Italians of Cleveland

              The
Italians of Cleveland
By
CHARLES w. COULTER
Department of Sociology
Western Reserve University
COPYRIGHT 1919
PR. ICE 10 CENTS
Under the Direction of the
Cleveland Americanization Committee
Mayor's Advisory War Committee
FOREWORD
This description of the Italians of Cleveland is the fourth of a series
prepared and published by the Cleveland . i\ mericanization Committee.
The preceding publications in this series described the Slovaks, Jugo­slavs
and Magyars of this city. The next will deal with the Poles while
studies of other nationalities will appear later.
The presentation in this manner to the English speaking population
of Cleveland of the cultural and industrial contributions of the foreign
born - groups of the city is most directly in furtherance of the policy of
the Committee. In our opinion Americanization means much more ithan
the teaching of American customs to the new citizens. It means the
education of Americans' as well. American life would be impoverished
indeed, if it refused to welcome new and even strange elements of custom
and culture. The political institutions and social customs which we have
now are too clearly the products of older civilizations beyond the seas
to give us the feeling that America can be entirely self sufficient.
Americans themselves are too closely related to alienage to look with
any feeling of restraint or question upon the new comer. It is a thought
provoking fact that the President of the United States is the son of an
immigrant.
This description of the Italians who have found homes in Cleveland
is a real object lesson in the indebtedness of the older American to the
new. It sets forth example after example of fine productive ' citizenship
among the Italians of Cleveland. It indicates their unquestioned ability
to carryon certain types of business enterprise, their sound and adapt­able
political capacity and their almost passionate devotion to the things
of the mind and spirit. The new city of Cleveland from an architectural
and artistic standpoint owes an im: measurable debt to the Italian immi­grant.
No public structure has been builtin Cleveland within twenty­five
years that is not partly the product of Italian artisans. The most
beautiful portions of some of our public structures are entirely the work
of the Italian born. They have shown A- merica how to interpret in
splendid fashion the beauty of the spirit through the objects of every
day utility. Our city is far more beautiful because Italian immigrants
have made it their foster home.
In ability to acquire the best of Am, erican customs and to give loy­ally
to the purposes of American democracy the Italian immigrant has
been second to none. In time of need he gave generously to America
at war. It should not be forgotten that the first American soldier to
give his life in France was an Italian immigrant.
RAYMOND MaLEY,
Chairman of the Cleveland Americanization Committee.
3
St. Anthony's Firs( Communion 1917
Typical Feast Day Parade
- T- H E ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
THE BACKGROUND
The Background
To nnderstand the Italian Clevelander it is necessary to know some­thing
at least of the country from which he comes. To generalize
about the people of Italy as a whole, or of anyone province in it, is a
profitless procedure. It has been called the land of contrasts. The
country itself might be described as a desert, broken here and there by
oases of matchless fertility and luxuriance. Its people enjoy refinement
and a love of beauty at the one extreme, and live little better than animals at
the other. They are highly educated and at the same time grossly ignor­ant;
rampantly rationalistic - and crudely superstitious; with many
churches and unbounded religious indifference. In the north, ultra­modern
agricultural imlplements are to be found; in the south the
wooden plow and the primitive mattock. Great wealth and luxury live
in sight of abject poverty. Her universities are in the forefront of mod­ern
education, while, owing to the backwardness of her primary schools,
more than 45% of her populace can neither read nor write. So that,
to understand the Italian immigrant, it is necessary to know not only
the section from which he com, es, but the measure of opportunity per­mitted
him by his social caste. Mangano's observation that the prov­inces
are unlike in everything except that they are different, might
have been extended to cover the Italian people and institutions also.
Such a contrast is not surprising when one remembers that for
many years Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples existed as independent
states, and that these provincial differences in the manners and customs
of today are the direct heritage of the Middle Ages. This provincial
disharmony is well recognized, and one of the most stupendous tasks
which Italy now faces is to make her social unity as complete as the
geographic has become.
The very difference in the character of the country in northern and
southern Italy, makes necessary diverse occupations, further augment("
ing the traditional distinctions. The cities. of Venice, Genoa, Florence,
Milan, and Bologna, with their ex; tensive hinterlandS! of rich country,
remind one of bustling American cities, full of industry, competition
within and contact with the world outside. These urban peoples are
intellectual, content and progressive. They have an obvious contempt
for the Neapolitan and Sicilian peasant who has been under the rigorous
discipline of the managers for absentee landlords through so many years
that his spirit is broken and his intelligence potential only.
Beyond the provincial stratification, there is a clear cut division on
social grounds as well. Italy has her four distinct classes, each of which
is capable of division into sub classes. The aristocracy ( aristocrazia) is
is made up either of the noble families of long standing, having their
wealth chiefly in estates, or of citizens- government officials, bankers,
business and professional men- who, by reason of their wealth, success
or service, frequently receive recognition by the crown. This class has
come to be numerous as the titles are hereditary.. The middle class,
which is confined to Neapolitan and northern Italy, forms the active
professional, and military casts of society. They are almost exclusively
urban. The clergy are in a class by themselves. Some of , them are of
noble lineage, men of education and high culture; others com, e up from
the ranks, winning their way by merit only. The tendency is for the
5
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
I - r A L Y.
5£ A
. J~\
", I tJ
f1fDITERIfE AN / 0 IV , A 1' 1
~ e A.
SEA
• II ~ ~ 9 -- y LJ
0 ~
~ N joooO ~
""' IjoooO 00 tn
~ N I I I I joooOoo Percentage of Latin Americans to 00 ~ N ~;.
0'* joooO
<: N ~ ~ ~ ~ total p<? pulation
~ ~ 1: 3
TIJE I. T A L I A N S OF C L E. V E LAN D
clergy to stratify into ecclesiastics, orthodox servants of the church, and
free thinkers. To these should be added the peasantry ( contadini), ex­ploited
and forgotten workers of the soil who form the base of the
pyramid of Italian society, and support the whole superstructure. In
the North they own the land, live comfortably, take an interest in edu­cation,
and participate actively in political life, so that their Jot is riot
intolerable. In the South, however, the peasant's life is quite the reverse.
He seldom owns the land. He labors hard, until within the last two
decades for 15 or 20c a day, since which time the wage has risen to
65 or 70c. He lives abstemiously and is m£ asurably content. Meat is
an article of diet with him only on New Years or other holidays; bread
of chestnut or rye flour and vegetables with light wine when procurable
comprise his daily fare. He is honest, patient, thrifty, pious to the point
of superstition, and generally light hearted despite his poverty. It is
from this latter stratum of Italy's life we are now receiving four- fifths
of our Italian immigrants.
The Economic Burden
In the Wars of Independence before 1861 when the kingdom was
proclailned, an enormous public debt had been contracted. This burden
was multiplied when the new State found itself under the necessity of
quickly building up and equipping an army and navy, schools, ports and
r:: tilwayf:, in order to approximate the level of other European nations.
This poor but plucky little state, must have built on a sound financial
bClsis, for, at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, besides her splen­didly
modern army and navy, she had an annual revenue of $ 15,000,000
beyond her last national expenditure. This has required, however, a
heavy burden of taxation, which, added to the increasing expense of the
leisure classes, has produced a growing discontent among the Southern
I talian peasants. And this, more than any other one thing, has been
responsible for their American exodus.
The causes of the immigration might then be summarized as op­pression,
by taxation, which fell hardest on the agriculturalists of South­ern
Italy, as over against the abundant and remunerative labor offered
by America. The over- population of the Iberian peninsula, for its births
have exceeded its deaths by 400,000 yearly, and the stimulation of the
Steamship Companies, added to the glowing reports of returning Italians
who have " done well in America, and are not loathe to tell their less
fortunate countrymen about it.
