKED MANY VEGATABLE MEALS AND OTHER DINNERS THAT WERE HEALTHY. MY WIFE LEARNED ALL THAT WHILE WE LIVED WITH MY PARENTS. BEST REGARDS.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

1975: MRS. FORMIDONI REMEMBERS HER EARLY YEARS LIVING IN CHAMBERSBURG

What a fascinating extract! I have managed to salvage part of the ever so short article which has been pieced together from a very worn Trenton Times article. I am currently searching for the other part of this article which is in a collection of miscellaneous clippings relating to Chambersburg. Stay tuned!

*****OCTOBER IS ITALIAN AMERICAN MONTH*****

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I CAN RECALL THE CHAMBERS FARM WELL AND ALL THE MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED THERE IN THE EARLY YEARS. I ALSO KNEW THE FAMILY WHO HAD THE STORE ON THE CORNER OF BUTLER AND SO. CLINTON IN THE 30'S. THEIR NAME WAS AMODIO AND MAY HAVE HAD THE STORE AFTER THE PEOPLE YOU MENTION. ALICE AMODIO WAS AN EARLY GIRL FRIEND OF MINE AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CHAMBERS FIELD WAS A VERY LARGE OPEN SPACE AND THE PEOPLE OF CHAMBERSBURG USED IT FOR MANY OCCASIONS. BEST REGARDS

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Mack said...

Amodios also had a store on E Franklin in Hamilton right near the Trenton border

Thursday, October 06, 2011

1980: WE CALLED IT "IPB;" ITALIAN PEOPLES BAKERY

It took quite a bit of "Photo Shopping" to enhance this ad from the October 1970 Trenton Times celebration of Italian-American History Month. With the drastic and unfortunate shift that has occurred and continues to occur in Trenton's historic Chambersburg section, it is nice to know that this legendary bakery is still holding forth at its Butler Street location. For me personally, one of the heavenly delights is a 12 or 13 inch loaf of IPB's Italian bread with real "Land O Lakes" butter heavily smeared on 3/4 inch slices....then, a heaping dish of spaghetti and meatballs and we get just a touch of Heaven on earth. YUM!

Mack said...

Also referred to as "peoples" as per our habit of shortening things.
Just as Hudson Beer Gardens often referred to as "The Hudson" :)

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...I GO WAY BACK WITH THE BAKERY AND REMEMBER HOW EVERYONE IN THE BURG DEPENDED ON THEM DURING THE TOUGH DEPRESSION YEARS. WE ATE A LOT OF BREAD IN THOSE DAYS, WITH EVERYTHING TO FILL UP. ANOTHER GREAT CHAMBERSBURG PROVIDER. GOD BLESS THEM.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

1980: THE CHIACCHIO FAMILY OF TRENTON

This is another in the series for ITALIAN-AMERICAN HISTORY WEEK. I will be posting numerous articles and photos relating to the illustrious past of the Italians who made their mark in the local area. I never went to Gaetano's on Quaker Bridge Road nor The Buffstone. I did attend dinner at the Marroe Inn and Hudson Gardens over the many years I was in the bearing business and we had an occasion business luncheon at the latter places.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I KNEW THE CHIACCHIO FAMILY WELL, HAVING BEEN BORN ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HUDSON BEER GARDEN ON MOTT STREET. THE FAMILY WORKED TOGETHER WITH TOMMY DOING MOST OF THE BRAIN WORK. I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED WITH GAETANO WORKING THE BAR. HE COULD BARELY SEE WELL AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH DOLLAR BILLS; HOLDING THEM UP IN THE LIGHT TO SEE THEM PROPERLY. ROSE AND MRS. CHIACCHIO DID A GREAT JOB IN THE KITCHEN. THEY WERE AMONG THE BETTER BEER GARDENS IN THE BURG. BEST REGARDS.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

1975: "GODFATHER" RENATO SENSI

Anyone who has been around for the past 4 or 5 decades will recall this remarkable man. Mr. Sensi was a local community activist who selflessly loaned his talents for the good of the community. It would be my guess that many visitors to this blog knew this gentleman.


Mack said...

