Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network

John M. Donofrio’s History of Little Italy

The History of Little Italy on its 50th Anniversary

(reprinted with the author's permission)

by John M. Donofrio

The modern Italian immigration was divided into three waves. The first wave occurred early in the nineteenth century and was aimed at settlement in Europe, and North America. The second wave began in the 1870's and lasted until about 1900 with most settling in Latin America. Both of these waves were dominated by northern Italians who tended to be educated and could offer skills to the host country. They were also interested in making the move permanent. The third wave began at the turn of the century and was dominated by southern Italians, many of whom chose the United States as a temporary location until they could return to Italy as wealthy individuals.

Italians had been in the United States since the colonial period, but their numbers were few. While it is difficult to know how many participated in the War of Independence, some leaders of that period were Italian-Americans. Philip Mazzei, born in Tuscany, arrived in the United States in 1773 and is credited with coining the phrase "all men are created equal," the phrase Thomas Jefferson incorporated into the Declaration of Independence. Other Italian-Americans who took part in the war included Francisco Vigo who with Rogers and Clark, is also credited with winning the northwest and opening the Mississippi River. Another is William Paca who signed the Declaration of Independence.

_ "It was in the summer of 1864 that the first known person of Italian descent, Raffaele Bracaccini, settled in Erie." _

Italian immigration established many settlements in French Louisiana, and sent missionaries and explorers into the hinterland. Many also settled in California, where they became important in the wine industry. A national winery, Italian-Swiss, was founded in 1881 by A. Sharboro. Many also settled in Colorado because they were chiefly miners. Italian settlements were also established in the Middle Atlantic States, Pennsylvania and New York which comprised the second largest concentration of Italian settlements. By 1900 these two states had over one-third of the total population in the United States.

It was in the summer of 1864 that the first known person of Italian descent, Raffaele Bracaccini, settled in Erie. He was a musician traveling with a carnival. According to a newspaper article, he had no intentions of settling here, but he spent the afternoon fishing in Lake Erie and decided to stay, because it reminded him of his native village.

The next two Italians to arrive, in Erie, were Carl Rossie in 1866 and Vitale Spadacene in 1868. Spadacene was a veteran of the Union Army of the Civil War, and became the first ethnic leader of the tiny, but growing, Italian-American community. His military had apparently helped him to overcome the language barriers and furnished an opportunity for him to learn about the political system. Joseph Leone and Jack Madonna arrived in 1884.

By 1891 there were several hundred Italians in the City, and most of them settled on the City's west side, around 16th and Walnut Streets. This area eventually became known as "Little Italy".

The growth of Erie's Italian colony was slow until after World War I. By 1891 there were several hundred Italians in the City, and most of them settled on the City's west side, around 16th and Walnut Streets. This area eventually became known as "Little Italy".

The early Italians located themselves in one of the less fashionable areas of the city. In the last quarter of the 19th century, West 16th Street was near the southwest edge of the city, all of West 16th Street, from Cherry to Poplar was a cornfield. The northeast corner of West 16th and Poplar was then a dump site. West 16th Street was unpaved and became nearly impassable during inclement weather.

The Italian settlement followed the pattern of most immigrations. The people looked for inexpensive housing near their work. Many of the Italians who came to Erie worked for the railroad, Little Italy's northern and southern boundaries at that time were the New York Central and the Nickle Plate tracks. Others worked in the factories that grew up along the railroads and were not far from their homes. These people worked many hours and labored hard. Some of the factories were Erie Forge and Steel, Griffin Manufacturing Co., Superior Bronze, Continental Rubber, Hays Manufacturing, National Erie, Griswold Manufacturing, Malleable Iron and Urick Foundry.

The choice of residence was similar to the other immigrant groups in Erie. It was not uncommon for the early immigrants to seek locations near their friends and source of employment, where they could find cheap housing. The early Russians and Irish chose to settle along the bay front where they found work on the docks. The Polish formed their communities near foundries.

_ "By 1911 there were about 3,000 Italians living in Erie. Little Italy had grown to include nine city blocks " _

By 1911 there were about 3,000 Italians living in Erie. Little Italy had grown to include nine city blocks, from Huron Street south to West 17th Street and from Chestnut to Poplar. In 1920 the population was estimated at about 8,000 Italians. From 1920 to 1940, the population began to spill out of the Third Ward expanding the boundaries of Little Italy, southward to the Sixth Ward. Prominent among the family names of the old Italian settlers in Erie were Fatica, Yacobozzi, Palmisano, Scolio and Minadeo.

The previous information centered around the west side's Little Italy, but Erie's Italian colony had three additional settlements. The oldest of the three is in the First Ward, around the area of East Second and German Streets. The first Italian settlers to arrive in the First Ward were Louis Mango and Benedetto Siciliano, Serafino DeDionisio, and John Acquino came in 1892, Giancinto Onorata in 1885 and Jim Palumbo in 1886. Antonio Leonetti came in 1887 and started the settlement's first Italian grocery store in 1906. Mike Catrabone moved to the lower East side from Buffalo in 1902. By 1920 there were about 1,000 Italians on the lower east side. Most of these Italians came from Calabria, Campanio and Abruzzi.

The second largest Italian settlement was located in the Fifth Ward, near East Twenty-Sixth and Brandes Streets. The settlers began to arrive in 1905. The first to arrive was John Angelotti, Remogio Angelotti, Anthony Dedionisio and Diamondo DiSanto. In the same year John Angelotti opened the first grocery store in that area on the corner of East 26th and Brandes. Louis Moske, one of Erie's leading contractors arrived in 1910. Also to arrive then was Camille Narducci and Emett Verdecchia. Moske built Holy Rosary Church, and the Uthmann Chor Building. By 1920 this ethnic neighborhood had about 1,500 Italians living there, most of whom were northern Italians.

