Grammy's Memoirs 2018
Viewing comments for Chapter 3 "Coming to America"Bits and pieces of my life for my grandchildren
49 total reviews
Comment from LateBloomer
Hello Mustangpatty1029, I enjoyed reading your story. I have read the reviews, and I will venture to say that I am the only reviewer from New Jersey. The hospital that you speak of must be JFK Memorial Hospital -- my oldest son was born there.
M, Your grandparents found a way to make a new life for themselves and for so many other family members, and although your grandparents home, and the surrounding homes, no longer exist, that property is still giving and contributing to society.
Of special note:
"He purchased thirty acres for three-hundred dollars. He sent word to Italy that he could sponsor anyone who was willing to work hard. For the next five years, he sponsored fourteen families and helped them to make a life in the United States.
(M, I "think" being sponsored and having a place to live were requirements at that time to come to the USA. My grandparents were sponsored; and thus, they too sponsored others in return. However, I'm not sure if having a sponsor and a place to live is a current-day requirement to those who enter the USA, legally. I'm guessing that the 14 families that lived in NJ have many, many family members currently living in NJ? ... if the high taxes haven't chased them away.)
Question ... I was the oldest, born in 1905? Mustang, is that you? Were you born in 1905?)
A story of passion, love, and new beginnings. A pleasure to read. Keep the blue waters flowing. LateBloomer
reply by the author on 25-Apr-2017
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Hello Mustangpatty1029, I enjoyed reading your story. I have read the reviews, and I will venture to say that I am the only reviewer from New Jersey. The hospital that you speak of must be JFK Memorial Hospital -- my oldest son was born there.
M, Your grandparents found a way to make a new life for themselves and for so many other family members, and although your grandparents home, and the surrounding homes, no longer exist, that property is still giving and contributing to society.
Of special note:
"He purchased thirty acres for three-hundred dollars. He sent word to Italy that he could sponsor anyone who was willing to work hard. For the next five years, he sponsored fourteen families and helped them to make a life in the United States.
(M, I "think" being sponsored and having a place to live were requirements at that time to come to the USA. My grandparents were sponsored; and thus, they too sponsored others in return. However, I'm not sure if having a sponsor and a place to live is a current-day requirement to those who enter the USA, legally. I'm guessing that the 14 families that lived in NJ have many, many family members currently living in NJ? ... if the high taxes haven't chased them away.)
Question ... I was the oldest, born in 1905? Mustang, is that you? Were you born in 1905?)
A story of passion, love, and new beginnings. A pleasure to read. Keep the blue waters flowing. LateBloomer
Comment Written 25-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 25-Apr-2017
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Hi; yes the hospital is JFK. No, I'm not that old - that was my grandmother speaking as she told the story. The resulting population of Italian Americans from the original families is amazing. The Magliones went on to have the largest Italian ice company, and most of the cousins all took up trades. There were electricians, welders, plumbers, and lots of contractors. I'm related to a great deal of the Italians from Brooklyn down to Sandy Hook.
Thank you for reading and letting me know there is another person from Jersey here. Where do you live?
~patty~
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I live at the Jersey Shore in Ocean County - near Point Pleasant Beach. I was born and raised in Manhattan and went to High School in Little Italy ... those were the days. Smiles, LateBloomer
Comment from WalkerMan
This story of your great grandparents strikes a chord with me, as both my father's and mother's parents came here from Europe just a few years earlier. The young Statue of Liberty was still dark coppery brown then, as it took thirty years to oxidize to its now-familiar blue-green color. It's too bad your family's land and associated business had to be sold when your Nonno passed, but perhaps he was the only one who knew how to maintain and run it. Clearly, he benefitted many others along the way. I'm glad you were able to learn your family's history firsthand. Well told.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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This story of your great grandparents strikes a chord with me, as both my father's and mother's parents came here from Europe just a few years earlier. The young Statue of Liberty was still dark coppery brown then, as it took thirty years to oxidize to its now-familiar blue-green color. It's too bad your family's land and associated business had to be sold when your Nonno passed, but perhaps he was the only one who knew how to maintain and run it. Clearly, he benefitted many others along the way. I'm glad you were able to learn your family's history firsthand. Well told.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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thank you so much for your thoughtful review. It turned out the property had to be sold because of the greed between the sisters. Everyone wanted to sell and get a piece of the money. It was hoped that one of the cousins or other families would buy the property, but it was worth too much.
~patty~
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You are welcome, Patty.
At least your Nonno left that inheritance for the family. My father's parents were gone by the time he was nineteen (right before the Great Depression, and he ended up keeping his four brothers and five sisters together and finding jobs for the ones not employed as he was. As a result, he did not marry until he was thirty-six. The good news was that he was too young to fight in WWI and too old for WWII, while I was too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam. -- Mike
Comment from dejohnsrld (Debbie)
A very interesting story. My great-grandparents came from Sweden at about the same time. I was recently contacted by someone doing genealogy on that side of the family and hope to learn more. Well written, my friend~DEbbie
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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A very interesting story. My great-grandparents came from Sweden at about the same time. I was recently contacted by someone doing genealogy on that side of the family and hope to learn more. Well written, my friend~DEbbie
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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Hi Debbie; thank you so much for stopping by to read and review. I did a lot of research on this side of my family and I was able to find a copy of the page in the Ellis Island records that my great grandparents signed. I also found the 1910 census report that showed my grandmother's entire family living at their address in Metuchen. I love ancestry.com! I hope you are able to find out more about your ancestors,
~patty~
Comment from Mistydawn
What a sentimental story about your grandparents. It's so warm, heartfelt. I'm sure your grandchildren will enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you for sharing your wonderful memory with us.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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What a sentimental story about your grandparents. It's so warm, heartfelt. I'm sure your grandchildren will enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you for sharing your wonderful memory with us.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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thank you so much for stopping by to read and review. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and I appreciate your warm comments. I look forward to when the grandchildren are old enough to share these stories. (They are only two and one now.)
