An immigrant’s story that ends in a mystery
PROFILE NO. 131
Francesco (Frank) Berardi, 46
• Born: July 19, 1884 (Mangone, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy)
• Died: October 27, 1930 (Section 3, Lock 6, Thorold)
• Cause of Death: Drowned
• Occupation: Handyman, Department of Railways & Canals
• Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ont. (Section JJ, Plot 188, Grave 1)
The coroner’s jury came back and declared “That Frank Berrardi [Berardi] came to his death by accidental drowning on October 27th in the Welland Ship Canal at Lock 6.” It recommended a guard rope or cable be placed to prevent this type of accident from happening again. The death was somewhat of a mystery for which no one could seem to find an answer – what happened and how did Francesco Berardi end up drowning in only four feet of water?
Francesco Berardi had spent the majority of his life in Canada. He had travelled back and forth to Canada for work at least four times between 1902 and 1926, and according to one family story, at some point he headed as far west as British Columbia to work in lumbering. In the 10 years before his death, Berardi had settled in Thorold. He also seems to have maintained friendships there with others from Mangone, Italy. On the 1926 Passenger Manifest entry for Berardi it states he was going to a friend’s in Thorold (“Frank Planteri”, a.k.a Plantedi) who was residing at 96 Gardiner St. (Plantedi himself would also die in an accident on the canal in July the following year.) Furthermore, at the time of Berardi’s accident, he was boarding with fellow Mangonian, Frank (and Teresa) Bocchinfuso, at their home and store at 12 Albert St. East in Thorold.
Mangone is in southern Italy, 325 km southeast of the port city of Naples. Working outside the country was a way to escape for many men who experienced considerable hardship both before and following the First World
War. In 1923, Berardi received his Canadian citizenship, possibly part of a long-term plan to permanently settle in Canada with his spouse and children. Berardi made his final trip home to Italy in November 1925. He returned to Canada in October the following year, two months after his wife had given birth to their third child, Ernesto.
In October 1930, Berardi and his partner, Stanley Fish, were chipping at the concrete on the east side of Lock 6. It was after sunset as they were working the 4 p.m. to midnight shift. Berardi was having issues with his chipping gun and left at about 7 p.m. to go to the other side of the lock to get another one. After an hour and a half, his workmates wondered why he had not returned; some thought maybe he had left for home, while others thought he had gone for his lunch break. These thoughts vanished as they noticed his cap and lunch box still on the construction site. A search was conducted. Berardi would have had to walk across an eight-foot wide walkway to a six-foot high wall to get from the east to the west side of the lock. After he could not be found, they dragged the water in the adjacent gate recess. It was in this recess, in only four feet of water, that his body was found. There were no witnesses to the accident. It was assumed that as Berardi crossed over the canal lock and he somehow slipped and fell into the water. He was not a swimmer and must not have got to the wall in time to save his life. It was also suggested that if he tripped he may have hit his head and been knocked unconscious.
It is believed Francesco Berardi’s sister and other relations lived in Niagara Falls. That may be the reason why his remains were buried in Fairview Cemetery in Niagara Falls rather than Thorold’s Lakeview Cemetery, which was closer to his residence at the time of death.
His wife Chiarina – and sons Antonio, Vincenzo, and Ernesto – later immigrated to Canada. It was not until the 1950s that they were all reunited. The eldest son, Antonio, later returned to Italy.
This article is part of a series remembering men whose lives were lost in the construction of the Welland Ship Canal. To learn more visit www.stcatharines.ca/canalworkersmemorial.