For Italian immigrants, the village took care of its own

It was always important for families to keep their personal issues in the family. When something went wrong, or a difficult time was encountered; the family came together to help each other. This attitude of self-reliance was instilled in the cultural practices that many of the immigrants understood from their own family experiences back in the villages and towns that they left in Italy.

So here in the new community that was now their village, the attitudes regarding self-reliance remained powerful incentives to always take care of the necessities first.

Bills were always paid when due, especially the rent. Since very few families had checking accounts, cash or a bank check was the common currency. From tim eto time, the local shopkeeper might agree to hold over a purchase for a week or two, but generally, it was considered unacceptable to have debts.

Utility bills were paid in person downtown at the utility company headquarters: United Illuminating on Temple Street, the Southern New England Telephone Co. on Church Street and the New Haven Gas Co. on Crown Street; or, there were payment outlets at the major departments stores such as Shartenberg’s

and Malley’s.

At St. Michael, the boys and girls received first communion on a Saturday morning in

May, and at the end of the month, the May Crowning took place, an event that was organized by the religious sisters and which involved many of the young women of the parish. The procession which began outside of the church wound through the aisles and culminated in one young lady having the honor of crowning the statue of the Blessed Mother. This was a communitywide event, with the church filled with those whose devotion to Mary made this a spring highlight. Several of my sisters had that honor and, as a child, I remember my parents being proud of that recognition — and hosting friends after the ceremony at home with one of Mr. Lucibello’s special occasion cakes.

Asi mpler life, for sure, with people’s churchcentered religious devotions being on display.

The first fruits of summer would appear from California and Florida, sold by one of the locals wholesalers such as the Umberto Piccolo Co. on George Street — something that was much anticipated. These goods arrived on trains and trucks, and were packed in wooden crates of varying sizes, according to the size of the fruit. Each crate was decorated on either end with the company label or logo, usually a colorful depiction of sunny California, or the Everglades, with the particular fruit displayed prominently. Oranges were wrapped in tissue paper as were the pears, and the iceberg lettuce and celery were packed in waxed, cardboard boxes to keep in the moisture.

The local farmers were beginning to pick the early greens that were welcomed by women who enjoyed having sautéed bitter greens to serve their families.

Mother’s Day, celebrated in this country, was not a familiar holiday; in Italy, May is dedicated to the Blessed Mother and all mothers by inference. Here, the special, secular day dedicated to mothers was something new, and the local customs of giftgiving were quickly adopted by the children. In church, carnations, a flower closely associated with Mother’s Day, were distributed, pink or white to signify either a living or deceased mother. Simple gifts to give to a mother were also usually crafted in school, and treasured.

The fields at Waterside Park were readied for the upcoming season and the bocce courts were raked and readied for the first warm days. The Flavio Goia social club, on Wooster Street had bocce courts on the side yard and they were very popular Sunday afternoon activities. The Boys Club on Jefferson Street and the Neighborhood House on Wooster Street were essentially indoor facilities, with the Boys Club pool being a star attraction. The school athletic classes and programs were very important introductions for the children into the American way of enjoying sports. Boys and girls alike took easily to the activities and many of them excelled. Parents, unfamiliar with these sports, learned to appreciate the opportunities they afforded their children to become more integrated into the cultural landscape. Boys and girls were required to wear sneakers in school gyms and that meant an additional expense, but everyone found a way to provide.

The less-traveled side streets sometimes became playing venues in early evenings, with boys playing several variations of stickball or under the leg.

But the small green or Wooster Square Park was usually maintained as an oasis within the crowded neighborhood and everyone respected and appreciated the beauty of the tree-lined walks and the beautiful turn of the century iron fencing.

In the early days of the 20th century, gramophones and records, or discki, were the most popular home entertainment devices, in that records could be purchased in Italian for musical entertainment in the home. In mid-century, Enrico Caruso with his golden voice was a source of pride for the immigrants who viewed him as a success story. On Wooster Street, the Amendola Brothers were the proprietors of a musical emporium where instruments of all kinds could be purchased in addition to mechanical gramophones and disks. They offered entertainment on Sunday for appreciative audiences, and for many, the purchase of an upright player piano was something to be aspired to. Early on, some of the local companies, such as Gennaro Muro’s Connecticut Macaroni Co., offered radio performances for the Italian community, of familiar music, especially the beloved Neapolitan songs that everyone knew and could sing or hum.

Once again, the residents of Wooster Square worked together to create a welcoming community within their own enclave.