The colorful tents, the sounds of music and laughter, the smells of fried dough and spaghetti sauce — it’s Festa Italiana time in Bradford.
While the festival came about through St. Rocco’s Day celebrations, how is it that people from Italy found their way to the Tunungwant Valley?
Sally Costik, curator of The Bradford Landmark Society, explained, “To begin with, the majority of Italians immigrated to this area in the mid 1890s. It makes sense — the brick factories were really gearing up at that time, and Italian workers provided cheap labor.”
She mentioned, too, that the Italians “seemed to stick together. The newspapers begin referring to the ‘Italian colony’ in Lewis Run by March of 1897, when it was reported that a little three-year-old girl had died of diphtheria in the ‘Italian Colony.’ Later, the Era also refers to the Italian Colony on Hilton Street.”
There was a language barrier with the locals, which likely led to Italian settlement areas, Costik said.
Further, she explained, “They were Catholics and the church was a strong bond, and many had immigrated from the same place, such as Naples. And while they were eager to begin a new chapter in their lives in the United States, the Italians remained fiercely loyal to Italy.”
That Italian pride stays true today, as evidenced by the popularity of the annual festival.
Costik explained some history of the jobs that drew the immigrants to settle here.
“The majority worked in the brickyards in Lewis Run,” she said. “At one time we had five brick factories. But Italian labor was cheap and they were employed in other ways, too.”
In her research, she found an article about Italians working to lay trolley tracks on Congress Street. The workers “went on strike. They were being paid $1.75 for 10 hours of work, and wanted $1.75 for nine hours.”
The first reference Costik found to social clubs for the immigrants was for the Italian Patriotic Club, founded in July 1904. “These were men, probably relatively recent immigrants, loyal to Italy — mostly 5th Ward residents, the officers were: H.D. Therminy, president; Mike Rich, vice-president; J. Rulio, secretary; B. Pascarella, vice-secretary; Frank Jordan, treasurer; B. Pascarella, commander; and F. Ross, P. Costello, and J. Carletti, trustees.”
She mentioned she didn’t see much about the club after 1904. In April of 1920 or 1921, the Italian Americanization Society of McKean County was formed in the city.
“This club was for ‘Italian born, naturalized citizens.’ Some of the members were Fred Ross, Bruno Saleine, Angelo Sico, and D. Friedo,” Costik said, “about 85 members. The headquarters were at 15 E. Main Street.”
She believes Vincent Fazio was a member of the club, as his address was 15 E. Main St. He and other local Italian men “went back to ‘fight for the fatherland’ in 1915.”
Costik said, “We believe that this house might have served as a gateway to Bradford, as it were. Newly arrived immigrants could stay here until they found a place of their own, and possibly jobs as well.”
On Feb. 28, 1918, the Italian American Progressive Club applied for a charter, she said.
“The purpose of this new club was ‘the instruction of Italians so that they might become better citizens of the United States of America.’ They had 30 members to start,” Costik said.
Today, as the Festa Italiana is in full swing in downtown Bradford, remember it’s about more than great food and camaraderie. It’s a celebration of local history, too.