The Immigration Stream
The few who came to America before 1871 need not concern us
here. They were from Northern Italy, mostly refugees, business men,
students and adventurers. Garibaldi was a refugee in America for two
years. Caesare Botta was here when he wrote his splendid History of
The American Revolution. Such cases were few as the American Immi­grants
to Italy. In 1871 the Southern Italian began to come. By 1880
when the tales of American opportunity had been carried home, Ameri­ca
was receiving 5000 every year. This stream has gradually grown in
volume until between 1906 and 1916 more than 2,000,000 arrivals are
recorded. of whom 1,700,000 have remained. In that decade one- quarter
of our immigrants from all countries were Italians. They have dis­tributed
themselves throughout our various states in the following
manner:
7
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
and large
New York 470,000
Pennsylvania 190,000
New Jersey 115,000
Massachusetts . 90,000
Illinois . 75,000
California 60,000
Connecticut . . 55,000
Ohio . 4.(), OOO
Rhode Island 30,000
Louisisana . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25,000
West Virginia . . . . . . . . . .. 25,000
Michigan . 25,000
Colorado . 20,000
Washington. . . . . . . . . . . .. 20,000
Mississippi " 20,000
Minnesota. 15,000
Wisconsin . 15,000
Texas 10,000
Maryland. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10,000
Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10,000
Montana. .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5,( X)()
Iowa. 5,000
Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000
In these states they tend to congregate in the capitals
cities.
3/ 7 of the Italian population in Maryland is found in Baltimore
5/ 6 of the Italian population in Delaware is found in Wilmington
3/ 8 of the Italian population in Illinois is found in Chicago
2/ 3 of the Italian population in Nebraska is found in Omaha
3/ 5 of the Italian population in Missouri is found in St. Louis
1/ 2 of the Italian population in Oregon is found in Portland
2/ 5 of the Italian population in Louisiana is found in New Orleans
1/ 3 of the Irtalian population in Michigan is found in Detroit
1/ 2 of the Italian population in Ohio is found in Cleveland.
New York is next to Naples, the largest Italian city in the world; in
fact, 78.1% live in the large urban centres, and 21.9% only in the rural
communities, a fact which may indicate the unwiVingness of these im­migrants
from rural Italy, accustomed by tradition and training to agri­culture,
to pursue their agricultural occupation here. America seems to
mean for them the deliverance froml everything connected with the tilling
of the soil.
Distribution in Cleveland
Cleveland is said to be the centre of Italian life in Ohio. Immi­grants
have their first residence here, then branch out into the neigh­boring
towns. The U. S. Census of 1910 showed 10,839 Italian born with­in
the city limits. Four years later the City Police Census of 1914, a dis­criminating
piece of work, placed the number at 13,570, while Mr. E. M.
Avery ( I- listory of Cleveland published in 1918) baldly states " there are
23,000 Italians in the city." 23,000, in view of the war restriction of
immigration, strikes one as an estimate entirely too high, but after com­paring
the increase in the number of children attending the public
school, together with the figures of the naturalization bureau and the
8
~
~* percentage of Latin }\. tIlericans to total population
~
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Presellt Distribution of Italian., in Cleveland
estilnatc of the Italian Consul, he is led to the conclusion that the latter
figure appru);: inlates the fact. This figure, however, far frOITI indicates
their inft uence, strength, and ci\' ic iITI portance.
Owing to the convergence of this population into restricted areas
fronl which other nationalities are substantially e);: cluded, the second
generatiun, nati" e born of foreign parents, are reared in "' hat is prac­tically
rtn Italian colony, where the nl0ther tongue is spoken, Italian
traditions, ideals, and custonlS are perpetuated and a national solidarity
is maintained. In these Italian blocks the children are bilingual, the
parochi3.1 and C\ Ten the public schools are alnl0st exclusiyely of Italian
cotTIposition.
The Italians are located in tvvo principal groups, " Little Italy" frOITI
East 119th to East 125th Streets on 1\ 1urrav I- Iill and l\ 1avfield Roads,
in the tnidst of which Alta House stands, and " Big Italy," formerly con­fined
to the Broadway, Orange and Ontario district, no\ v by reason of
the interurban invasion, scattered east\ vard along Woodland to E. 40th
Street. Outside of these are si);: s111aller colonies with from a dozen to
two dozen fan1ilies in each.
( a) In the vicinity of West 33rd and Fulton.
( b) vVest 65th to 69th Streets, between Detroit and the lake.
( c) North of Miles off Broadway.
( d) Elizabeth above East 93rd.
( e) Cannon Street and East 86th.
( f) St. Clair and 152nd, sometimes called the " Collinwood settle­ment."
10
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
The consistency of the first two nan1ed districts has not considerably
changed since 1911, when the U. S. Ilnnligration Comlnission reported
the householders of the Mayfield Road District as being 960/ 0 Italian
born, 2% of Italian parents, and 20/ 0 other nationalities.
The earliest settlers in the district were for the nlost part from.
Central and South Central Italy. IVlore recently, however, an increasing
number have come from Sicily, and this colony is mother of the \ Vood­hill
and Collinwood settlements.
In the Ontario Street District, on the other hand, according to the
same tables, 93% are South Italian and 70/ 0 of other nationalities.
Typical Street Scenes in the Mayfield and Collinwood Districts
11
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
The residents here are almost entirely from Sicily with the infusion
of a few from. the campobasso region. It is mother to the Miles Ave.
and West Side settlements, whose social and religious activities are
still closely bound up with it. The reason for this stratification is set
forth in the homely statement of one of them. " We Italians like to live
with people from our own province who speak our own dialect and will
help us if we get into trouble."
Industry
It is interesting to notice that the Italian immigration stream has
its source in the agricultural provinces of Italy. Industrial sections like
Venice have sent few to America. In fact 75% of the Italians who come
here. are men who in [ their own country live a healthful outdoor life,
tilling the gr. ound, or caring for vineyards and orchards. Less than 20%
of these find such employnlent here. A few enter our shops and factories.
Some are found in our mines, quarries, refineries, glue and paint works.
They help to construct our sewers, subways, railways and canals. In
many at our eastern cities the shoemaking and tailoring trades are almost
exclusively in their hands. In California only are they found in any
large way employed in healthful outdoor pursuits for which the home
training has fitted them.
The Italian does not need to be taught thrift and carefulness. He
comes from the land where modern banking was born. Economy and
self- denial are inherent in him. For centuries he has lived in a territory
which has been exhausted by over- cultivation, and he has succeeded in
spite of hampering conditions and social restraints. Thus after hi~
arrival in America he has less disposition than other Europeans to
waste our natural resources. However well- to- do he becomes, he never
ceases to be thrifty. If he is innoculated by American megalomania the
element of waste and exploitation is at a minimum. This is not to say
that he shuns pomp and grandeur. Quite the opposite is true. Noone
delights more to comport himself in a princely manner than the Neapol­itan,
being " Spagnolismo," he calls it. But even here wantonness is
conspicuously absent.
The Cleveland colonies are distinct in their occupation. The people
of the Orange and Ontario section who come largely from Sicily and
Palermo where fruits are grown and exported, find the centre of their
interest in the sale and distribution of fruit products in the city. It is
true here as elsewhere that the immigrant has prevailingly followed the
trade route taken by his export. If, when he reaches Cleveland, he
discovers that the fruit trade is overcrowded, he finds what unskilled
work he can. He follows the line of least resistance, which is to labor
with one of the many street construction gangs. Here he finds hard
outdoor work in congenial company, even though his inexperience is
sometimes capi1talized by " de boss," one of his own countrymen, giving
rise to a petty and inconsequential padrone system,.
Th~ Mayfield section, on the other hand, formerly entirely recruited
from Neapolitan Italy famous for its w'eaving, lacemaking, embroidery
and needlework, has given itself over to the clothing and garment mak­ing
industry, following in the main the old- land interest. The women as
well as the"' men have found their way in vast numbers into the Printz
Biedernlan, Joseph & Feiss, H. Black, M. T. Silver and other clothing
factories of the city, where their hands, long accustom, ed to the needle,
12
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
find af least a semblance of familiarity. Few of the girls or women are
engaged as maids or in other occupations than those connected with the
garmlent workers, trades. The organizer of the Cleveland Ladies' Gar­ment
Workers Union, numbering over 700 members, recently explained
that the night meeting of her local was always snlall, due to the absence
of the Italian girls who composed the bulk ' of it.. She explained that,
though they partiCipated actively in any meeting held during the day,
they were never present in the evening. This indicated not only the
large nUlnber of Italian girls in the clothing trades, bu\ t was an incidental
tribute to the rigidity of family discipline, especially where the girls
and women were concerned.