God Bless our Burg ancestors. They built a nice world for us to grow up in:)

Monday, October 03, 2011

1975: YOUR GRANDFATHER'S CHAMBERSBURG

Perhaps the "AMERICAN-ITALIAN" and "CHAMBERSBURG" folders are the fastest growing folders in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection. I am currently processing many very interesting Chambersburg photos and articles that will bring warm memories to those of us who knew and loved the Chambersburg of just a decade or so ago. "The Burg" has been going through a negative change since the mid-1980's when the neighborhood changed drastically from old line residents who scrubbed their front stoops, swept the gutters in front of their homes and were in the majority of home owners who took pride in where they lived. Over the recent past, all that changed when the old residents moved to the suburbs, many restaurants closed in order to get away from the negatively changing neighborhood with drive by shootings and other unfortunate societal changes.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM...I GUESS I CAN QUALIFY AS BEING AN OLD TIME CHAMBERSBURGER. THE HOUSE I WAS BORN IN ON MOTT ST., HAD GAS FIXTURES FOR LIGHTING AND ALL WE HAD FOR HEATING WAS A COAL STOVE AND CELLER FURNACE. DURING MY TIME THE BURG WAS MOSTLY OCCUPIED BY ITALIANS AND IT WAS LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY WHERE EVERYONE WAS MOSTLY RELATED. I REMEMBER RENATO WELL AND THE MANY GOOD THINGS HE ACCOMPISHED. REGARDS.

Monday, October 03, 2011

Mack said...

Hi Tom:)
No neighborhood on the face of the earth is 100% crime free so there were crimes here and there in the Burg but it was amazingly safe. You could walk the Burg, Franklin Park, and Villa Park at all hours. When the weather was nice we left our front door open so the air would come thru the screen door til 11PM to midnight without even thinking about it. These 2 examples I have just stated are not something I write as a theoretical example. They were literally true. I can see my Mom on the chair with our cat watching TV in the front room with the door open now. And I walked the Burg at all hours for years as my job offered flexible hours. God Bless the Old Burg.
It must be said that today's Burg residents are mostly good folks but there are bad guys there that we just did not have. It is going to take the people themselves demanding safer streets from their elected officials to bring the Burg back. I wish them well:)

Monday, October 03, 2011

Anonymous said...

My kids tell me that I just make things up if I say that I can't recall a shooting or much crime back then in our old neighborhood. But fact was, over in our section there wasn't it just didn't happen.

But things were different and people had different core values. Remember McCafferty Ford leaving keys in the cars nights and weekends.

A lot of what happens is what you accept and expect. My kids think this is normal and has always been the case. That is far from true. Today, a shooting on Randall or Home makes my jaw drop. You would never read that 40 or 50 years ago perhaps with the exception of that serial attacker from Hamilton the preyed on Duck Island way back. But it was not every week, month or year; that was unique.

Ed Millerick

Monday, October 03, 2011

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT, ED. THINK OF PAVLOV'S DOG. WE ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY REACHING THE POINT WHERE WHAT WERE ABOMINABLE SITUATIONS IN FORMER GENERATIONS ARE TODAY BEING PASSED OFF AS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. DECADENCE, PERVERSION, AND CRIME. ARE BEING SPOON FED LITTLE BY LITTLE SO THAT MANY OF THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS THINK THEY ARE NORMAL.

TOM GLOVER

1924 (Ca 1924) HONORING ST. ANTIM0

Thanks to Father Jeff Lee, Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels-Saint Joachim parishes for the correction Father Jeff sent in the comment below. My dear departed friend Bob Immordino who passed on at age 92 said he thought the photo might be of one of Chambersburg's Feast of Lights celebrations. Father Jeff set the record straight. When I received Father's comment, I opened the graphic and "Photo Shopped" it and enhanced the faded background. Lo and behold, that isn't the Virgin Mary in the back of the photo. It is obviously a male who is presumably St. Antimo. Many thanks, Father Jeff; my aim is to correct any and all errors I make in recording historical material.

Jeffrey E. Lee said...

Thanks for the posting. However, I believe that this photo is also in the Our Lady of the Angels-Saint Joachim parish's Centennial Hall and it represents the procession in honor of Saint Antimo. take a closer look at the image among the people. in the early years there were many processions in honor of the blessed virgin particular to towns of origin as well as processions in honor of the saints. thanks for keeping the memories at the forefront.

Peace.
Jeffrey E. Lee, Pastor

Friday, September 23, 2011

Mack said...

What a wonderful little corner of the world it was. And what a nice picture this is. Thanks Tom:)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....THE FEAST OF LIGHTS AS I RECALL WAS TO HONOR THE MADONNA OF CASANDRINO. THAT WAS ALWAYS ON BUTLER ST ALONG WITH THE PROCESSION THROUGHOUT CHAMBERSBURG. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE FEAST IN ITALY WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS WITH DELTA AIRLINES. OUR RELATIVES IN CASANDRINO WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THE FEAST AND I WITNESSED THE CELEBRATION WITH THEM. REGARDS. ALSO TOM, IN THAT PHOTO ABOVE, I WAS JUST ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD AND ONE OF THOSE KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN ME. GOD BLESS THE OLD BURG.
Saturday, September 24, 2011