Italy Revisited by Mary Melfi

Agriculture
Around the world - Pre 1969 or Italy, Click here

Browns Mill, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Date: September 1910

Notes: "Room 75, Shanty 4, Cranberry pickers Paulo Biniristo and wife live here. Settlement called Rome, on Whites Bog, Browns Mills, N.J. 4 sons live in next room. Note the bread and other food lying around unprotected. Plenty of flies. E.F. Brown -- Witness." Photo & Notes: Lewis Wickes Hine. Digital ID: 00089.

Contributed by: Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery

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Cadarville, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Date: July 1940

Notes: Title: "Children of Italian migratory workers who have come from Delaware to work in the onion fields near Cedarville, New Jersey." Photo: Jack Delano.

Contributed by: Courtesy of the Library of Congress, PPOC

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Buffalo, New York

Date: February 1910

Notes: "Clara Ladnica and mother, 241 W. Genesee Street. Go fruit picking country in summer." Digital ID: 00759.

Contributed by: Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery

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Bufffalo, New York

Date: February 1910

Notes: "The Petrino children, 290 First Ave. Peter, Mary, (baby), Katherine. Entire family spends summer working in a fruit picking center." Photo & Notes: Lewis Wickes Hine. Digital ID: 00760.

Contributed by: Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery

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Buffalo, New York State

Date: February 1910

Notes: "Albernesi Family, 126 W. Eagle St. Left to right: Frank Albernesi, 5 years old. Libori Albernesi, 15 years old, Joseph Albernesi, 13 years old. Family goes to country in summer to pick fruit." Digital ID: 00762.

Contributed by: Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Date: 1952

Notes: Vincenzo Vutrano was born in Laurignano, Cosenza in 1913. In 1950 he was allowed entry into Canada by signing an agreement with the federal government that he was willing to work in Canada's agricultural industry. When he arrived in Montreal he was assigned to "una fattoria franco-Canadese." At the beginning he felt terrible, almost as terrible as he had felt during World War II in Italy. He had to work 10 hours a day, and he didn't have the usual comforts of home -- especially the good country bread he had grown up with. Often, he wanted to quit and go home. How much he suffered ("...quanto abbiamo sofferto."). Of course, all that pain is behind now, but still he remembers his homeland with great affection.... The photo and short biography of Vincenzo Vutrano were first published in Centro Dante's "Album di Famiglia, 1996." Permission to use the material was given by Santa Cabrini Hospital's administration.

Contributed by: Courtesy of the Santa Cabrini Hospital

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Date:

Notes: 1n the 1900s anyone who was in good health and willing to work could come to Canada. New arrivals did not need to have sponsors. The immigration doors were opened. However, in the early 1920s Canada started to place severe restrictions on who could enter the country -- only those with sponsors (generally relatives) or those who agreed to work on a farm for a year were allowed entry into the country. Michelino Melfi, after signing a contract with the Canadian government representatives in Italy that he was willing to work in the Canadian agricultural industry for a year, was given permission to enter this country. Michelino Melfi, the contributor's paternal grandfather, disliked the work (the hours were long and the pay was lousy) but he stuck it out. After the year was over Michelino Melfi quickly moved to the city where jobs paid better. He worked in North America for four years before he returned to his hometown, using his savings to increase his land holdings.

Contributed by: Mary Melfi

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