Saturday, February 27, 2010

Garibaldi Club

A very important part of the Italian life was spending time with other family members and friends.  It was quite common for immigrants to join together in their US communities.

The photo attached to this update dates back to 1954 and includes a group of men from the Follansbee, West Virginia Garibaldi Club.

Kneeling in the middle is my grandfather John "Chico" Ciccolella.  He spent many days with his friends at the club.  He also performed music at many special events.  The Ciccolella's were active in the organization with John's wife Christina serving as president of the Sisters of the Garibaldi on several occasions.

Monday, February 15, 2010

That's Entertainment

In the late 1920's and early 1930's Christina Lamonica was very active in several activities including participating in a local production of Carmen.  Here she poses in costume for the muscial.  This photo was taken about 1931 in Steubenville, Ohio. In March, 1934 she co-directed the play "Little Nell" for the Yerne Girls Society. 

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Iaquiele

This is a photo of my great grandmother Mary Michelle Iaquiele.  She was born December 6, 1879 to Biaggio Iaquiele and Antonetta Colabello in Potenza, Italy.  On May 5, 1900 she married Michele Archangelo Lamonaca (Mike Lamonica).

The couple had three children - Grace Lamonica, Dan Lamonica and Christina Lamonica.

This photo was taken in Steubenville, Ohio sometime in the 1910s or 1920s.