How rigid is this occupational conservatism may be seen in the fact
that even where they are employed in large department stores, it is not
in the sales departments but on embroidery and mending work where
the needle can be used. Until 1917, when the wage scale rose high
enough to render it unnecessary, much of the garment work was carried
on at the home in the colony. The men to a larger degree have broken
away from these industrial traditions and preferences, and are no\ v found
in increasing numbers in the F. B. Stearns, Nela Park and The Metal
Products factories.
While this is true in general of their industrial pursuits, we find the
native born Italian in almost every business and profession. Cleveland
affords conspicuous examples of t~ e native ability and business acumen
of this versatile and genial people.'
Business
Of wholesale grocers, importers of fruits and oils, not to mention
the com, mission merchants, there is an imposing list of those born in
Italy.
Th~ wholesale house of Frank Catalano, on Woodland Avenue, is
the oldest fruit business in this section. It waS! established in 1880 by
its present owner, one of the earliest arrivals from, Northern Sicily, who
made a business of importing oranges. It has . since expanded to han­dling
other fruits and olive oil, doing an annual business of more than
$ 150,000.00.
Then came G. V. Vittorio, 746 vVoodland, importing from Italy for
the city trade vast quantities of olive oil, carloads of macaroni every
month, dried and canned fish, mushrooms, nuts of all kinds, figs, beans,
rice, anchovies and garlic. Cleveland is the distributing centre for these
products to all the smaller- towns and cities in the district. The Vittorio
Brothers came to CI~ ve'~ and 17 years ago directly from Termini Imerese,
their birth place in Sicily, and their business has been built up out of
their native energy.
. The Schiappacassi Brothers, John and Charles, have conducted a
splendid wholesale business in domestic fruit and vegetables through
the last 25 years of their residence in Cleveland.. .
The Corso Brothers, Casper and Salvador, on Broadvvay, who too,
were born in Termini Imerese, Sicily, now have a large wholesale and
commission merchant business in fruits, nuts and vegetables. This trade
has had a steady growth since ' its establishment in 1890: It has an
annual business of well over $ 150,000, and has become a distributing
centre for bananas and other fruits throughout the state. Such a list
might be almost indefinitely extended. The names of John, Martin and
13
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Thomas Rini, the Geraci Bros., Salen1i and Trentanelli, large fruit dealers
on Woodland, that of Dicicco and Ranallo, the largest Italian dry goods
merchants in the city, the ~ Iessrs. Gatto, of the Mayfield Builders Supply
Co., Tony Iartese, the plasterer, D. Costanzo on East 38th, and P.
Piscopo, the builder on ::\[ urray Hill) are well known to Americans as
well as to the I tal ians of the city. Such a list is imposing, especially
when one ren1el11bers that these firms have risen on a foundation of
capital 1ccumulated little by little through sheer thrift, enterprise and
self- renunciation.
Charles Ranallo
Banking
Nor should one neglect to mention
the bankers in these colonies, com­bining
as they do the office of real
estate dealers, loan makers, steam­ship
and transportation agents and
foreign exchange places. Most of
them operate in conjunction with
( son1e large }\ merican bank, and they
perform no small service to the com­n1unity,
bridging over economic
crises and rendering liquid the fi­nancial
resources of these settle­n1ents.
There are many houses doing
this business \\ Those managers have
given the majority of their time
throughout the past three years to
the financing of our Liberty Loans
and W. S. S. issues among their
countryn1en.
Banking House of Vincent Campandla
14
THE I TAL IA N S OF CLEVELAND
as well as accumulating thousands of dollars for the flotation of the
loans of their own country in her war for liberty. Guiseppe Zitiello
on West 69th and the Gugliotta Brothers on Woodland Avenue are
typical of this class of bankers. The latter house, founded in 1904 with
steamship office, real estate, postal telegraph and cable departments, is
the largest of the kind in the city and handles the bulk of the Italian
trade. Both brothers pursue as avocations , their musical profession,
Nicola as expert cornetist and band director, and Salvatore as trombone
specialist, are to be heard at all the Italian band meets in the city.
In " Little Italy" Vincent Campanella has also been conducting a
banking business since 1905. Mr. Campanella is a striking example of
business success built out of pluck, persistence, pains, and patience.
Born in Abbruzzi in the fishing village of Francavilla, he migrated to
America in 1890, labored in the Pittsburgh coal mines, with R. R. con­structiofi.
groups, dug in our Cleveland sewers until he had accumulated
a sufficient surplus to make his venture as a banker. He enjoys the
confidence of the colony and conducts an increasing business. This man
of whom it is said " he spent 75% of his time and energy in furthering
the financial interests of Uncle Saml among his people since the war be­gan,"
tells us " America has treated me well .... she has paid me lOc
a day ... and she has paid me $ 5000.00 a day." Such cases are typical
of many. They are not the exception, but the rule. These unassuming
and potential business men who have come to our shores and from sheer
labor and purpose have constructed creditable businesses and won their
way into America's confidence, her economic and social life.
Manufacturing
In manufacturing also Italians have interested themselv: es to some
purpose. Among the more characterisltic and representative are The
Ohio lVlacaroni Company, Scovill and 28th Street. This is the largest
macaroni manufacturing concern in the state. Established in 1910 under
the management of Joseph Russo and Sons, it is said to have been the
first plant in the country to perfect the Semolina process for drying the
wheat product so as to retain the full food value of the cereal. More
recently still these enterprising Sicilians have begun the manufacture of
gluten macaroni for the hospital dietetic trade where starchless foods
are required, which, with an incidental jobbing flour trade of no small
proportion has brought an annual turnover of $ 300,000.
The Roma Cigar Mfg. Co. is thoroughly characteristic. Since it
was started in 1913 Albert Pucciani has been its manager and has in­creased
its output of medium and high priced cigars to 20,000 weekly.
It manufactures for the domestic trade only, and has 19 employees.
The Forest City Macaroni Co. on Orange Avenue, The Foreign
Products Co. of East Cleveland, the Giuseppe Botta Frozen Desserts
Mfg. Co. on Woodland Avenue, established in 1890, the Grasselli Chem­ical
Conlpany and the Pucciani Candy Mfg. Co. on Cedar Avenue, owe
their inception to Italian enterprise and capital.
Art
Especially is the Italian happy and successful when his business. is
combined with art. " Business," he exclaims, " is a way to make a liveli­hood.
Art is to live." In the artistic industry he is at his best. He can
never forget that his is of the race of Michael Angelo, Raphael, and Leo­nardo.
So it is not surprising that Cleveland's monumental mosaic, and
15
.' I,
Manufacturing Plant of the Ohio Macaroni Company
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND ·
to some extent its artcraft work is in his hands. In 1880 Joseph Cara­belli,
a stone cutter 20 years of age, came to Cleveland from the Italian
province of Como and, seeing the opportunity for monumental work
near Lakeview Cemetery, there established what later developed into
the marble and granite works, now operated by his sons Joseph and
Charles. Before his death in 1912 he had become an active member of the
Chamber of C0111tnerce and had served as Representative in the Ohio
legislature. The ] vlayfield settlement owes its inception largely to the
keen foresight, prodigious labor and sterling character of this artistic
I talian pioneer.
In 1870 also came James Broggini from the palmy plains- of Lon1­hardy.
After 10 years learning his artistic craft he established on W ood­land
Avenue the monumental works which bear his name, since 1916 an
incorporated company employing a score of men and shipping monu­ments
throughout the northern sections of the state. The five statues
adorning the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church are the work of the
Broggini house, while the Holy \- Vater font at St. Anthony's was the
work and gift of the elder Broggini.
No less noteworthy are the later monumental and statuary artists,
Paul and Artiglia Gandola, natives of Bezano in northern Italy, the
former an art graduate of the Academ, y of Milano. After a novitiate of
carving and sculgturing in the French Department De Vosges, they
came to America and finally settled on Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland,
where they established their well known studio.
Of somewhat similar type is the Mazzolini Artcraft Co., on Payne
Avenue. This firm was established by Antonio Mazzolini in 1904 for
the designing of church statuary and altar decorations. Many of the
Roman Catholic churches and parochial schools in the city have statues
or paintings executed by members of the Mazzolini family. Three
cousins, Primo, Alphonzo and Joseph, all from Barga, Italy, now form
the corporation and employ a half score of men. All employees are
from, Tuscany, and some are artists trained on the other side. Since
1912 this firm has increasingly specialized in the original designing and
manufacture of electric light fixtures with period or original designs;
and fast polychrome colorings, for homes, hotels and theatres. Their
trade is wholesale only. Through the large retail stores of Cleveland
and other cities these fixtures have found their way into some of the
most representative , i\ merican homes. '
The greater part of our frescoing and mosaic work in the city's
public places as well as in the private houses is accomplished by men of
Italy.
