A LETTER FROM UNCLE JOHN

In December, 1995, my nephew James, was beginning to do a little genealogical research. At that time, he approached the last living of my father's brothers, John, to write a little of what he knew about family. The photo to the left and the accompanying letter, plus another letter, is what John sent him. In the photo which was taken in the late 1930,s, my Uncle John is the first on one the left. The other's, left to write are my aunts and uncles. Two of my uncles are not in the photo. They are, in order, John, Joseph, Lucy, Michael,(behind Lucy), Frances and James, (my father). Missing are William (the oldest) and Thomas (the youngest).

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The following is transcribed a letter from Uncle John.

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" Dec. 1995

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JOHN VERDI

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Born in 1916, Sent into a Catholic Institution at the age of 3.

I remember being in a crib high side bars. Remember how I

cried when I was being taken to the doctors for what I believe was

tonsils. I fought the nuns who brought me there. I remember an

elevator door closing, etc. I continued to screemed (sic) all the way. I

also remembered a time I hear bells & the noise of fire apparatus

from the streets. I jumped up from my bed and saw for the first time - a

horse drawn fire apparatus through a nearby window - smoke blowing out

of the top. It was very exciting for us kids. I used to remember the ad-

dress & street quite well all these years. I'm getting on in years - my next

birthday will be 80 yrs, June 19th.

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As I grew on in years I was transfered from the Sacred Heart Home

to another orphanage in Farmingdale, L. I., New York. There I was with

my brother Joe. I'm not sure if Joe was always with me in both

orphanages in Brooklyn & now on Long Island. I stayed in Farmingdale until I was

13 & Joe 15 when our brother Jim went to visit us. He borrowed his friends

car and now took us for a ride back to New York. He never returned us

back to the orphanage. So now we are, mixed up teenagers in the big

city on the lower Eastside, Grand St. & Gareck St.

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TO DISCRIBE (sic) THE TIMES IN THIS ERREA (sic). 1929

STAMPS ... cost 2C... GERMAN BAKERY--- 5 SUGAR OR CRUMB BUNS---5C

BREAD 6C TO 10C - COFFEE 5C -NEWSPAPER-2C-3C- FRENCHYS BAKERY 5BUNS -8C

LARGE PIES 25-30C-1/4 PIE -5C - MILK WAS BOUGHT (BRING YOUR CONTAINER)

PINT -1/2 PINT-QT. A MEASURE DIPPER WAS USED-

SANDWICH-HAM, CHEESE TOMATO & ON (SIC)--- PORK CHOPS-25C a LB -

BASEBALL GAMES-50C BLEACHERS

SOUP & BREAD 10-15C - TRAIN TROLLEY-5C-- MOVIES-10C-5 PICTURES -

WITH BAND ON TIMES SQUARE-25C
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We still had horsedrawn wagons. My oldest brother William who Joe & I was dumped on

an was newly married. Jim dumped us on him. He had it tough - hired a horse & wagon

to pedal fruits & vegetables before he finally got a steady job. Jim drove a cab.

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Lucky to make a couple of dollars a day. Rates were low. At this time my brother Willie with me included, could only give his wife a dollar a day for food... 3 0f us. Joe went out on his own. He did not return to school. I did. Joe found a job in dry goods & worked at it for years. He worked too as a house painter.

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Homes were heated by kitchen stove (Wood or coal) NO AIR COND.; OPEN WINDOWS

OR COOLED OFF ON TAR BEACH (THE ROOF) THEATRES HAD SHOWN MOVIES ON ROOF (CALLED ROOF GARDENS) It was a treat if it did not rain.

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My family came from Italy, in the area of Naples. I was told from an island called called Ischia,

a small island off of Naples. Grandma was the 1st. She came, as I was told, with her son, John Felicetti & daughters, Margaret, Josefine & my mom Mary & another who returned back to Italy. Grandma did not come to America with her husband, my grandfather. Why? I do not know. Grandpa's family, I am told, was well to do. Grandma took him away from them. They never accepted her and maybe that is why she came to America. Grandma was tough & demanding too. She was the strong one. All the daughters answered to her even when they married & all to Italian immigrants. All had large families. Our family as best as I can explain.

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NOTE: THE NEXT PARAGRAPH IS SKIPPED AS IT IS A BREAKDOWN OF FAMILY NAMES.

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As for my brother James (my father) he was a funny man. A man who lived a tough young life through the depression years. Little to eat, but plenty of laughs. Jim was street smart, but never in trouble. Education? I do not know. When I knew him he drove a cab and when needed, Grandma took his money or he had no place to sleep or eat. Jim took life serious when he got married. During WWII he was in the trucking business & handled all Goodyear tires in & around the City of New York. I believe the RACKETS MOBS cut in on his business & he was forced to pay off from his profits."

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That's one of the letters to which I will add more of in future articles. It says a lot in a few words and to me at least, creates a picture of the memory of an 80 year old man's childhood. The other letter's are equally evocative of a time gone by. If you still have living ancestors, record their recollection, because, when they are gone, their memories are also gone. The stories and the memories are priceless.