~patty~
Comment from LaRosa
It's a wonderful thing to save family stories and along with them, history, for the next generations. I had little interest when I was young and now I find that several 'stories' were pretty much fabricated, as my mother said: your dad just wanted it to sound interesting for you kids. Made me wish, too late, that I tell him: your story is interesting to ME as it is.
You have written this memory of your grandmother's story-telling flair in a way that makes the reader feel she's sitting at grandma's knee too. I hoped and smiled to think of so many families able to start new and safe lives because of just one man and his wife. It makes one think about today's social/immigrant issues. Good work.
The true geological history of Metuchen, New Jersey and the dollar-sign salesman is quite interesting. It's amazing what hard work and dedication can accomplish.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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It's a wonderful thing to save family stories and along with them, history, for the next generations. I had little interest when I was young and now I find that several 'stories' were pretty much fabricated, as my mother said: your dad just wanted it to sound interesting for you kids. Made me wish, too late, that I tell him: your story is interesting to ME as it is.
You have written this memory of your grandmother's story-telling flair in a way that makes the reader feel she's sitting at grandma's knee too. I hoped and smiled to think of so many families able to start new and safe lives because of just one man and his wife. It makes one think about today's social/immigrant issues. Good work.
The true geological history of Metuchen, New Jersey and the dollar-sign salesman is quite interesting. It's amazing what hard work and dedication can accomplish.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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thank you so much for stopping by to read and review. I'm glad I was able to draw you into the story so that you felt like you were sitting with Grandma. I appreciate your lovely review,
~patty~
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Your great grandfather was smart to invite Italian settlers to share his land. In that way, he enriched hs life and theirs as well. Good story. :)
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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Your great grandfather was smart to invite Italian settlers to share his land. In that way, he enriched hs life and theirs as well. Good story. :)
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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thank you for stopping in to read and review. Yes, Nonno was a shrewd old man. He leased the land to the people that built their houses there. He still owned all three-hundred acres when he died,
~patty~
Comment from prettybluebirds
Excellent. I found this to be the most heart touching story. My Grandparents came from Germany on my Father's side, and Ireland on my Mother's side. Your story was interesting and well written.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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Excellent. I found this to be the most heart touching story. My Grandparents came from Germany on my Father's side, and Ireland on my Mother's side. Your story was interesting and well written.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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thank you so much for your review of this piece. I bet you have stories to tell of your heritage. My children are part Irish from my husband's side and my daughter married someone who was half Irish. My grand children are much more Irish than anything else, and you would never know they are any part Italian.
Thank you for your kind words - I really appreciate it,
~patty~
Comment from kathleenspalding
need an extra line space after ...Francis Maglione with him to see him" for paragraph separation. Also perhaps revisit that sentence to reduce odds of pronoun confusion.
...under the branches. Insert break like you do for the Italian/English parts:
I can remember my great grandmother (looking at me/touching my cheek, something to let us know the coming 'she' is about you) and saying to my mother,(single hard return here? to keep the italian with the sentence, but allow the same look as you have for these sections?
Then separate paragraph for At my great(no hyphen) grandparents compound...
This is great! If you post it on Facebook, I'd be glad to share it, because we need these positive stories.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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need an extra line space after ...Francis Maglione with him to see him" for paragraph separation. Also perhaps revisit that sentence to reduce odds of pronoun confusion.
...under the branches. Insert break like you do for the Italian/English parts:
I can remember my great grandmother (looking at me/touching my cheek, something to let us know the coming 'she' is about you) and saying to my mother,(single hard return here? to keep the italian with the sentence, but allow the same look as you have for these sections?
Then separate paragraph for At my great(no hyphen) grandparents compound...
This is great! If you post it on Facebook, I'd be glad to share it, because we need these positive stories.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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Hi Kathleen; thank you so much for your EXCEPTIONAL rating and your kind words. I do appreciate you catching the SPAG. I fixed all of the areas you mentioned.
~patty~
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You're welcome :-)
Comment from lyenochka
I love the stories of immigrants coming to America and their passion to work hard for their future generations! Thank God for your hard-working great-grandparents!
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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I love the stories of immigrants coming to America and their passion to work hard for their future generations! Thank God for your hard-working great-grandparents!
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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thank you so much for the lovely review and shiny stars. I'm glad you liked this story - I enjoyed writing it,
~patty~
Comment from Marykelly
America was a destination for many European ethnic groups who for different reasons wanted a new start in a land that had opportunities for those willing to dream big and work hard. The courage and perseverance it took to start a new life is a testament to the human spirit. Most American families have stories like this that sing the praises of the generations that paved the way for subsequent generations.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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America was a destination for many European ethnic groups who for different reasons wanted a new start in a land that had opportunities for those willing to dream big and work hard. The courage and perseverance it took to start a new life is a testament to the human spirit. Most American families have stories like this that sing the praises of the generations that paved the way for subsequent generations.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2017
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2017
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Hi; thank you for stopping by to read and review. Yes, we are a country of immigrants. It makes us stronger, and our ancestors were brave to come to this new land,
~patty~