The Italian Fresco and Decorating Co., on Wade Park Avenue,
under the direction of Philip Garbo, has decorated numerous churches
and public buildings in the city. St. Joseph's Orthodox Catholic Church
on Scovijl and 22nd, the Slavic Greek Catholic edifice on West 14th
and Kenilworth, the Polish National Independent Catholic building,
the Metropolitan theatre, Moose Temple, the New ROlna Restaurant,
and the " City of Erie" of the C. & B. lin'e, all bear evidence of his decor­ative
skill. Mr. Garbo's partner, Mr. Maldarelli, son of. the master painter
whose works are on exhibition in the City's Art Museum, and himself
a portrai, t painter of some skill, has executed the panel work in these
various institutions. In mosaic also Vincent Romanini, for 9 years man­ager
of the Venetian A. rt Mosaic Company, is a most outstanding figure.
17
~ ....',.... ~....- ~ ~ ' V"' l)
//~. ri ' J'I~"~'''<.'(
! I
/
t I
Typical' ' Mazzolini" Art Craft Designs
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
The flour of the Euclid Ave. Pennsylvania Station, of the Wm. Edwards
establishment, the New Roma Restaurant, several schools and many
business offices have been constructed by him. Vincent Belfi, for years
superintendent of the marble and mosaic section of the Norcross Bros.
works, builder of the floor of the Old Arcade, has spent the larger part
of his life in Cleveland, combining art and business. '
More recently still the partnership of Talamini and Bertini, also
Italians, has entered in a large way into this field of applied art.
It is difficult to say where business ceases and art begins. Their
art seems no less the expression of their artistic nature because it is
comm, ercialized by these enterprising people.
Prof. Raffaele Raineri also has a studio on Euclid Avenue, East
Cleveland. He is Sicilian by bir., th, an artist trained in Rome and
Pompeii in architecture, modelling, carving and sculpturing. For years
he conducted a studio in Palermo, and in 1899 came to America as
modeller and designer for the famous architect, Stephen White.. After
the latter's death he turned his attention to the carving of piano cases in
the Strich and Zeidler factory, winning a gold medal in original piano
design. A number of his models have found their Wiay into our art
schools and museums, including the well known bust of the late Herman
C. Baehr. Some of his cornice w: ork decorates the Coventry Road and
the Cleveland Heights High Schools, and other public buildings. His
design of the proposed $ 50,000 Columbus monument, the construction
of which has been delayed by the war, has received most favorable
consideration.
" Artist Photographer" is sometimes a misnomer for, if the true
application of these words is understood, one must be both a creator
and a craftsman to deserve the title.
Jerome Chricosta is in truth an artist as well as a photographer. He
loves color and dabbles in paint with as much pleasure and skill as he
develops a photographic image.
Mr. Chircosta learned photography in his native Italy, studied art
and practiced photography in Romle and Paris, and later on took charge
of a large photographic studio in Buenos Aires. He came to the United
States to establish a business for himself, locating in a suburb of Pitts­burgh,
and later on ventured to open an establishment in the fashion­able
shopping section on Euclid Avenue, where he has conducted a very
successful business. His color portraits on porcelain and other mediums
have all the charm, of painting with the fidelity of photographs.
In ll1usic too the Cleveland Italian colonies have not lacked able
leadership.
Music
Prof. Salvatore Ciricillo, the cornetist and talented band master in
the Murray Hill settlement is the most outstanding figure. He was for
years a military band leader in the Italian army and made his visit to
New York with Creatore's band. Both he and the late Professor Oddo
enjoyed many honorary musical positions and produced musical com­positions
still to be heard at band concerts. Prof. Ciricillo, who has
for the past four years been connected with II Trovatore Grand Opera
Company, is the present leader and trainer of the Ciricillo Band, and is
much in demand as a teacher of various wind instruments.
Not a few of Cleveland's Italian musical artists are women. Mrs.
A. Chiostergi, the professional harpist, better known as Miss Caffarelli,
19
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
is an Italian. Beatrice Melaragno, Madam Vellone, Esther Lapick and
Florence Amarose enjoy an enviable reputation for their vocal achieve­ments,
"\ vhile Misses Bessie Cor · so and Adeline Cuneo, of Urseline Acad: ­emy,
have received favorable notice in oil painting and the ceramic art
respectively.
Salvatore Cirlcillo and " The Boy's Band"
Miss Be, ltrice MeLiragllo
20
Gius~ ppe V. Zottarelli
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
The Motto Brothers
Education
Comparatively few Italian children have finished high school.' Only
108 out of a Latin- American population claiming to have reached the
6O,( X)() mark attended our high schools in 1915, and war conditions have
prevented a rapid rise in the percentage since that date. This is par­tially
due to the disproportionately large amount of illiteracy among the
incoming Sicilians, partially also to a perversion of the parental virtues
of thrift and ambition which require the child after completing the 9th
grade to help contribute to the family income. There are, however,
splendid exceptions to this rule.
The Italian children are availing themselves in increasing numbers
of the facilities of our technical high schools, and are coming up through
our men's and women's colleges to take their places in the city's profes­sional
life. Not a few of Cleveland's public school teachers are proud
of their Italian parentage. Misses Mary, Rose, Minnie - and Lena
D'Errico, Philomena Vacarriello, Nicolina D'Corpo, Angie Cannavina,
Anne Dipente and many others are products of Cleveland's grade, high
or normal schools, and are passing on American education, traditions
and ideals to the younger generation.
The College for Women of Western Reserve University in 1918
graduated its first Italian student, Miss Sadie Oddo, daughter of the
late Pietro Oddo, a musical composer of some note, who, as leader of
the Verdi Band, until his death, again and again delighted Cleveland
audiences. Three other Italian students are now registered in this same
college.
One young man, a product of " Lit, tle Italy," a graduate of Murray
Hill Public School, Loyola, St. Ignatius and St. l\. 1ary's Roman Catholic
21
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Seminary, plans to be ordained to the priesthood in June of this year;
another, - Pasini, the present coach at Case School of Applied Science,
son of a medical doctor in the city, is an Italian, and Louis Ramenelfi
was well into his course in that institution when he left with the Lake­side
unit fbr duty overseas. Many students in Adelbert College and
vVestern Reserve professional schools com, e from Italian homes- George
and William D'Errico in Adelbert, Dr. Victor Tanno, \ vho has just
completed his course in Reserve Medical, John Gattozzi at the Dental
School, Dominic Lanese and Nicolas Farinacci in Reserve Medical, are
typical products of the city's Italian settlements. These, with the eight
Italian undergraduate students enrolled in the Cleveland Law School,
make an academic line up which is an evidence of the Italian's thirst for
knowledge and his a- ppreciation of the opportunities for professional
training.
The Professions
It i~ said that in New York alone there are more than 1500 lawyers
and 500 physicians, the vast majority of whom have been educated in
America, a splendid comment on the observation that the immigrants
are the brawn and muscle and undeveloped brain of Italy, not the riffraff
element. .
Cleveland has its full quota of Italian professional men, nearly a
score of doctors and dentists and a larger number in the fraternity of
law. Moreover, many of these men are well known throughout the
city and in no way confine their practice to their Italian clientelle.
In the medical profession one h?_ s only to mention , the name of Dr.
Nicola Cerri, for 20 year's Italy's consular representative in Cleveland, ­a
, graduate of the University of Rome, and in 1903 decorated by the
Italian crown. One finds him approachable and philanthropic, a prodig­ious
worker and delightfully genial representative of Italy in Cleveland.
.. One medical practitioner from the Mayfield section is particularly
worthy of mention because of his progressiveness and public spirit,
not to say his phenomenal success since he reached Cleveland in 1891­Dr.
G. A. Barricelli, the pulmonary and cardiac specialist, who was for
many years partner of the late Dr. G. Caruso, whose scientfic writings
he is posthumously publishing. Dr. Barricelli is a graduate of St. Francis
College of New York and in mledicine of the University of Illinois. He
has grac. ually won his way to wide recognition in the medical profession,
and is now' giving much of his tim, e to social welfare work among the
I talians of the state. Among the many honors whi. ch have come to him
since he began to practice in 1903, he has the unique distinction at pres­ent
of being the Grand Commander of the Sons of Italy for the State.
