Musacchia - Italians of Stark County

IMAGES
of America

ITALIANS OF
STARK COUNTY

PELOSIS TAKE N BAKE DELUXE PIZZA, MASSILLON, OHIO. In addition to running an Italian food market in Massillon, Olindo Pelosi also created Pelosis Take N Bake Deluxe Pizza, which he marketed to local grocery stores, including Bellonis IGA in Brewster. (Courtesy of the Olindo and Justina Ventura Pelosi family.)

ON THE COVER: Italians enjoy life to the fullest and love to socialize and have a good timethe more, the merrier. Here, a group of Italians is having an impromptu party on a farm just south of Brewster. This type of gathering was a common way to maintain the community spirit for Italian immigrants. (Courtesy of the John and Celia Paris Mercer family.)

IMAGES
of America

ITALIANS OF
STARK COUNTY

J.A. Musacchia

Copyright 2013 by J.A. Musacchia
ISBN 978-1-4671-0999-4
Ebook ISBN 9781439643402

Published by Arcadia Publishing
Charleston, South Carolina

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012956150

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In memory of the courage, sacrifice, and spirit of those who have gone before.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not have been possible without the generosity and enthusiastic participation of dozens of people in the current Stark County Italian community. Their amazing photographs and accompanying memories provide a context to the book that can only result from authentic historical moments. In addition to these countless individuals, I also received tremendous assistance from the Stark County District Library Genealogical Division, Stark County Probate Court, the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, the Massillon Library, the Sugarcreek Township Historical Society, the Navarre-Bethlehem Township Historical Society, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. All contributions are specifically noted in the photograph credits; where no credit is given, the source is from my personal collection. While my goal has always been to accurately document a broad cross-section of the Italian experience, I apologize for any inaccuracies or omissions that may have affected the final edit of this book.

My interest in the subject matter is also very personal and I want to thank my parents, Joseph and Emmy Ream Musacchia, my grandparents Amelia DeAngelis Musacchia and (in memoriam) Bruno Musacchia and Randall and Virginia Ream, and other family members for teaching me the importance of remembering our history and illustrating it to others. I would also like to acknowledge Prof. David Gedalecia, my independent study thesis advisor at the College of Wooster, who taught me about the rewards that researching and writing can bestow on a student and lover of history. My hope is that the readers may find something in the contents of this book that reminds them of their own histories and that they continue to research and pass this knowledge on to others as well. Finally, I would like to thank my personal support staff, Timothy and Bobo, who have provided me with daily love and companionship in this journey.

INTRODUCTION

The Italian community currently represents the second-largest ethnic group in Stark County. The story behind the people that drove this growth is the subject of this book. The communitys emigration from Italy and eventual establishment in Stark County, Ohio, began in the late 1800s. By the early 20th century, Stark County was one of the fastest-growing industrial regions in the nation. To fill the increasing demand for labor, immigrants from primarily Southern Italy settled in the area. Most of them sought economic opportunity; all of them sought a better life for themselves and their families. Like most immigrants, the Italians who came to Stark County possessed a strong work ethic and were willing to sacrifice greatly for a brighter future for themselves, their children, and their grandchildren.

These Italians unique contributions, sacrifices, and hard work deserve to be honored, remembered, and memorialized. The following chapters give readers an understanding of the lives of the Italian immigrants and an appreciation of their values through their foundations, their faith, their families, and their friends.

One

FOUNDATIONS

Italians came to the United States by ship and made their way to Stark County primarily by train. A number of Italian men came to Stark County alone, worked hard, and saved enough money to eventually send for their families. For some, this process only took a year, while for others it took several years to reunite with their loved ones. During this time, the laying of strong foundations for their new lives became a critical part of the transition from Italian to Italian American. These foundations largely consisted of their workplaces, social clubs, restaurants, and new homes. As with a number of immigrant groups, food also played a critical role in the lives of Italians, representing love, caring, warmth, acceptance, welcome, sharing, and selflessness. It is not surprising, then, that a number of Italian immigrants in Stark County opened Italian restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and delis that recalled their Italian neighborhoods back home.

WANDLE HOUSE, BREWSTER, OHIO. This 62-room dormitory was constructed in 1916 by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad with funds contributed by railroaders (including many Italian immigrants) throughout the system. It was first called the Brewster Railroad YMCA but was later known as the Wandle House. It included a fine restaurant, movie theater, and bowling alleys, and was also used as a community center. (Courtesy of the Brewster-Sugar Creek Township Historical Society.)

CANTON YMCA. To assist the new immigrants in Stark County, a program teaching English for foreigners was organized in 1905 at the Canton YMCA and was taught by Prof. G.F. Stokey. In addition to two Italians, the first class included four Greeks, six Germans, a Hungarian, and a Romanian. (Courtesy of Canton YMCA.)

ITALY HILL SIGN, NAVARRE, OHIO. As indicated on this sign located on Canal Street in Navarre, Ohio, in the 1880s, Italian immigrants settled along Canal Street and grew beautiful gardens on the hillside along the canal. The area was known as Italy Hill due to the large number of Italian immigrants who settled there.

ITALY HILL, NAVARRE, OHIO. This early-1900s image shows Italy Hill, located in Navarre, Ohio. Most Italians who resided on Italy Hill during this time worked in the local coal mines. (Courtesy of Navarre-Bethlehem Township Historical Society.)