Page 23: MY MIGRATION TO AMERICA
I departed from Naples on September 18, 1926, on the Steamship “Colombo” and arrived in New York on September 30.
At Ellis Island the immigration agents boarded the ship. Soon after I heard my name on the loudspeaker. I was very nervous and wondered why I should be the first to be called.
I feared something had gone wrong and dreaded the idea of being sent back. So I didn’t not answer the call. Instead, I sat there petrified. The ship’s Purser came over and told me to follow him to see the agents.
I slowly made my way in, and found myself facing this scary and very stern person. Through the interpreter I found out that he had approved my documents and that I could legally enter the United States.
Later on I found out that person had been Arthur Campbell’s father, a very good friend of brother John, who was the head of the New York Immigration Department.
When we docked I was one of the first to disembark. After going through customs I started searching for my relatives, and again was scared and lost.
Finally I returned to the ship’s gangplank, and with a sigh of relief and pleasure recognized and embraced my brothers John, Charles and Joseph. They explained the reason for not being there when I came out – they had been certain I would not be one of the first to descend.
MY EARLY YEARS IN NEW YORK
I stayed with brother John and his first wife Gladys at 425 Riverside Drive. As a young greenhorn I attended the Berlitz School on 34th Street, where I began receiving English language instructions.
A few months later John enrolled me in St. Michael’s boarding school on 241st Street and White Plains Road. Mingling with the American-born boys helped a lot. I remained there long enough to further improve my command of English.
I began working at 825 Fifth Avenue, a co-operative highrise apartment hotel being built by Uncle Joseph Paterno. Brother John was in complete charge. I worked as a messenger, timekeeper and labor foreman. After my first paycheck I rented a room for my own use.
Then I worked on another co-operative being erected by Paterno Bros., at 30 Sutton Place, and also on 57th Street and Park Avenue, where I was employed as assistant superintendent.
While working for Paterno Bros., I also took evening courses in architectural drawing and estimating, at Columbia University.
Page 24: On completion of this last job my Uncle Michael decided I should try for college. He enrolled me in the Petty Institute, Hightstown, New Jersey – a preparatory school for Princeton. By then my English had improved, but not enough to qualify me for college. At year’s end I passed all the College Board entrance exams, but failed English. When Dr. Reese, the English Professor, told me I would need a minimum of another year of English, feeling disappointed and a failure, and too old to keep trying, I quit.
Being rejected, lonesome and homesick, I decided to return to Italy and try to put my life in proper perspective. I left New York on the S. S. Roma on December 12, 1930, arriving in Naples December 22nd.
Dad picked me up at the town railroad station in his Fiat on December 23rd.
On the four month visit I found all the utilities in town had been installed in my absence.
MY RETURN TO NEW YORK FOR A NEW START
I returned on the S. S. Augustus, April 21, 1931. The Depression, which began in 1929, had worsened. I obtained a few temporary jobs. Eventually Uncle Charles, the doctor, offered me an office job. While there I took evening courses at Pace Institute for two years, in accounting. I was fortunate to receive tremendous practical help from Robert Norton, the doctor’s senior accountant. I worked as an accountant until 1938, with the exception of a two-year period when I worked construction, as assistant superintendent at Uncle Charles’ large farm, the Windmill Farms, in Armonk, New York.
MAMA’S FIRST VISIT TO AMERICA
Mother visited the U.S. for the first time in 1934. This trip was originally sponsored by our aunts, Rose Faiella and Theresa Ciluzzi, who had previously visited our family in Italy. Mother remained in Manhattan for several months and made her headquarters with our brother Charles and his wife Annette, at 425 Riverside Drive.
All the family members generously contributed toward the expenses, and each took turns having her as their guest in their homes, entertaining her royally.
The left half of the following photo was taken in 1934 while Mother was here with her unmarried sons and Charles and Annette and their children. The right half of the photo was taken in Italy that same year. Dad had both halves put together to form this unique composite photo, and each of us receive a copy.
Page 25: Minnie Rose Breden and Saverio Paterno’s Family
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EXPLANATION: Top Left: Michael, Joseph, Charles, John. Top Right: Michelle Parrella, Giulia, Romeo, Giorgio. Bottom Left: Charlotte, Lisa, Annette with baby Annette, Mama. Bottom Right: Papa, Celeste with Tilde, Maria.