Nothing could be more tangible evidence of the continued confidence
of his fellow countrymen.
In the Woodland section a number are worthy of mention, among
whom the follo, ving are typical: Dr. Romeo Nesi, a graduate of the
University of Naples, a general practitioner who has _ been medical exam­iner
for the draft board of the 14th district; Dr. Alphanzo Carfagna, a
graduate of Genoa University who has recently located at 28th Street
and Woodland Avenue, and Dr. Giuseppe Romano, a graduate of the
University of Palermo, who has been practicing successfully in the dis­trict
since 1908. The latter has written a number of scientific articles
22
Dr. G. A.: Barricelli
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
which have received favorable comment. Since cOI11ing to this city he
has devoted hilnself to surgery, although he continues to be official ex­anliner
for the majority of the Italian
societies in the district. Dr. Joseph
D. 1\ Iannino, fornlerly a student at
Western Reserye University. Ohio
Northern and the University of Cin­cinnati,
after a year of practice in the
\ Voodland district, is now assisting
Dr. Romano and is a man of pronlise.
Both of these practitioners are con­nected
,,' ith the city tuberculosis san­itariunl
and are laboring in their im­I11ediate
community to break down
the swaddling custom by \ vhich ig­norant
mothers continue to hamper
the de\' elopl11ent of their tender
offspring.
Two recent graduates of \ \' estern
Resen'e Dental School, both A. nleri­can
born of Italian parents, are now
practicing in the city; one, Chas. The Swaddling Custom
Angellotta, on Euclid near Lakeview; the other, Michael Castrignano,
at 28th and Woodland. Both have built themselves into the life and
confidence of their respective communities in the five years of their
practice.
The pharmacy business also has Italian representatives. The Ital­ian
Drug Company, on the corner of Murray Hill and Mayfield, is the
oldest and largest in the city. Angelo C. Serra, who owns the Italian
Drug Store at 27th and Woodland, has through the past fourteen years
personally conducted that business.
Many of the foremost Italian professional men in the city are in the
fraternity of law. They do not forget that the jurisprudence of the
Western W orId owes more than a superficial debt to the code of the
Romans, in fact it was in Rome that modern law was born. A catalogue
of Cleveland's prominent lawyers would include more than a few Italian
naI11es. Attorneys Benedetto D. Nicola, Louis Perry, D. J. Lombardo,
Giuseppe V. Zottarelli, Alessandro Chiostergi, B. A. Buonpane, Louis
Lonza would have their places in such a catalogue, together with Michael
Picciano, Charles Russo, and Joseph Nuccio, recenjt graduates of the
Cleveland Law School, the latter of whom fills the office of Assistant
City Prosecutor. Peter Filocco, for many years the Italian police court
interpreter, is now one of the probation officers in the city.
Throughout the entire field of the professions we find the Italians
of the city giving a creditable account of themselves. These men are
to be coml11ended the more highly for their achievements in that many
of them came to Amlerica under onerous handicaps, in spite of which
they have made their way and contributed to our civic life.
24
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAN. D
Peter Filocco
The Church
Joseph Nuccio
As they come to us practically all Italians are at least nominally
Roman Catholics. It m1ay be truthfully said, however, that church duties
and relations sit very lightly upon many of the men. Since the con­summation
of Italian unity in the homeland, pa~ riotism has been a dom­inant
trait in the Italian character. Accordingly the widespread opinion
that the Vatican and the Italian Crown are not altogether in harmony
with each other has done a great deal to weaken the claim of the Church
on their allegiance. In fact a considerable number feel that in Italy the
Church is positively unfriendly to popular liberty. The result is that a
large number of the men seldom attend church except on cerenlonial
occasions, the congregation on most occasions being made up in large
part of women and children. So loyal are they to our public school that
there is no Italian Parochial school in. the city.
25
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Holy Rosary
The " I-- Ioly Rosary" Roman Cath­olic
Church, situated on ~ Iayfield
Road in the centre of " Little Italy,"
was established in 1894 soon after
the l\ Iayfielcl settlen1ent began on
the arri\' al of Re\~, Antonio Gibelli.
The present structure vvas completed
in the pastorate ( If Re\', G. ~[ ilitello.
since which tin1e " with praiseworthy
purpose it has set it~, elf to th e edu­cation
of the youth, laying a good
founda tion for Christian living~ good
citizenship and good parenthood."
I t is now under the able direction of
Father Francis Nolan, who was
characterized by one of his parish­ioners
as " Italian in everything but
his place of birth." He has associ­ated
with him two Italian helpers. Holy Rosary Roman Catholtc Church
The congregation numbers between 16,000 and 20,000, and is ah110st
exclusively Italian from Mayfield, Collinwood and Ingersoll Road. This
parish has sent to the U rsaline Academy six sisters in all: Xavier,
1\ 1axim, Anastachia, Alfonzio, Euphrasia, and Rosario.
Connected with it are three men's societies, three local and one
national wOl11en's organizations, all of which meet periodically in the
basement of the church or in Alta House. " The St. Joseph" sickness
and death benefit society, a local Ron1an Catholic organization of 150
members under the presidency of Leone Coppolino, is purely provident.
In case of illness it provides a minimum weekly indel11nity of $ 6, and, in
case of death, each surviving member is assessed $ 1.50.
ThE' " St. Giovanni in GaIda Club" with a membership of 200 under
the presidency of Dominic Mastrandrea, and the " St. icholas" benefit
association, with a n1embership of 60. each requires dues of 60c per
month and pay a sick benefit of $ 6.00 weekly, together with medical
attendance, and in case of death $ 100 is paid toward the funeral expenses.
They meet the first Sunday in the month in Alta House.
A branch of the National Ladies' Catholic Benefit Association, under
the pre~ jdency of Mrs. M. Kelley, holds regular meetings in the base­ment
of the church. It is a mutual benefit and insurance society. The
dues and sick benefit vary ,,, ith the age of accession and incapacitation.
Under its auspices occasional picnics in the summer, and socials in the
,,, inter arc held.
The- other three societies are local and pertain to the care and con­duct
of the church itself.
26
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAN. D
Knights of St. Joseph
The Holy Rosary Society, numbering 175 with l\ 11rs. Martha Dicillo
as president, meets twice a month in the basement of the church. collects
du~ s, sends adequate floral tributes to the homes of the deceased mem­bers
of the parish, and arranges for a monthly n1ass in honor of the
souls of the recently dead.
The Sacred Heart, another church society, has a membership of
600. Under the presidency of 1\ lrs. Rosa Sylvestro it supplies the parish
church with the altar appurtenances, towels and embroidered pieces for
both altar and sacristy. It helps the needy, but to a lesser degree, as
other ch Llrch societies make this their sole concern.
The Saint Fancesco is purely a charity society of 150 members.
Mrs. Louisa Trivesonno is its acting president. These affiliated church
organizations are a vital value and function largely in a social way,
causing the feminine elements of the community to gather about the
church.
27
THE I T A. L I A N S OF CLEVELAN. D
St. Anthony
liSt. Anthony Padua," another Roman Catholic Church, is situated
at 1267 Central Avenue at the cent~ e of " Big Italy." It was dedicated
in 1887 by Rev. Mons. Riccardo Giln10nd, grew steadily until 1904 when
a new edifice becan1e necessary. the construction of which was due to
the present pastor, Father I- Iumbert Rocchi. No one could have the
work of his people more
a t heart nor execute it
with a more wholesome
syn1pathy and under­standing
than he. Born
and educated at Ron1e.
senoing his novitiate to
the priesthood in Italy,
for five years a n1ission­ary
in Brooklyn, his
wide comprehension of
their needs, I tog- tether
with his sane perspect­ive
of their place in the
city's life, has \ von for
him the unbounded con­fidence
of Italians and
Americans alike.
St. Anthony's parish,
embracing more than
10,000 people of the
Central, Scovill. Wood­land
and vVest Side dis­tricts,
u n d e r Father
Rocchi and his assist­ants,
has become a cen­tre
of social as well as
of religious cui t u r e.
