Greetings!

 

This photo is one of my Italian Grandparents and my aunt and uncles when they were little.  They were Italian immigrants who came here from Sersale, Catanzaro, Calabria.  I think that is in the correct order, I hope!  This photo taken around 1911 in our little hometown south of Pittsburgh.   My dad (born here in 1920) and my grandfather, Guiseppe Strignile came to America first around the early 1900's to get settled before my grandmother, Guiseppina Mazzei Strignile joined him bringing my 3 year old Uncle Tony (born in Italy around 1901) with her.   They built a home here, raised a big beautiful family of 9 boys & 3 girls; while they worked hard earning livings as steelworkers, restaurant owners, tavern owners, shoe repair, beauty shop owner while they celebrated & enoyed a BEAUTIFUL LIFE on Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania!

 

I had been caring for, in my home,  the last of my dad's family, my lovely Aunt Janie Mitchell passed away rather suddenly at the age of 89, leaving her home (the family homestead) and estate filled with treasures from the passed 100 years that include letters from Italy, WWII items of which 5 of the boys served in the war leaving behind their uniforms and other items; recipes, fashions, curtains, linens, cards, notes, and I could go on and on.  There are many wonderful, heartwarming stories from the family here in America that reflect the trials and tribulations they faced as Italian Immigrants, who made it a BEAUTIFUL LIFE for their family, friends and neighbors in Belle Vernon.  Grandfather also 'sponsored' many Italian cousins who came to visit them on Broad Avenue in the 1940s & 50's and I remember my father telling me of one cousin who thought the toilet upstairs in the bathroom was to clean your feet!!!!  I remember howling at the story as a little girl ----- what fun it was to hear those memorable family 'tales' of the Strigniles.

 

Since finding these treasures I have become very interested in "showcasing" my proud Italian Heritage and in memory of my beloved grandparents, aunts & uncles;  and plan on purchasing the home, renovating it back to the 1940's & 50's style of home in which they moved into in 1949.  Their original home they built when they arrived was torn down due to displacement for the Interstate 70 highway that passed right through their property.  They then moved onto, literally, main street America.  Which was the main street in our town, Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. 

 

The house would be used as a "Guest House" and open for rentals by the weekend, or longer stays if needed.  I would be like going back in time -- with the same smells in the kitche,  furniture & decor, and fashions & other memorabilia displayed in an upstairs bedroom (actually Pap's bedroom) as a neat place to learn and enjoy the Italian Heritage with an old-fashioned Italian charm.

 

The home is in 'as is' condition requiring replacment of electrical wiring, plumbing, heating and adding air conditioning.  It was built in the 1920's and is a home that has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, upstairs hall walking closet (which is unusual) and a basement that my dad and his brothers added a beautiful bar, wine cellar, all in a popular knotty pine wood paneling.  It has great potential and I hope to turn the basement into the Dean Martin Den --- since one my favorite Uncles had a voice just like Dean Martin and he also sang at my wedding, too.  My Uncle Louis that is -- not Dean Martin.

 

Just thought I'd pass a litlle Italian story, that started somewhere in Sersale, Calabria, and hopefully can continue with "La Dolce Vita" on Broad in 2008.

 

Thank you for letting me share my story and God Bless!  Have a great day.

 

MELANIE PATTERSON  (Maiden name was "Stringhill" which is the American version for "Strignile")

 

 

              1950's  Italian Guest Home Retreat