The smallest settlement of Italians was located in the Fourth Ward, around West 4th and Cascade Streets. Dominic Juliante arrived in 1889, and Dominic DiPlacido in 1900 along with the Di Bello, Perseo, Di Santo, De George and the Monacelli families. By 1920 there were about 100 Italians living in the Fourth Ward, most of whom worked on the iron ore docks.

Like other immigrant groups before them, Italians suffered from prejudices and misunderstanding. Some places would not hire Italians. Many could not read or write and, even if they were literate in their native Italian, they could not speak or write English. Early Italians had little job security. On the job they had to cope with the jeering from fellow workers and were made the subject of ethnic jokes, just as other nationalities had been ridiculed before the Italians came. This seems to be the pattern for almost every ethnic group. They endured the same type of prejudices, discrimination and ridicule as did the settlers in Little Italy.

As the Italians grew in population and the area of Little Italy expanded a professional class developed. Most early Italians who came to Erie were illiterate. But after 1910 the community had sufficient numbers to support professional groups.

The first successful long-run newspaper was founded by Egidio Agresti in 1914 called "La Chitarra". It was chiefly a literary journal published weekly. It contained short stories, poems and some local news. In 1919 it became "La Gazetta", and it remained an Italian language newspaper. But because of the growth in the second generation's population, the newspaper became bilingual in 1924. To increase its readership it became entirely English in 1930.

Dr. Frank Trippe, was Erie's first Italian doctor. He came to the city in 1917 from Syracuse, New York. Trippe had immigrated to the United States with his family in 1890. Dr. Joseph Amenta arrived in 1923, also from Syracuse. From 1923 until 1940, Little Italy had its own hospital, the Rose Memorial Hospital founded by Dr. Samuel Schibetta located on West 21st and Sassafras. Some of the names of the early prominent Italian-American doctors were: Dr. Narducci, Dr. Leone, Dr. Pistorio, Dr. Luppino, Dr. Mango, etc.

Erie's early Italian colony also had two locally known musicians, Caedar Morelli and Sig. D. Cianfoni. Morelli came to Erie in 1899 as a band member with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. He, like Bracaccini some 35 years earlier, decided to stay in Erie. He organized the first Italian band and was the first Italian to be admitted to the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra. He later became the first Italian to teach at Mercyhurst College. Cianfoni organized a concert band, by 1911 it had become the largest in the city.

Erie's early Italian settlement also had a growing business class. Albert Piza with Louis Phillips and John Lucarotti came to Erie in 1892. Piza established the first Italian grocery store in this area on the northwest corner of 16th and Walnut Streets in 1910. However, the first exclusive Italian grocery store was opened in 1903 by Angelo Mazzeo, who arrived in 1898. It was located on the southwest corner of West 16th and Walnut Streets. Mazzeo's store specialized in spaghetti, olive oil, Italian spices and tomatoes.

This Italian community was also served by two ethnic banks, both founded in 1922. Leonard Pasqualicchio established the Bank of Italy, and the Italian-American Bank, was founded by Louis Phillips. In 1927 the Italian-American Bank changed its name to American State Bank. Both banks, located in the center of Little Italy, offered a host of services, including foreign exchange and steamship tickets. More important, the Italians could conduct their business in their native language. Both banks were both forced out of business during the Great Depression.

The foreign-born Italian population continued to grow and so the Italian government considered this to merit an Italian Consul. In 1922 a Consulate was established in Erie's Little Italy to issue passports and visas, settle pension claims against the Italian government, and assist the immigrants in solving legal matters in Italy. Orazio Pico was the first government representative. He was replaced by John Cappabianca in 1927.

Much of the social life of Italian-Americans in Erie centered around the church, St. Paul. It served the immigrants and their children from baptism to death, meeting their religious needs. But the church also functioned as the social center of the Italian colony, a function it still maintains.

Because of the cultural and language barriers, the immigrants established their own social organizations within their communities. In 1907, the first social organization of note was La Nuova Aurora Club. Here the Italians met with their friends and discussed the "old country", their jobs, their families, played bocce, morra, and had a few beers. Aside from the church, their social events expanded with the many social and civic clubs that became of interest to the Italian-Americans.

Over the years there were at least three Sons of Italy groups in Erie before they finally joined together. Other groups were: Italian-American Memorial League, Italian Tent 160. Later came societies like the Italian National Club, Abruzzi Club, The Calabrese Club, Italian Women's Club, United Professional Men's Club, the Rocca Pia Society, Giuseppe Mazzini Civic Association, Pennapiedimonte Club, Cesare Battisti Club, The Italian Veterans Club and a host of others.

The ethnic church and even some of the social organizations may be less important today because Erie's Italian community is no longer shut into ghetto-like neighborhoods. There are Italian-Americans in virtually every neighborhood in the city, and in every business and profession.

After World War II, the first and second generation Italian-Americans returned home, serving their country very well, and with many giving much thought to their future. They went on to the various colleges and universities to better themselves for professional positions. Others went on to trade schools with the same ambitions for better job opportunities.

By 1960 a large Italian settlement was established outside of the city in Millcreek, along Pittsburgh Avenue north of West 38th St. By 1970 many of the second and third generation Italians were gone from Little Italy, a few of their parents still live near St. Paul. A handful of their children remain there also, but not enough to mention it. Some businesses, possibly a half dozen, remain on the once busy areas.

And so, Little Italy, as it was known, no longer exists. The Italians like other ethnic groups have blended into the culture forming the fiber of this great country we all love.

by John M. Donofrio