Here is found a branch
of the above mentioned
Ladies' Catholic Bene­fit
Association. There
are also a nun1ber of
local church societies Rev. Humbert Rocchi
outside those of a dis-dnctly
benefit order, of which the " St. 4-\ nna" is typical. Under the
presidency of Mrs. J. Rini this ladies' organization meets twice monthly,
collects dues, arranges recreations, assists cases of need and provides
the necessary appurtenances to altar and sacristy.
28
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAN. D
Knights of St. John
St. Marion
Still another Roman Catholic church, St. Marion, has more recently
been established at Cedar Avenue and vVoodhill Road, at present in
charge at Rev. Ralph C. Idone.
Protestant
There are four Protestant Italian Missions in the city, all of which
owe their early impetus, if not, indeed, their inception to the untiring
labors of Rev. Pietro E. l\ JIonnet, a Waldensian minister reared in the
Angrogna Valley, at the foot of the Alps, who has spent twenty years
working among his people in this city. His Church, St. John's Beck­with,
now located at l\![ urray Hill Road and Paul Avenue, was originally
a mission of the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, in charge of
Giuseppe Zottarelli, on Euclid Avenue opposite Lakeview cemetery.
Mr. Monnet took charge of the work in 1905, and the next year the
mission was taken over by the Second Presbyterian Church and 1110ved
to its present location, where at once was erected the attractive, char­acteristic
brick church, which bears the nan1e of 1\ lr. Sterling Beckwith,
an elder of Second Church, out of whose bequest t. he building \ vas
erected. Here for fifteen years St. John's Church, though with a mem­bership
today of only one ilundred and forty- nine, has made itself an
asset to the cOl11nlunity of incalculable value, and 1\[ r. l\/ Ionnet is loved
and sought out by Protestants and Catholics alike for counsel and help.
The " Church of the SayiOllr," a branch of St. Tohn's Beck\,: ith, is a
Presbyterian Mission occupying a conlfortable brick building on Kip­ling
Avenue at Fiye Points, Collinwood. It ' was initiated in 1916 by
: Jr. Monnet, many of whose congregation had moved to this point,
29
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
attracted by the factory de\' elopl11ent. The congregation nunlbers fifty­seven
and is serycd by Rev. Francis De Simone.
The " Church of the Redeenler/' 1350 , Ycst 69th Street, is also a
Presbyterian l\ Iission started by ~ Ir. ~ Ionnet's congregation in the sum­nle~
of 1911: The Church Extension C0111111ittee of Cleveland Presbytery,
whIch carnes on the work both here and at the Church of the Saviour,
has provided an attractive brick building. Rev. Frank Tomich, re­cently
called to Akron to take charge of the A. 111ericanization program
of the Board of Education, served this mission as its pastor for five years.
St. John's Beckwith Presbyterian Church
The Italian Baptist 1Iission on 33rd Street between Scovill and
Woodland is 10 years old, and in charge of Rev. Pizzi, an Albanian, who
was educated for the Greek Catholic Priesthood and became Protestant
after he came to America. The Mission, which has 37 mem, bers and a
property valued at $ 23,000, besides its regular religious services, from
May to October holds an industrial school, of which there are over 60
members. This school meets one afternoon a week with sewing for the
girls and manual work for the boys.
Th~ Baptist Christian Ronle Centre, 101st and Cedar, is conducted
under the same auspices as the Italian Baptist Mission. In its indus­trial
school there are over 90 members. The auditorium and reading
room are open every night, and there are evening classes for boys with
manual training, girls' sewing and cooking classes, mothers' meetings,
and Am'ericanization classes.
One benefit organization is found in all four missions, viz.: " The
20th September brofuerhood." The members of , each brotherhood
branch made up of male adherents of the Protestant churches only, pay
an initiation fee of $ 3.00 and 75c mon1thly dues, and receive if physically
incapacitated $ 1 per day. In case of death $ 100 is paid toward the funeral
expenses. Mr. Erminio Sipari, the president, arranges a meeting of the
four branches in one of the churches monthly to transact business and
plan its social activities. The organization is about to ask for incorpor­ation,
and to inaugurate an auxiliary for women.
30
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Rev. Pietro E. Monnet
Religious Festivals
A religio- social event in which community interest centres IS the
celebration of the fete days of the virgin and the patron saints.
There are three of these religious festivals, St. Joseph's held the first
Sunday after the 19th of March; " St. John's," invariably celebrated on
the 24th of June, which is, a holiday throughout the settlement, and " The
Feast of the Assun1ption of the Blessed Virgin," held on the 15th of
August. The latter festival lasts three days, brings out the vivid color
of the Italian peasant traditions, and unites the comlmunity in one great
family. A preparation is made on the evening of August 14 by an out­door
concert. Russo's I talian band of 60 pieces renders selections from
Verdi, Otto, and other composers with Italian and American patriotic
music. The celebration proper begins with High Mass on the morning
of the saint's day. Hundreds of little girls dressed in white scatter
flowers before the head of a procession which starts from the church
door. . c\ choir of boys or girls follo- ws singing. Then comes the float
bearing the statue of the honored saint escorted by a guard of young men
31
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
in picturesque costun1es, the priest in his robes, the acolytes in their cos­sacks,
and the populace in holiday attire. Brass bands, floats represent­ing
sacred or liistorical episodes, and carriages loaded with flowers give
length and added brilliance to the picture.
The procession winds its vvay through the streets of the colony,
and is frequently stopped by \ Yorshippers who desire to make votive
offering':) at the shrine of the saint. The end of the route finds the pro­cession
back at the church door.
The religious part of the festival over, the colony settles itself to
three days of feasting, athletic exhibitions, ports, national dancing anq
other recreations. This is the one season of the year when the best to
be had is not too good for the poorest families.
An extended band concert is held on the evening of the second day,
and in\' Jriably at it a horse or cOvV is raffled in further honor of the saint:
The colony then assen1bles itself en masse with its visitors from the
city son1etin1es to the nun1ber of 80,000 in a great natural ampitheatre
before Alta House to witness a competitive display of pyrotechnics. A
cash prize is awarded the firm. n1aking the best display. It is customary
for the n1ayor of the city, . the committee of five having all the festivities
in charge, and some other invited notable to act as judges.
rrhi~ feast affords the spectacle of an entire community disporting
iself in its characteristic vvay.
Colun1bus Day and the Carnivals are celebrated in much the same
manner, but vvithout the religious cerem. onies. There is an agitation
alTIOng son1e Italian intellectuals against these unique celebrations on
the ground that they savor too much of the old world.
Settlements
Outside the churches there are two main institutions at which the
n1any haternal, social, athletic and musical societies regularly meet.
Alta House, in the centre of " Little Italy," 12510 Mayfield Road, deals
with this nationality only. It is the best equipped settlement in the
t: ity, having SvVilTIlTIing pool, a large gymnasium, public library, dispen­sary,
visiting nurse, and club rooms where several Italian bands as \ vell
as the exclusively Italian societies mee, t. There are few families in its
neighborhood who haye not a representative OT more in a group meeting
at this centre.
Alta House
32
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAN. D
An Alta House Sewing CIa- s
Garment Products of the Sewing Class.
The making of Artisans at Alta House.
33
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Hiram House is situated at 2723 Orange Avenue. Here the work has
formerly been carried on among the Jews, but as these have moved fur­ther
east the Italians have replaced them, so that at present it is in the
midst of the I talian section.
Fraternal Orders
In addition to these settlement
houses, halls are sOlnetimes hired and
school buildings used for dances, bene­fits,
and other gatherings of a special
character.
The Italian Social organization
may be divided roughly into four
classes:
( 1) The large fraternal organiza­tions,
having national affiliations.
( 2) The Federated SOCIetIes, a
loose but incorporated union of local
benefit · organizations.
( 3) The Social Clubs, for the n10st
part meeting at the Settlement houses,
many of which are made up of women
or pennit of mixed n1elnbership.
( 4) The distinctly athletic aggre-gation
for boys and n1en. A Party Costume
All of these fill a very large place in the life of the g. roup, stabilizing
it, augmenting its solidarity, and insuring the individuals within against
becoming public charges. They are the teachers par excellence of prac­tical
social co- operation. It is said that more than four- fifths of all the
men in the various settlements have n1embership in one or more of these
societies.
