Community Chat

[Mersha]

I came across this vintage photo of Little Italy, Mulberry Street, New York, c.1900 and thought some might enjoy.

Some probably just arrived from Italy via Ellis Island and starting their new lives.  I can't imagine how brave they were to come to a new country, as my family did from Ireland.  They came with hopes and dreams and not much else.

I would love to take a walk down that street and see all the wonderful food and other things they are selling.

[smoochy]

What a rich photograph, full of stories. I love this. 

[Bookplate]

It would certainly be preferable to be out on the street than actually in one of the tenements these poor people had to live in.  This is from Little Italy, late 19th C.

[just bee]

My Italian grandparents were part of that early 20th Century voyage.  They came through Ellis Island and when I visited New York I made sure the island was on my list of places to see.

[KBEANS]

It's funny you post that picture. The San Gennaro Feast is running right now. Tomorrow is its last day. It runs down Mulberry Street.

I actually met my husband of 43 years at that feast. 🥰 

[smoochy]

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@just bee wrote:

My Italian grandparents were part of that early 20th Century voyage.  They came through Ellis Island and when I visited New York I made sure the island was on my list of places to see.

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it's so cool to know that, isn't it. It gives you a visual idea of what daily life was like. And that ocean voyage. My maternal ancestors arrived on the Mayflower, but a couple of them died on the ship. I try to picture that first harsh winter in America for the pilgrims. Ancestry is fascinating. 

[NYCLatinaMe]

Lovely picture @Mersha!. No street vendors anymore, except for the festivals.  The 2023 Feast of San Gennaro ends tomorrow, Sunday September 24.  I didn't go, but I got you a picture from the internet.

[just bee]

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@smoochy wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

My Italian grandparents were part of that early 20th Century voyage.  They came through Ellis Island and when I visited New York I made sure the island was on my list of places to see.

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it's so cool to know that, isn't it. It gives you a visual idea of what daily life was like. And that ocean voyage. My maternal ancestors arrived on the Mayflower, but a couple of them died on the ship. I try to picture that first harsh winter in America for the pilgrims. Ancestry is fascinating. 

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@smoochy 

My father's family was part of that early settlement in America (English and Dutch).  I think it's important to know our history.

Fascinating?  I agree.

[just bee]

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

Lovely picture @Mersha!. No street vendors anymore, except for the festivals.  The 2023 Feast of San Gennaro ends tomorrow, Sunday September 24.  I didn't go, but I got you a picture from the internet.

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@NYCLatinaMe 

And now I want cannoli.

[songbird]

I was born in Italy and lived there till I was abut 8.  My parents weren't immigrants really.  My father was offered a job to teach Mathematics at UCLA.  it was only after my father's death, my mom decided to become a citizen.  Since I was under the age of 16, I automatically became one.   Most Italian immigrants that came around the turn of the 20th century were from the South.  Italy was desperately poor there, while Northern Italy thrived.  The other mass migration was to Argentina.  60% of the population there speak Spanish but are Italian. The rest are immigrants from other European countries.  Argentina, Brazil and the U.S. are counties of immigrants.