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November 2014 Newsletter

The November 2014 edition of the Little Italy News includes the following: - A schedule of events after the annual Walk including bagpipers, tree lighting, and refreshments. - An announcement that the December meeting was cancelled due to a conflicting city meeting. - A history of Hill Street in Little Italy detailing the buildings, businesses, and immigrant families that lived there over the decades. - A thank you to volunteers who helped restore local monuments for Veterans Day. - Details of the Italian Community Center's upcoming Presidents Night dinner event in December. - Announcements for a free recorder concert and weekly soup kitchen.

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53 views7 pages

November 2014 Newsletter

The November 2014 edition of the Little Italy News includes the following: - A schedule of events after the annual Walk including bagpipers, tree lighting, and refreshments. - An announcement that the December meeting was cancelled due to a conflicting city meeting. - A history of Hill Street in Little Italy detailing the buildings, businesses, and immigrant families that lived there over the decades. - A thank you to volunteers who helped restore local monuments for Veterans Day. - Details of the Italian Community Center's upcoming Presidents Night dinner event in December. - Announcements for a free recorder concert and weekly soup kitchen.

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LITTLE ITALY NEWS NOVEMBER 2014 EDITION

Schedule of Events after the Walk


Bagpiper
- Liberty Square
Blessing of the Ceppo
Lighting of the Tree
Posada - Live Animals
Refreshments - The Hill Street Inn
Soup, Bread, cookies and Beverages
The Story of La Befana

December Meeting Cancelled


It was decided at the last meeting to cancel
due to a conflicting meeting at City Hall
for the Consolidation/CDBG Funding
Plan. The meeting starts at 6:30, please try
to attend. See you next year on 1/21/15

Merry Christmas
And

Happy New Year

Memories of Hill Street


By Mike Esposito
Hill Street got its name, no doubt, because of its proximity to Troys impressive Mt. Ida, which
rises over 200 feet above sea level. Beginning at the north end of the street, there are several stories that can be told of the 1.2 acre plot of land between Liberty, Washington and Fifth which included the site of a stoneware factory (1813-1837), a gasholder complex (1848-1899), a public retail market (1918-1950s), a four season playground (1930-1975), a privately owned parking lot
(1975-2003) and finally Little Italys Hill Street Market Place (2003+). By 1902, the Warren and
Vail family estates on Mt. Ida were donated to the city and a beautifully landscaped public space,
Prospect Park, was established. Access to the park was available from the neighborhood at a secondary entrance on Hill Street south of Adams but adventurous youngsters would often climb the
somewhat steep slopes to get to the park proper.
A site on Hill Street often remembered is the building known as the boat house, three story brick
buildings with wood porches on each floor fronting on the west side of Hill Street below Washington. The buildings were the original site of St. Marys Female Orphan Asylum built under the direction of Rev. Peter Havermans in 1854. In 1858 the orphanage was moved to a more suitable
location at 185 Third Street. Part of the Hill Street property sold in 1866 to Daniel Sweeney and
lot 19 was sold in 1869 by Father Havermans to James Moran. Renovations were subsequently
made to the building to provide for separate apartments and for many years the buildings were
home to Irish immigrants. After the buildings were sold in 1912 to Joseph Geraci and later to the
Riggione family, they housed Italian immigrant families and called the boat house because at
first glance the newly arrived immigrants were reminded of trans-Atlantic liners they sailed on to
America. The buildings were demolished in the mid-1960s.
At specific addresses along the streets half a mile route were dozens of family owned businesses in
addition to those clustered near the market place site. Gennaro Riggione established Jerrys Tavern, (no. 55) which quickly became a social center for the area providing not only a restaurant and
tavern but a space for bridal showers, banquets, and family gatherings. Carmella Montanino
owned the Infant of Prague Shop (no. 68) where women of the neighborhood could purchase colorful, ornate dresses made for their statue of the Christ Child; located across the street (no. 71)
Mamones bakery and pizzeria, and later Valentes upholstery. Jim Roti-Roti held court at his tavern (73). At various times, two meat markets provided service to the neighborhood, Meles (no.
78) and George Stallmers (no. 104). Harold Nash ran an auto repair shop (no. 98) which coexisted with Whelans Service Station (no. 95) at the point of Hill, Adams and short Fifth. Whelans operation was followed by later gas stations - Savon, then Mid-Town, Elite, and X-Mart.
Further down the street, at the next point (no. 145) at Hill, Jefferson and Sixth, was John Foleys
Gas Station, later followed by Gillespies, Mardens, and the Shell Gas Station. The Park Laundry
(no. 169) was in operation from at least 1914 until the mid-1950s. After several years, the vacant
laundry building was demolished and Saverio Sam Bizzarro built a funeral parlor which he operated until several years ago. Successions of popular taverns were located at the corner of Hill and
Ida (no. 209), including Engelbert Fettigs, OBryans, Johns, The Point, and Off Sides Sports
Bar. Near the end of Hill Street, on the east side, was Arthur Sliters Dairy (no. 231).
The history of the street includes one of the earliest and most successful area industries, the grain
mills of Andrew Ruff, a prominent member of Troys German community who immigrated to the
United States in 1841. The mill was located along the Poestenkill at Hill Street. Members of the
Ruff family resided a few doors away from their business for over 125 years. In the mid-1940 the
property was purchased by the Pitanillo family for their container business. William Connors the
manufacturer of American Seal paint established a factory in 1878 at Hill and Ida streets.