To the first class belongs the strongest and oldest Italian organiza­tion
in the country, " The Sons of Italy," numbering in the United States
more than 135,000 men. There are 26 of these lodges in Ohio, and 9 in
the city of Cleveland:
Duca Degli Abbruzzesi 217.
G. l\ 1arconi 147.
G. 1! Iazzini 218.
Margherita of Savoia 262.
Massimo D'Azeglio.
Campobasso.
Vittorio Emlmanuele.
S. l\ 1ichele Del Sannio.
Calabrese.
34
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Products of the Art Class at Alta House
The Supreme Lodge is quartered in New York Ci ty, the Grand
Lodge of Ohio at Euclid Avenue and East 118th Street. Dr. Barricelli,
enjoys the honor of being President of the Grand Lodge of the State.
This is a fitting tribute to the man who initiated the order, christened it,
and nursed it through the early years of its development.
The organization is a fraternal order, designed for the education,
welfare and safeguard of its Italian members. It has provident and
insurance features also. In case of death grants of $ 300 from the Grand
Lodge and $ 100 from the local organization, besides certain funeral
expenses, are made to the survivors of the deceased. By paying sick
benefit ciues of $ 1 monthly, a weekly indemnity of $ 10 including Inedical
attendance is also given.
There is another society called " The Independent Sons of Italy," a
much smaller national organization constructed on dissimilar lines but
Inaintain1ng sick benefit and life insurance features. The local organiza­tion
which meets at Alta House, nutnbers less than 100 members.
The Woodmen of the World and the Oddfellows maintain all- Italian
local branches at 55th and vVoodland, with the benefits unique to those
w'ell- known fraternal organizations. The first of these and each of the
latter two has a women's auxiliary which has full sickness and death
benefits.
Before 1917 there were many local fraternal societies operating
largely in the Orange and Ontario districts.
Fraterna
Operaia
Cristoforo Columbo
Sannitica
Imerese- Beato Agostimo
Imerese- Beato Agostimo
Unione Santagatese
Principe del Piemonte
Palermitana Santa Resalia
Maira S. S. Immacolata
San Cosimo Damiano
35
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Each had its officers, peculiar aims and social purposes, together with
insurance and benefit features. Some, like the Society of Christopher Co­lumhus,
were mutual associations guaranteeing to his family in case of a
member's death $ 100 toward defraying funeral expenses and an indemnity
raised by an assessment of $ 1 on each surviving member of the organiza­tion.
Obviously this was a precarious insurance method. To stabilize and
standardize dues, rates, indemnities, and focus their purposes, all these
local organizations were united and incorporated by the state legislature
in 1917 under the name, " Federated Societies." Each society is repre­sented
in the federation but has nojt lost its identity, as the by- laws and
rules of the latter body must be ratified by the local order to be coercive.
Officers of the federation are elected annually. Salvatore Russo, con­nected
v'l" ith the Ohio Macaroni Co., is at present the presidential incum­bent.
In April, 1919, the largest society, " The Fraterna," affiliated with
the " Sclns of Italy." Six others have made application to do so. It is
expected that there will be a still further amalgam! ation of all these
smaller bodies into one great representative organization.
Social Clubs
Of purely social clubs there is no end. Most of those with benefit
features have been attracted into the Federation. But many organiza­tions
made up of persons coming from the same town or district in Italy
remain separate. The " Matrice" and the " Imerse," social clubs, both of
which nleet at Alta House, the " Sinagra," a local mutual life insurance
association numbering 100 and limiting its individual nl0rtuary indem­nity
to $ 300, are open only to those coming from the sam, e Italian cities,
and are constructed with the purpose of obviating the need of American
relief.
Others are charitable or semi- patriotic in character. " The Daugh­ters
of Italy," a social organization unconnected with the benefit society
bearing the same name, belongs to this class. It was organized in 1910,
meets in the basement of St. Anthony's church, arranges for Columbus
Day and other parades, was active in our several Liberty Loan cam­paigns,
as well as in welcoming returning members of , the A. E. F. This
is the organization which has arranged the Soldiers' reception, banquet
and ball in the Winton Hotel for the 17th of May, 1919. The " Aurelius,"
a less pretentious organization, was responsible for the sale of more than
$ 300,000 worth of U. S. Liberty Bonds, and $ 25,000 War Savings Stamps.
Still another type is the purely recreational club, meeting for the most
part at Alta and Hiram settlements. A few like the " Jolly Good Fel­lows,"
an organization made up of 25 men who meet at Alta House for
recreation, to prepare plays and otherwise entertain thel11selves; and
the various small Spaghetti clubs which bring their members together
at a restaurant, are unfederated and adaptable to any purpose which is
expedient at the time. They are for men only, and they often have
definite social and political purposes.
The Prentice Club, on the other hand, is a purely women's organi­zation.
It was initiated by Miss Belle Sherwin at Alta House for the
young girls in Little Italy, now its membership of 60 is wholly of mar­ried
women, some of whom are charter members. It affords recreation,
arranges lunches, parties, games and dances for its members. Through
the winter it has engaged in war work, in the summers taken care of the
sick in the colony and in general promoted facile social relations in the
settlement.
36
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Somewhat similar in purpose is the " Noyes," named after the Alta
House directress, a club for young married mothers, vvhere they may
get away from the irk and monotony of home life. Their tiny babies
form the touch of nature which makes the world akin.
The " Romolo Matrons," the " Young Unmarried Women's Club,"
and the " Romola Juniors" are women's and girls' organizations serving
a similar purpose and meeting in the same place.
A Federation of these various women's clubs under the name, " Ital­ian
Women's Club," is now in process of organization under the presi­dency
of Mrs. B. A. Buopane. Its purpose is charitable, social, musical
and philanthropic, more particularly to keep the societies and individuals
in touch with the great movements of the day, a task in which it is
admlirably succeeding. A ball is to be held under their auspices at the
Winton Hotel April 29th, 1919, in honor of the returning Italians and
Americans who fought with our expeditionary forces in Italy. This
federation, as the men's organizations, will seek incorporation.
Athletics
The younger men and boys are proud of the past achievements and
present standing of their athletic clubs in the various lines of sport.
There are two baseball leagues, a Senior and a Junior, vvith eight tealTIS
in each. The names of the former clubs are an interesting contrast to
the latter- J effersons, Marconis, Lincolns, and Garfields, over against
the Altas, l\ 1acks, Cubs, and Elks. These athletic clubs are organized
and supported by the boys thenlselves through COlTIlTIOn dues collected
throughout the year.
A theletes in Training
Rocco Novario of the Cleveland Athletic Baseball Association has
been manager for the past four years of the Telling's- Stroller's, an " i\."
class all- Italian team which won the state championship in 1916, the
' city championship in 1917, and which then suspended operations to help
America to " win the war." The " Mohawk," all- Italian football team,
also carried off the city's championship laurels from 1914 to 1918.
In basketball the " Favorite Cones," made up of Italian operatives of
the Favorite Woolen Mills and financed by its manager, the " Mer­cedes"
and " Red Skins," which carried the Cleveland and class cham-
37
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
pionships ' respectively until 1917, are the boast of " Little Italy" and
Alta's training.
In boxing the two professional athletic Inanagers, Chas. ~ Iarotta
and Sol Laurie, train promising Italian athletes and stage city anlateur
boxing contests. " J ohnnie Russel," tate and ~ Iiddle \\' est chan1pion,
now in Europe \ vith the ..\. E. F .. and John Rini, city chanlpion in his
di\' ision~ are also products of these " stables" and are popular with the
I talian populace.
Basket Ball Teams of the Mayfield District
38
Qlindo G Melaragno
39
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
The Italian Press
There are 16 Italian newspapers printed in New York City, 6 in
. Philadelphia, and 2 in Cleveland. Four from New York:
I'n Progresso Italo Americano," IIn Bollettino Della Sera," " L' Araldo
Italiano" and " L'Opinione," and one from Philadelphia, " Giornale
D' Italia," only find current distribution in this city.
" La Voce del Popolo Italiano", at present a weekly which prom­ises
a daily publication this year, is said to be " the first, largest, and
most influential Italian organ of publicity in Ohio." This outspoken
political independent paper was established by its present manager and
editor, Olindo G. Melaragno, in 1903. It now boasts a circulation of
15,000 in the city and 30,000 through the Middle States, has built and
now occupies a modern brick publishing house at the corner of 14th
and Central Avenue, and conducts an important foreign exchange and
nloney order business. It has interpreted American law and method,
fearlessly striven to secure to I, talian Americans their economic and
social rights, and insistently emphasized the advantages of citizenship.
