Page 7: GRANDDAD’S BUSINESS
In 1886 Granddad, together with a Scotch stonemason, Mr. McIntosh, formed a construction company. Land in the downtown area was too costly, so they ventured way uptown in Manhattan. In that period, that location was far removed from the heart of the City. Practically everything above 100th Street was still virgin land and farms. The horse-drawn trolleys with pot belly stoves terminated just below 100th Street.
They constructed many three-story brownstone walk-up houses, between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, and between Broadway and Amsterdam, then extended their activities as far north as 112th Street.
[To see a comprehensive catalog of Paterno architecture, click HERE.]
About 1892, Mr. McIntosh wanted to dissolve the partnership, and Granddad continued on his own. Meanwhile his three older sons, Saverio, Charles and Joseph, helped him in his work after school hours. Saverio, my father, worked as a carpenter’s helper.
GRANDDAD’S CHILDREN
My father Saverio and his brothers Charles and Joseph attended elementary school in Manhattan and helped the family financially by delivering newspapers and doing odd jobs such as shoveling snow and delivering groceries after school hours. As the children grew older, Celestina, the eldest, began to work in a dress factory, while on weekends the boys helped Granddad at his construction projects. Saverio and Joseph continued working with their father. Charles aided part-time and attended evening classes at Cornell Medical College, where eventually he obtained a degree in medicine, with the help and hard-earned money of the entire family.
My father, even though he was the eldest son, had an adventurous spirit and decided to explore other fields. He moved to Philadelphia in 1895 and worked in a candy store. Eventually he joined a traveling circus and became an expert juggler and tightrope walker. Consequently he left the U.S. with the circus and traveled to South America, and then to England.
In London he left the circus and opened a candy and ice cream shop. There he met my mother, Minnie Rose Breden, and eventually became engaged to her.
GRANDDAD’S RETURN TO ITALY
The latter part of 1898 Granddad became ill. No one knew what was wrong with him. The Italian doctor who attended him suggested he return to his native country as the change of climate might help cure him. His. health failing rapidly, in 1899 after many consultations with the family he decided to take the doctor’s advice and gave up his business. The family summoned their eldest son, Saverio, from London, to accompany his father to Italy. When they reached Naples the doctors discovered he had an incurable case, possibly cancer, with which they were not too familiar in those days. He died in 1899 at the age of 48, and was buried in the town cemetery. Consequently, Papa returned to the U.S. to report to his family, at which time he received permission to use the ground floor of the house in Castelmezzano, if he wishes to return there.
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