By choice or by chance, Italian immigrants found the neighborhood desirable. Not long after their
arrival they purchased modest buildings in the early years (1910-1920) providing homes for their
families. The street became the heart of Troys Little Italy neighborhood. Families including
Bevevino, Casale, Cioffi, Franchese, Germinario, Grillo, Malise, Mariano, Montanino, Pisanello,
Rea, Riggione, Russo, and many others lived on the street for generations. Today the street is primarily residential with a diverse population. Residents await a new bridge being planned to span
the Poestenkill. The bridge will be named the PFC Robert C Felter Memorial Bridge in honor of
the former young neighbor and Viet Nam veteran who died in the line of duty.

HONOR OUR VETERANS


NOVEMBER 11TH
Thank You to all who worked on helping restore and clean the two monuments
located in our neighborhood. The project was headed by Sam and Kellie Chippone
along with Jonathan Carroll, Mary and Brian Barnes, Judy Brearton, Robert
Caprara, Dan Carroll, Michael Esposito, Barbara McMahon, and Blanche and Jim
Rivers.

The ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER


CHARITABLE FUNDATION
TROY, NEW YORK
Proudly Announces

PRESIDENTS NIGHT
December 13, 2014
6:30pm 11:00PM

You are cordially invited to join us in honoring our Past


Presidents
Dinner: Prime Rib w/Roast Potato and Vegetable,
Bottle of Red & White Wine on each table, along with;
Burrata (fresh Italian cheese made with mozzarella and cream),
Roasted Red Peppers, Italian Bread and Roasted Chestnuts (Castagne),
Dessert: Spumoni and Coffee
Draft Beer and Wine: Plus Two Complimentary Cocktails Per Person
Entertainment Provided By: Good Times Band
Cost: $40.00 Per Person
RSVP by November 21, 2014
Betty Carpenter: 326-8088 or Mail Payment to:
Betty Carpenter, 156 Gillette Avenue, Troy, NY 12180

Submitted by Andrea Daley

The Round House at Jefferson & Fifth

Submitted by Sam Chippone

FREE CONCERT
Tuesday, November 18th, 12 noon
Tuesdays at noon Concerts Present: Richie and Elaine
Henzler, Recorder Duo
St Pauls Church, 68 Third Street, Troy, NY
For more information, please visit: http://www.tuesdaysatnoon.org/

SOUP KITCHEN
THURSDAY 4:40 to 5:30
Italian Community Center
1450 Fifth Avenue, Troy, N.Y
The Italian Community Center provides all the food, the soup
kitchen volunteers and the Christ Sun of Justice serve and cook.
EVERYONE WELCOME

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