I t forms the intelligent link between the Italian born and American life
and movements. How widely it is read is evidenced by its many Ameri­can
business and recreational advertisements.
" La Stampa", a small independent weekly, is published by G. Bal­zano
at Orange Avenue and 14th Street.
Theatres
There are no distinctly Italian theatres in the city. " The Venice",
a movie in the Mayfield settlement, owned and operated by Gabriel
Gullia, shows the same pic, tures which are shown in the larger picture
houses but at a later time, and is filled to capacity nightly. The Venice
Hall is frequently used for political mass meetings.
This is not to say that the Italians are not fond of good music.
Again and again the best operas which corne Ito Cleveland are brought
by Italians. It is said that the San Carlo and Creatore Grand Opera
Company are supported by the majority of the Italians in the city. But
they do not operate their own theatres, as some of Cleveland's other
racial groups.
Restaurants
There are four Italian restaurants in the city, one only of which is
representative, the " New Roma", situated on Prospect Avenue. It is
partly ovvned and entirely managed by Frank Monaco, who took it over
in the summer of 1918. He has increased its capacity to 500, making
it the largest restaurant in the city, and one of the most attractive in
the State, engaged a creditable orchestra, and arranges banquets for
clubs and parties. It is an institution in the American as well as the
Italian life of Cleveland.
In this connection it ought not to be forgotten that the culinary
art in the city's hotels and restaurants is in ; the hands of Italians. The
chefs in charge at the Hotel Statler, the Cleveland, and the Shaker
40
The New Roma Restaurant
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
Heights Club, Sossi, Motta and Ettorezoia respectively, are Italians,
together with the second chefs at the Hollenden and Winton. In fact,
it is authoritatively stated that 140 out of the 200 leading cooks in the
city's foremost eating places are Italians.
Saloons
The saloon cannot be overlooked as a place of entertainment and
social recreation. Many of ! these people who are attracted from the
poorest provinces of their country by the rich economic opportunities
In the United States bring with them little equipment by way of educa­tion
or practical training. In few cases can they read or write their
own language. Finding the cost of living here disproportionately high,
they gravitate into the congested districts where housing facilities are
within their means.
During these years they find life necessarily barren of recreation.
" The younger men get it in the pool room, the children in the neigh­borhood
school or settlement." Their craving for companionship with
their own countrymen leads them to the warm, well- lighted and con­venient
saloon, the degenerate cousin of the ins1titution with which they
were familiar in their European home. There are 18 of these institu­tions
in the Mayfield settlement alone, which is a generous comment
on their patronage. They have become the main recreational centres
for the older men.
Political
Year by year , the Italian- American has increased his. influence in
the local politics of our great cities. One has only to look over the roll
of city employees at such names as Charles Coralo, Tony Page, John
Corso, to get the significance of this tendency. The Italian- American
who in art is so extrinsic, in his political philosophy is. just as practical.
Government ito him stands or falls, not by its ideal theory, but by the
number of concrete benefits, definable in economic and industrial terms.
He forgets no favor and condones no adverse discrimination. So while
the padrone system is at a minimum and political bossism is not ob­trusive,
governn1ent is a tacit quid pro quo arrange'ment and the po­litical
aspirant who can give concrete evidence of influence or power is
not forgotten. Up to the Wilson- Hughes election in 1916 the Italian
colonies were overwhelmingly Republican. In that year a large Demo­cratic
vote was registered.
Americanization
I t is true that socialism of a' revolutionary type suggestive of vio­lence
is rampant among certain elements of the Italians, but this is an
inheritance from the homeland. The spirit of discontent nurtured there
by unfortunate economic conditions has free scope when aggravated by
harsh industrial conditions here. It is true also that the Italians more
than" any other of our ethnic groups come and go back to their native
land, that they are migratory. Far from being a reproach, this should
be a commendation. They have been the barometer of our labor markets
and a safety valve as well, relieving the tenseness of our industrial
crises. Nor is he less an American because of these migratory habits
and the over- estimated financial remlittances to Italy. He is not obliv­ious
to the fact that the first American to die in our expeditionary forces
was an Italian- American. In the present war no group has lent its. aid
in men and money with greater abandon than Cleveland's Italian sub-
4 · 2
THE ITALIANS OF CLEVELAND
jects. F'ourteen hundred, from the parish records, which are the most
authentic figures yet available, were with our expeditionary forces, be­sides
the volunteers who went back to join the Italian ranks in the same
cause. They are found in every branch of the service. Dr. Motto has
achieved distinction in the medical corps, his brother Charles, a sculptor,
well known in Italian circles, is with the A. E. F. in France. Eleven
were with the Lakeside Hospital unit.
Men from the Mayfield Settlement with the Lakeside Unit Overseas.
One hundred and six appear on the list of casualties, either killed
or wounded. In view of this it is not surprising that at nearly every
public gathering of Italians through the past two years appeals were
made and opportunity given to financially support America's arn1Y
overseas.
Nothing could tie them to America more closely than the sacrifice
they have made for her honor, and nothing could better facilitate their
Amlericanization.
This has been an indirect though no less efficient Americanization
programme. We would not have them exactly as we are. They will
still retain Italian social customs, and ideals. Why not? They will still
feel a kinship with the home people, but they love America no less be­cause
they love Italy so well. T'here is room for diversity of custom and
viewpoint in American unity. They want and are achieving our lang­uage
with surprising facility, and have been more ready than other
ethnic groups to forego the teaching of their language in the public
and parochial schools. They speak with pride and gratitude of those
large- souled Americans who have labored with and for them, and who
have earnestly and sympathetically striven to understand and interpret
them to America and America to them. Cleveland owes her Italian
subjects a larger appreciation, and in the payment of our debt we will
find ourselves the richer by the reciprocation of theirs.
CLEVELAND AMERICANIZATION COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTJEE
Mr. Raymond Moley- Chairman
Mrs. J. N. Fleming- Vice Chairman
Miss Helen Bacon- Secretary
Mrs. A. L. Bishop
Mr. A. W. Castle
Mr. Harold T. Clark
Mrs. E. H. Fishman
Miss Alice P. Gannett
Mr. Ernest Joseph
Judge Manuel Levine
Mr. Carl P. Vitz
Mrs. C. W. Webb
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Mrs. J. J. Babka
Mrs. Willard Beahan
Mrs. W. B. Boyle
Mrs. James M. Bryer
Mr. Edward Bushnell
Mrs. W. P. Chamberlain
Miss Hazel Foster
Mr. Hugh M. Fullerton
Miss Helen Hanchette
Mrs. E. L. Harris
Mr. George B.- Harris
Mrs. E. B. Haserodt
Mrs. Ray A. Hauserman
Mr. David E. Green
Mr. R. J. Hoddinnott
Mrs. Helen Horvath
Mrs. Sarah E. Hyre
Rev. Joel B. Hayden
Mrs. Durward B. Igou
Mrs. Stella Jacoby
Rev. William A. Kane
Miss K. Kennedy
Miss Hedwig Kosbab
Mrs. E. C. Kraus
Mrs. E. E. Ledbytter
Mrs. E. C. McCullough
Mrs. J. L. Mihelich
Miss Margaret Mitchell
Mr. De La Mook
Miss Sarah J. Neuhart
Mrs. P. C. O'Brien
Mrs. Chas. Orr
Miss Mary E. Parker
Mrs. Roger G. Perkins
Mr. John Prucha
Miss Mary Robertson
Judge Joseph F. Sawicki
Mrs. E. M. Spreng
Miss B. Swainhardt
Mrs. Howard S. Thayer
Mrs. E. J . Weigel
Mr. F. Allen Whiting
Miss E. Louise Willmott
Mr. E. R. Wright
Other Publications of the Committee
Americanization of Cleveland
Report of Work of the Cleveland Americanizatipn
Committee, of 1917- 1918
The Slovaks of Cleveland
Lessons on American Citizenship
The Jugoslavs of Cleveland
The Magyars of Cleveland
Address:
Cleveland Americanization Committee
Room 226, City Hall, Cleveland